“Oh yeah. I’ve been dreaming about it since I was a kid. I want the whole princess fairy tale thing. Horse-drawn carriage. Huge church filled with flowers. A live band at the reception. The whole shebang.”
I grinned. “I didn’t know that about you.”
She laughed. “I know. I guess I’m a hopeless romantic too.” She cocked her head. “How is it going to be to pretend you’re in love with your boss?”
My erotic dream about Ryan came back to me. I drank my water to cool my skin that all of a sudden felt too hot. “I don’t know. I’ve always liked and respected him. But he’s my boss. It’s also sort of weird.”
She nodded. “What if he wasn’t your boss? If we were out one night at a club and he walked in, would you be interested in him?”
I knew the answer was yes because I’d come to that conclusion the night before. But I wasn’t sure I should confess to that.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Of course, Mr. Strong isn’t a club kind of guy.”
Andi laughed. “He’s pretty square. Still, he’s good looking, don’t you think?”
I shrugged noncommittally.
“Oh, come on. The guy is hot. Maybe not the hottest Strong brother, but he’s not ugly.”
I took offense that she didn’t think he was the most handsome brother, because of course he was. It wasn’t just his looks that made him attractive. It was how he carried himself. He exuded power and control. Plus, he was generous and caring. And he loved his family.
“How would you rank the brothers?” she asked.
“On what? Looks? Skill? Commitment to the business.”
She snorted. “Noah would be last on that list. Still, he’s hot too. He’s got that rebel-without-a-cause vibe, you know.”
I studied her, wondering if she had a thing for him.
“Noah doesn’t seem like the horse-drawn carriage, fairy tale wedding type,” I said.
“No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t seem the marrying type at all, but I bet he’s fabulous in bed.”
“Is that how we’re ranking them?” Again, the vision of Ryan bringing me to orgasm on a tree stump in the middle of the Tuscan countryside filled my brain.
“I think they’re all probably pretty good, except maybe Ryan. Seriously, do you think he ever gets laid?”
I bit my lip to keep from revealing I’d asked him her question in my dream. “Ryan is a private person.”
She pondered that. “The quiet types are often the most creative in bed.” She waggled her brows. “Perhaps Ryan is hiding his true sexual prowess.” Then she studied me. “Maybe you’ll be able to find out.”
I shook my head. “He’s my boss. I don’t think of him like that. Plus, he’s already all twisted up inside worried I’ll sue him over this situation.”
She nodded. “Like I said, he’s square.”
I took offense. “He cares more than anyone besides Margaret, about this company. He takes that seriously.”
Her eyes narrowed and I squirmed under her scrutiny. “I wouldn’t underestimate Hunter and Carter’s commitment, but I do think Ryan has felt like as the oldest he’s needed to take over the role of patriarch since their dad is so detached from the business.”
I nodded. That was how I saw it too.
“Margaret admires him for it, but there’s a reason why she’s not making him CEO even though as the oldest and as the one who’s really stepped up to lead the family, he’s the obvious choice,” she said, her gaze turning to the brie and bacon sandwich the waitress set in front of her.
“Why?” I leaned back as the waitress set my Thai chicken salad in front of me.
“Well, for one, Hunter and Carter are committed too. But second, I think she has a few regrets in her life in living for the business, and doesn’t want that for Ryan.”
“He does live for the business. Hence this crazy wedding.”