Better Than Chocolate (Sweet Somethings Book 1) (12 page)

Chapter 13

The Fallout

Sadie’s grip on my hand eases slightly, and when I risk a glance at her face, I find an easy smile there. How can she be so relaxed? I’m about to go into apoplectic shock.

“This is definitely a surprise,” Sadie says.

Ryan drags his gaze from me with a similarly calm grin. “Well, I guess you could say I wasn’t planning this.”

Some secret exchange flashes between them, and I hold my breath while my heart flips and thumps in my chest. I didn’t think this would actually happen, but was I right on the mark that Sadie planned this? Is she hoping Ryan will step in and keep this wedding from going down after all? They don’t seem quite thrilled to see each other, the way estranged but star-crossed lovers might react. No visible sparks of passion or even longing. Just amiable resignation, if anything.

My mouth drops open. I need to say something to break the tension only I seem to sense in the brief silence. But then Nelson comes up on Sadie’s other side, and she releases my hand.

“Who’s this, Sadie love?” he asks.

Whatever words I was about to say disintegrate, and for a moment Sadie flounders.

Still radiating calm, Ryan extends his hand. “Ryan Wutkowski. Old friend of Sadie’s from college.”

“Ah.” Nelson takes the offered handshake. “Always excellent to meet a friend of Sadie’s.” His tone sounds careful to me. Does he suspect, or even know, just how good a friend Ryan is? “I assume you’re a friend of Carmella’s, then, as well.”

Ryan nods. “We all go way back. I guess you could’ve called us the Three Musketeers once upon a time.”

Nelson rests one hand on the small of Sadie’s back, and she leans into him, leaping into a hasty explanation. “Ryan had a business trip this week, so it’s sort of a surprise he was able to make it.”

“Well, after what Carmella told me about this week’s plans, I felt like I shouldn’t miss my big chance,” Ryan replies. His and Sadie’s eyes meet again in a distinctly meaningful gaze.

Chills run up my spine, and my stomach twists.

Nelson doesn’t seem to notice the wordless exchange. “Well, Ryan, why don’t we get you something to drink?”

“Sure. I just need to talk to Sadie about something real quick, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.”

Nelson takes my arm and leads me toward the bar. I expect him to give me the third degree, but instead he gives me a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Carmella, maybe you can get a drink for Ryan? You probably know what he likes.”

Speechless, stunned, I just nod, and Nelson disappears into the milling crowd.

I manage to order a glass of white wine and a bottle of beer, then steer my way through the guests to the edge of the gathering. Sadie and Ryan stand several yards away by the pool, talking in low voices. She twists her engagement ring around her finger, while he keeps his hands in his pockets. Nervous energy washes over me, and I can’t bring myself to go any closer.

“Who’s that?”

Josh’s voice in my ear makes me jump, and I hold my wine glass out to avoid the splatter. “Damn it, don’t sneak up on me!”

He swipes a cocktail napkin down my wrist, a touch he could turn into a flirtatious gesture. But it’s fleeting, nothing but helpful. “That’s the ex-fiancé, isn’t it?”

My heart stops for a moment. “Does Nelson know?”

“Most of the details, I think. From what I understand, Sadie was pretty open about sharing her history with him. They agreed early on not to keep secrets from one another, said secrets destroy relationships.”

I almost drop the drinks. Tess suspected some big secret was behind Ryan and Sadie’s breakup. If Sadie doesn’t want to keep secrets from Nelson, then Tess was right.

“It’s . . . it’s good they want to keep their marriage based on honesty.”

“So why do you think he’s here?”

Shrugging, I turn to him. “For all I know, she invited him. Supposedly they’re on good terms.”

“Then why are you so nervous?”

“I’m not nervous.”

He points to the glass in my hand. “You’re going to spill that again if you don’t stop shaking.” His eyes narrow. “Should my brother be worried?”

I think about it for a minute, looking at Sadie and Ryan again before answering. They haven’t moved any closer to each other, and she stopped playing with her ring. They both seem relaxed.

“No. Nelson has nothing to worry about. If there’s one word you can always apply to Sadie, it’s loyalty.”

“So the question remains, why do you think he’s here? What do you know?”

Stiffening, I glare at him. “I know what Sadie’s told me.”

“Which is?”

“That she loves Nelson and can’t wait to marry him.” He can’t possibly mistake the defensive bite in my tone. Before he can reply, I turn on my heel and march toward the pool, fixing a smile on my face.

Sadie glances at me, lips open in mid-sentence, but then she touches her fingertips to Ryan’s arm and takes a couple steps toward me. “I’d better get back to my guests.”

When she’s out of earshot, I face Ryan and hand over his beer. He watches Sadie’s retreat with a wistful look.

“She’ll be a beautiful bride.”

I wait until he takes a swig from the bottle. “What are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

Wutkowski Avoidance Strategy Number One. Answer questions with questions.

Huffing a breath, I step back. “Why did you send the platter and put my name on it?”

“You were upset about not getting Sadie a gift.” He lifts his free hand. “And before you even say it, you don’t have to pay me back. Just make me a giant chocolate cake for my next birthday or something, and we’ll call it even.”

“We can discuss that later. Where are you staying?”

He meets my eyes for a long, drawn out moment. “I told the concierge I was here for the wedding, and they found an available room.”

I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “How helpful of them.”

At my exasperated comment, he reaches out to slide his hand from my shoulder to my wrist. “It’ll be fine, okay?”

A tingle of warmth remains when he drops his hand.

Sadie appears at the edge of the crowd and beckons to us. “I need my maid of honor!”

Plastering on a smile for her sake, I nod and head for the long table set up on the edge of the terrace. After a few steps, I turn back. “Aren’t you coming?”

Ryan lifts his bottle. “I’ll wander over in a minute. You go on ahead.”

Throughout dinner, I try my best to keep my attention on Sadie and Nelson rather than Ryan, who found a seat with some business executives a few tables over. During the one glance I allow in his direction, he’s knee deep in an enthusiastic discussion with his tablemates. Relieved to have him distracted, I almost relax.

Until my eyes lock with those of Kate Miller.

I’ve always known Kate isn’t the friendliest of people. But she’s always been civil to me in the limited capacity we’ve known each other, so I’m surprised to realize she’s been looking daggers at me all night. Sadie’s warning to steer clear of her sister rings through my mind. I still have no idea why Kate would be pissed off at me, but that appears to be the case.

Unnerved, I refocus on Katrina, sitting to my left, and hear all about the soccer camp she’s going to later this summer. By the time she starts stifling yawns, the party winds down and guests start to meander back to their rooms. Sadie and Nelson linger on the terrace with their mothers, while I somehow end up herding two tired little girls into the lobby.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Katrina murmurs, tucking her arms around my waist.

“You’d better plan to take a nap in the afternoon,” I tell her. “The wedding will probably go pretty late. You don’t want to fall asleep in your cake.”

Rose giggles at my advice, then takes her sister’s hand and drags her to the elevator.

With my own yawn and stretch, I glance toward the lobby doors, hoping Sadie is on her way in. But Kate bears down on me instead, fists curled as she marches across the lobby. The blood drains from my face at the fire in her eyes. Too late to duck behind a potted palm. She’s on the warpath, and her quarry is in the crosshairs.

“Hey, Kate,” I begin, my voice shaking.

“You.” One finger extends toward my face as she closes the final yard between us. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”

I take an involuntary step back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play innocent. You know this is your fault.” She scowls, jabbing my shoulder.

I flinch, covering the spot with my hand and backing up a little more.

Her rant continues. “I may not agree with Sadie rushing off to marry this Nelson guy, but it’s damn sneaky of you to bring Ryan here.”

“Hold it. I didn’t bring Ryan anywhere. He showed up all on his own. I’m as surprised as anyone else.”

“I’m supposed to believe that?” Her finger waves again, dangerously close to my eyes. “I don’t know what you expected to accomplish by parading him in front of Sadie like this. And you’re supposed to be her best friend. She loves you like a sister—more than a sister.”

I ease farther away, hands raised. “I’m not parading Ryan anywhere, in front of anyone. He showed up, totally uninvited―”

“If this wedding gets broken up, you can be sure it’ll be your fault. And if Sadie never speaks to you again after this, you can be sure I won’t cry over it, since it’s only half of what you deserve.” With one final poke, Kate spins away.

For the second time tonight, no words, not even a single confused thought, coalesce into something coherent. Just as the elevator doors slide shut behind Kate, the bride in question bursts through the lobby doors, laughing, at Nelson’s side.

When she sees me, she says something to Nelson and hurries over. “You look like a deer caught in the headlights. What happened?”

“I don’t really know, exactly. First, Ryan shows up. Then your sister lambastes me for apparently bringing him here, and says you shouldn’t speak to me again over it. Or something.” My mind finally clears, and I meet her concerned gaze. “Sadie-lady, I hope you don’t think I brought Ryan here to break up your wedding. I know I had that whole rant when I got here, thinking us being on the same flight was some grand scheme to save you from making a mistake.” I grab her hands. “But even though I don’t understand it, I get it. I would never―”

“Carmella.” The finality in her voice squelches further self-admonition. “I would never, in a million years, think you got Ryan to come here to stop my wedding. Kate’s . . . I don’t like to say it, but my sister’s being a bitch. Forget anything she said.”

I squeeze her hands. “But why did Ryan come? I sure as hell didn’t tell him to.”

She sighs and shakes her head. “He’ll explain himself when it’s time, I guess.”

“What did he want to talk to you about?”

“Oh, business stuff.” She shrugs. “We need to agree on how to divide our shared assets. The house and our joint savings. It’s not like I took care of that before.”

“Is Nelson okay with all this?”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “With Ryan being here? Well, he hasn’t said anything to the contrary. Believe me, if Nelson didn’t want him hanging around, he’d be gone.” She loops her arm around my shoulders. “Big day tomorrow! I don’t know how I’ll sleep a wink.”

Silently, I agree. But if we both suffer insomnia, it will be for entirely different reasons.

Chapter 14

Wedding Day

The next morning after I eat breakfast, I do my best to avoid Ryan, even if it involves hiding behind support pillars and palm trees. My cartoonish attempts to escape his notice have the added benefit of keeping me out of Kate Miller’s line of sight. I’m not eager for another verbal attack, which would surely be harsher than last night’s.

I can’t hide forever, of course. The hairdressers should be here by noon, and Sadie will need me. Once the coast is clear, I head for the bridal suite on the top floor, where the ecstatic and blushing bride plans to hold court over the stylists. According to the text she sent me this morning, chocolate-covered strawberries are on the agenda.

Male voices echo down the corridor, though a turn a few yards away hides the speakers from view. As I draw closer, I recognize Josh and Nelson, an undercurrent of irritation in their tones.

“How long do you think you can keep playing these ridiculous games?” Nelson asks his brother. “You simply can’t continue like this forever. Don’t you think it’s time you grow up?” His voice rings with consternation now.

Josh scoffs lightly before answering. “There’s no real harm in it.”

“When will you start taking your life seriously?”

“I’ll take life seriously when everyone else views me in a serious light. You’ve all been content to let me ride your coattails for years now. Didn’t it occur to you that I might be waiting for an opportunity to prove myself?”

There’s a pause, and I start inching back toward the elevator. I freeze when Nelson speaks again.

“Chasing after Sadie’s friend only proves how irresponsible you’ve become. You don’t know the limits and boundaries, Joshua, and one of these days you’ll pay for pushing them.” Josh starts to retort, but Nelson cuts him off. “I’m not going to argue this with you today, of all days. But after everything settles down, you need to think long and hard about your goals, where you want to be in ten, twenty years. Both in terms of your career as well as your personal life.”

A shadow appears at the corner, and I swing into the recessed entry to another suite. Fortunately, Josh is fuming enough to overlook me as he stalks by. I catch a glimpse of his back, infused with angry tension, as he slams his hand against the call button for the elevator. Down the corridor, Nelson sighs. He must be watching his brother as well. Then a door opens and closes as he returns to the bridal suite.

I count to one hundred before easing back into the corridor and slipping to the bridal suite. Nerves thrumming, I knock on the door. There must be more to the Mattingly brothers’ argument than Josh’s skirt-chasing tendencies, in regard to me or not. But it hammers home my earlier intention to keep clear of the best man.

Nelson answers the door, his smile spreading when he sees me. “This must be my cue to vacate the premises.” He ushers me inside.

“I’m surprised you haven’t vacated already. Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”

He laughs, though I still sense some emotional upset under the surface. “She’s been barricaded in the bedroom since I got up this morning. I think we’re safe.”

Sadie’s voice filters through the closed bedroom door. “Is that Carmella? Send her in.”

With another chuckle, Nelson pats my shoulder—must be the only informal, friendly gesture he knows—and retrieves a garment bag from a hook near the door before heading out.

Once he’s gone, Sadie bursts from the bedroom, hair half up in hot rollers. A quick glance at her radiant expression makes me forget everything that’s bothering me.

This is her day, and she’s ready for it.

Why worry about anything else right now?

The luxury yacht pulls away from the resort dock by six that evening, and as the brilliant Caribbean sunset spreads across the water with splashes of orange and crimson, Sadie and Nelson say their vows before the two hundred and some-odd guests seated at white-clothed tables on the expansive deck.

When the Justice of the Peace asks, “Can anyone give due cause why these two should not be joined in marriage?” I hold my breath. What if someone, Kate or Ryan or someone else I haven’t considered, actually objects?

But no one speaks up, and when I hand Sadie’s bouquet back to her, she’s presented as Mrs. Nelson Mattingly.

I scan the applauding crowd, finding Ryan near the back. A sliver of trepidation slides through me. But he’s clapping, too, a half-smile on his face. When he sees me, he nods as if to say,
See? It’s fine
.

I look at Sadie again, beaming and brilliant in her white chiffon, hibiscus, and diamonds. The pure adoration in her face when she turns to Nelson for another kiss scatters the last of my doubts.

She really does love him after all.

So now the only flaw in the plan is Ryan’s presence. I’m sure Sadie knows why he’s here. And it bugs me that neither one, yet again, will share the big secret with me.

Josh and I stand with Nelson’s daughters by the head table, set along one side of the parquet dance floor in the middle of the deck, while Sadie and Nelson share their first dance.

Halfway through, Josh leans toward me. “Guess that went off without a hitch. Glad they decided not to make us give speeches. God knows what might come out of my mouth, y’know?”

His jaw looks clenched. Maybe the argument he had with his brother has stayed with him.

“They both look very happy.” I comment.

“I guess time will tell.”

I try not to frown. “You don’t think it’ll last?”

“It could. What do I know?” His smile flashes, that overly flirtatious grin from my first evening in St. Croix. “You’ll save me a dance, won’t you, sweet-as-Carmella?”

“Stop calling me that.”

“I only speak the truth.”

Fortunately, the music ends, and the newlyweds return to the head table.

As Sadie and I settle next to each other, she leans over. “I have to say thank you. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through this week without you.”

“What do you mean?”

She takes my hand. “Honey, you know me. I can’t hold it together without somebody to keep my feet planted. I’ve got Nelson now, but before today, it really was always you. My best friend. The one person I could always count on.”

As her eyes start to glimmer, mine mist over. “Why do I get the feeling you’re saying goodbye to me?”

“I’m not. Never could, honey. It’s just gonna be different.” Sniffing, she dabs her eyes with one knuckle, then snatches up her champagne flute. “When I met Nelson and realized it was going to be serious, I promised myself I wouldn’t drink until I knew it was for real. I didn’t want to make blurred decisions because I overindulged. But now!”

With a laugh, she turns and clinks glasses with Nelson.

A smile creeps across my face at the pure joy in Sadie’s expression. Somehow, even though this all happened so fast, I know my friend will be okay.

From the minute the dancing starts, Ryan doesn’t leave my side. Several other wedding guests of the male persuasion drift close, like they want to ask me to dance. But every one of them walks away with a congenial handshake and a muttered, “Wedding was great, Sadie looks gorgeous, doesn’t she?”

When Josh prowls near and then does an about face, Ryan leans over and whispers in my ear. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how beautiful you look, Carmel-cakes.”

I peer at him. He has that indecipherable look in his eyes. The one that makes me feel like I’m melting inside, like everything’s going to be okay. “You’re supposed to say that to the bride.”

“Don’t worry, I did. Shook Nelson’s hand, did the whole congrats thing. Now, I’m all yours.”

Smiling, he grabs my hand and pulls me onto the dance floor before I can protest. Whatever was in his expression had scared away every other guy who’d ventured within three feet of me, but apparently it’s fine to drag me onto the parquet himself?

The music switches gears from an upbeat party song to something soft and slow. In one smooth motion, Ryan swings me into place, one hand on the small of my back, warm through my dress. I attempt to keep some space between us as we sway to the music, to ignore how close to his heart he holds my right hand. Swallowing, I fix my line of sight over his shoulder and try to steady my breathing. Across the dance floor, I meet Sadie’s satisfied smile as she relaxes into Nelson’s arms. She gives me a wink, and I close my eyes and sigh.

Sensing it, Ryan tightens his fingers around mine and rests my hand against his chest. I wish he’d say something, anything, to reveal what he’s thinking. Instead, he turns his head, bringing his chin close to my cheek. We don’t touch, but his breath feathers the hair above my ear, sending a shiver over my skin.

What is wrong with me tonight? My head spins. I’ve had quite a bit of champagne. Maybe that’s the problem, why everything seems so off-center.

I have to say something, so I tip my head back, force him to loosen his hold. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why―” I pause. Not that question again. He’ll shut down, avoid it with a counter question. “What happens now?”

His forehead creases in a frown. “In terms of?”

“Well, you’ve got the house in Atlanta, right?”

“Ah.” He shrugs. “I’ll probably sell it, find something smaller in one of the suburbs.”

“What about your job? Sadie said you turned down your promotion.”

“It wasn’t what I wanted. No big deal. Something else will come up.” He glances across the deck, jerks his chin toward a cluster of men by the starboard rail. “I actually did a little networking last night. One of those guys is an urban developer in London. We exchanged some interesting ideas.”

My throat constricts a little, and I look away. First, Sadie all but tells me this is our last real hurrah as best friends. Now Ryan mentions prospects in England.

His hand slides up and down a little on my spine. “I’m not moving halfway around the world. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“To me?” How did he know what I was thinking? “I don’t have anything to do with your job or where you move. You can do whatever you want.”

“I know that. But you’ve built a life in Savannah, and I won’t―”

A blast from the yacht’s horn interrupts him, and people start milling toward the rail as the boat starts tacking toward shore. Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I turn awkwardly, aware of the tension building in Ryan’s arm against my back. It’s also impossible to miss the spark of jealousy in Josh’s eyes as he gives Ryan a challenging glance.

“Can I borrow you for a minute?” Josh asks. His eyes flick back to Ryan. “Honor attendant business before we dock.”

My gaze flits between both of their faces. A primal, non-verbal conversation passes between them, spoken with glinting eyes and hardened jaws. Cavemen about to stake a claim. Ryan tightens his grip on my hand again, like he wouldn’t let go even if he had to.

“Sure, no problem.” With a subtle twist, I disengage my fingers and step off to the side. Certain Ryan will protest and determined to ignore him, I follow Josh toward the stern of the yacht.

The rear of the boat is shrouded in semi-darkness. A few strands of LED lights provide enough illumination to make sure no one trips. The breeze is stronger here as well, and I put one hand up to make sure the hibiscus pinned in my hair doesn’t blow free.

Josh turns to me and leans against the railing, arms crossed.

Wary, I step up beside him, facing the ocean. “Honor attendant business?”

He shrugs. “Seemed like a plausible excuse to get you alone.”

“And why do you need to get me alone?”

In response, he pivots to stand behind me, hands on the rails on either side of me, effectively pinning me in place. There’s no real intimidation in the movement, not since I know what his brother said to him earlier. He’s not doing this except to prove some sort of point—that he doesn’t have to follow some of the unspoken rules.

“I’m not playing this game with you, Josh.”

“Why not? It’d be fun.”

“You’re a lot more likeable when you aren’t acting like an asshole.”

A minute passes, and then he steps back. I turn around, folding my arms, taking in the apologetic but slightly bruised expression on his face.

“Sorry,” he says.

“I’ll accept that if you mean it.” He nods, and I heave a sigh. “You know, you’re a good guy. I see it when you play with your nieces. You’re smart. I see that when you talk about your job, what you do for your family’s business and the companies you work with. And you’re friendly. You just . . .”

A self-deprecating smirk crosses his face. “I just push it when I shouldn’t, and I don’t take things seriously.” The echo of Nelson’s words ring in his statement.

I venture to put one hand on his arm. “Maybe you should take things seriously. You have a lot going for you. I’m just not interested.”

“Why does it sound like we’re breaking up when we haven’t even started dating?”

“Think of it more as a preemptive strike on something that was a bad idea from the beginning.”

The light of challenge flares in his eyes, even in the dimness. “How do you know it’d be a bad idea?”

“Because I know guys like you. And I know myself. Short term, long term, one night stand. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“Are you sure? Wouldn’t you like to find out?”

He leans forward, his intent clear. I whip one hand up, covering his lips as he starts to swoop in. He freezes, closes his eyes, and sighs against my palm.

“I’m sorry, Josh. The answer’s no.” And I actually feel bad about saying it.

Brisk footsteps echo across the deck as someone hurries over, and he suddenly swings away from me. My eyes widen in shock as Ryan hauls Josh back by the collar of his shirt, following with a shove toward the main deck.

“I think you need to leave her alone,” he growls.

“Ryan, it’s fine,” I insist, further unnerved.