The Academic Bride

by Lucy McConnell

  Mia smiled. This is why she loved coming over to the Montgomerys’. “Thanks. Thank you.”

  “Hey, Ma, Pops.” Carter came in and gave his mom a kiss on the head. He too grabbed a chair from the wall. Bonnie and Roy scooted closer to Mia and Carter ended up across from her at the small table.

  “How’s the gazebo?” Mia asked—kind of teasing him about their conversation the other night. Kind of trying to change the subject.

  He lifted an eyebrow, accepting the challenge. “Good. I’m thinking of putting in a pergola.”

  “Oh!” Bonnie’s hands flew to her ample chest. “I’ve always wanted a pergola. Don’t you just love that word? Per-go-la.”

  Mia stifled her laughter.

  “Where are ya gonna put a pergola? That gazebo takes up half the backyard and we’ve got the breakfast tables out there.” Roy folded his arms.

  “It doesn’t matter where he puts it—my Carter will make it beautiful.” Bonnie patted his shoulder.

  “Of course it matters where he puts it.”

  Bonnie and Roy went back and forth. Mia met Carter’s gaze and they both shuddered with silent laughter. Amos appeared with a platter of pineapple-glazed ham and asparagus.

  “Oh, that looks good,” said Roy, rubbing his hands together. “I’m going to get me a plate.”

  “You already had dinner,” said Bonnie.

  “And I’m going to have another.” He disappeared in the kitchen and reappeared with three plates and silverware. “Amos, let me grab you a chair.”

  Amos looked at everyone gathered around the table and shrugged. “My cause is lost for the evening.” He ended up between Mia and Roy.

  They spent the meal talking about the remodeling project in the basement, upcoming reservations, and the weather. Carter didn’t say anything about dropping her off at the hospital or why, which she was grateful for. In fact, it was an almost perfect evening. Several times, Mia couldn’t help but think that Ryder would love to be here. His sense of humor and teasing wit were as much Montgomery as his straight nose and the cleft in his chin.

  Driving home, feeling refreshed and happy and accepted, Mia couldn’t help but think that every night could be like that if she really dated Carter.

  Trouble was, she didn’t want to date Carter. What she really wanted was his family. Was she being selfish, though, for wanting more than family dinners and a wonderful support group? Were moonlight, candlelight, and daylight kisses too much to hope for? Sometimes she wondered if God had planned for her to be alone in life. Did He really make someone for everyone, or was finding a soul mate like playing musical chairs—the last one to sit down was out? Somehow, she couldn’t imagine that was the way it was supposed to go.

  Not every love story followed the same pattern. Roy had a rough road before he found Bonnie. Her mom turned her dad’s proposal down twice before saying yes. Maybe her love story skipped the courtship and went right to the engagement.

  She rubbed her bare ring finger—the lack of ring taunting her for believing in something she didn’t have any proof of.

  Except that kiss.

  A kiss like that was proof there were real feelings between her and Ryder.

  Not being able to see something didn’t mean it wasn’t real. It just meant she had to have faith enough to make it real.

  Exhausted and confused more than ever, Mia slept restlessly.

  Chapter 11

  Mia donned her running shoes and got in her car. Poor Jasper had been cooped up all day yesterday with Ryder, and she was sure the lab would need to release some energy. If she was honest with herself, she probably needed to release some energy too, and running with a dog allowed her to go on her own down the river trail that she’d always avoided. Having read one too many romantic suspense stories about women attacked while running alone, she never had the guts to try it, but with Jasper by her side, she felt brave.

  Parking on the curb, she went to the side gate and called, “Jasper.” He bounded out the doggie door and right to the new leash she’d purchased at Just a Dollar. Sliding a note through the mail slot, she started off with the dog trotting happily by her side. “Good boy,” she cooed.

  Jasper did his job of protecting her well. He chose to run on her right, between her and the tree line. When a biker approached from behind, Jasper fell back and allowed her room to move over. When another runner approached from the front, he moved out ahead and followed their movements.

  By the time she got back to Ryder’s place, she’d decided that no matter what happened with Ryder, she was going to find a way to keep visitation rights with Jasper.

  Since it was after seven, she let herself in using Ryder’s keys, which she’d forgotten to return. The dog ran right for his water dish in the kitchen.

  “Hello?” Mia called quietly.

  “In here,” Ryder called from the kitchen.

  Rounding the corner, Mia was surprised to find him at the stove, pushing scrambled eggs around in a frying pan.

  “Hungry?”

  She looked down at her running gear—a pair of tight black pants, a hot-pink running shirt, and a matching hoodie. “Um …”

  “It’s nothing formal.” Ryder gestured to the pan.

  “Looks great.”

  A slow smile spread across Ryder’s face. “Great, huh?”

  Mia blushed. She needed to stop using that word around him.

  Ryder motioned her over. “Thanks for leaving a note and for taking Jasper running. He’s used to putting in a few miles a day, and obviously I’m not going to be up to that for a while.”

  “Yeah—I may have to kidnap him a couple more times this week. He’s a great running partner.” Grabbing plates out of the cupboard, she set the table quickly. She also retrieved the orange juice and some cups in the amount of time it took Ryder to hobble to his seat.

  “Show-off.” He gave her a lopsided grin.

  She smirked and speared a bite to eat. The eggs had a little kick—probably from Tabasco sauce, another one of Amos’s tricks. Looked like she wasn’t the only one who’d taken cooking lessons.

  “Do you need a ride to work?” Even with the run, she was on top of her schedule this morning and could work in a drop-off if needed.

  “That would be awkward since I mostly work from home.”

  “That will save on daycare for the twins,” Mia joked. Realizing what she’d said, she shoved a forkful into her mouth and averted her gaze.

  “Your employee discount at the ski resort will come in handy too, when it’s time to put them in lessons.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” She sucked down her orange juice, feeling overheated.

  Ryder nodded. “We can put them in half-day lessons so you and I can get in a few runs and a romantic lunch before we take them out together.”

  “Sounds … great.” There was that word again—great. And it really would be great, if only it were true.

  Happy and calm. She repeated the doctor’s orders. Funny, she hadn’t had to remind herself the other day when they were together. However, being in the Montgomery world instead of the Ryder world jolted her enough to remember who she was and who Ryder was and where they were in relation to one another.

  “I have to go.” She needed some space. The whole morning had been perfect and she hated herself for allowing it to affect her the way it did. Distance was needed to clear her head. She was falling for Ryder. Falling fast and hard. Or maybe she already had.

  Ryder grabbed her hand as she walked by, making her stop. Her breath hitched as she followed the line of his jaw with her gaze before letting it land on his lips.

  “Have a great day.” He kissed her palm, his scruff tickling her skin.

  “Thanks,” she squeaked.

  Jasper pushed his way between them, begging for attention. Ryder’s laugh filled the kitchen.

  Grinning and thankful for the interruption before things got too heated between them, Mia waved from the doorway before she left. The second she stepped onto t
he porch, she missed Ryder’s laughter and had to fight off the urge to call in sick.

  Staring at the screen, Mia checked the reservation request again, unable to process what the client was asking for. Some guests, the ones that rented penthouses, put in for things like a butler or a personal assistant to have on call while they were at the resort. Sandra had trained her on how to discern which employee went with which client before she left for a one-day conference. But she had a hard time navigating the process when all she could see was two little boys with Ryder’s dark hair and beautiful eyes going down the starter hill for the first time.

  The image was all too easy to conjure up. Darn it all. Ryder was having dreams of her pregnant and she was having visions of their future children. This was not at all how life was supposed to work.

  For the love of Pete, normal people went on dates. Lots and lots of them. Long before they ever discussed things like children and pregnancies. She was so confused. On the one hand, she could have Ryder, and on the other, she could have the Montgomerys—but she couldn’t see a world where they were both in her life.

  “Mia!” Gertie, the receptionist, tapped her shoulder. “Where are you? I’ve been standing here for five minutes.” She tapped her foot and put her hand to her hip. Gertie was nearing forty. She had shoulder-length blond hair, big blue eyes, and lips so thin they were nonexistent.

  Mia doubted she’d been there for long. Gertie leaned towards the dramatic side of life. “I am in so much trouble.” Mia fanned her face.

  “Why—did you mess up the assignments?” Gertie leaned in to look at the screen.

  “No.” She shook her head. “I think I’m falling in love with Ryder.”

  Gertie slid into the cubicle, her face alight with curiosity. “What about …” She snapped her fingers, trying to come up with a name. “That guy you went to the movies with the other night?”

  “Carter. He’s a friend. A good friend. The best.” She slapped her leg. “Ugh! According to Amos, I’m supposed to marry Carter, move into the B&B, and live happily ever after.” She adored Amos and valued his opinion. He was a good man and he’d seen enough heartache in life to recognize something good when it was there.

  “But you love Ryder?”

  Mia dropped her head to the desk and left it there. “I might. What is love supposed to feel like?”

  “What are you asking me for?” Gertie sounded put out.

  “Because you’re married.” Mia lifted her head, exasperated. “How did you know he was the one?”

  A soft smile appeared on Gertie’s face. “I guess everything just sort of clicked. Like we were a perfect fit.”

  Mia nodded. “So it was comfortable.” She thought back to the ham dinner she’d shared with the Montgomerys just a couple of nights ago, of the easy way they bantered back and forth and the acceptance she felt—like she was already one of the family. A vote in the Carter column.

  “No way—I was scared and nervous and thrilled all at the same time, several times a day.”

  So … Ryder.

  “We didn’t know each other that long, but I could picture my life with him.”

  Another vote for Ryder.

  “And I loved his family—they took me in like I was one of their own.”

  So … Carter. Except that Carter and Ryder had the same family. But Ryder didn’t talk to his family and Carter was all about his family. So it really was a vote for Carter.

  “And there’s something to be said for chemistry.”

  Ryder, then. Mia glared. “You’re not helping.”

  “And you’re not getting anything done.” She tapped the desk with her pointer finger.

  “Fine.” Scooting her rolling chair in, she added Ralf’s name to the Fairchild reservation and moved on to the next item on her list.

  Gertie stood up. “Mia?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Follow your heart.”

  Mia’s fingers paused over the keyboard. “What if my heart is wrong and I lose everyone I care about?”

  “Hearts are never wrong.” She smiled kindly and headed towards her desk.

  Mia searched her heart and came up with a fifty-fifty split between the Montgomerys as a group and Ryder on his own. “Stupid heart,” she muttered as she went back to work.

  Chapter 12

  Mia pulled to a stop in front of Ryder’s house and killed the engine. A large yellow envelope sat on the passenger seat. This wasn’t going to be easy, but she needed to have the legal papers signed tonight. Sandra would be back from the conference and needed this all tied up.

  Promising herself that she would be professional and keep her distance, she knocked on the front door. There was no answer. Ringing the bell, she pictured Ryder fallen, reinjuring everything, and unable to get up. Her leg started bouncing. After waiting a full thirty seconds, she groaned. “For heaven’s sake.” She dug in her purse for his keys, which she was definitely giving him back today, and opened the door. “Ryder,” she called, hating the worry lining her tone.

  He didn’t answer and Jasper didn’t appear. Her worry growing, she mustered up some courage to explore the house. Poking her head in the master bedroom, she noticed his bed was made but rumpled, like he’d taken a nap on top of the bed spread. What a cozy little thought that was! Moving on, she finally went to the back door and looked in the yard for Jasper.

  Ryder was out by the fire pit. His leg propped on a drink table and he tipped his head back, catching the only sunshine they’d had today on his perfect face. The slight wave in his hair caused it to fall over his forehead in that tempting way she loved so much.

  Well, crap.

  She opened the door and made her way across the backyard. Ryder looked up with a big sunshine-and-lazy-day grin spread across his face. “Hello, beautiful.”

  Her resolve to be professional melted like an Oreo cookie in milk. How great would it be to come home to that every day? To a man who not only called her beautiful but made her feel it down to her toes.

  She settled into the chair next to him. There were two—a pair—one for him and one for her. She held up the envelope because she needed the reminder as to why she was here in the first place. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” he said again with a grin. Taking her free hand and ignoring the envelope, he toyed with her fingers. “I missed you.”

  Her mouth went dry. “You have?”

  “I have.” He kissed her fingers one at a time. Her arm went limp and she sank into the seat cushion, grateful it was there to catch her.

  Mia could easily scoot her chair closer, lean into him, stare at the dancing flames, and whittle the evening away just being near him. She turned away in an effort to focus. At first, she thought she was addled, and then she realized something was going on. “Why is your fire green?”

  Ryder reached down next to his seat and picked up a package that said Magic Fire on the front. “I bought this on Amazon. Isn’t it cool?”

  She laughed as she took it from him, examining the multicolored image on the front. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Me neither.”

  Handing him back the Magic Fire, she waved the envelope. No time like the present to throw liability disclosures at the guy. “I need you to sign some papers saying you don’t hold Ruby Mountain Resort responsible for your accident.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “You know I’m a lawyer, right?”

  She smiled. “Yes, but you work from home so I figured you weren’t a real lawyer,” she teased.

  He smiled back. “It’s not as glamorous as you make it sound.”

  Curiosity got the better of her, and she allowed it to pull her off track. “Seriously, how do you work from home?”

  “I own a website that offers will preparation. I have basic fill-in-the blank forms, which sell like hotcakes by the way, and offer a custom service for a nominal fee.”

  “Oh. I’ve never thought about preparing my will.”

  “You’re not my target audience.”

/>   “Since I don’t have a family.” She felt his classification as a rub.

  “No.” He kissed the back of her hand. “Since you’re under fifty. You are under fifty, right? Because if not, dang, woman!” He gave her knee a squeeze.

  Laughing, she moved away. “Stop that, I’m ticklish.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows.

  She thrust the envelope into his hands to save herself from tickle torcher. Ryder eyed her, obviously filing that information away for later as he slid the papers out. Leaning back in her chair, she kicked off her heels and put her feet up on the edge of the fire pit, letting the heat relax her arches. If heaven were on earth, it would be right here.

  “Do they have all the lifties deliver legal papers, or am I getting special treatment?”

  Mia laid her head back. “I’m not a liftie anymore.”

  “They fired you?” Ryder’s body tensed, his arm muscles going all bulgy and dangerous.

  Mia tipped her head his way, enjoying the view. “Gear down, Rambo. I moved over to guest relations the day after your accident.”

  Ryder dropped the papers on the side table and eyed her. “I thought you loved being a liftie. I mean, you looked like you loved it.”

  “I do. I did. My dad was a liftie and he was the one who got me on at the resort.” She ran her hand through her hair. “I don’t know why I told you that.” There was this easiness with Ryder. Actually, there was an easiness with the whole Montgomery family, but with Ryder it was easy and it was exhilarating. She wanted him to know and be a part of every minute of her life in a very close and intimate way.

  Ryder grew thoughtful. “I haven’t seen my dad in almost four months. Since Christmas Eve.”

  Mia thought of Roy, of the way he opened his heart and his home to everyone who came through the doors of the Emerald Inn. He was the most giving, kind, and gentle soul she’d ever met. “And whose fault is that?”

  Ryder shifted. “You don’t know my childhood.”

  Mia felt her two worlds come too close together and backpedaled. “I know that I’d do anything to have one more minute with my dad.”