His father grinned. “Are you complaining?”
“No, I’m not complaining. I’m just curious as to what a personal concierge actually does.”
His father gave a snort of laughter and returned his attention to his paper. “Not what you’re thinking, I promise you.”
Jamie’s mother chose that moment to walk into the kitchen. Giving her son an amused look, she began setting the table for dinner. “A personal concierge is absolutely a real thing. Rachel even has a website that outlines her standard services and rates.”
Behind her back, Jamie exchanged a knowing look with his father. “And just what do those services include?” He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning. His mother wouldn’t appreciate his lewd humor.
Setting the dinner plates on the table, she straightened and looked at him, one hand on her hip. “Think of her as your temporary mother while I’m gone. Anything I would do for you, she’ll do for you.”
Jamie pulled a face. “There you go, Mom, ruining my fantasy. I absolutely cannot think of Rachel McCafferty as my substitute mother.” He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Not even close.”
His mother laughed and patted his cheek, before reaching behind him for some glasses. “Then think of her as your sister. And it’s Rachel Narducci, not McCafferty.”
Jamie took a long swallow of his beer. No way could he think of Rachel as his sister, not when his imagination was actively conjuring up all kinds of lecherous images of them together.
“She’s divorced, Mom,” he finally said, forcing his thoughts in a safer direction. “She probably prefers McCafferty, considering her ex is such a dick.”
“Jamie!” his mother exclaimed in a reproving tone. “Why would you say such a thing? You only met the man once, and that was years ago.”
“I know his type. He’s an entitled, rich kid who’s never worked a day in his life, and expects everyone to bend over backward whenever he walks into a room.” He gave a snort of disgust. “She’s better off without him.”
“Well, I know he was somewhat younger than Rachel, so maybe he just wasn’t ready to settle down,” his mother mused. “Everyone knows boys don’t mature as quickly as girls.”
“I’m younger than Rachel,” Jamie said, feeling suddenly defensive. “Do you think I’m immature?”
His mother looked at him, astonished. “Of course not, but it’s hardly the same. You were always ahead of your years, even as a child. And being in the military does something to a person. Makes them grow up faster.”
“Would you say I’m ready to settle down?” he persisted.
His mother gave him a bemused look. “Where is this coming from? Is there someone in your life you haven’t told us about? A girlfriend in Oceanside?”
“No. I’m just curious what you think.”
“Okay.” His mother considered him for a moment. “I think one day you’ll make a wonderful husband and father, but right now you’re too young.”
“I’m twenty-six,” he countered. “There are plenty of guys in my unit who are married and have kids, and some are even younger than me.”
“Jamie,” said his father, sending him a wink from over the top of his paper. “This isn’t a conversation you’re going to win. Suffice to say a mother never thinks her son is old enough to be married, and no woman is ever going to be good enough for her boy.”
“All I’m saying is there’s no rush. You’re young, and you still have plenty of time before you need to think about settling down.” His mother gave him a bright smile. “Besides, you haven’t even met anyone, yet!”
She was wrong. Maybe his interest in Rachel McCafferty was nothing more than the remnants of a childhood crush, but he doubted it. His response to seeing her again after so many years had been completely adult in nature and, unless he had misread her, she’d had a similar reaction. Now he needed to find out if there was more to it than just physical attraction.
He had two weeks.
Chapter Three
Rachel sat at the kitchen island, sipping her coffee and staring moodily at the digital clock over the oven. It was just nine a.m. She’d been up since dawn, partly because her body was still on East Coast time, and partly because her parents and the Colters had left for the airport around five a.m., and she’d risen to say good-bye to them.
But that had been hours ago, and she’d already showered, dressed, and consumed more than her daily share of caffeine. Now she wondered how she would fill the remainder of the day. She hadn’t been back to Glacier Creek in a couple of years, so she could head into town and do some shopping, or maybe just sit by the lake. Neither option appealed to her.