The Wedding Setup, page 24
“I missed you,” Maddie said, her voice low, almost inaudible in the din of the crowd.
She swallowed, hard, against the rising heat in her chest and nodded eagerly. “Me, too.”
Maddie leant closer, her lips brushing Ryann’s ear. “I can’t wait to get you out of this dress.” She spoke so low and stood so close she tickled her, making her shiver. Her face, ever the betrayer, was hot and likely red. Maddie gave her a wolfish grin, her eyes sparkling.
“A-hem,” Dick said, a little louder than necessary.
She and Maddie sprang apart, she realizing then that she’d entirely forgotten the people she came here with.
Stuart’s expression was playful and wicked when he caught her eye, and she had to force herself not to stick her tongue out at him.
“Mom, Dad,” Stuart said, “this is my friend Maddie. She’s also Jai’s maid of honor. Maddie, these are my parents, Dick and Kathy Aldridge.”
Both of his parents seemed confused by this introduction, throwing her baffled looks. They’d clearly assumed that Maddie was here for her, but all of this was too complicated to explain in the press of the crowd.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Maddie said, shaking their hands.
“Mmmm,” Dick managed, still obviously thrown off.
“The pleasure’s mine,” Kathy said, her warmth more genuine. She flashed Ryann a wink and continued to hold on to Maddie’s hand, tucking it under her own arm.
“Are you here to escort us to the table, dear?”
Maddie laughed and squeezed the woman’s arm under hers. “Absolutely, Mrs. Aldridge. Right this way.”
Dick followed, clearly dumbfounded. Stuart didn’t let the opportunity pass, immediately snatching Ryann’s arm under his like his mother had done.
“Oh my God!” he mouthed, not actually saying anything. “What the fuck was that?”
She lowered her voice as much as possible. “We got carried away.”
“You call that getting carried away?” He spoke loud enough that his father glanced back at him. Quieter, to her, he said, “You looked ready to eat each other…” He paused, clearing his throat. “Sorry. I mean that you looked ready to jump each other in front of me, my parents, and half the City of Loveland.”
She elbowed him as Dick turned his face their way again, and Stuart gave his father a wide, fake smile.
Eventually they reached the back of the restaurant, where an open doorway led into a smaller, more intimate dining room reserved for their party, clearly designed for occasions such as this. One long table was set up here in the center of the room, and Ryann realized at a glance that they were the last people to arrive. Jai, his parents, and all his sisters and their husbands were already here, still standing, drinks in hand. Everyone stopped what they were doing or stopped talking to swarm Dick and Kathy, which meant Stuart was forced to let Ryann go to make introductions. Maddie freed herself from the throng and escaped to her side, pulling her away from the bustle of Jai’s boisterous family.
“There’s a nice scotch with your name on it,” Maddie said, steering her from behind. They paused to put Ryann’s heavy coat on the back of a chair before continuing to the far side of the room that featured a bar cart with a couple of open bottles of liquor and wine. It was quieter here, though only just.
“We can serve ourselves?” Ryann asked, picking up the scotch. It was, she was pleased to see, one of her favorites.
“They have a bottle service for the night. You can order beer, too, from the bar out front.”
“Nice.” She poured herself more than her usual draught of scotch and took a long pull, eyes closed.
“So how was the airport?” Maddie asked when she opened her eyes.
When they’d parted late this morning, they’d planned to come here together after Maddie spent a few hours in the studio and picked up a change of clothes. But Stuart had called Ryann and asked her to go with him to get his folks. It had taken so long that she’d lost her afternoon with Maddie, and the wedding tension had returned, tenfold, with Stuart’s folks here.
“Terrible,” she said, pulling Maddie closer by her lapels, and Maddie obliged her by leaning down into a solid kiss. She lost herself in Maddie’s lips, their torsos suddenly flush, her mind staticky and hazy with the sensation of sinking, drifting away.
“Well, well, well,” a voice said, and once again she and Maddie sprang apart. Jos stood there, one hand on her hip, every ounce the high-powered lawyer in her severe black designer clothing. Julia stood behind her, a little smug too.
“Oh, shut it, Jos,” Maddie said. She was still smiling slightly, and Ryann was pleased to see a little color in her cheeks, too.
“You two together are not even slightly a surprise,” Jos said.
Maddie frowned at her. “Can it.”
“Don’t be a jerk, Jos,” Julia added.
She held her hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay. I’ll let it go. But this,” she motioned between them, “was inevitable.”
Ryann and Maddie shared a look, and Ryann smiled to show that she wasn’t offended. Maddie grinned back at Jos.
“Yeah. Maybe you’re right. It feels like that—meant to be.”
Jos pouted. “Still—it’s a little sad. I wanted to flirt with you guys at the wedding.”
“Oh?” Julia asked. “And what would your husband think of that?”
Jos snorted. “I don’t care.”
Ryann laughed without meaning to, and Jos winked at her. Moments later, Maddie was called for, and she left after a quick parting kiss.
“You really have a catch there,” Julia said, watching her watch Maddie walk away.
“I know.”
“Good. Oh, say, before I forget,” Julia said, “I need you to come by this weekend for the final dress fitting.”
“Okay. I can do tomorrow, but can it be in the morning? I have a ton of work to do all day.”
“No problem. I’m an early riser. Just text when you’re up, and we’ll take care of it first thing.” Her eyes darted behind Ryann’s shoulder. “Sorry—will you excuse me? I think I see my husband doing shots.”
“No problem,” she said.
She and Jos were left alone, both holding a glass of the same nice scotch. Jos was eying her, critically, and she took a nervous sip of her drink, not sure what to say.
“You better treat Maddie right, you hear me?” Jos asked, her tone aggressive and clearly serious. “She doesn’t have any siblings here to give you the shovel talk, so consider it done.”
“Of course.”
“I mean it. If I hear anything bad, I’m coming for you, girlie.”
Jos was well on her way toward being drunk, so rather than attempt to have any kind of conversation with her while she grew more antagonistic, Ryann saluted her and left her there at the little bar cart.
She hoped, briefly, that she might be able to sit somewhere and quietly finish her drink, but then Jai was calling her over, one arm thrown over Maddie’s shoulders. She approached, realizing at once that Jai was more than tipsy by the slight tilt to his posture and his red cheeks and nose.
“Ah, and here she is—the lady of the hour,” he said, much too loudly.
“Oh?” she asked. Stuart met her gaze and lifted his shoulders. He didn’t know either.
“Oh, nothing,” Jai said. “We were just talking about you.”
“Good things, I hope?”
Jai’s smirk was slightly wolfish, and he jerked a thumb at Maddie. “That’s what she said, anyway.”
Maddie stepped out from under Jai’s arm, her expression darkening, and Jai seemed to realize a beat too late what he’d said. Ryann, Stuart, and Maddie glared at him, and he paled.
“Damn it. I’m sorry, Ryann, Maddie. I don’t know why I said that.”
“I know why you did, you lout. You’re soused,” Stuart said, quiet enough that only the three of them could hear him.
“I am,” he said, almost sobbing. “I’m so sorry. I got really nervous about meeting your parents. I had a few too many before you guys got here.”
All of them looked over at Stuart’s parents. Dick and Kathy were deep in conversation with Jai’s parents, Jim and Jackie. Jim was squeezing Dick’s shoulder, laughing loudly, and Dick seemed distinctly uncomfortable. He was trying to smile, but it was more a grimace than anything. Kathy was staring at Jackie in wide shock, and Ryann wondered what Jackie had said or done to elicit that response. Two different sets of people could hardly be imagined.
Stuart stepped closer to Jai and gently took his arm. “What say you and I go see if the bartender can whip us up a cup of coffee, okay?” He kissed the side of his cheek. “And you don’t have to be nervous. They’re not that impressive.”
Ryann and Maddie were once again alone. Maddie seemed to take this as another opportunity to get closer to her, and she welcomed it, stepping into her arms and sighing against her chest. Though she wasn’t tall—slightly above average—it was still a rare thing that another woman was this much taller than her, and she’d certainly never dated someone this tall. She decided then, wrapped in her arms, that she liked Maddie’s height a lot. Here, tucked into her like this, she relaxed again, warm and comfortable.
Hearing a funny sort of squeaking sound, she opened her eyes. Janet was standing in front of them, hands over her mouth, eyes wide.
“Ohmygoshyoutwoaretogether!” she said, speaking so quickly the words ran together.
Maddie laughed. “What was that?”
“Yes. We are,” Ryann replied, grabbing Maddie’s hand.
Janet laughed and clapped her hands. “I’m so happy for you two! I was hoping you’d start dating.” She grimaced slightly. “I’m sorry. That makes me sound like I was fantasizing about you. No—that sounds even worse. I mean, when I saw you together last week—”
Maddie held up a hand. “We know what you mean. And thanks. We’re happy about it, too.”
Janet seemed relieved, her shoulders relaxing. “You also look great together, especially tonight. Did you plan these outfits? They’re amazing.”
“No,” Ryann said. “Happy accident. This one cleans up nice.”
Maddie pulled her a step closer. “And this one is always gorgeous.”
Janet batted her eyelashes, making both of them laugh.
“You two are seriously dreamy.” She put her hands together in a mock prayer. “So which one of you is moving?”
Ryann’s stomach dropped, the blood draining from her face. One glance up at Maddie was enough to see that she’d reacted similarly, that easy smile no longer on her lips.
Janet whitened, too. “Oh, gosh, guys. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“You couldn’t know,” Maddie said, subdued. She met Ryann’s eyes and shrugged. “We…just haven’t really talked about it.”
Maddie’s expression was bleak, and Ryann’s stomach clenched. The scotch soured in her stomach, and she was suddenly hot all over—whether from dread or anxiety or nausea or all three, it was hard to tell. She had to look away from Maddie’s sad expression, suddenly afraid she might start crying.
“Oh, man, guys,” Janet said. “I really stepped in it, didn’t I?”
“It’s okay,” Maddie said, a little quickly. “Don’t worry about it. But you’ll have to excuse us. Ryann and I are going outside for some air before dinner.”
Janet nodded, still clearly upset, but Ryann couldn’t think of a thing to say to make her feel better. She let Maddie steer her out of the room, and they walked back through the crowds they’d only recently come through before, passing Jai and Stuart at the bar, neither of whom noticed them.
Outside, the air was now distinctly chilly, the earlier warmth dying with the setting sun. Maddie was wearing her blazer, but as it was lightweight, neither of them was really dressed for a February evening. Maddie, seeing her shiver, pulled her closer under one arm and then led her around the edge of the restaurant to the alley. Ryann had a flash of their earlier encounter in an alley just like this one right before their first time and warmed slightly at the memory. Maddie, however, was still all sad eyes and bleak grimaces when she stepped in front of her, taking her hands. Maddie chewed on her lip before finally speaking.
“Sorry to strong-arm you. I just had to get out of there for a minute. And I wanted to say that…I’m sorry. About that whole conversation with Janet.”
“What? Why are you sorry?”
Maddie sighed. “I guess I hadn’t really thought about what we would say. When people asked about us, I mean. I should have anticipated it, especially tonight, since most of these people didn’t know yet. I was surprised and didn’t react well.”
She was still confused, and Maddie, apparently thinking she was upset, stared at the ground and squeezed her hands. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”
She let her hands go and stepped closer and waited until Maddie met her eyes. “You don’t have to apologize. I clammed up, too. People were bound to ask, and I couldn’t think of anything to say.”
Maddie was working at her lip with her teeth again. Hating to see her so anxious, she ran her fingers along the edge of Maddie’s jaw. Maddie shuddered, closing her eyes, and leaned her face into Ryann’s palm. When Maddie opened her eyes, heat filled them, a low ember anyway, smoldering. She pulled Ryann into a rough kiss that sent fire racing through her veins. They might have stayed there in that freezing alley groping each other and making out, but someone wolf-whistled at them, and they jumped apart. Whoever had done it was gone by the time she looked, but then, seeing Maddie’s guilty expression, she couldn’t help but laugh, which sent both of them into a fit of giggles.
“Hope it wasn’t anyone we know,” Maddie finally said.
“Same.”
Maddie’s smile died a little again, her eyes sad again. “So are we okay?”
“Of course we are, Maddie.”
“I just don’t want you to feel any pressure about any of this—”
She cut her off with another quick kiss. “I don’t feel any pressure. I want this. You want this. That’s enough, okay? We can talk about details later. After the wedding. Let’s enjoy our time together until then.”
Maddie was clearly still a bit reluctant to let it go. “And what if someone asks? I mean like Janet did?”
“We tell them we just started dating. If they push, we change the subject.”
Maddie finally sagged with relief, that sadness fading from her eyes. She glanced up and down the alley each direction and smirked.
“Think we have a minute to warm up before we head inside?”
“What do you mean?”
Maddie’s kiss was answer enough. The cold chill of the dying day was certainly the last thing she was worried about after that.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ryann finished her fitting with Julia very early Saturday morning. The dress for the wedding fit very well, and while she couldn’t really ignore the fact that it seemed like she’d walked off the set of Masterpiece Theater when she was wearing it, even she had to admit that it suited her figure. Maddie drove her, but she insisted on waiting until the wedding to see her in the dress, staying in the car when she went inside.
Almost as if we’re getting married, too, she thought. A stab of real remorse and pain followed this idea, and she made herself dismiss the thought before rejoining Maddie in the Bronco.
Maddie drove her back to the hotel, and she spent the rest of the morning, afternoon, and early evening on the computer, videoconferencing and working. Maddie was there with her in the hotel room through lunch, reading a book and puttering around just out of the line of sight from her colleagues. She would catch herself watching Maddie while Ted or one of her board members was talking about something important, crucial even. It was a miracle no one noticed or mentioned her absentmindedness, though she caught Ted giving her a couple of smirking grins. He probably knew exactly who she was watching. Finally, in one of the quick breaks between meetings, she had to ask Maddie to leave.
“Too distracting?” Maddie asked, voice low.
She didn’t bother playing coy. “Yes. All I want is to close my laptop, throw you on that ridiculous bed, and take advantage of you all afternoon.”
Maddie’s eyebrows shot up, and Ryann pulled her into a hot kiss before swatting her butt. “Now get out of here before I have to explain to my coworkers why my clothes are suddenly a mess.”
Maddie saluted and grabbed her coat, giving her a quick kiss before leaving. She was meeting some of the others related to the wedding at the festival, something Ryann had wanted to do herself, but it was out of the question today. Anyway, they’d see each other later that night for the bachelors’ party. Still, she resented the interim more than she cared to admit. Luckily, she lost herself in the work again, and she and her board managed to cover a lot of ground together. She didn’t like making anyone else work on a Saturday, but as most of the new paperwork had been delayed a couple of days, they hadn’t been able to do anything sooner. It was going to be like this for a while now—solid, all-day work every day of the week, including Saturdays, and likely for at least another month or two until the deal was firmly underway and running smoothly. Already, she had to plan how to make up the missing day for the wedding on Tuesday, as well as the time she’d lose on her trip home Wednesday.
The very thought of going back, of leaving Maddie behind, was enough to distract her again, so she forced her mind elsewhere whenever she discussed dates and meetings with her colleagues. She couldn’t worry about that now.
By the time the final meeting was wrapping up, she was nearly spent. The moment the last of her board members logged out, she immediately loosened the tight bun she’d had her hair in all day, scrubbing at her scalp with her fingertips, hard.
Ted laughed. He was the only person left in the virtual conference room, clearly holding back to talk to her one-on-one.
