by Megan Ryder
The rehearsal and the dinner were seriously awkward affairs. While everyone in the wedding party seemed determined to put on a good face for the bride and groom, they fell far short of their goal. The evening was uncomfortable and filled with sideways glares, snarky comments, and dead silences. Normally only for the bridal party and the bride and groom’s families, Caroline had extended the invitation to the dinner to the many guests who were coming overnight, including Ethan’s parents and his girlfriend.
Delaney choked down salmon that was probably quite excellent but tasted like sawdust. She survived until Caroline’s father made his toast and she made a quick escape, hoping to avoid Ethan for a short while longer. Heavy footsteps followed her out onto the porch. Her tactic didn’t work.
She turned and came right up against Ethan, his arms coming up to grasp her upper arms and hold her in place.
“You’re a hard woman to pin down.”
“I hardly think you’d notice, as occupied by your girlfriend as you seem to be.” She spat the last words, finally giving vent to the anger that had been a low simmer all day.
He released her and ran a hand through his sandy blond hair, taking a few steps to the railing. “Delaney, I swear, she means nothing to me.”
“Isn’t that what most cheaters say?” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God. I’m the piece on the side, the mistress, the slut stealing her man. How could you do that to me?”
“Oh, Jesus. You’ve spent too much time with Anna this week. Stop being so dramatic. Yes, she is someone I’ve seen casually, nothing serious. Neither one of us are serious. How can we be, when she’s in Houston and I’m on the vineyard?”
“Have you told her that, or your family? I don’t think they got the memo.” She crossed her arms and stayed just out of his reach.
“She knows. And we’re not dating now and haven’t been. It was always for events, nothing else.”
Delaney cocked her head. “So why is she here? Apparently, someone thinks you two are together. She certainly thinks you have a shot. You might want to clue her in because she thinks you two are a couple.” Her voice raised on the last notes, echoing in the growing darkness.
He made a sound of frustration and threw his head back, staring at the ceiling as if asking for strength from a higher power. “Okay, you’re right. I’ll talk to her. But trust me, there were never any promises between us and my father and Kira knew this. I don’t know why they’re doing this, except out of some misguided attempt to play matchmaker or manipulate me. But it’s not my game.”
She sighed. “Fine, I believe you.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “Just like that. You believe me?”
She folded her arms and cocked her eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I? Look, I know Kira hates me. Lord knows she’s made no secret of that over the years, poking her nose in at the museum, trying to get me fired all the time. I can see her playing this game. But Ethan, you have to know they’re doing this to keep us apart. They’re using her and this situation. Cami seems like a nice girl. She doesn’t deserve to be led on like this.”
“I know. You’re right.” He sighed and stepped up the porch railing, staring out into the night. “After we broke up, it was hard going to events alone. She was someone I could take when I needed a date, nothing more. We tried a relationship but it was like dating my sister, only less lethal.” He looked at her. “She’s not you.”
Delaney’s heart lurched in her chest and she pressed a hand against her stomach. “Ethan, I don’t know what to say.”
He took a deep breath. “Look, I’ll send her home tomorrow. The ferry isn’t running anymore tonight, but she can be on the first one tomorrow, if that’s what you want.”
Delaney’s arms dropped and she stepped around him to the railing. “No, don’t do that. It only makes me look like a jealous and petty bitch. It might cause issues with your parents and the wedding.”
He stepped up close to her, not quite touching, but heat radiated off him, warming her back. “What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything you want.”
She sighed, resisting the urge to lean back into his strength. “I don’t know what I want, Ethan. Maybe to turn back time to yesterday.”
“I want that too,” he replied fervently. “You have to trust me. Cami means nothing to me. We’re just casual dating partners.”
“With benefits?”
“Benefits? The only benefit we share is keeping our families off our backs and a plus one for events. Nothing more. I swear.”
She turned and faced him. “Ethan, maybe we’re kidding ourselves. Your family...”
He pressed two fingers to her lips, silencing her. “Don’t say anything more. Just trust me about Cami. Let’s get through this weekend, then we’ll deal with everything else.”
She leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Are we kidding ourselves with this? Can we really have a second chance? Your family will never accept me now.”
He pulled back and tilted her head to look at him. “You don’t know that. Kira is Kira. Nothing will change her, but my father can be persuaded. In fact, he wants me to return to the business and said it might be a way to help you recover your reputation.”
She stepped out of his arms. “Recover my reputation? Weren’t you the one who said none of my father’s crimes were my fault? If you believe that, then why do I need you to redeem me? Is there anything wrong with who I am now?”
He stared at her, realization dawning on his face as he watched her. He opened his mouth to speak and she held up her hand.
“No, I’m speaking now. All week, you’ve told me I should be proud of what I’ve done—supported my mom and me, handling all the legal affairs after my father’s death, creating a new life. And I’m proud of what I’ve done. It may not be starting a vineyard or becoming famous in Texas for wines, but I’m not ashamed of what I’ve done. I’m proud and if you don’t agree, then we have bigger problems.”
“Delaney, I’m proud of you. I just meant that, if I come back to Houston and return to the firm, you won’t have to work so hard and can have the life you were always meant to have.”
It was her turn to have a realization, one that had nothing to do with Ethan or anyone else. “Maybe I don’t know where I’m going next and have no idea what I want to do, but I can handle it and I’ll figure it out. I don’t need you to protect me anymore.”
“Oh, great. We’re back to that? I stood by you back then. You were the one to toss me aside. Besides, what’s so wrong with wanting to take care of your fiancée?” He pivoted on his heel and ran his fingers through his hair again. “Look, I don’t want to fight. Can we please table this until after the wedding? Next week we’ll talk about this.”
She crossed her arms again, shutting him out. “Fine. For Caroline and Matthew. But we need to discuss it.”
“Fine.” He held out his hand. “Now, do you want to come inside? It’s getting cool out here.”
She glanced at his hand then around at the dark night. “No. I think I’ll stay out here for a few minutes. I need the break from everything.”
He nodded then pulled her flush against his body, her folded arms pressed against his chest. He lowered his lips and kissed her long, slow, and deep. Desire stirred low in her belly and she resisted the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and hold him close, preventing the outside world from intruding on them.
“Remember that I love you. That will never change.” He spoke fiercely, imprinting the words on her heart with ferocity.
She pressed a hand against his cheek. “I know, Ethan. I love you too.”
He hugged her tightly then let her go, walking into the hotel restaurant without a backward glance.
Delaney wrapped her pashmina around her to ward off the chill and sat in a rocking chair on the porch. She tucked her legs under her, pulling her dress over her feet to keep them warm in the rapidly cooling evening. A flash of light to her right and then the smell of a cigar wafted over to her, indica
ting someone else had been on the porch, maybe having witnessed the entire confrontation. The figure walked toward her slowly, until finally the light spilling out of the restaurant illuminated him.
Ethan’s father, William Van Owen. A man who was almost as close to her as her own father at one time. A man who betrayed her by his rejection as much as her own father had by his crime and subsequent death.
She made as if to rise, not feeling up to another battle, more blows to her fragile ego.
But he gestured for her to remain seated. “Please, don’t go on my account. In fact, I hoped we could talk without everyone seeing. Our friends are such gossipmongers, don’t you agree?”
Without waiting for a response, he pulled up a straight-backed chair and sat, studying her for a long moment. Delaney watched him warily but refused to give in to fear or any other emotion. He couldn’t control her anymore.
He puffed on his cigar for a moment then sighed. “I hear congratulations are in order. You and my son?”
She inclined her head, still waiting for the point to the conversation. “We’re trying things out again. No promises.”
He pursed his lips and exhaled some smoke, making sure it was off to the side, but the wind still caught it and wafted the smoke back to her. She coughed, having never liked the smell of cigars even when her father smoked them.
He apologized and tapped it out in the complimentary ashtray on the table between their chairs. “My wife hates these things. She won’t even let me smoke them outside our house, hates the smell on my clothes. It’s my one vice from before the heart attack. I had hoped the sea air would minimize the smell.”
“My mother never liked them either.” Delaney lifted her chin. “What do you want, William?”
He smiled. “Getting right to the point, eh? Good. I like that. I never thanked you for paying back what your father stole from us, did I?” At her surprised look, he nodded. “You didn’t think I knew it was you, did you? I know you’ve been paying back the people you can from your own salary. Oh, yes, I’ve kept tabs on you.”
“To make sure I’m nowhere near your son.” Bitterness tinged her words.
“That too. But you were like a daughter to me.”
“Then I feel sorry for your daughter, Samantha, if you treat her like you treated me,” she replied dryly.
“You’re not married, are you? But you know Kira. Forgive me if I try to make my life a little easier. She can be, how shall we say it, vehement in her beliefs. But I think you already know that. I hear she has made your life a bit difficult. She has a talent for that and, I admit, I try to keep the peace for my sake.”
His smile was a little sad, but Delaney had known him for far too long to be deceived. Instead of replying, she braced herself for the next line of attack. She didn’t have to wait long.
After a short pause, he continued. “I heard Ethan tell you he was coming back to work for me. I believe I have you to thank for that.”
“Really?” She arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize I had that much power over Ethan.”
“Neither did I.” The last was said almost under his breath, as if not meant for her to hear. “He wants to take care of you in the manner in which he can only do if he comes back to Van Owen Financial. He’ll even abandon his love, the vineyard, for you.”
She furrowed her brow. “I would move to the vineyard if he wants.”
William laid a hand on her hand, his expression sympathetic. “Can you really be happy there? Just think about it. If Ethan returns to Houston, you can be back on top.”
She pulled her hand away. “I only want Ethan to be happy. I don’t need him to be in Houston. My mom is moving, so I have nothing keeping me there.”
He moved his hand back to his leg and leaned back against the chair back, frowning to himself. After several moments, he spoke. “I hadn’t heard that. I would have thought that would have been mentioned in this article.”
He pulled a folded-up, thin magazine out of his jacket and placed it on the table between them. The headline screamed “Martin Winters—Five Years Later.”
The porch swam in front of her eyes and she stared at the article, at the headline in big block letters. Damn, she had forgotten all about the article her mother had mentioned to her a lifetime ago, even though it was only last week. Numbly, she picked it up but couldn’t seem to focus on it. She looked over at William, who studied her intently.
“This is why you can never be with Ethan, not as long as he works for me. You will always drag him down. You can’t outrun your past, Delaney, even if you change your name. You only have one choice. Leave Houston forever.”
His words fell like a bomb between them, and she struggled to not react, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had affected her.
She put it back on the table without reading it, lifting a cool gaze to William. “So, I’ll go to the vineyard.”
“That’s no longer an option for Ethan. He knows this. He has to do his duty by his family and return to the firm. But if he brings you along with him, well, you saw what happened before.” He relit his cigar and puffed on it, smug satisfaction radiating off him like the noxious fumes from his cigar.
Delaney’s stomach lurched and she wasn’t sure if it was from the smoke or fear. She narrowed her gaze and thought about the situation. What did he really want? It was obvious he wanted Ethan back with the family and her long gone. Clearly, Ethan had a different perspective on his prospective return and her role in that.
She folded her arms. “This isn’t the past. A lot has changed.”
“But a lot has not changed. Including the fact you’re the daughter of a thief.”
“My father is dead.”
“You forget the numerous news stories about your extravagances and spending. Your reputation was irreparably damaged by the scandal. And investors have long memories. We’ve just gotten rid of the black cloud of suspicion. If Ethan takes over for me with you as his wife, then he will never be able to come out from under the cloud.”
She laughed. “Seriously? I think you’re overestimating my influence, William.”
“Really?” He arched his eyebrow. “Are you willing to take that chance and risk ruining Ethan’s future and his family’s heritage and watching his love turn to hate?”
Delaney unfolded herself from the chair and stood slowly, repositioning the pashmina over her shoulders. “William, I’m sorry if you think I’m such a threat to you and your family. But if you have these issues, take them up with Ethan. You won’t manipulate me again, like you did before. Don’t think I don’t know that you convinced me I could ruin you and Ethan back then. I am a different person now. I trust Ethan, and he trusts me.”
William also stood, much more slowly than usual, as if his legs were weaker than before. For the first time, Delaney noticed how much thinner he was, more pale than before, and guilt pricked her.
“You don’t know anything, Delaney. You don’t know Ethan. I’m only doing what I think is best for him because it’s clear he’s still blinded by lust or guilt over the past. Maybe it’s my fault. I instilled in him an overdeveloped sense of responsibility.”
“You think he’s with me because of guilt or pity?” She laughed. “You keep thinking that if it helps you realize he’s a grown man and not under your thumb anymore. How are you treating him any different, manipulating him with rumors of your health?”
“They’re not rumors. My doctors have told me I need to slow down, begin thinking of retirement.” He looked at her for a long moment, glimmers of his past strength coming through in his steady gaze. “I can see I won’t change your mind. I’m not doing this for me, but for him. Please think about it and the impact on him before you make any decisions. Don’t destroy anyone else, Delaney. You saved him once. Please think beyond yourself. If you do this, I believe I can persuade Kira to back off on you at the museum. That way, everybody wins.”
He strode past her then paused. “You can keep the article. I think it
makes my point more eloquently than I ever could.”
He opened the door to the hotel, the light and noise spilling out into the darkness momentarily, only to be cut off abruptly with a bang.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ethan sipped his whiskey and watched the porch door, waiting for Delaney to come back in. A strong floral scent drifted over to him, teasing his senses. He glanced over. Kira stood a few feet away, her Shalini perfume tickling his nose, reminding him of funerals, particularly the flowers at his mother’s funeral fifteen years earlier. He wrinkled his nose but tamped down the urge to sneeze, not wanting to give her a reaction.
She glided over the few steps and laid a hand on his arm. “Ethan, darling. You’ve been neglecting poor Cami all night long. She came all this way to see you.”
He scowled. “You brought her. You entertain her. I’m the best man, here for Matthew and the wedding.”
She waved her hand, her new diamond bracelet glinting in the light. “We both know weddings are for the brides. The groom just has to show up. And Matthew is going nowhere without Caroline. He knows where his bread is buttered.”
Ethan gritted his teeth, words coming out harsher than he wanted. “Matthew is marrying Caroline because he loves her. Not because her father made him partner in the law firm. Jim Masters would never allow a fool to be a partner in the firm.”
“Relax, Ethan. I don’t mean to insult your friend. It’s just that his liaison with her has opened a lot of doors for him, much as you can do for Delaney.”
He almost laughed at the not so subtle dig at Delaney. So predictable. “Delaney doesn’t need me for that. She can handle herself.”
“Oh, yes, I’m sure she’s doing fine giving tours at the museum. But marrying you can bring her back to the top of the social circle.”
“Not everyone has an agenda.” But as he said the words, deep inside, he knew she’d never understand that.
All her relationships and connections had to do with what they could do for her or how it looked to other people. She probably didn’t even have true friends. And no wonder, vicious viper that she was.