think about it,” Max muttered, but even as he said the words, he felt himself resist.
Rachel hadn’t wanted to interrupt Hailey at work, but she desperately needed to talk to her sister. She called Hailey and invited her to dinner. Then, she went to the grocery store and bought what she needed to make their father’s famous pan-fried grouper.
The domestic routine soothed her. She’d been rushing around so much these last few weeks, between her business and Max’s office, fitting in a couple hours to cook and eat a meal hadn’t been a priority.
It was time she slowed down.
By six o’clock when Hailey arrived, Rachel had made a mess of the kitchen but had fun doing it.
“Whoa. What’s with this? You’re cooking?” Hailey dropped her purse on the small breakfast table and surveyed the mess Rachel had made. She wrinkled her nose at the spilled flour, puddles of buttermilk and the array of spices and bowls that occupied every square inch of countertop. “Now I remember why I took over cooking. You are a disaster in the neatness department.”
“Don’t I always clean up when I’m done? Get changed and come open a bottle of wine.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Only a twinge of guilt pinched Rachel as she directed her sister to the bottle in the refrigerator.
Hailey pulled it out and peered at the label. “Champagne? What are we celebrating?”
“I had some good news today.”
“A new client?” Hailey worked off the foil and pried at the cork.
“Better.” Rachel waited until her sister was fully engaged in wiggling the cork free before she unloaded her bombshell. “Max paid off Brody.”
The bottle jerked. The cork shot out with a loud pop and dented the ceiling. Hailey stared at Rachel with her mouth open as foam flowed down the side of the bottle onto the floor.
“He did?”
“Any idea how Max found out that Brody was hassling me about money?”
“I told him.” Hailey looked one part anxious and one part resolute. “Are you mad?”
Damn right she was mad. But confronting Hailey about seeking Max’s help wasn’t satisfying. Tension flowed out of her, leaving behind nothing. Not even regret.
“No. I’m angry with myself. I should have told you the truth instead of trying to protect you.” Rachel’s eyes burned as she reached into the cupboard and brought out two water glasses. The only pair of champagne glasses she’d ever owned had been bought for her wedding toast. She’d smashed them not long after her first anniversary.
Hailey poured the champagne. “I wish you had. It would have made things a lot easier for both of us.”
“Here’s to honesty between sisters from here on out.” Rachel clinked her glass against Hailey’s.
“I’ll drink to that,” Hailey said. “Tell me what happened today.”
“Why don’t you start by telling me what possessed you to go to Max.”
Hailey shot her an accusing look over the rim of her glass. “You are mad.”
“I’m not,” she started, but her sister’s impatient huff reminded her of their toast. “Okay, I’m not exactly mad at you. I get why you did it. I just wish you hadn’t.”
“I had to. Someone slashed your tires. That scared me.”
Rachel flinched. “I had it under control.”
“No, you didn’t.” Hailey’s voice was hot as she countered Rachel’s claim. “Just like you didn’t have it under control after Dad died and Aunt Jesse took off on us. I know I wasn’t out of high school, but you should have let me help.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Hailey shook her head. “You always treated me like I was made of glass. Just once I wanted you to lean on me, but you never did.”
“I didn’t realize it was that important to you,” Rachel said, holding up her hands to fend off her sister’s verbal battery. She’d always been proud of her sister, but never more than now. “Thank you for going to Max.”
Hailey’s temper evaporated. Her lips formed a half grin. “Wow, how’d that taste?”
“Bitter.” Rachel finished the rest of her champagne in one swallow and held her glass out for a refill. “If you hadn’t gone to him, Brody would have continued to pester us. He’d have taken more of your money. And I would forever be hopeful that Max might someday forgive me for not telling him I was married five years ago. I don’t need to worry on any of those accounts any more.”
“You and Max will make it work. That man has it bad for you.”
“You didn’t see him today. He never wants to see me again. Thanks to me he paid a hundred and five thousand dollars to a lowdown stinking liar.”
“Why so much? You only owed him twenty-five.”
“But you told Max that you’d promised to pay Brody for your college education.”
Hailey gasped. “He wasn’t supposed to do that.”
“Now do you understand why I kept this from Max?” She slid the cooked fish onto two plates and dished out the broccoli she’d steamed. “He’s not the sort of man to stand on the sidelines when he could save the day.” Another reason why she loved him. Rachel blew out a breath. “He settled both our debts. I told him I’d pay him back the money. The problem is, you and I were both paying Brody off for your schooling. He was double dipping.”
“I thought you were paying him back for a loan to start your business.”
“No. Brody was cheating us. We paid him for your schooling twice.”
“Twice?” Hailey looked horrified.
“I was paying him as part of our divorce decree. Now paying back Max will make it three times.”
“That’s insane. You’re not going to do that. I’m not going to let you.”
Rachel shoved a plate into her sister’s hands. “Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not. It was my mistake. I’m going to pay Max back.”
“It was my fault for not telling you about my arrangement with Brody from the beginning. I’ll pay Max back. You’re getting ready to start your life with Leo. You don’t want this sort of debt hanging over your head.”
“And you’ve got a business to run. You shouldn’t have to shoulder it, either.”
Rachel had never seen her sister look so fierce or so determined. New respect bloomed. While she’d struggled with her business and finances, Hailey had become a strong, independent-minded
