Haunting Rachel by Kay Hooper Page A

andeverything would be the way it was before I left. But … the months turned into years. And time ran out.”
    “They understood, Miss Rachel. Both of them. Your mother especially, I think.”
    It was a reassurance Rachel needed, and even if she still didn’t quite believe it, the housekeeper’s words gave her the first really good night’s sleep she’d had since coming back home.
    On Thursday morning, while Darby continued with the inventory, Rachel excused herself to drive into town. A visit to a real estate agency resulted in a list of several properties she
wanted to
have a look at, and though the agent had wanted to accompany her, Rachel preferred to be alone in the initial stages of choosing a location for her boutique.
    It occurred to her only during the drive that “her boutique” had taken on the solidity of reality in her mind, so much so that she had a very clear idea of just what she wanted to do.
    Like the decision to keep the house, the decision to open a boutique, once made, also felt very right. Whether the venture was a success or a failure, Rachel was looking forward to it—and it was exhilarating to find herself looking ahead rather than back.
    She had spent too many years looking back.
    The first address the agent had provided turned out to be totally unsuitable for what Rachel had in mind. The second one, however, had definite possibilities. It was a fairly small vacant store in a block-long area that already contained several small specialty stores, and foot traffic was brisk even on this weekday morning.
    Standing on the sidewalk as she considered the store, Rachel didn’t notice a quiet black sedan pull up to thecurb behind her, so it surprised her very much to hear Nicholas Ross’s harsh voice.
    “Good morning, Rachel.”
    She jumped, but only a little. The sheer size of him was overpowering as he reached her side and loomed over her, but she managed not to back away. “Hi, Nick.”
    He had always made her feel wary. She hoped it didn’t show.
    He nodded toward the For Lease sign in the dirty window. “Is that what interests you so much?”
    Rachel hesitated, then nodded. “I’m thinking about opening a boutique here in Richmond. One-of-a-kind fashion designs.”
    Nicholas frowned slightly. “I see. Then I take it you won’t be returning to New York.”
    “No, not for good. I’ll have to go back there eventually, of course, and pack up my apartment.”
    “What about the bank?”
    She shook her head. “I haven’t decided about that yet. It’s why I haven’t come to talk to you. But you can be sure I won’t be trying to tell you how to run things, Nick, no matter what I decide to do. For all intents and purposes, it’s your bank now.”
    His frown remained, and those pale eyes were unreadable as they gazed at the empty store before them. In an abrupt tone he said, “If you decide to keep your interest, you couldn’t go wrong asking Mercy to manage for you.”
    Rachel was a little surprised. “I hadn’t thought about it. I guess I assumed she’d be working for you now that Dad’s gone.”
    “No.” He looked down at her. “I’ve asked, but … Mercy knows I’ve never wanted an assistant. She’s an asset to the bank, though, and I’d hate to lose her. She has a rare understanding of finances. If you’re looking for someoneto manage all your business interests, I’d put her at the top of a very short list.”
    Curious, Rachel said, “Where would you put Graham?” She was aware the two men didn’t care for each other, but wasn’t sure of the cause. Distinctly different personalities, maybe?
    “Graham Becket is a fine lawyer.”
    She waited a moment, then said dryly, “And that says it all?”
    Nicholas smiled, and it was not a charming thing. “I think so. I’d trust him with my legal affairs, but I’d want someone else giving me financial advice. It’s not his specialty.”
    “I see. Well, thanks for the suggestion about Mercy. I’ll keep it in