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“Ryder,” I breathed out, “I’m so sor—”
“There you are,” Macey interrupted us.
Ryder backed away from me, running his hands through his hair while letting out a heavy breath of why was I letting this woman affect me this way.
Marlowe was with Macey, looking between Ryder and me as if she was deciding what to think about it and what her next move should be.
“Do you want to dance?” Macey asked Ryder, doing her best not to make eye contact with me.
Marlowe smacked her arm. That was some next move.
Ryder cleared his throat while staring at the beauties dressed to break hearts in short skirts and halter tops. Ryder didn’t get the chance to answer. Jaime was upon us, standing up as tall as he could and puffing out his chest. “Macey, you made it.”
Macey’s shoulders sagged. It was the first time I ever wanted to smack her. Jaime, while not beautiful like Ryder, was adventurous, well-spoken, and kind. He was obviously thoughtful too, since he’d sent her flowers and his face lit up whenever he saw her. She would be a fool not to pursue him. Don’t get me wrong, I could see the appeal of Ryder. He possessed the same qualities as Jaime wrapped up in a gorgeous package. But he was mine! Okay, I was working on it.
Bobby Jay, sweaty from dancing, entered the mix and tried to save the day. “The M&M twins have arrived. Who’s dancing with me first?” He wagged his eyebrows at both sisters.
Macey and Marlowe both eyed him carefully. I could see them comparing all three men in their midst and their options. I was about ready to take Bobby Jay’s hand and dance with him myself but then Jaime said, “Macey, I wanted to see if you could come on our backpacking trip next weekend. It’s the first overnighter we’re doing up at Falling Lake.”
Falling Lake, I’d heard, was amazing—crystal blue waters with several waterfalls cascading into it.
Macey rubbed her lips together and swallowed hard, stalling to answer. She looked to Ryder as if he would save her somehow from having to commit one way or the other. He was uncharacteristically interested in the cupcake in his hand.
It was getting so uncomfortable I had to speak. “Can anyone go? I’d love to.”
All heads turned toward me, but I was only interested in one. The one who was asking who is this woman I used to know? I wanted to say she’s the same woman who loves you.
Jaime too wore a look of surprise when he addressed me. “It’s a ten-mile hike and we sleep outdoors in hammocks.” I think he was trying to scare me off.
“Sounds lovely.”
“Lovely?” Bobby Jay laughed. “Well, hell, now I have to go. I would pay good money to see Miss Shelby hike and pee in the woods.”
I nudged him with my hip. “Those are fighting words, Bobby Jay Prescott. But you should come. I won’t mind showing you up one bit.” I grinned.
“It’s a date, girl.” Bobby Jay wrapped his arm around me. “You in, cousin?” he dared Ryder.
That perked Macey and Marlowe up. I knew they would agree to come if Ryder said yes. But one of them would have to stay behind. During the summer, at least three people needed to work at the boutique at all times. Which meant if I wasn’t working, either Macey or Marlowe would have to.
Ryder’s eyes were lasered in on Bobby’s arm around me. His tight, unshaven jawline said he wasn’t all that fond of it. Nor did he like being put on the spot. His gaze shifted toward me. So much angst and confusion bounced between us.
“Everyone’s welcome,” Jaime said begrudgingly. “I just need numbers before Wednesday.”
Ryder broke his connection with me, leaving me feeling empty. “I’ll let you know,” he addressed Jaime. “I have a lot going on at the office right now.”
I looked up at Bobby Jay, disappointed. “Do you want to dance?”
Bobby Jay threw Ryder an ugly look before squeezing me. “Sure, darlin’.”
Ryder stepped forward with fury written all over his face like he had something to say about it, but it never came to fruition. A frantic man ran into the barn yelling. At first I couldn’t make out what he was saying. He yelled again, waving his hands. The barn started to quiet, and the band stopped playing.
“Please, someone help! My wife is having a baby.”Chapter SixteenI sprinted out into the rain, almost slipping in the mud while I followed the panicked man to his luxury SUV. Several people joined us, including Ryder.
“Her water broke. She’s in the back.” He was practically in tears.
“It’s going to be okay,” I tried to assure him. Just because her water broke didn’t mean that the baby was on its way anytime soon. It could be hours.
The back hatch to the SUV was open and I heard her before I saw her. I either had a screamer on my hands, which was fine, or she was close. When we arrived, the woman was lying in the back on the reclined seats breathing hard between grunts and screams, surrounded by Carrington Ranch towels.
