While she seemed efficient and confident in her abilities as a personal concierge, Jamie sensed a change in her. She seemed more tightly wound than he remembered, and there was less laughter in her than before. Jamie wanted to reassure her the girls couldn’t hold a candle to her, but another part of him wanted her to recognize he was a man now, and some women actually found him attractive. In fact, he was pretty sure Rachel found him attractive, too.
Now he just had to get her to admit it.
Chapter Five
Rachel had absolutely no right to be jealous. She barely knew Jamie—had spent less than a few hours in his company. Just because they’d jokingly agreed to call their outings dates did not mean she had any claim on him.
But inwardly, she acknowledged she was jealous, pure and simple. Had she honestly believed a guy like Jamie would look twice at someone like her? Why would he ever be interested in a divorced thirty-three-year-old when there were dozens of young, toned, beautiful twenty-somethings all over the place?
She’d seen the way those two girls had looked at him. Not that she blamed them. He was a gorgeous guy, and with his leg in a cast, and his muscled arms displayed to full advantage as he wheeled his chair along the sidewalk, it was no wonder they had just about fallen over him. But the fact they hadn’t considered her to be competition was what really stung. That second girl hadn’t even glanced her way as she’d written her phone number all over Jamie’s leg, and then coyly invited him out for drinks. Had they thought she was his older sister?
She shook off the unpleasant thoughts.
But Jamie’s reminder that he was closer to their age than he was to hers had hit her like a solid blow. Suddenly, she felt every bit her age, and not in a good way. She told herself it didn’t matter. Hadn’t she resolved to find an older, safer man the next time around? Sliding a covert glance at Jamie as he cheerfully pushed his chair beside her, she felt as if she’d opted for mushy oatmeal when there was a big, juicy steak right in front of her.
As if sensing her scrutiny, he glanced at her. “What is it? Regretting your offer to spend time with me so soon?”
He sounded suspiciously cheerful.
“No, I’m not regretting my offer,” she retorted. “I’m just wondering if you’re going to ogle every pretty girl we pass.”
They had reached the small burger shack, and got into line behind the dozen or so people waiting to place their order.
“Hey, I didn’t ask them to stop and autograph my cast,” he said. “But now that you mention it, what’s the harm in enjoying the scenery? I spent the last year in Syria, and I haven’t been anywhere in the couple of months since I’ve been home. Trust me when I say there’s been a distinct shortage of pretty girls in my life. Why would you begrudge me this?”
Rachel crossed her arms and pretended to study the menu over the order window. “I don’t begrudge you,” she finally conceded, knowing she sounded grumpy.
Rachel started when a warm hand curled around her arm, drawing her attention away from the menu and toward the man by her side. When she reluctantly looked at Jamie, he had removed his sunglasses and was studying her quietly.
“You must know those girls have nothing on you,” he finally said, too low for any of the nearby patrons to hear.
Furious that he found her so transparent, Rachel pulled her arm free. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
To her dismay, Jamie just laughed softly. “Okay. We’ll play it your way, for now.” Then, louder: “But for the record, you are far and away the most beautiful woman in this town. Maybe even the most beautiful woman in Montana!”
Several people in front of them turned around, and seeing Jamie and Rachel, smiled, before exchanging knowing looks. They thought she and Jamie were a couple, which just made her feel even more pathetic.
“Jamie Colter,” Rachel hissed beneath her breath, “stop, or I’ll leave you here and you can find your own way home.”
He was instantly contrite. “Okay. But it’s the truth.”
“You don’t need to say that. I’m fine.”
“Why can’t I tell you what I think?”
Rachel gave him a warning look. Jamie put his hands up in surrender, but thankfully didn’t pursue the topic.
Rachel didn’t believe Jamie. He’d only said she was beautiful because she’d let him see her insecurity. She hated feeling this way: like someone had thrown a switch on a blender inside her stomach.
Deke had once confided that her confidence was what had initially drawn him to her. Hadn’t someone once said people destroy those things they love most? Well, Deke had done a good job of destroying her self-confidence and making her feel unworthy.