More of Me (5 page)

Casey had to crane her neck and turn around to answer him. She was on sensory overload at their proximity and the smell of his cologne. She wanted to simply wrap herself around him and forget all about wedding planning for just a little while. Her conservative nature won out, and she sighed and said, “Don't get swept up in it. You still need to see the second place, or you will forever wonder if you made the right choice.”

She pulled back to resume her original position watching the crowd, when Ryder's hand gently cupped her shoulders and held her in front of him. He knew her words were targeted for what they were doing, but he couldn't help but feel that they also had everything to do with their past. Back then he had gotten swept up in the idea of making it big in the business world and had walked away with a single-minded purpose; he had never taken the time to consider how much more he could have had if he had simply slowed down and explored a future with Casey.

“I'm sorry,” he said quietly, and it took Casey a moment to realize that he had said anything. He had opened this particular can of worms, and he was tired of avoiding the elephant in the room. Reaching down, Ryder took her by the hand and led her out of the noisy room, down the hall, and out onto the beach, where he repeated his apology.

Casey wasn't sure what was going on and decided that her best course of action was to play dumb. “Sorry? For what? Do you want to go? We have no time limit on how long we have to stay.”

Unable to help himself, Ryder cupped her face, forcing her to look up and him and stop rambling. “This has nothing to do with the wedding, Casey, and you know it. I'm apologizing to you. I should have apologized more than ten years ago. Hell, I never should have left the way that I did.”

“Ryder…” she began, not wanting to have this particular conversation.

“No, let me finish this,” he said firmly. “I was wrong back then. I had been groomed my whole life to work for my father's company, and even though I knew I was going to end up there, I wanted to do it on my own terms. I was so focused on that goal that I didn't realize all I was giving up. You meant everything to me back then, and I treated you poorly. I was so determined to be a success in the business world that I lost focus on what I could have had in my personal life.”

“Ryder—”

“I know it's been a long time, probably too long, but I just want you to know that I am truly sorry. I hate knowing that I hurt you. Seeing you again and facing you after all these years has been harder for me than any business negotiations I've ever done.”

“What is it that you want from me, Ryder?” she asked quietly.

He wanted everything that he had no right to ask for. “I want a chance to get to know you again, Case. I want to talk to you about your life. I don't want to be just a client to you and a stand-in for my wayward cousin. I know I'm asking a lot, and I have no right to ask for you to be even remotely nice to me, but…well…I've missed you.”

His honest admission was her undoing. Keeping a professional distance with Ryder seemed like the right thing to do, especially when she thought that she was simply dealing with the selfish Ryder Montgomery she had known all those years ago. But the man standing before her, with the wind blowing his hair and his eyes imploring her to have a little faith in him, made it impossible to say no.

In light of his own honesty, Casey felt that she owed him the truth too. “I don't know if I can trust you again, Ryder. You broke my heart back then, and it took me a very long time to get over you.”

“I know and I'm sorry…”

“We have no choice but to work together for the time being, but I promise to try and not be so focused on my job that I don't stop to have a conversation with a friend. Is that okay?”

He wanted to say that he didn't want to just be her friend, that he wanted the opportunity to prove to her that he was trustworthy, someone who knew now how to appreciate what he had right in front of him. Ryder wasn't sure if now was the time for him to push. Looking down into her face, he saw hope and purity and honesty.

For now, he'd take what he could get.

When Ryder had dropped Casey off back at her office, he had secretly hoped that she wouldn't be anxious for the night to end. Not that he had been thinking of anything inappropriate, but maybe she would have wanted to go and sit someplace a little more quiet than a wedding reception and talk.

He had been wrong.

Now he was staring at his reflection in his bedroom mirror, adjusting his tie for tonight's wedding. Since Casey wasn't working today, he had convinced her to let him pick her up at her home. Ryder had no idea what to expect; she hadn't mentioned her husband or, for that matter, her baby. Didn't women usually go on and on about their children? If Ryder hadn't known any better, he'd have sworn that Savannah wasn't hers. But how was that possible? He'd seen her with his own eyes.

A quick glance at the clock showed that it was just about three o'clock, and he had told Casey that he'd be there to pick her up at three fifteen. Ryder was known for his punctuality, and so with one final glance at his reflection, he walked down the stairs and out to his car. The entire time, he gave himself a mental pep talk about how he needed to be pleasant and cordial to Casey's husband when he arrived to pick her up. No ogling her, no comments on the way she looked—which he was certain would be beautiful—and he needed to use his professional veneer, simply shake the man's hand, and leave.

It all sounded good until he was actually in the driveway of their home and having to get out of the car.

Ryder sat gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “You can do this,” he muttered. “You've run into many ex-girlfriends and their now-significant others and always managed to be polite.”

That's because you simply didn't give a damn about them. This is Casey, and you know that she is the one who got away.

The digital clock on the dashboard showed that it was three fourteen, and with a sigh of resignation, Ryder shut off the engine and got out like a man off to his own execution. He climbed the steps to the house that was so familiar to him. How many times had he walked to this door all those years ago? Did her parents still live here too? Wasn't the house a little small for all those people? What did this guy do for a living that he had to glom on to poor Casey and her family rather than providing a home for them himself?

He raised his hand to knock and then mentally chided himself for going on that inner tirade. He was sure that whoever Casey's husband was, he was a decent guy.

A
decent
guy
who
clearly
can't provide for his family, but…whatever.

“Shut up,” he mumbled and knocked on the door. When it opened, Ryder had been prepared to meet the man he already hated, but instead he was greeted with a warm smile by Casey herself.

“Right on time,” she said, opening the door for him and stepping aside to let him in. “I just need to grab my purse and we'll be on our way.”

Before Ryder could say a single word, she had walked away and down the hall toward the bedrooms. He remembered the layout perfectly, and smiled at the memory of how many times he had snuck in here after Casey's parents had gone to bed and spent the better part of the night with her in her bedroom. The thought alone was enough to arouse him, and he did his best to count backward from one thousand just in case he had to meet anyone.

A quick look around, along with checking to make sure he wasn't hearing things, and Ryder realized that no one was home. Maybe they all had gone out someplace since Casey wasn't going to be home, but if it were
his
wife going out with another man—who she happened to have dated, even if it was a long time ago—Ryder would be here to make damn sure that said man knew he was not cool with the whole thing. Didn't this guy even care?

He was just about to step further into the house when Casey came back into the foyer and smiled. “Ready when you are!”

In another lifetime, he would have said to skip the damn wedding and dragged her to the tiny bedroom at the back of the house and found another way to spend the night.

* * *

The sun was a little bright at this time of day, and being outside with no tent was a little hard on the eyes. Ryder looked around at the small gathering—maybe seventy-five people—and saw that most of them were wearing sunglasses or shading their eyes. If Mac and Gina wanted their wedding here, he would ask about some sort of tent or inquire about what time of day their ceremony was going to take place.

He and Casey stood at the back of the group, and once the bride and groom had kissed, they walked away before anyone really noticed them. As they made their way back toward the resort building, Casey asked his opinion so far, and he mentioned the sun.

“Well,” she said as they walked toward a common area, “your cousin wants a ceremony at sunset, or close to it. That will make the glare of the sun a little less daunting. But we can certainly ask about some sort of covering. I don't think we want to go with a whole tent, because that will defeat the purpose of a wedding near the beach.” The room where the ceremony had been held jutted out from the back of the resort and onto a pier so you had the spectacular view without the hassle of the sand. “We'll have to look into that.”

They strolled around and made small talk about the venue in general, and then Casey received a text that the cocktail hour was starting. They walked back inside and observed the layout of the room and the appetizers being passed, and made comments on the basic flow of it all.

“I like the fact that it's not a sit-down type of thing,” Ryder said. “The menu is pretty phenomenal, and you want people to enjoy themselves and the food. I think I like the menu here more than yesterday's.”

Casey nodded. “It's a lighter fare here and the presentation is wonderful.” A waiter came by and offered them each a crab puff, which they readily accepted. “I always feel bad about this part.”

“What part?”

“I feel like I need to be hiding behind a potted plant or something. I don't think I would like anyone lurking around at my wedding.”

That struck Ryder as odd, but he didn't comment. “Well, we could always decline the food and wait for the tasting during the reception.”

With a shrug, Casey nibbled at the crab puff and sighed with delight. “They really do have great food here.” She put a hand up over her mouth and giggled.

“What? What's so funny?”

“I'm not supposed to say stuff like that.”

“Like what?”

“I'm not supposed to offer my opinion like that, especially when you have to make this decision. It needs to be your choice and not influenced by me.”

She looked so adorable, Ryder thought to himself, that the urge to kiss her was nearly overwhelming. Knowing this wasn't the time or the place, he took her by the hand and pulled her behind a large potted plant. They were both laughing by the time they settled in to watch the crowd. “Do we need binoculars or anything?” he asked teasingly.

Casey swatted at his arm. “You're making fun of me.”

“Just a little.”

“This is serious stuff, Ryder. Mac and Gina have entrusted you with picking their venue, and you know them better than I do. The decision has to be yours and yours alone. I can't do anything to sway it.”

Placing his hands on her shoulders, Ryder forced Casey to look at him. “First of all, I don't know Gina. I've never met her, and all I know about her is what Mac and the rest of the family have said about her. She seems like a great woman and Mac loves her, and believe me when I say that I want to do right by them. I don't think commenting on whether or not you're enjoying the food is going to sway my decision. Food is food. I'm trying to get a feel for the place overall. I think it's fun to stand back here and watch all of the activity going on. I feel a little like James Bond.”

Now she really laughed. “Really? How many 007 movies have you seen where he hides behind a large fern and eats crab puffs?”

“Well, maybe not exactly like James Bond, but you get my point. We're here on a secret mission, and I'm enjoying myself.”

They stood behind the plant for several minutes, just watching people milling about. They seemed to be having a good time. Before they knew it, the guests were being led to the main banquet room. “I guess that's our cue to head to the private dining room for our tasting,” Casey said, stepping out of the shadows. She was turning to make sure Ryder was behind her when she bumped into someone. “Oh!”

“Were the two of you hiding back there?”

Casey turned back and faced an elderly woman who had to be in her eighties. She was standing there in a bright yellow sequined dress, hands on her hips, frowning at Casey and Ryder. “It's not polite to partake in hanky-panky at somebody's wedding, you know,” she said.

“What?” Casey managed to squeak out. “Oh, no…ma'am. There was no hanky-panky going on back there.”

“Did you find out what they were doing back there?” Another elderly woman stepped up in an equally loud dress. She was looking at Casey and Ryder with suspicion. “We're in a hotel for crying out loud. Seriously, get a room.”

Ryder stepped around Casey and faced the two women. “Ladies, as we said, there was no…hanky-panky going on and there was no need to get a room.”

“You see that, Minnie,” the one in the yellow said as she elbowed her friend. “Young people. Here they are in a perfectly romantic setting, and they're more interested in the food than in fooling around. What's the world coming to?”

“I hear you, Izzy.” Lady number two, Minnie, made a tsking sound. “So basically you're crashing the wedding.”

Ryder turned and looked to Casey for help. She stepped to his side and faced to the women again. “We're here looking at the resort for an upcoming event. I'm afraid we were just sort of…people watching. You know, making sure that the flow of the room was good and that the servers were able to handle the crowd and keep everyone happy.”

“Then why were you hiding out in a dark corner?”

“What?” Casey cried in despair, her eyes immediately going to Ryder's before she could find her voice again. “No…no, it's not like that. Really. You see, I'm a wedding planner. I've done many events here, and we're trying to decide whether or not to book this particular resort for a wedding.”

“Well, that's a damn shame,” Izzy said. “You two are just adorable, and now you're telling me this is all about business?” She turned to Minnie. “Back in my day, when an attractive man pulled a woman behind a potted plant, he had the good sense to kiss her.” Minnie nodded, and then Izzy poked Ryder in the chest. “Don't you have any sense, son?”

“Me?” he wheezed. “I'm just here to make sure this place will be perfect for my cousin and his fiancée. Casey's just here to do a job, and besides that, she's married!”

“What?” Casey said, her complexion paling. “Why would you say that?”

Both women took a step back and grinned, seemingly pleased with this turn of events.

“What do you mean?” Ryder asked. “I came to your office. I saw your daughter. You told me that she favors her father.”

“And so you put all of that together and that was your conclusion?” Casey said, a little guiltily. She crossed her arms over her chest and thought furiously about what to say next.

“What conclusion was I supposed to come to, Case? You haven't shared a damn thing with me since I came back to town! Last night we said we'd spend some time getting to know one another again, and yet you haven't shared one damn bit of information with me about your life! What was I supposed to think?”

“I don't know,” she snapped and made to turn away, but Ryder's hand latched on to her arm to stop her. She spun and faced him again. “Savannah is my partner Julie's daughter. That day you came into the office, I was just babysitting. Didn't you think it was odd that I would have all of that baby stuff in the office one minute and then it was all gone when you came back from getting us lunch?”

“He bought you lunch?” Minnie asked. “Such a gentleman.”

Casey ignored the woman and continued her defense. “And did you think it was normal for me not to have one picture of Savannah or my supposed husband anywhere in my office? I mean, you were in there several times. Didn't you take notice of that?”

“No, I—”

“And then, when you came to pick me up today,” she said, picking up momentum, “did you see even a hint of another person living in my house?” Ryder didn't know what to do or say, so he simply stood there and stuttered until Casey cut him off. “Well? Did you?”

“Did you, son?” Izzy asked.

Both Ryder and Casey turned and glared at their audience before facing one another again. “All right. I'll admit that I jumped the gun and came to the wrong conclusion, but you know, you've been a bit secretive with me.”

“Ya think?” she snapped. “Did you honestly think you were going to walk back into my life twelve years later and I was going to be happy to see you?”

“I wouldn't be happy,” Minnie said.

“Me either,” Izzy agreed.

“You walked away from me back then, Ryder. You promised you'd find a way to make it work. You swore we'd have everything we wanted, but it didn't take long before the phone stopped ringing. You were chasing the life you wanted, and it obviously didn't include me.”

“That's not fair, Casey. You know why I left—”

“No,” she cut him off. “All I know is that we clearly wanted different things. You talked a good game while we dated, but it was all a bunch of lies.”

“I hate a liar,” Minnie whispered, and Izzy nodded, entranced by Ryder and Casey's argument.

“They weren't lies, Case. Things were just…I didn't know how to give you what you wanted!” he pleaded.