His dark-eyed gaze traveled the length of her body like a caress and back up to meet her eyes. “I’d say you look lovely, but you’re all hidden under a coat.”
Her heart dropped. His semi-compliment had been rote, and he still held himself back.
When she didn’t answer, he continued. “I’m sorry I’m late. I got held up at the ranch talking with our lawyer. Then my cell died or I would’ve called on the way over.” He gave her a chagrined grimace.
“I figured it had to be something like that.” Because he wasn’t the type of man to let a girl down. “What’s happening with your lawyer?”
“Good news on that front. They’ve made an arrest. The police and our lawyer seem to think our case is pretty cut and dried. Thanks to you, of course.”
Despite his rather cool delivery of good news, warmth radiated around the region of her heart. “I’m glad I could help.”
“Me, too. We’d better get going.”
He eyed the backpack she hefted over her shoulder.
“I have a surprise for Taylor and Eric.”
A familiar spark of amusement lit his eyes for a millisecond. “And it involves a backpack?”
“What’s in the backpack. Yes.”
“Right.”
She shivered as he blanked his expression, cutting off their connection as he sobered. Where’d the fun guy she’d bumped into at the bar go? Or the guy who sent her those flirty texts? She liked that guy better.
Ever the gentleman, Ryan escorted her to his truck. They didn’t talk much on the way to the church. As soon as they arrived, Ashley got swept up in the wedding activities and Ryan took his seat at the front of the church behind her parents.
As soft strains of music played, and the grandparents and mothers were seated, the music changed, and, one at a time, the bridesmaids started their processions down the aisle. Like the picture Ashley had texted him a few days ago, they were dressed in sparkling white gowns in a sheer material over a more opaque one in the same shade. Ryan didn’t know what material the dress was made of. Didn’t care. He just liked how it lovingly hugged her body.
Ashley, her long dark hair swept away from her face and curling down her back, made him think of angels. This was how she would look as a bride, walking down the aisle. Only her face would glow with happiness and pride as she moved to her groom’s side.
The image sucker punched him in the stomach, as he clearly pictured her making that walk. To him. Except she was still hung up on another man.
Ashley kept her eyes forward for the most part, though she darted glances at those gathered in the quaint old church pews. Then her gaze landed on him, and she smiled. A real smile, just for him, which lit her grey eyes with happiness.
An act of course, for their intended audience. But, in the space of less than two minutes, he got sucker punched again. Down for the count. Head over heels in love with Ashley Hughes.
Irritation sliced through him, and he had to relax his clenched fists. Irritation with her for dragging him into this lie, even if she had good reasons. Especially irritation with himself for entertaining emotions that had zero hope. For loving a woman for ten years who loved another man, even when that man was marrying her sister.
As Ashley glided to a stop at the front of the chapel, Ryan firmed his original plans for tonight in his head. Play along with her, help her by acting smitten, and then cut all ties. Time for him to move on.
The music changed, announcing the entrance of the bride. Ryan stood, along with everyone else, as the double doors were thrown back, and there stood Taylor. An Ashley look-a-like, but they never once fooled him. Neither his body nor his heart ever reacted to Taylor the way they did to Ashley.
Taylor wore a gown of claret red with white fur around her shoulders, the cuffs of her long sleeves, and the train. A true Christmas present for her bridegroom. So that’s why the bridesmaids were in white. Taylor had flipped the tradition.
Ryan glanced over the heads of those around him to see Eric—shoulders back, tall and proud—who never appeared happier as his bride walked toward him. Finally, his gaze moved to Ashley, who didn’t even spare a glance for the bridegroom. Her radiant smile was for her sister alone.
Despite his resolution, he couldn’t drag his gaze from Ashley for the rest of the ceremony, even if he wanted to. Luckily, he had the excuse of dating her, as far as the entire town was concerned, to justify his focus. Might as well put on a full show. He’d promised, after all.
Several times, when she angled toward the front, her gaze flickered his way. The fourth time that happened, he mouthed, I want you, and her checks turned a delightful pink. He also caught the hitch to those lovely lips, which he guessed held back a laugh.
The ceremony ended soon enough, and after the bridal party walked back down the aisle, the congregation dutifully filed out after them, a pew at a time.
At Linda’s request, he followed Ashley’s parents to where the bridal party and family gathered—a generic side room, which appeared to be where the choir dressed if the hanging robes were any clue. He approached Ashley from behind, giving the blonde from the bar last weekend a friendly, though distant, smile of recognition. He slipped an arm around Ashley’s waist and whispered in her ear. “You look gorgeous.”
She spun in his arms with a laugh that shot straight to his heart. His groin too, for that matter. “And you’re impossible. I can’t believe you said that in church.”
He put on his best innocent expression. “I didn’t say anything.”
She raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“I mouthed it.”
She shook her head at him but laughed again, and he tightened his arms around her in reaction to that gut- clenching sensation. Tonight was going to suck—fighting himself and her the entire evening.
“All right everyone,” Linda Hughes called, interrupting them. “Time for pictures. Let’s go back to the sanctuary.”
Ashley pulled a comical face. “I’m in the limo with the bridal party after pictures. Why don’t you head to the reception, and I’ll meet you there?”
“Sounds good.”
The reception was being held in what had once been a private club for the town’s wealthy elite—lovely with an antebellum design, all columns and white paint. He waited for Ashley in the foyer. Pictures took a while, but a waiter spied him and brought a beer.
“What next?” he asked when Ashley finally showed.
“I’m going to help Taylor bustle her train.” She waved toward her sister, who was gathering up the long red train as they spoke. “The dinner seating is assigned, and you’ll be next to me. Meet me at the table?”
“Sure.” He leaned down and kissed her. He’d meant for it to be quick and sweet, but she leaned into him, and he had to sip at those luscious lips a moment longer, awareness zinging through him.
With a jerk he pulled back. Cody had been right. Ashley Hughes was his kryptonite. To cover his odd actions, he resumed his part and smiled down into her dazed eyes. “Guess we jumped the gun and got dessert first.”
Her lips twitched even as she rolled her eyes. She gave him a playful shove toward the door. “Cheeseball. Get going.”
Ryan followed a few stragglers through the ornate double doors. Inside, the well-oiled mahogany wood gleamed. A sweeping grand staircase led upstairs, while the guests stayed downstairs in the ballroom, which boasted the original intricately carved bar from the 1800s and matching fireplace on the opposite wall. Soft lighting created by crystal chandeliers overhead established an appropriately romantic atmosphere, and a DJ played equally romantic music in the background. The entire room was lit with tiny white Christmas lights and decorated with holly and Christmas roses. The spicy scent of evergreen filled the air.
Ryan found the table sporting mason jars filled with hot chocolate mix—so that’s what Ashley had been doing when he went to her parents’ for dinner that night. Their family room had been littered with these jars, assembly-line fashion, only he’d been too focused
on her to ask.
Attached to each jar was a name and table assignment. Both his and Ashley’s jars in hand, he wandered over to the long table where the wedding party was seated and claimed two seats for them. For now, he was alone.
“So you and Ashley Hughes, huh?”
Ryan glanced up to find Laurie Jackson standing beside him. They’d dated several years back, but he hadn’t seen her in a while.
“Hey, Laurie.” He stood and gave her a hug.
She grinned and pushed his shoulder playfully. “You’re not getting out of telling me how you ended up with Ashley Hughes. Is she the reason I broke up with you?”
Ryan crossed his arms. “I thought I broke up with you?” He winked to take the sting out of the words.
Laurie laughed. “No way. So…what’s the story?”
Ryan sobered. Time to play a part. “You know we were good friends once. Now that Eric’s out of the way, we’re giving it a go.”
Laurie’s teasing fell away as well, replaced by genuine happiness shadowed by concern. “Really, though. Is she the reason you never gave us a chance?”
He had no intention of admitting as much, not wanting to hurt Laurie. “I’m going to marry that girl, if she’ll let me.” The truth to uphold the lie.
“I hope so. Because if she’s the girl you couldn’t move past, I’d say you’re worthless for any other woman.”
Ouch. Exactly his concern, because if that was true, his future did not hold much happiness. “Gee, thanks.”
“Hi, Laurie.” Ashley’s soft voice interrupted them.
Ryan slowly turned to find her standing behind him. Her expression offered no clue as to how much she’d overheard.
“Hi, Ashley. It’s been a while.” Laurie moved to give her a hug, which Ashley returned while sending him a quizzical glance over Laurie’s shoulder.
Laurie turned to Ryan. “Save me a dance, lover.” She winked and sashayed away.
Ryan shook his head. Laurie’d always been a handful.
“Take a seat… Lover.” Luckily, Ashley giggled over the last word. At least she hadn’t appeared to take Laurie seriously.
“Don’t you think that was taking it a bit too far?”
Her question had him turning to face her. “What?”
She rolled her eyes and dropped her voice to imitate him. “I’m going to marry that girl, if she’ll let me.”
She was trying to tease him, but he caught the flash of doubt in her eyes. His slow burn of irritation heated to anger. “And what if I meant it?”
Ashley glanced around them, but no one else had joined them yet. They were, essentially, alone. “No one is around to hear you. You can cut the act with me.”
Ryan clenched his jaw. “Right.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but Taylor and Eric chose that instant to make their entrance.
While Ryan sat beside her, they didn’t have much privacy as the wedding party talked weddings in general. “Where would you want to go on your honeymoon?” she asked Ryan, wanting the easy conversation they’d shared earlier this week back.
He considered her question. “I’m happy to travel just about anywhere, so I guess I’d like to take my bride somewhere she’s always wanted to go.”
Before she could comment, he leaned around her to address Taylor on her other side. “Do you know where Eric is taking you for the honeymoon yet?”
“He told me to pack for warm weather and beaches. Beyond that I have no idea.”
He glanced at Ashley. “I bet you know.”
She did but wasn’t telling. “Maybe. Maybe not.” She winked and caught the hitch to his lips that almost constituted a smile.
He had been running hot and cold all evening. Not that she was all that surprised. He still believed what he thought he’d seen at the restaurant. At least he’d showed tonight. She wished…
Pushing aside her questions and crazy wishful thinking, Ashley stood and snagged her backpack, which she’d stashed under the table. “I’ll be right back.”
Setting up her surprise for Taylor and Eric took only ten minutes as she’d already discussed things with the reception coordinator, who’d made sure to have a projection screen and projector set up and waiting. As soon as she had things ready, Ashley moved in front of the bridal party table and faced the rest of their gathered loved ones. When no one paid her much attention, she grabbed Taylor’s knife and tapped it against her glass.
“What are you doing?” Taylor half-whispered, half-hissed.
Ashley grinned. She’d been waiting to share this surprise for weeks. Had worked to have it ready long before she arrived home so there’d be no chance of anyone accidentally seeing it ahead of time. “You’ll see.”
She turned back, satisfied she now had everyone’s attention—the murmur of voices quieting and all eyes turned her way. “I’ll make a formal maid of honor speech during all the speeches later, but, first, I have a surprise for my little sister.”
“Younger only by ten minutes,” Taylor groused behind her, garnering a chuckle.
“When I asked Taylor if she needed any pictures for the traditional wedding video, she said they weren’t doing one. Apparently, she and Eric have only a few photos of the two them together because their courtship was on the short side.”
A few folks shifted in their seats uncomfortably, but Ashley didn’t worry about them. She wasn’t about to ruin the evening with drama.
“What Taylor didn’t know then is I’d already gone through most of my old pictures before I’d talked to her. Do you want to know what I found?”
She clicked the button to turn on the video and a picture of Taylor and Eric, laughing together at a pool party a few years earlier, appeared on the projector screen off to the side.
“I discovered a love story going back years. Taylor and Eric may only have realized their love for each other recently. But I think you’ll all agree when you see this… Their love is true, and wonderful, and beautiful.” She turned to face them. “This video is for you. I love you both.”
Her mother might’ve sobbed quietly as Ashley moved back to her seat, but she didn’t look. Best not to, or she’d be a goner as she had a strict no-crying-alone-in-my-presence policy. Instead, she focused on Ryan, whose expression remained inscrutable. Still, he provided a steadiness she needed at that moment.
The music came on and a series of photos flashed on the screen, starting with Taylor and Eric growing up separately—adorable baby pictures, silly faces, and horrible fashion choices. The video then moved into pictures of Eric and Taylor together. She hadn’t exaggerated about the love story she’d discovered. She found tons of pictures of Taylor and Eric together through the years—all very innocent, always laughing or talking, or hanging out in a group. While pure, their connection showed through, obvious in every single photo.
The video ended with their engagement picture.
Taylor turned to her with tears in her eyes and flung her arms around her neck. “You really are happy for us.”
Ashley squeezed her back. “Finally, you believe me! I don’t know why you ever doubted it.”
Taylor sat back and grabbed her napkin to dab at her face. “You aren’t happy in Dallas. Don’t tell me you are. I could tell every time I talked to you. I worried…”
Ashley put a hand over Taylor’s. “My happiness or otherwise has nothing to do with you and Eric. I’m thrilled you found each other. Finally.”
“And now you’ve found Ryan.”
Ashley stiffened, but managed to smile. “You enjoy your wedding and honeymoon and stop worrying about me.”
“She’s my worry now.” Ryan’s laughter-laced voice interrupted. He was back to putting on a show.
“Good luck,” Taylor told him.
“Hey,” Ashley protested.
A strong arm wrapped around her stomach, and he pulled her backward off her chair and onto his lap. She swung her head to protest and warm lips brushed hers in a chaste kiss which still left her tingling.
<
br /> “If I get to worry about you every day of my life, Hughes, I’d count myself a lucky man.”
Her heart constricted. Ashley wished, with all her heart, he meant those words.
“Too bad you missed out on having a double wedding today,” Taylor teased.
In a bit of a haze, body and heart pounding after his actions and words, Ashley turned away from the man whose desire was making itself known in the form of a hard bulge currently pressed against her hip. Usually an even-tempered person, Ashley struggled with all the ups and downs Ryan was putting her through. A yo-yo got less action.
“I think we need more time before we’re at that stage.” She managed to squeak the words out as she scooted off his lap and back into her own seat.
Taylor laughed. “Judging by the sparks you throw off, don’t wait too long.”
An ache settled in Ashley’s heart. After tonight, she wouldn’t see him again, other than as casual acquaintances when she bothered to visit home.
17
“When a person kisses another person, then they are married.” –A.J., age 5
Ashley woke Christmas morning, and her first thoughts were of Ryan. All night they had cuddled and kissed and acted out their parts. And her heart had cracked a little more with every passing second. Long before the wedding, she’d found herself wishing their pretense were real. By the end of the night, she’d had to clamp her mouth shut around those words.
Ryan had played the perfect gentleman the rest of the night, and when all the celebrating wrapped up, he’d driven her home. She stood on her parents’ porch expecting him to say something.
Instead, he looked down at her and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Hughes.”
“I…” She honestly hadn’t known what to say. Hope wanted to blurt out her love for him, but her life’s experience held her silent. She knew now Ryan’s harsh words in the past were driven by thinking she deserved more. Better. Her heart had let all their old animosity go that day at his house when he’d tried to explain. But that same heart had assumed she’d marry Eric. For years. Could she trust herself?
Home for the Holidays: A Contemporary Romance Anthology Page 62