No Better Man (25 page)

His eyes connected with hers and her heart floored it, because this was the same way he’d looked at her right before he’d made love to her, his gaze steady and sure, mesmerizing.

“I’m sorry,” he said, still two feet away from her. That was her fault because she still hadn’t answered his question. But how could she when her tears were welling up again? Because he was there. In the ladies’ room. With her.

She dipped her chin to her chest so he wouldn’t see her cry, but then he got on his knees in front of her, holding her face in his hands and looking straight into her heart.

“Walking out on you was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, Avery. And I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.”

She shook her head against the regret in his voice. “You were right. I could’ve done more. I should’ve.” The tears did fall then, because it was the truth. “I could’ve stopped it.” If only she’d been paying attention. She’d would’ve seen what her father was planning to do.

“Hey.” His thumbs stroked her cheeks, wiping away those unrelenting tears. “None of this is your fault.” He inched closer; his elbows resting on her thighs, his face drawing so near that her body ached for him to pull her into his arms.

“We didn’t raise enough money,” she whispered, because he should know that before he made another mistake. “Not even close.” Waves of her sadness rippled through the words. “I can’t stop the auction.”

“Avery.”

She closed her eyes at the way his lips formed her name, with great care and tenderness.

His hands lowered and swallowed hers. Under his protective hold, her heart picked up and found a new rhythm.

“It doesn’t matter.” He smiled, still holding her hands in his, still looking at her like no man ever had, open and defenseless. “You were wrong. You are enough.”

The words reached the hollows of her heart, those empty places carved out by loss and disappointment, filling them until they brimmed over.

Bryce moved his hands to her face and brought it in line with his. “You’re so different. So strong. Compassionate. Vibrant.” He shook his head. “God, I’m so in love with you, Avery,” he uttered with a helpless vulnerability. “I didn’t even know it could be like this.”

“Me neither,” she murmured, peering into his eyes, letting him see the truth because she couldn’t hide it anymore. She couldn’t pretend. She couldn’t walk away. Somehow her heart had found its true home in him. A surge of emotion tangled her throat. “I feel like I’ve loved you my whole life.”

Still on his knees, he inched closer, until his upper body pressed against hers, until not even air could fit between them. “When I thought about my life without you, I couldn’t picture anything.” The words were rough, almost frantic. “I don’t need the ranch. I need you. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out.”

But she wasn’t sorry. Without the last couple of days, they wouldn’t have known. They wouldn’t have caught a glimpse of life apart. They wouldn’t have discovered that they belonged together. She tugged his face closer, watching his eyes carefully the whole way, feeling that sharp, beautiful sting of anticipation spiral through her. “I’d say you figured it out just in time,” she whispered, right before his lips melded to hers. The warm softness of his skin spread through her, loosening her joints, brewing a heated desire in the deep recesses of her soul.

His hands glided up her bare arms, then cupped her jaw, the manly roughness of his fingers scraping her in a lovely, tingling way.

He pulled back, his shameless gaze seeming to take in the details of her face, moving over her lips and her nose and her forehead.

“You combed your hair,” she whispered, because she couldn’t resist.

“Don’t get used to that,” he said with a sly, heart-stopping grin.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She tangled her fingers in his soft waves, mussing his hair just enough that he resembled the real Bryce. The one she’d fallen for. “There. I like it better this way, anyhow.”

Bryce pushed to his feet and pulled her up, bringing her close against his body, sliding his hands down her back, stopping them on the curve of her hips. “Don’t go to California, Slugger,” he begged. “Stay with me.”

And even though her feet were technically touching the ground, her body threatened to float away. She stood on her tiptoes so his lips were within reach. “Okay.”

It was the simplest decision she’d ever made.

“Okay,” Bryce repeated before his lips teased hers, then sank in, silencing the rest of the world, drowning her in a warm rush. He wrapped her in his arms, bringing their bodies closer, caressing his hands down her back. His lips were solid and demanding, so dominant over hers that her lungs ached with a groaning breath. Grinning against her mouth, Bryce backed her into the wall, pinning her body with his, working his lips down her neck…

Creak.

The door
whoosh
ed open.

Avery froze, trying to focus past the blur of passion in her eyes. Under the doorframe, a white-haired woman gasped and clutched her chest. “Oh, goodness! I’m so sorry,” she called as she hurried out.

Laughing, Bryce rested his forehead against hers. “I guess we’ll have to hold that thought.”

“Not necessarily.” She tugged on his bow tie and widened her eyes into an invitation. “I have a suite upstairs…”

“You have no idea how much I want to see it,” he said, in that hungry, gravely tone. “But there’s someone who wants to see you, first.”

Hadn’t she already seen everyone who’d walked through the door? “Who?” she demanded, because she’d rather not see anyone except him at the moment.

“You’ll see.” He took her arm and escorted her out of the ladies’ room, back toward the party. When they turned the corner and walked under the arch, the flutter in her heart turned violent. “Dad.”

He stood near the fountain, dressed in his classic shawl-collar tuxedo.

Wriggling out of Bryce’s grasp, she stopped. “What is he doing here?” she asked, torn between tears and anger. He’d cut her off like she meant nothing to him, and she hadn’t heard from him for three days…

“I asked him to come.” Bryce’s hand landed on the small of her back, nudging her forward again, soothing her with a gentle touch.

Her feet shuffled, but she couldn’t seem to draw in a stabilizing breath. She turned to Bryce. “You
asked
him to come?” When? Why would he do that?

“Yeah.” He gazed down at her with a small smile, but it wasn’t apologetic. “I’d give anything to have my dad around, Avery. So I called and told him that I was coming here. To convince you to stay with me in Aspen. I thought he should know.”

In other words he’d done this for her. He’d graciously gone to the man who was taking away his home and tried to make things right between her and her father. The anger crumbled, exposing her sadness, but Bryce was right. She couldn’t move on like this, not without seeing Dad, not without making sure he knew how much she loved him. Even if he’d cast her aside.

“Besides, we had a great talk. I think you should hear him out,” Bryce said, and this time when he nudged her toward Dad, she didn’t resist. But she didn’t have to move far because he met her in the middle.

“Avery…I’m sorry,” he said. His gray eyes were rimmed with red.

It took so long for those words to come together in her mind, to make sense to her heart. “What?” she gasped, not bothering to hide her surprise. Dad never apologized.

“After Bryce called me this morning, I realized something.” His jaw twitched like it always did when he was trying to hide his emotions. “I should’ve given up everything for your mom. The way Bryce did for you.”

Her throat stung like she’d swallowed glass. She peered up at Bryce. “What is he talking about?”

Bryce simply looked at Dad.

He cleared his throat. “I called him three days ago and told him he could have the ranch back if he broke things off with you.”

A swell of anger forced her back a step. “How could you do that?” The tears were blinding now, sloppy and everywhere…

“It was a mistake.” Dad rested his hand on her forearm. “And he refused,” he said, looking at Bryce with obvious respect. “It made me think. I wish I would’ve chosen your mom over everything else. Maybe things would’ve been different.”

Okay. Okay. Breathe.
But that was much harder than it sounded at the moment. She held back a sob.

Bryce rubbed a hand over her shoulders, and she loved him so, so, so much. She loved them both.

“You were right,” Dad said with a hitch in his voice. “You’re her legacy. You’re like your mom in every way that made her good. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, gripping his hand in hers, savoring the feel of a connection that felt like it had only just started.

He squeezed back, his eyes glassy with pent-up tears. “I want to make this right.” He looked between her and Bryce. “For both of you. I’ll see to it that you can buy back the ranch at the auction. You two will do more with it than I ever could.”

And that released the sob. She threw her arms around him, hugging his neck so tight he started to cough. But she held on anyway.

When she finally let him go, Dad righted his suit coat. “I want you to be happy. That’s all that matters. You’ll always be my little girl, Aves.”

“I know,” she answered, those sneaky tears pricking again. For all of those years, they’d survived together, but now she was ready to live, deeply and boldly. Unafraid. And she hoped he would, too.

Bryce pulled the hankie out of the pocket of his tux and offered it to her, then reached out to shake Dad’s hand. “Thank you. For everything.” He smiled down at Avery. “We’ll make the ranch something your mom would’ve loved.”

She slipped her hand into his. “That sounds perfect.”

Dad sniffed, then blinked hard. “I could use a stiff drink,” he said, his gruff tenor making a comeback. He gazed at the bar. “I’ll be over there if you need me.”

“Okay.” She smiled, offering him one more hug. He pulled back and strode away, but not before she saw more tears in his eyes.

As soon as they were alone, Bryce pulled her close. “You’re serious, right? About staying in Aspen? About working on the ranch together?”

“Yes.” She rested her palms against his chest and batted her eyelashes. “I mean…if I have a reason to stay.”

“Oh, I’ll give you a reason.” He brushed his lips against hers and inched his hands up the sides of her ribcage until her lungs felt ragged from lack of air.

“I’ll need a marketing queen. You know anyone like that?”

“Maybe.” She drew out the word in a tease.

Bryce’s gaze lowered down her body. “She has to be as hot as you are.”

“Isn’t that a little sexist?” she asked sweetly.

“You wanna play hardball?” He held up his hands. “I get it. Okay. Fine. I’ll even throw in room and board. You can have my bedroom.”

She exaggerated an eye roll. “How generous of you.”

“I’m all about sacrifice.” He straightened, but his eyes never left hers. “Think of everything we could do together.”

“In your bedroom?”

“You said that. Not me.” But then his easy expression evaporated. After a glance around, he linked her arm in his and escorted her to a quiet corner near the garden arch where she could hear the fountain trickle nearby. Then he looked down at her, his green eyes solemn. “Seriously, Avery. I never thought I’d feel like this. I didn’t even know it was possible.” He brushed her hair behind her shoulder, his fingers grazing her neck, weakening her legs…

“I’d given up. Didn’t think I’d get another chance to share my life with anyone. You changed that.” The words were rough, so full of emotion that she had to hold her breath so she didn’t ruin the moment with more tears.

“You changed how I saw everything. When you walked into my office that day, I came alive.”

“Me, too,” she whispered, clasping his hand in hers. And she had. Without Bryce, she never would’ve known her life was missing something. She never would’ve realized there was so much more.

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I promise I won’t walk out on you again.”

“I believe you.” And right then, she knew it was over. She knew no one else would ever own her heart the way he did.

A burst of a commotion broke their spell. She peered over his shoulder and everyone was there—Ben and Sawyer and Kaylee, Meg and Nelson, and, yes, even Shooter—all closing in on them.
Wait.
Where was Paige? Avery studied Ben, who no longer seemed to be smiling, but before she had time to investigate, Sawyer slung an arm around her and Bryce. “Get these kids some champagne!” he shouted, and that’s when the party really started. There were whistles and whoops and before she knew what was happening, she held the stem of a crystal glass.

Worried, she glanced at Bryce. It couldn’t be easy for him to be around alcohol…

But he grinned at her like he knew exactly what she was thinking. “Never been much of a champagne guy so Sawyer made sure I got a Coke,” he explained, showing her the vintage glass bottle. Then he drew closer. “And right now, I’m only craving you, Avery.”

She knew exactly what he meant.

Clasping her hand in his, he raised his glass. “To the future.”

There were more cheers, a couple of hearty sniffles, but then everyone quieted to wait for her.

She paused for a moment, to breathe it all in, to etch every detail into her memory. Then, drawing close to Bryce’s side, she raised her glass. “To the Walker Mountain Ranch,” she sang.

Then she clanged her glass against his and sealed their new partnership with a long, lovely kiss.

I
am
not
getting on that thing.” Avery crossed her arms and gave Buttercup the evil eye. “She’s mocking me. Look at her grinning like that. She’s waiting for me to put my foot in that stirrup so she can rear up and buck me again.”

Bryce laughed. “You wouldn’t do that, would you, Buttercup?” He leaned in and kissed the horse’s nose, and while it was disgusting, it also stirred that warmth Bryce had infused into her heart.

God, she loved this man.

He came up behind her and pulled her against him, and even after eight months, her knees went soft and her lungs opened up and she let herself melt in his arms. “We can both ride Hoolie then,” he murmured in her ear.

She turned into him, so they were face to face, body to body. Maybe her favorite place to be in the entire world. “Why do we have to ride at all?” Her fingers pulled at the collar of his shirt and she shot him her best seductive smile. It hadn’t failed to distract him yet. “We could go upstairs instead…”

“Nice try.” Backing away, he caught her hand in his and towed her over to Hooligan. “I need to show you something.” He touched a light kiss to her lips. “And I’d love to take you up on your offer but everyone’ll be here for dinner in a half hour.”

“Fine,” she grumbled, but secretly reveled in the feel of his hands tight on her backside as he boosted her onto the saddle. He hoisted himself up behind her and yes, she could ride like this, shoulders snuggled against his chest, feeling his heart beat into her back.

“Come on, Hoolie.” Bryce’s heels nudged the horse, and Hooligan obeyed, trotting out of the brand new stables that housed not two horses, but six, just in case families wanted to ride together, Bryce had said.

The movement was jarring, but Bryce’s form held her steady, and truthfully she would’ve ridden anywhere with him if he would’ve asked. She’d go all the way to Denver on horseback, if he wanted her to.

The sun warmed her face as they trotted up the road behind the lodge. Bryce nuzzled her neck, sending sparks down the left side of her body. The wind puffed her hair, blooming with the scent of honeysuckle and fresh green grass. Love like an old quilt wrapped around her. She loved these mountains. She loved the newly renovated lodge. And she loved Bryce more deeply than she’d ever thought possible.

“Where are we going?” Her chin grazed her shoulder as she turned to peer into his eyes.

“If I told you that, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?” His arms tightened around her and he kicked his heels into Hooligan’s side again. The horse’s neck strained. His hooves pounded harder, faster, up the road, through the aspen grove where the brand new leaves were still budding.

The temperature dropped, but the cooler air only chilled her cheeks. The rest of her glowed with a warmth stirred from deep within.

At the top of the road, Bryce steered Hooligan into an emerald meadow overrun with purple asters and yellow alpine buttercups.

“Whoa, Hoolie.” He pulled the horse to a stop and helped her climb down. Capturing her from behind, Bryce held her tight. Once more, his lips pressed into her ear. “Close your eyes.”

As soon as she squeezed them shut, he led her a few steps, then turned her around.

“Okay. You can open them.”

Color flooded her vision, so bright and clear it was almost overwhelming. The whole valley stretched out below, vast and open. Far in the distance, Aspen looked like a miniature town, the pointed roofs and squared brick buildings crowning the main streets. But closer, almost right below them, the ranch sat like a beautiful refuge, sheltered in the trees. Eight months of hard work had paid off. They’d done a complete renovation, leaving the old lodge’s structure intact, but adding on two new guest wings and six family cabins. The whole place matched the mountains, with its rock and log façade. A wide porch wrapped around the entire structure, and in the back, stepped down to an intricate stone patio, where the brand new swimming pool gleamed a shimmering puddle of blue.

The inside of the lodge was almost as impressive as the outside. The floors were tiled with a grayish slate that resembled the granite peaks. Exposed log beams held up the vaulted ceilings and opened the great room. Each suite had been redesigned based on different themes—romantic getaways, family vacations, corporate team-building retreats.

As she looked down on it now, she realized all of their hard work—all of the long days and the sleepless nights were worth it. The Walker Mountain Ranch was a masterpiece. Their masterpiece.

Bryce slipped in front of her, taking both of her hands in his. “You always say you never felt like you belonged anywhere.” Eyes fixed on hers, he lowered to one knee. “You can’t say that anymore.”

Something inside of her broke. A breath whooshed out. “Oh wow. Oh. Bryce…” Tears flooded her eyes and ran over, pure love and joy and the hopefulness of a new life sprinkling down onto the collar of her fleece.

“This is your home. Our home,” he said, and the words were so sincere, so sure. “You’ll always belong here with me.” Smiling up at her, he reached into the pocket of his fleece, then opened his hand. A ring sat on his palm, the diamond gleaming in the sun.

“I love you, Slugger,” he said, and she laughed through her tears. “And I promise to prove it to you every day. Marry me.”

Weak trembling overtook her legs. She lowered to her knees across from him, so she could look into his eyes, so she could remember this moment. “Of course I’ll marry you,” she whispered.

He kissed her then, lips working hers over with a slow grace, and when he pulled back, his face beamed like they’d just won the town championship baseball game. Capturing her left hand in his, Bryce slipped the ring on her finger.

She gasped. It was from another time, a sparkling European-cut diamond set in an intricate Art Deco platinum band.

He clasped her hand in his and ran his thumb over the diamond. “Mom gave it to me. She wanted you to have it. It belonged to her mother before her.”

“I love it. It’s perfect.” It was everything she’d ever wished for, a legacy of love on her finger, giving them something to hope after and strive for.

“I can’t wait to marry you.” Bryce kissed her cheek and stroked her hair. “And I really hate to say this, but we have to get back. Everyone’s waiting.”

“Okay,” she grumbled playfully.

While she hated to let the moment pass, she couldn’t wait to see everyone. They had so much to celebrate. After eight months of renovations and new hires and plans and reservations, they had their first summer completely booked. Tomorrow, they would welcome their first guests. Eight families would stay at the lodge, do the brand-new ropes course, and take a guided excursion up the Maroon Bells. Tonight, the staff was gathering in the newly renovated dining room for dinner so Elsie could test out her brand-new gourmet kitchen.

And soon, very, very soon, she would be Mrs. Walker.

All the way back to the lodge, they talked about the wedding. Something in the fall when the leaves were changing. It would be at the ranch, of course. Small and intimate.

After they got back to the stables, Bryce drove her up to the lodge on the ATV. He hurried her up the steps, across the porch, and into the foyer. Obviously he was as excited to make the announcement as she was.

Right inside the door, he paused. “You ready for this?”

The sounds of laughter and competing voices drifted from the dining room. She held her breath to listen, to soak them in. Once the lodge had been so quiet and gloomy, but now it was full, the seams in the walls barely able to contain the love and togetherness their little circle had built over eight months.

“I’m so ready.”

His arms wrapped around her, tense and solid. So safe.

That was the moment Moose chose to gallop into the room, running circles around them and woofing madly, while his whole backend wagged with excitement.

They were encircled then, by the laughter and the voices that had crammed the dining room only minutes before.

But that was okay because she couldn’t wait to tell them. All of them.

“Well, it’s about damn time. I’m starving,” Shooter muttered. Yes, Shooter. Turned out that Bryce thought he was qualified to manage the horse stables. And…well, he was kind of growing on her.

“Good lord, you two. Get a room.” Then there was Paige. Sweet, honest Paige, whitewater rafting guide extraordinaire.

Other members of the baseball team snickered near the couch, while Sawyer huddled with his wife in the far corner of the room.

“Shush, everyone. Quiet down.” Elsie elbowed her way through the circle, eyes twinkling in the soft light. “I do believe these two have news to share.” A bounce of her eyebrows prompted them.

Bryce positioned himself next to Avery, and she fit so perfectly against his side. He waited until the group quieted, then rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “Avery said yes.” His broad grin lit up the whole room, the whole town.

“Guess that means you’re off the market,” Shooter muttered.

Paige gasped. “Congratulations!” She hugged Avery tight. “This is amazing! Don’t worry. I’ll clue you in on all of his annoying habits so you can be prepared ahead of time.” She winked.

The rest of them shook hands, patted their backs and, yes, razzed Bryce about his silly grin.

“Oh, my.” Elsie sniffled and dabbed at her eyes. “Come on, dears. We have to celebrate. I’ll break open the champagne.”

The others followed Elsie to the dining room.

As Bryce led her across the foyer, Avery took in the beautiful architecture, the walls they’d designed and planned themselves, the furniture they’d picked out together. The Walker Mountain Ranch wasn’t a lodge. It was a grand palace that promised love and laughter and peace. That promised her the freedom she had craved her whole life.

Outside the dining room, Bryce pulled her close. She inhaled him, the smell of the evergreens and dried leaves. His hands cupped her cheeks. They were calloused and rough, but so real. He pulled her face closer until the ends of their noses brushed. “I love you, Avery King.”

“I love you, too.”

Without another word, he swept her into the dining room, and for the first time in her life, she was home.