Free What Happened After Vegas? (Unexpected Love #2) by Sharon Cummin

be with you there
with me, on my team."
    Cliff
put his sundae down, took her face in his hands, and looked into her
eyes.
    "You
are the most amazing, beautiful, and challenging woman I have ever
met. There is nobody I would rather be next to, in front of all of my
employees, than you. Please be there with me. I don't care if we lose
the entire thing. That means nothing to me. There is one thing I am
sure of. If you're there, I will have the best time ever. You make me
feel things, Rachel. Things I never imagined I could ever feel. You
make me feel important and needed. You give me so much shit, and I
wouldn't have it any other way."
    "Okay,"
she whispered.
    "Okay,
you'll go?" he asked.
    She
nodded her head as she took another bite of her ice cream.
    They
spent the rest of the evening in bed, in the shower, and in the
jacuzzi tub. Rachel couldn't remember ever coming as much as she had
that night in an entire month. She was exhausted.
    They
flew home the following afternoon. She was sad when he dropped her
off at her apartment. A place she was so excited to have on her own
felt lonely without Cliff there. She asked him to text her once he
was home. It was late and she was in bed waiting for his message. It
was so quiet in her apartment, and she drifted in and out of sleep.
He really had exhausted her. She heard the buzz of her phone and
picked it up half asleep.
    Cliff:
I wanted to let you know I'm home.
    She
typed back a response without thinking about it.
    Rachel:
I miss you already. I wish you were here. It's lonely here without
you. What are you doing to me?
    Cliff:
It's you that does things to me. I miss you too. Can we meet for
lunch this week?
    Rachel:
Every day if you want. I don't know what I did to deserve to have you
in my life, but I am so glad you're here.
    Cliff:
Me too. Sweet dreams, baby.
    Rachel:
Please don't hurt me. You could crush me ten times worse than ever. I
don't know how I could be feeling these things so quickly. Please,
Cliff, don't break my heart. Goodnight.

Chapter
10
    When
Rachel woke up, her bedroom lights were on and her phone was next to
her pillow. What happened, she wondered? She turned on the screen to
see the last message she sent. Oh crap! She knew better than to text
when she was half asleep. What shocked her even more was his
response.
    Cliff:
I will never hurt you. I will always be there to protect you. You are
mine! Goodnight, baby.
    Neither
of them ever mentioned the messages. They talked each evening and
text throughout the day. He would text her if he was in a boring
meeting and tell her all about it. They met for lunch twice during
the week. She couldn't get enough of seeing him. As soon as they were
apart, she missed him. Everything was perfect.
    Cliff
was taking her out for a nice dinner Friday night. She was dressed in
a very nice light color dress. Rachel made sure to have her hair and
makeup looking perfect. She wanted to show him she could relax but
she could also enjoy a nice night out as well. When the knock sounded
at the door, she felt excitement rush through her body. With one last
look in the mirror, she headed to the door and swung it open with a
huge smile on her face.
    "Hey
handsome," she began, but stopped when her eyes scanned the man
in front of her.
    "You
look beautiful. What are you all dressed up for?"
    There
stood Jake leaning against her doorway, and he looked rough. If she
didn't know better, she would have thought he was drunk. That wasn't
possible. He didn't drink like that.
    "What
are you doing here?" she snapped.
    Rachel
stood waiting for an answer. She thought about how horrible he
treated her. The picture of seeing that woman riding him in their bed
popped into her head. As she looked at him, she realized how
different and amazing her life had become. Suddenly, she was thankful
that she had walked in on them. If not, she could have still been
stuck in a relationship that was no good for her.
    Her
thoughts jolted her back to the situation in front of