Baiting the Maid of Honor (18 page)

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 alone. 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.”

“Don’t tempt fate.”

“Oh, he speaks.”

“I was getting there.” Colton turned away, but Reed caught his smile and made a sound of disgust in

response. “So if I’m hearing you correctly, this girl makes you want to get yourself stabbed.”

“This is why I don’t talk much.”

Colton laughed. “All right, I’ll be serious. Keep going.”

“You were expecting more?” Reed sighed. “You two idiots? I had no problem figuring out. The

academy was physical work. That, I understood, no problem. With Julie…” He shook his head. “On

the surface, I know anything between us is impossible. But I think it might be twice as impossible for

me to stay away. To…let her walk.”

“First of all…the girl is Julie?”

Reed nodded once.

“Maid of honor. Nice.” He offered his hand out for a fist bump, which Reed ignored. “Why is it

impossible?”

Reed snorted, but Colton merely raised an eyebrow. “Remember that summer Brock’s mother

played the
Phantom of the Opera
soundtrack nonstop? Just on a constant loop. Morning until night.

Then she made us sit with her and watch the old black-and-white movie version?”

“Pure, unadulterated torture.”

“Right. Well Julie is Christine and I’m the Phantom. Minus the mask.”

“And the singing ability.”

“Fine. You get what I’m saying.”

“I get it, sure.” Colton shrugged. “I just don’t agree.”

Reed grunted. “People would wonder what the hell she’s doing with me.”

“Since when do you give a damn what people think? And by the way, everyone wants Christine to

end up with the Phantom. They’re soul mates, man.”

“I’m beginning to regret this metaphor.”

The two friends walked in silence for a moment. “Have to say, I never expected to find myself on a

romantic morning walk with Reed Lawson. Discussing musical theater of all things.”

“Well, congratulations. You can cross it off your bucket list.” He shot Colton a look. “And quit

smiling.”

Colton barked a laugh. “Final word of advice before I leave you to commune with nature.” He

pulled Reed to a stop. “Don’t leave anything unsaid. Women might
say
they like mysterious men, but

that’s only in the beginning. Soon enough, they start
hating
the mystery. They want what you’re

thinking translated into three different languages.” He took a deep breath. “Tell her what you’re

thinking. Doesn’t matter if you think it sounds stupid. Just get it out there. Hell, sometimes it’s even

the right thing. And when that happens…” Colton slapped him on the shoulder. “It’s like Christmas

morning and Super Bowl Sunday wrapped up in one.”

Reed hid his amusement. “Who could pass that up?”

“Exactly.” Colton glanced over his shoulder. “I better head back. Kady is probably looking for

me.”

“Don’t keep her waiting, then.”

“Oh, I won’t.” Colton started back in the direction they came. After a few steps, he stopped. “Hey

Reed.” He appeared to be searching for the right words. “When you think she deserves someone

better? When you can’t imagine being the one who actually gets to keep her? That’s how you know

you’re
the one who deserves her. Not some asshole in a puffy shirt carrying a sword.”

“This conversation never took place.”

Colton jogged backward down the path singing “Think of Me,” Brock’s mother’s favorite song

from the
Phantom
soundtrack. Reed flipped him the bird, but as soon as Colton disappeared from

view, he couldn’t help but laugh under his breath.

…

Julie raised a hand to knock on Christine’s door just as it opened and a resigned-looking Tyler exited.

She started to ask him if everything was all right, then thought better of it. Obviously, something had

gone wrong between the two. Best not to pry. Or get involved and make it worse.

“Tyler, is there anything I can do for you? You look downright exhausted and no wonder. Carrying

Christine like a bona fide hero through the woods. I’d imagine you’re about ready to drop.”

He gave a halfhearted attempt at a smile, but there was an unholy suffering in his eyes. “I’m fine,

really.”

She patted him on the arm. “I’ll make sure she’s all right. Go take care of yourself.”

“Will you call me if she needs me? Or pretends she doesn’t, but really does?”

“Absolutely.”

Tyler hesitated, but turned and left. Julie watched him walk off, obviously under the weight of a

heavy heart. She understood how he felt. Since her and Reed’s argument in the woods, she’d been

burdened by a yawning, empty feeling in her stomach. Watching him disappear from the lobby had

only made it worse. While she felt certain her actions were for the best, it didn’t stop the dull,