Redeemed Hearts (Thoroughbred Men Series Book 3) (5 page)

Jacob smiled. Richard had finally met a challenge and he was stumped. “Teri is a very tender, sweet, giving woman but has had it rough for a while. She might not know how to take someone being interested in her. Did you know she was engaged at one point?” he asked and, at Richard’s stunned look, he continued. “She was engaged and he died in a car wreck in front of her. She hasn’t dated anyone else ever. Millie told me about it all. They went to school together and she, Danielle, Carla and Teri are very close. They helped her get by after the funeral.”

Richard had no idea how to compete with the memory of a dead man that he never met. “How long has he been gone? Is she hung up on him still? I tried kissing her a few times, talking with her, being nice to her and everything. She responds to it but then runs away. I really like the woman and want to get to know her,” he said quietly. He did want to get to know her but he had to get through the wall she kept erecting between them.

Jacob tried not to laugh at his friend. Richard had it bad and, from Teri’s expression, she was also interested in him. “She hasn’t dated anyone that I know of in years-you would have to find out from Millie if you needed specifics. All I know is it was a high school sweetheart and she has closed herself off from everything. Millie said that is why she is successful; she threw herself into work to escape life. I would suggest you chip away at the walls and find a way to get through to her head, not into her panties,” he said crassly. Last thing he needed was a full on meltdown by his stressed out bride. He planned on making sure their honeymoon left her with a huge smile on her face.

Richard nodded. He didn’t want to ask Millie anything right now. Maybe he’d ask some other time. He stood and patted Jacob’s shoulder. “Thanks man, just needed to let off a bit of steam,” he said, feeling a bit of hope for the situation and needed to plot out a way to get through to Teri.

Jacob grinned. “Are you kidding? Thank you! You got me out of there for a second. If she wasn’t so damn cute right now and taking her frustrations out in the bedroom on me, I might wonder if I was doing the right thing,” he joked. “She’s damn hot when she is in an uproar,” he said quietly, elbowing Richard in the waist. “But don’t tell her I said that!”

Richard looked for Teri when he came out, only to find she had surrounded herself with Millie and the other bridesmaids. He was pleased to see she had not given up on the shoes and was standing patiently next to Danielle, holding her shoulder. He would give her some space and see how the evening went. Teri would not be able to avoid him long. They had to walk together in the practice and he planned on sitting near her at dinner. He shook his head as he realized how badly he was hung up on the small slip of a woman.

The afternoon droned on a bit for Teri. She spent quite a bit of time hiding in the back corner, pretending to be enthused as they discussed how the chapel would be set up and the order they would walk down the aisle. Teri was, frankly, impressed that Millie appeared to have every detail planned out from the place settings to where the candles would be hung in the trees and reception hall.

So much so that Teri planned on staying to help with the setup with the idea to keep busy and keep from thinking of Richard. She avoided looking at him several times and felt his eyes on her all afternoon. He had given her really good advice on the high heels and she hated to admit that he was right: it was getting easier as she became accustomed to how it felt to walk in them.

It was finally time to do the run-through and wrap up the evening. Teri managed to walk outside in the heels on her own and stood next to Richard. She placed her hand on his arm and stared straight ahead. She didn’t want to look him. It was unsettling.

Richard placed his hand over hers and whispered, “Good job, Sunshine. You look beautiful walking in those.” He saw her shut her eyes and swallow hard. Maybe she just didn’t know how to handle the attention from a man if she had only been with a teenager, he thought to himself. They stepped forward together and watched the other couples advance down the aisle. Richard moved up the stone steps outside of the church and guided Teri forward to the large door.

Teri hitched her breath as they walked into the church together. Richard squeezed her hand on his forearm as if he could sense the turmoil in her head. This made her think of Daniel. So many things could have been different, for better or for worse. She should be sad. Instead, she was happy for Millie and Jacob. She couldn’t imagine this any differently and could not mentally position herself in Millie’s shoes. She would not have her own wedding or her happily ever after unless she moved past Daniel. Wouldn’t he want her happy?

Teri felt Richard let go of her hand and she moved into position on the steps with the other women. She watched as Millie walked forward, eyes only on Jacob. They made a beautiful couple, she thought as she watched them smile at each other. She glanced over their heads and caught Richard watching her. She raised her hand halfheartedly in acknowledgement and felt like an idiot. Who waves in a wedding?

Richard watched Teri’s expression through the proceeding. She seemed so lost and deep in thought. He wondered if this made her think of her dead fiancé. He met her gaze across the room and smiled when she lifted her hand towards him. He smirked and waved back. He adored the blush that crept up her cheeks as she pulled her hand back down.

Teri broke eye contact and focused on the instructions being given out. They would exit the church and come around to the gardens for photographs. They would then enter the church again, but through the reception hall entrance. Teri again thought of all the attention to detail and wanted to applaud them both because, if it went exactly as planned, it would be simply breathtaking. At this rate, she couldn’t wait to put on the blue masterpiece that Millie had selected for each of them.

They wrapped up the practice and had dinner catered in the banquet hall. It was extremely smart to have it catered there because it enlisted help setting up tables. Each person present set up the seating, as Millie directed the placement. The tables were placed around the outskirts of the room to give way for a small dance area in the center.

Once the setup was completed, they all stood in line to prepare their plates at the buffet that had been put out. Teri filled her plate and moved to sit down in one of the corner tables to be alone. She kicked off her shoes under the table and sighed in relief.

Richard had no intention of letting her sit alone in the corner. He made his plate, grabbed two slices of pie and two cokes. He balanced everything carefully and moved towards her table as she took a bite of brisket. “Is this seat taken?” he questioned, knowing that she was chewing. He sat down not waiting for an answer, placed a coke in front of her and slid a slice of pie towards her. “Thought you might be thirsty and I saw you didn’t have a drink yet,” he said politely. “How is the brisket?” he mentioned casually.

Teri was surprised at the gesture and a bit taken aback that he caught her taking a hearty bite of the aromatic food. She finished chewing as he sat down and pushed the coke her way. That was truly flattering to have him look out for her. First the walking in heels, now it was a drink. It was nice to have someone interested in you and she had been on her own, fending for herself for a long time now. She didn’t really didn’t lack for anything. If she did, she just went and took care of it… but having someone watching you? Looking out for you (even if it was something simple like a drink) it was gratifying. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you. The brisket is fantastic,” she said amicably. She suddenly felt quite unsure of herself and the attention she was receiving.

Richard smiled at her and handed her a few packets. “I got us some wet wipes, too, just in case it’s messy,” he said, trying to make easy conversation. “What are you doing back here in the corner of the room? Are you avoiding me?” he asked teasingly, but curious to hear her response, too.

Teri choked for a moment, coughed several times and finally caught her breath. She was mortified that he had asked and that she’d been caught. “No, I’m not avoiding you. I just felt like sitting alone, okay? Are you stalking me?” she whispered heatedly trying not to bring any more attention than she was already getting by her coughing fit.

Richard smiled at her. “If I was stalking you, do you think I would tell you?” he said wryly. “I am not stalking you, but I do like you and would like to get to know you a bit better. Every time I try to talk to you, you move away from me. It is like we are playing chess. We keep moving around the board away from each other. Can we start again?” He held out his hand. “I’m Richard Danvers. You’re gorgeous and I would like to see if you would like to go out some time with me,” he said smiling from ear to ear.

Teri laughed aloud at the introduction. She felt a bit taken aback at the accurate description of their meetings. It was true and she knew it. To have it spelled out to her like that? That was pretty spot on. He wasn’t coming up with some playboy line, he was being brutally honest with her and it showed on his face. “Hello, Richard. I am Teri Jones. It’s very nice to meet you. You have a horrible reputation, though. Why on earth should I go out with you? You are the Big Bad Wolf, sir,” she said wryly but playing along.

Richard leaned forward towards her, encouraging her to bend forward so he could tell her and her alone. “True, I have a horrible reputation. I am a dog of the worst kind. Even the mangiest dogs have someone that genuinely likes them. If I am the Big Bad Wolf, does that make you Red Riding Hood if I am intent on pursuing you?” he asked wickedly, brushing her hair behind the shell of her ear. “What happens if I catch you? How does the story go?” he queried softly and kissed her jaw.

Teri caught her breath. The innuendo itself punched a hole in her protective wall. Everyone knew what the Big Bad Wolf wanted to do to Red Riding Hood. He wanted to eat her! The suggestive way Richard said it almost made her moan aloud picturing it. Teri shut her eyes and felt her body flare to life.

She didn’t know how to respond. She just clenched her napkin in her hands. “Um, no comment,” she finally said and could not believe how husky her voice sounded to her own ears. She had been bested and she was well aware of it. She would give him this round, for sure. “Let’s finish our meal,” she said changing subjects. “I promised to help set up and decorate tonight. I need to get started soon,” she said, feeling like a coward.

Richard leaned back, satisfied because she had not left the table. He knew he was bold with her but he could think of no other way to get through to her to let her know how interested he was. If she kept running and avoiding him, she would never give him a chance. The fact that he wasn’t wearing the brisket seemed like a “win” in his book right now and he fought the urge to smile. “No problem. Maybe they can use an extra hand or two,” he said, not wanting to let her get away yet. He was pleased when he saw her nod. He let the subject drop and would be sure to hang around for quite some time tonight.

Richard took her plate and helped clear the tables around him. He watched as Teri walked around putting decor on each table and carrying in massive bags of bouquets. He also noticed that he was the only guy that stuck around besides Jacob. He felt like his man card had been revoked, but when Teri smiled at him across the room as he put up streamers, he did not even miss it one bit. If she smiled like that at him, he would wear a damn pink tutu for her.

Teri was grateful for the help he provided. Few people stuck around and that was okay with her. Less instruction to give out and it was a more casual atmosphere. Teri ended up kicking off her heels again, frustrated that she was getting a blister at the back of her right foot. She would be putting ointment on it tonight!

Teri watched as Richard hung streamers all over the room and placed clusters of balloons in each spot she directed. She and Danielle set each table carefully with the blue and white decor, again impressed at the detail Millie had put into her special day. Richard and Jacob hung several sparkling tinsel candelabras in the large reception area.

The women that were present bound wire around mason jars and dropped a candle in each. When several were completed, Danielle asked the men to carry the ladders outside to hang them. The jars were hung from the lower tree limbs that surrounded a large, stone patio. Everything seemed to be just right in order to set an elegant, romantic atmosphere. The small grouping separated for the night to get some rest and prepare for the next day’s celebration.

Richard walked Teri to her car, eager to have one more moment with her. She seemed so relaxed earlier, placing all the decorations around the room, and he enjoyed hearing her laugh and seeing her smile. He stopped beside the small sedan and turned to her. “Would you like me to pick you up and bring you to the wedding?” he offered.

Teri smiled shyly at Richard’s offer. She reached up to brush her hair out of her face and was touched when he moved to smooth it for her. His hand curled around her head and rested on her shoulder. “You don’t have to. I can drive,” she said softly, looking at him in the fading light.

Richard felt her soft hair under his hand, smoothed it down her elegant neck and rested it on her shoulder. He wanted to pull her to him but didn’t want her to run off again. He felt like they had made progress and he wanted to keep it that way. “I know I don’t have to, Sunshine. I am offering because I would like to,” he said gently and leaned forward to kiss her.

Teri leaned back against her car. She wanted to hide from him and to stay put all at the same time. She knew she wasn’t trapped, but she definitely felt glued to the spot once his lips touched hers. She hesitated and then reached up to hold him of her own accord. She smoothed his shirt under her hands and felt his skin jump under the fabric. She admired the way his body felt under her hands and the way he worked magic on her lips. She felt him pull her closer against him and then pull his head back, breaking the kiss. Teri licked her lips and opened her eyes to look at him.