Baiting the Maid of Honor

He laughed darkly. “We’re not done until you take back what you said.”

She scoffed. “I think your ego is large enough to survive one tiny blow.” Hearing him closing in on her, she picked up her pace. “This has been a god-awful waste of time.”

“Walked into the wrong room, Julie?” His arm snaked around her belly, stopping her in her tracks. When he pulled her back against his wall of strength, she felt herself begin to melt, but somehow kept her posture rigid. He only held her tighter, molding himself to her back. His breath fanned over her neck as he spoke. “How fast do you think I can prove you wrong?”

“Let me go,” she said through clenched teeth, struggling with enough effort that he had no choice but to free her or risk injuring her. As soon as she regained her balance, she whirled on him. “I have no doubt you could prove, once again, that I’m attracted to you. It’s what comes afterward. The nothing that comes afterward that matters. You’re not capable of anything more. So just…walk away, Reed.”

If she blinked, she would have missed the stricken look that flashed in his face. Just as quickly, though, it was gone and replaced with his signature granite countenance. It made her want to stomp and scream at him to get the first reaction back. At least it would prove this thing between them had meant something.

“Nothing was ever supposed to come afterward,” he said woodenly. “I never claimed I could give that to you.”

Christine came into view then, being carried down the path by Tyler. They both looked incredibly annoyed, leaves and forest debris clinging to their clothing and hair. When she saw Christine wince in pain, concern for her friend trumped all else and Julie walked away from Reed, who looked frozen to the spot.

“What happened?”

Christine opened her mouth to reply, but Tyler spoke first, his green eyes flashing angrily. “Ankle sprain.”

She ignored Reed’s weary sigh behind her and went into fix-it mode. Relief, she was ashamed to admit, spread in her belly at having something to focus on beside the man burning holes into her back. “Oh, you poor thing. Let’s get you back to the resort right now. Ice and elevation, that’s what you need. We’ll get it fixed up real good. Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’m going to have room service bring you up a big old cup of coffee and some chocolate. Aunt Sylvie always said there’s nothing you can’t cure with chocolate and time.” She patted Tyler on the arm, but he didn’t take his eyes off Christine. “Can you carry her the rest of the way or should—”

“I’ve got her.”

Christine’s fist balled up. “I ca—”

“I said I got it,” Tyler snapped, looking as though he’d take on anyone who made the mistake of removing Christine from his arms. “Julie, you can go lead the way with Reed, since you have the flashlight.”

Julie nodded, mentally registering the fact that Reed had definitely been onto something. Enough sparks were flying between these two to start a fire. An ill-advised endeavor in the forest. “Fabulous. Let’s get moving.” Feeling Reed’s steady gaze on her and refusing to meet it, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Kady. “The redheaded eagle has landed. We’ll meet y’all in the lobby.”

Chapter Fifteen

Reed leaned against the wall in the lobby and watched Julie command the troops. Even at the early hour, she’d managed to rally several members of the resort staff to their cause. Arranging room service, finding a pair of crutches in the stockroom, borrowing medical supplies from the infirmary for Tyler to utilize in treating Christine. The bridal party, bleary-eyed and haphazardly dressed, stood in a semicircle around her, waiting for their marching orders.

Tyler had long since disappeared with Christine, silently carrying her down the hallway toward her room. Kady and Colton, propped up against each other, looked exhausted.

Everyone, everything, functioned normally around him, while inside, he felt ripped to shreds. Having steeled himself at a young age against feeling too many emotions, it blew his mind that no one could see his misery. It felt as though it should be painted in bright red across his chest. Once again, he’d had Julie in his arms, holding his pitiful, broken body against hers. For a brief second in time, he’d felt healed. Redeemed. Then he’d said something unforgivable. As if some subconscious, terrified part of him wanted to drive her away, when consciously, all he wanted was to crush her to him. Absorb her scent. Her light. Never let her go.

Brock, wearing beat-up jeans and a Braves hat, threw himself into a nearby leather recliner, tossing an amused glance at Reed. “You can’t stare her into liking your ass.”

“Shut it.”

“All right.” He yanked his cap down lower. “Too tired to argue, anyhow.”

Julie’s chipper voice reached him. “We’re going to need flats for all the bridesmaids. We can’t have Christine being the odd one out. Preferably silver to match the dresses. Who wants to take that on?” She glanced around curiously. “Where’s Regan? I need my shopping expert.”

Reed had never seen Brock move so fast. He leaped out of the chair, waving a hand at Julie. “I’ll find her. Silver shoes. Got it. Anything else?”

“N-no. Thank you, Brock.” She patted him on the shoulder and gave him a smile that had Reed grinding his molars. I never make her smile. Only cry or get angry. Or both. “Bless your heart. I’m sure Regan can figure out sizes.”

Reed shook his head as Brock asked for Regan’s room number, then all but sprinted from the lobby. Apparently they’d all drunk the Kool-Aid. He switched his attention back to Julie. She and Kady were debating the idea of canceling dance rehearsal that afternoon.

Kady blew out a breath. “Knowing Christine, she’s embarrassed enough as it is. Canceling will only make it worse.”

Julie pursed her lips and nodded. “You’re right. We’ll just get her a big comfy chair to sit in and watch. It’ll keep her involved. We can all take turns sitting with her.” She returned her attention to the group. “Okay, I’m going to go check on the patient. You can all go back to sleep now. Does anyone need anything?”

Half the group groaned in relief and turned to leave; the other half began lobbing requests at Julie, which she dutifully wrote down on a notepad. Reed couldn’t watch it another second. She looked dead on her feet, today marked the anniversary of her sister’s death, and unless she’d sneaked in a meal during the hour they’d been apart the evening prior, she hadn’t had anything to eat in damn near twenty-four hours.

The haunted look he’d put in her eye with his insensitive comments still hadn’t dimmed and it made him want to rage at everyone to leave her the hell al

one. To do so, he suspected, would only push her further away. If such a thing were at all possible. He’d done a bang-up job of driving her squarely out of his reach, and his interference would not be welcome.

Jaw grinding, he propelled himself off the wall and strode out the back door of the lobby, uncertain of where he was headed and not giving a shit if he ended up in China.

“Whoa. Wait up, buddy.” Reed turned to find Colton jogging after him, hands shoved in his pockets to ward off the morning cold. “Where you headed?”

“Shouldn’t you be in bed with your bride?”

“Yeah. I figure there’ll be plenty of time for that once I get the ring on her finger, though.” He matched Reed’s pace on the path snaking through the resort village, but didn’t say anything as they walked. Reed knew his friend well enough to recognize his game. The advantages of knowing someone since childhood meant understanding how their mind worked.

Colton probably figured if he stayed silent long enough, Reed would cave and explain why he’d stormed off. In his current mood, he didn’t feel like giving even Colton the satisfaction of reading him so well, but as always, he remembered the role Colton played in getting him through those early years. Hell, half the reason he was alive was walking beside him. He’d vowed never to forget that.

For the first time since he could remember, Reed attempted to put his feelings into words, ignoring the way Colton’s steps faltered on the path when he started talking.

“So is this how it always is? You need to…suffer in order to gain something?” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “My father kicks me out and I’m sleeping on a boat. But in the end, it’s how I meet you and Brock.” Brow furrowed, Colton stayed silent beside him. Bastard. “Then it takes me nearly dying from a stab wound to turn it all around. Join the academy. And now this”—he blew out a harsh breath—“this girl, she’s making me suffer, too. Even when I have her, I’m suffering over the idea of not having her. I’d take the stab wound again to stop it.”