The Playboy's Touch (Book 2)

Chapter 22

Rachel

I was coming back from lunch with Vicente and mother when I saw Enrique coming down the stairs.

“Good afternoon Lady Thompson, good afternoon Miss Thompson.”

“Good afternoon Viscount Cortez.” Mother replied.

“Please, call me Enrique.” He said.

“Then call me Josephine,” Mother replied.

Enrique nodded and smiled. “Very well then Josephine.” He then turned to me. “Have you had a nice day so far?”

“Yes,” I replied. “We just got back from having lunch with Vicente. It was quite lovely, he took us a nice family owned restaurant.”

Enrique nodded again.

“He’s been a wonderful companion. You do have a great friend.” I added.

Enrique only took a deep breath.

We both looked at eachother in silence and I felt Mother observing us.

“Where are you headed off to Enrique? You look so handsome.” Mother said, trying to break the tension.

I looked at Enrique-he did look handsome. He had just bathed-I could smell the soap, pine and firewood smoke on him. His hair was still wet but neat as always and his facial hair trimmed.

“I am off to visit Miss Campos. Rachel was kind enough to introduce her to me last night at the dinner party.” He said.

My muscles tensed a bit.

“Is that so?” Mother asked. There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“Indeed. We are going for a walk around Jasmine Park. It is quite beautiful and I think Miss Campos would appreciate a nice stroll.”

I didn’t know why but tears pricked the back of my eyes.

A walk.

A nice stroll in the park.

On a nice and sunny day.

With Cecilia.

“Yes, I’m sure she’ll love that.” I replied, my voice a bit flat.

Enrique held eye contact with me for a bit. As if looking for something but when he didn’t he only nodded and bid us goodbye.

When he left I felt a tightness in my chest that I had been feeling since the night before. I hated the feeling- I didn’t know what to do or why it was there.

I began to make my way up the stairs and called for Mrs. Abarca to help me. As I made my way up I stumbled a bit and felt the brace sink into my skin- I knew I shouldn’t be rushing but I just wanted to get to my room.

Mrs. Abarca was no where to be seen but Mother rushed up the stairs to me. She grabbed my hand and arm to stable me.

“Rachel..” She started to say but I cut her off.

“Mother not now please.”

“Don’t shut me out Rachel, and stop trying to go so fast. You’re going to hurt yourself.” Her voice was soft and worried. It only made my chest feel heavier.

“I just want to get to my room. I’m tired thats all.”

When we got to my room I frantically tried to open the door-I just wanted to get inside. But Mother grabbed me by the shoulders and made me look at her.

Her blue eyes were concerned and she was frowning. “Please Rachel.. don’t do this again.” She pleaded, I heard the fear in her voice. She didn’t want a repeat of what happened va 10 years ago.

But I couldn’t handle it. Not now. I just needed to get inside my room. I felt the tears hot in my eyes.

“Please, I just need to be alone.” I said in a whisper.

Mother finally nodded and opened the door for me. When she did I rushed inside and closed it. My chest felt heavy and I hated feeling frantic and lost. The tears were beginning to fall and I was breathing hard. I sat down on the bed and I felt my leg begin to hurt from the speed and force I had just exerted on it.

But for some reason, another pain I had never felt before numbed it out completely.

Enrique

On my way to Cecilia’s I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Rachel had looked at me. I had seen her annoyed, offended and even angry. But it was different this time.

I didn’t know why I had waited for her to say something to me before I left, I didn’t even know what I wanted to hear from her. But I had waited, and when nothing happened my mind screamed at me to leave. I didn’t look back even though I wanted to.

None of this was making sense-since when had I prioritized her feelings? Since when had I wanted her approval of what I did? And why did I desire her disapproval too?

These questions still filled my head as I spent the afternoon with Cecilia. She was a nice girl and I enjoyed spending time with her, but my mind was elsewhere. She had noticed because she told me she didn’t mind if I left, that she could make it back home safely. But I immediately dismissed that-there was no way I was leaving her to walk home. So I tried my best to focus on her and tried to imagine a life with her.

She was pretty; we could have strong, healthy and beautiful children. She was smart and funny so there would be no problem talking to one another and spending time together. I had seen other men looking at her as we walked by so I knew that she would look beautiful on my arm and most importantly-I knew she wanted to marry as soon as possible. She never mentioned love-in fact-the only time she did was when she said she didn’t believe in it. That it went against what she had studied in her philosophy books. She told me that she felt the need to say that to men so they didn’t think she was expecting a grand love story or romantic gestures. I also knew was an innocent which meant I would be the first and only man she’d be with- but I was confident I could satisfy her needs.

She was exactly what I had been looking for. She met all of the expectations. Rachel had found be the perfect woman in one night- I should have been thankful and proposed to Cecilia on the spot. Like her, I wanted to get marriage over with.

But I couldn’t do it. I was so close, I had everything to do it yet felt so far from it.

After I took Cecilia back home and as I tried falling asleep that night I tried planning my next steps. Trying to picture when and how I’d propose to Cecilia because it what I had said I would do- but every time I tried and every time I closed my eyes all I saw was her.

I saw Rachel’s face.

Her dimpled smile, her dark blonde hair in its usual silky braid and those large curious blue eyes. That’s all I saw.

I couldn’t see beyond her and it was driving me mad.