Of all the people she could have run into at this very moment, why Travis Gage? Why someone from her old high school? Why the one person she’d never wanted to lay eyes on again?
Bitterness surged through her veins as she took in the sight of him. He hadn’t changed much since high school. Still had a head of dark hair, a chiseled face and deep dimples, and of course, those intense honey-brown eyes. And yet there was something different about him. Maybe the way his hair was no longer unruly, but cut short and perfectly combed, not a strand out of place. Or maybe it was the black sports coat he wore, how it stretched across his broad shoulders and emphasized his powerful chest. Made him appear professional and dangerous at the same time.
He looked good. Too good. God, what gave him the right to look this good?
“I don’t need any help,” she replied, her voice as frigid as her body felt.
“Really? Do you make it a habit of frequenting department stores in that attire?” His mouth curved into a whisper of a smile that looked smug and arrogant.
Her nostrils flared at the cocky tone of his voice. Although she hadn’t seen him in nearly fifteen years, she decided he was still the same self-absorbed jerk he’d been back in high school.
Fighting the urge to squirm, she noticed his hawk-like gaze sweep over her exposed body. Not only did that evoke a thoroughly unwelcome reaction—like the hardening of her nipples—but it sparked a flicker of irritation. Why was he acting as if he didn’t know who she was? He had to know, especially since she hadn’t changed much since high school either. Her hair was still the same dark shade of blonde, her eyes the same shade of green. The only difference was that instead of wearing the baggy clothing she’d made her trademark in school, she now stood practically naked.
“Actually, I do wear this when I shop,” she said coolly. “So if you’ll excuse me, I should get back to, uh, browsing.”
Rachel turned around and made a show of examining one of the racks. She grabbed a handful of random items, and it wasn’t until she looked down that she saw she’d piled her hands with boxes of men’s briefs.
Heat scorched her cheeks as she heard his low chuckle.
“Briefs, huh? And here I thought you preferred thongs.”
Her face grew redder as she spun around with the realization that she’d just provided Travis Gage with a very candid view of her bare ass. The amusement glimmering in his mesmerizing eyes didn’t soothe her. She wanted to strangle him. Didn’t the man realize she wanted him to get lost?
“Would you just go away, Travis?” She tightened her jaw. “I came here to shop, not to be made fun of.”
His eyes narrowed at the sound of his name. “Do we know each other?”
Rachel almost laughed aloud. This was priceless. They’d gone to school together for four years, he’d dated her sister, for God’s sake. It was funny how a person could have such a huge impact on your life and not even realize it. Travis had broken her sister’s heart, and Carrie had ended up taking her own life because of it.
And he wanted to know if they knew each other?
Her voice was thick with pain as she responded. “I have two words for you. Carrie Foster.”
The long and heavy silence that followed gave her the opportunity to watch his handsome face fill with uneasy recognition. “Rachel,” he finally said, his voice rough.
“Yes.”
“I heard about what happened to Carrie. I’m sorry.” His expressionless gaze revealed nothing.
In an instant, Rachel forgot that she was in her underwear, that she was the headlining act in this awful department store show. How dare he say Carrie’s name in such an unfeeling, indifferent tone?
Her hands trembling, she allowed the images of her older sister to flash through her mind. Carrie’s soft smile. Her laughter. Her heart. Carrie had always taken the burden of their mother’s actions on herself. When all the other kids had mocked them about their mother’s promiscuity, about the men, the alcohol, Carrie had protected her younger sister. Until her own boyfriend had contributed to the cruelty. That’s when Carrie finally had enough.
Feeling her eyes well up with tears, Rachel gulped a few times. She wasn’t going to cry. Not now. Not in front of Travis Gage.
“Come on, Miss, I’ll let you back into the fitting room.”
The sales boy’s voice caused relief to flood her body in one crashing wave. Without glancing at Travis, Rachel followed the boy across the room, spine stiff, steps calm and methodical. She didn’t once look back at the man she knew was watching her walk away.
Travis released a ragged breath as he watched Rachel disappear into the hallway, her firm behind swaying with each step she took. Desire and regret mingled in the pit of his stomach.
Rachel Foster.
Damn it, how hadn’t he recognized her? Her image had haunted him for years, for chrissake. It wasn’t until after college that he’d finally been able to sleep through the night without waking up and thinking about her.