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“I need to see about the bride,” she told him.
“I’ll find you when they leave.”
“Fine. I’ll be around,” she said.
“You sound as if I’m going to haul you to jail instead of take you to dinner,” he added lightly. Yet he gazed at her intently, and she could see the curiosity in his expression.
She realized the more she tried to get rid of him, the more interested he became. “I think you’re unaccustomed to hearing no.”
“I have to admit that I’m curious why. We can talk about it later. Go do what you have to do now.”
“I see you two know each other,” Nick Colton said, joining them and turning to Ashley. “And I saw you dancing with Ryan. Now I’d like a turn.” He moved forward to place himself between the pair.
Just as she was about to decline, Ryan moved closer, putting a possessive arm around her shoulder. “We’re very old and good friends. Ashley really can’t dance while she’s on the job. You’re out of luck this time.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to object when Emily touched her arm. “Please excuse me, both of you,” Ashley said, turning to the bride and wishing she had avoided letting Ryan talk her into a dinner date.
“The photographer is asking about me tossing my bouquet,” Emily said.
“It’s time, and you rescued me from dancing when I have other things to do. Ryan doesn’t take refusal well.”
An hour later, Emily told Ashley that she and Jake would be leaving soon. Ashley asked her brown-haired assistant, Jenna Fremont, to take over. Then Ashley left, wondering if she was making a huge mistake.
Another first caused by Ryan. She had never run from someone before, and she felt terrible one minute and relieved the next. If he really wanted to see her, he knew how to find her now. But she suspected another quick departure from her would turn him off for good. Men like Ryan did not chase after women who didn’t want to see them. They were probably accustomed to females chasing after them.
At her duplex apartment in a gated area, Ashley spent the evening thinking about Ryan. She couldn’t get him out of her thoughts, and in some ways, she was disappointed she wasn’t with him.
She remembered with clarity the excitement she’d had with him, as well as the reasons she had wanted to get away from him.
Early that Sunday morning when they had been together, Ashley had awakened to find him missing. She’d wrapped herself in a towel and gone looking for him, stopping in her tracks when she heard low voices. He’d been arguing with a woman.
Ashley had known he was a millionaire playboy, so she shouldn’t have been surprised by the presence of a woman. But suddenly, she realized just how stupid she was in giving herself to him completely that wild weekend. Dressing swiftly, she’d gathered her things. While he still talked, she had slipped out a back door, getting away from his condo as quickly as possible and into the taxi she’d called from her cell phone. They hadn’t had contact since then—until today.
Finding it difficult to get to sleep now, she tossed and turned. When she finally did doze, she dreamed of Ryan and being in his arms again.
The next day, while she tried to do chores she had put off in the last hectic days of getting ready for the Carlisle-Thorne marriage, she couldn’t shake him out of her thoughts.
No matter what she did, Ryan was there in her mind.
They had nothing in common. She was a farm girl who’d come to the city and gotten a job. She was sending some of her paycheck home to help her family, because of her father’s poor health and financial troubles from a flood last year. Her brother had given up his college education to work on the farm full-time, too. Ryan’s world was light-years away from hers. He was a multimillionaire, a self-made man who moved in international circles. He usually had a beautiful socialite with him and lived a jet-set life.
She was amazed he’d even noticed her when they’d met at a party, yet she had fallen into his arms and into his bed with complete abandon. So why wouldn’t he have had a pleasurable weekend that he wanted to prolong?
Recalling the large party, for a charity event at a Dallas country club, she remembered how a waiter had slipped while carrying a tray filled with glasses of champagne. Strong arms had caught her to pull her out of the way, and she’d looked up into Ryan’s green eyes and been captivated. The attraction was hot, instant and intense. They’d made introductions. They had flirted, talked, and he had charmed her. Eventually she’d told the friends she had come with to leave without her because Ryan would take her home. They had gone to his condo, and in another hour, she had been in his arms, and later, in his bed. She had given her body to him intimately, had explored his and shared her life, even telling him what desperate financial straits her family was in, and how she was helping them. Why had she been so free and open in every possible way with Ryan? He had seduced her and won her total trust.
Disgusted with herself, she tried to stop thinking about him now, finally getting out her bank statements and checking her entries and withdrawals for her business that month. She wrote her regular monthly check to her father, which included every penny she could spare.
When she finished, she spent another restless night, before going to work Monday morning.
Ashley tried to immerse herself in business, meeting a client, setting up appointments, talking to a caterer and a florist. Her day passed, but she constantly became distracted, lost her train of thought and realized she was staring into space, remembering Ryan.
She hadn’t seen or heard anything from him since Saturday at the reception, and she decided he’d moved on with his life and she’d seen the last of him. It was for the best.
When it was almost closing time, she walked through her office and headed for the front to ask Carlotta, her receptionist, about an appointment. Carlotta was momentarily on the phone, and Ashley moved away from the desk to wait for her to finish her call. When she glanced out the front window, she saw a black sports car whip into a parking space. The door swung open and Ryan stepped out.
Ashley’s insides clenched. Dressed in navy slacks, a white shirt and navy tie, he was as handsome as ever. Wind blew locks of his black hair away from his forehead, and his long-legged stride revealed confidence and purpose.
Ashley knew she didn’t want a confrontation with Ryan with an audience, so she hurried to the door and stepped outside. She was oblivious to the bright sunshine, the sweet scents of blossoming fruit trees, the enticing splash of the nearby fountain. She focused totally on the determined male striding toward her. Squaring her shoulders, she walked to meet him, knowing she had to convince him that she’d meant what she’d said to him at the wedding.
She had to send him packing. How difficult it would be! Every square inch of her wanted to be in his arms. She wanted his kisses, and as she watched him striding toward her, she struggled with her inclination to hurry and meet him and do whatever he wanted.
Except she knew she could do no such thing, and as she faced him, she could already feel the clash of wills. Someday, she knew she would have to tell him the truth, but not this soon. Now, she wanted life on her own terms, and she didn’t want someone forceful like Ryan meddling in her decisions.
She clenched her fists, reminding herself to stay firm with him. He must not find out the truth so soon. She was carrying his baby from that wild weekend of lust, and she wanted to deal with this secret herself as long as she possibly could.
She stepped forward to meet him, folding her arms across her middle, standing with her feet slightly spread, as if ready for a confrontation. “Why are you here?”
Two
Ryan’s green eyes danced with amusement. “Hi, to you, too.” Even though he smiled and his voice was cheerful, he watched her intently.
“Ryan, I told you that I don’t want to see you.”
“So you did, but then you turned right around and promised you’d go to dinner with me,” he said. “And I do recall your racing pulse when we were together. There’s a conflict between what you say and how you say it. And a few other things.”
“I’m trying to do the sensible thing here,” she said, conscious that they were probably drawing the attention of her employees. “I’ve done the nonsense thing with you, now I’m doing otherwise.”
“Maybe. By the way, you look as gorgeous as ever,” he murmured, studying her and then meeting her gaze. “Whenever I see you, you look great. Luscious,” he added softly.
“Thank you,” she replied solemnly. His compliments warmed her, and she wanted to smile in return, but didn’t. “I’m in the middle of work.”
“I called this morning and your receptionist said you’re through at five today. I think that’s in ten minutes. I came by because I still intend to take you to dinner. You said you’d go out with me, so you owe me one. Ashley, if I thought you truly didn’t like having me around, I’d be gone.” He reached out to touch her wrist lightly with his forefinger with feathery strokes that sent tingles radiating through her. “Actually,” he said, his voice dropping and getting the husky note that made her sizzle, “I’m looking for the woman who spent the weekend with me.”
“I think I lost my mind that weekend.”
“Let’s talk about it during dinner.” He glanced over her shoulder. “May I see your office?”
As her mind raced for an answer, she hesitated, and he smiled. “Good.” He draped his arm across her shoulders. “Show me around and then I’ll take you to eat and we can talk.”
While her mind wrestled with what she should have said and what she could say, she walked with him, but most of her attention was on his arm across her shoulders and his side brushing against hers. She had to get rid of him. He was way too take-charge, and she didn’t want him discovering that she was pregnant. She loathed the prospect of pity. She didn’t want a dutiful proposal. Even more unwanted would be Ryan making decisions about her and her baby. Most frightening of all, she didn’t want him to use his millions to try to take her baby away from her.
From the first moment in the doctor’s office, when she had almost fainted at the news, she had wrestled with how to deal with Ryan over the matter.
He had used condoms, but the doctor had told her they weren’t a hundred percent foolproof. So on a wild weekend that was a once in a lifetime fling for her, she had gotten pregnant by a man she barely knew. As she walked beside him, she rubbed her forehead. How complicated her life had become!
Ashley hadn’t figured out yet how to break the news to her father, her brother and her grandmother, let alone Ryan.
She had considered every aspect, and finally had decided that the best possible thing that could happen would be to keep Ryan out of her life until after the baby was born.
She had no idea what his reaction to her pregnancy would be. She knew the day would come when she would have to let him know that he had fathered a child. But she wanted it far in the future, when she had her baby in her arms and her life established, with Ryan Warner far out of it and happily involved with another woman. The last part still hurt to think about, but Ashley knew it was the wisest course.
“This is nice, Ashley,” he said as they approached her front door, with its fan transom gracing the top and long, low redwood boxes of blooming flowers on either side. “I’ve forgotten what you told me. How long have you been a wedding planner?”
“Almost a year,” she answered, barely thinking about the question.
He reached out to open her door for her, letting her enter ahead of him. Carlotta was gazing at Ryan with a smile and obvious curiosity.
“Hi,” she said.
“Carlotta, this is Ryan Warner. Ryan, this is my receptionist and secretary, Carlotta Reyna,” Ashley said, while Carlotta reached out to shake his hand.
Ashley took his arm. “I’m going to show Ryan the office. I’ll close up tonight,” she told her employee, who nodded, barely able to take her eyes from Ryan.
“You do have an effect on women,” Ashley said when they’d crossed the hall, out of earshot. “I thought Carlotta was going to faint with pleasure when you shook her hand.”
He grinned and shrugged. “I’m not having the effect where it’s important,” he replied.
She inhaled. “I walked into that one. You’ll probably get the same reaction from my assistant. Both are single.”
“I have only one interest.”
Ignoring his answer, even though it made her breath catch, Ashley led him into a large room in the front and waved her hand toward the shelves of oversize books. “This space is for clients. I have a lot of materials in here to give them choices about cakes and decorations.”
Ryan looked around the cheerful space with its tables and comfortable-looking chairs, and she wondered if he was even remotely interested in her business.
“Introduce me to your assistant and show me your office,” he said, studying Ashley with a hungry look.
As she gazed at his handsome features, she thought, If only. Immediately, she stopped that train of thought. There were no if onlys. She had to get Ryan out of her office and her life. “Come with me,” she said briskly. She knew he was right behind her as she entered the hall, and then he fell into step beside her.
She almost collided with Jenna, who saw Ryan and smiled.
“Jenna, this is Ryan Warner. Ryan, meet my assistant, Jenna Fremont.”
“You’re really Ryan Warner,” Jenna said, sounding as if she were meeting a movie star.
“I’m the one and only. And you’re really Jenna Fremont,” he said, teasing her and grinning.
She looked as if she would melt as she smiled up at him. “I’m the only Jenna around here.” She giggled. “It’s great to meet you. I’ve seen your pictures all over.”
“Not on Most Wanted posters, I hope,” he kidded, eliciting more giggles.
“I’m showing Ryan our offices. I’ll lock up, Jenna.”
“It was nice to meet you, Jenna,” he said. “I’ll see you again, I’m sure.”
“Oh, I hope so,” she cooed, and Ashley prayed that she’d never be that impressed with any man herself.
“They obviously think you’re awesome. If not Carlotta, why don’t you take Jenna to dinner?” Ashley suggested, when they were alone.
He smiled.
“She doesn’t get my heart pounding, either,” he said. “It’s interesting how you want to hand me off to someone else.”
Ignoring his comment, she motioned toward an open door. “Here’s my office.”
Like a cat in new surroundings, he circled the spacious room, looking at pictures on the wall and at a table that held a spread of wedding snapshots. At her desk, he paused and leaned over, and she wondered what he was looking at. Her calendar, she realized.
“Ah, you’re free tonight. Good.”
She shook her head, knowing she had already lost the argument.
“I promise, we’ll have a great evening,” he said, his gaze boring into her, and she could feel the sparks dancing between them. Attraction was hot and all but crackled in the air. At the same time, there was a clash of wills.
“I’ll take you to your favorite place, unless you’d rather go to mine,” he said, giving her another one of those knee-melting smiles that made her remember being in his arms. As if the issue were settled, he moved on, looking at books and pictures on her shelves, picking up an old snapshot of her on the farm with her dad.
Holding the frame in his well-shaped hand, Ryan studied the picture and then glanced at her. “Nice, Ashley. Do you miss the farm?”
“No. I don’t want to farm. My brother can do that with my dad.”
Ryan glanced at his watch. “It’s after five, so that means we can close now. I’ll drive, and bring you back later to get your car.”
“Ryan, we’re not—”
He narrowed the space between them and slipped his arms around her waist. “I want to be with you, talk to you and see you again,” he said in a hoarse voice. He trailed one hand up to stroke her nape lightly, evoking tingles. “Get your purse and I’ll help you lock up.”
He was gone from her private office, his long legs carrying him in an easy stride into the hallway. She shook her head and stepped into her small adjoining bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. “Get rid of him,” she whispered. Why did he have to be so damnably handsome? And sexy and fascinating. Why did she respond so to him? she wondered, and then remembered the reactions of Jenna and Carlotta. What female didn’t respond to him?
Squaring her shoulders, Ashley took a deep breath and left the room, switching off the lights and going to lock up.
He was standing beside the alarm control box. “Do you have a code for this?” he asked.
She told him, then watched while he punched buttons. “You did it all correctly,” she said as they left. “You’re efficient.”
“Thank you,” he replied. “I’m glad to hear I have some pluses.”
“You have too many pluses,” she remarked dryly, and received a curious stare from him.
“That’s interesting. Too many,” he repeated. “Does this mean you want some uncivilized behavior from me?”
“Hardly,” she muttered.
“Don’t I wish!” he replied. He glanced around. “This is a good location for you, isn’t it? Just the right ambience, and probably caters to an upscale group of clients most of the time.”
She nodded, thinking that she could add observant to his admirable qualities. As she walked beside him to his car, he slowed his stride to hers and continued to talk about businesses around them, noticing several that tied in to her own.
He held open the door to the black sports car. When he went around to get in, she ran her hand over the elegant leather seat, reminded again of the differences in their worlds. As soon as he was seated beside her, he turned to look at her. “Do you have a favorite restaurant?”
She shrugged. “I’ll let you pick where we go. What’s your favorite, Ryan?”
