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He was as good as his word. Which she had learned Ryan always was. He pulled up in front of her house at three o’clock.
She stepped out onto the veranda when she saw a sports car followed by a red truck she recognized pull to the curb. Ryan stepped out of the car and waved. She strolled down the path toward him. A man almost as tall as Ryan climbed out of the truck.
“Phoebe, this is Mike. He came along to help me move the chest in.”
“Hi, Mike, thanks for going out of your way to do this.”
“Nice to meet you. No worries. Ryan has given me a hand a few times.”
She looked at Ryan but he gave no explanation. Knowing him, he’d gone out of his way more than once to help people, yet he had no one special in his life. It was as if he was all about deeds but not about becoming emotionally involved. Did he feel the same way about her?
“Let’s get these in. Phoebe and I have a wedding to attend,” he said to Mike.
The two men undid the straps securing the chest and rocker in the truck bed. They carried the chest into the house.
“Show us where you want it,” Ryan said to her. She followed them down the hall and into the baby’s room.
She had them place it against the wall opposite the bed. “Perfect.”
Ryan grinned. “I’ll get the rocker.”
“Thank you for your help,” Phoebe told Ryan’s friend as he followed Ryan out the door.
He waved an arm. “No problem, mate.”
She waited there for Ryan to return.
Doing a back-and-forth maneuver, he brought the rocker through the doorway. “Where do you want it?”
“Next to the bed, I think.”
He placed it where she’d suggested.
She gave the top of the chair a nudge and watched it rock.
“Aren’t you going to try it?”
“Yes, I am.” She promptly took a seat, placing her hands on the ends of the arms. Moving back and forth a couple of times, she looked up at him and said in a reverent tone, “It’s wonderful. Just wonderful.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I do.” She continued to rock and rub the arms with her hands.
“I hate to mention this but we need to get a move on or we’ll be late to Sophia’s wedding.”
“I know. All I need to do is slip on my dress. It shouldn’t take long.” She pushed out of the chair with obvious reluctance.
“My suit is in the car. Mind if I change in the other bedroom?”
“Make yourself at home,” Phoebe said, as she walked out of the room. She stopped and faced him. “Ryan, it’s really nice to have you around. You have been a good friend the last few weeks. I really needed one.”
A lump came to Ryan’s throat he couldn’t clear. His heart thumped in his chest. All he could do was look at her. Before he could speak she was gone. With those few words from her he received the same high he did when he delivered a baby. That the world could be a good and kind place. Her happiness was starting to matter too much.
What had he gotten himself into? As hard as he’d worked to keep their relationship centered on helping her get ready for the baby, he’d still grown to care for the fascinating and fabulous woman that was the mother. If he wasn’t careful he could become far too involved with Phoebe. Start to care too much. Did he have that in him?
He’d dressed and was waiting in the living room for Phoebe when she entered, carrying her shoes. She wore a modest sleeveless pale blue dress that had pleats in front. Her hair was down but she had pulled one side of it away from her face. It was held in place with a sparkling clasp. She was beautiful in her simplicity.
“I hate to ask this but could you help me buckle my shoes? I’ve been working for five minutes to figure out how to do it around this baby and it’s just not working.”
Ryan smiled. “Have a seat and I’ll give it a try.”
She sat on the sofa and Ryan went down on one knee.
“You look like Prince Charming, dressed in your suit.”
“More like a shoe salesman.”
They both laughed.
She handed him a shoe and he lifted her foot and put it on.
Working with the small buckle, he said, “No wonder you were having such a hard time. This would be difficult for an aerospace engineer.”
“Yes, but they look good.”
Ryan rolled his eyes.
“Let’s get the other one on. Man went to the moon with less effort than I’m putting into this.”
She gave his shoulder a playful slap. “Remind me not to ask you for help again.”
He gave her a pointed look. “And your plan for getting these off is?”
She smiled. “You are now acting like a shoe salesman and not Prince Charming.”
He finished the task and stood. “Just so you’ll recognize it, this is the part where I am Prince Charming.” He reached out both hands.
Phoebe put hers in his and he pulled her up until she stood. Ryan continued to hold her hands as he stepped back and studied her. “You look beautiful.”
She blinked and a dreamy smile spread across her face. “Thank you. That was very Prince Charming-ish. You look very dashing yourself.”
He chuckled. A ripple of pride went through him at her praise. “I do try.”
She removed her hands from his and went across the room to where a shawl and purse lay in the chair nearest the front door. “We should go.”
“Yes, we should. It’s an hour’s drive and I’ve not been there before.”
“I know how to get there. I’ve been by Overnewton Castle many times. I’ve always wanted to go there for afternoon tea but never have been in.”
“Well, princess, this is your chance.” Ryan opened the door.
As she went out onto the veranda she said, “Yeah, like I look like a princess. More like a duck.”
Not to me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
PHOEBE HAD HEARD that Overnewton Castle was gorgeous but she’d never imagined it was anything like this magnificent. As Ryan drove up the tree-lined drive, the Victorian Tudor-style house came into view. It resembled a castle with its textured masonry, steep roofs and turrets. The multiple stories of corners and angles covered in ivy made it look even more impressive. The expanse of rolling hills and river below created a view that was breathtaking. It was a fairy-tale spot to hold a wedding or a princess for the evening.
“Wow, what a place,” Ryan said, as he pulled into the car park that was secluded by trees. “After getting engaged in a hot-air balloon, I shouldn’t be surprised that Sophia and Aiden would pick a place like this to marry.”
“You don’t like it?”
“Sure. It’s just a little over the top for me.”
“I love it.” She did rather feel like a princess, being out with Ryan with the beautiful house as a backdrop.
He came around and helped her out. “I’m more like a beside-the-creek kind of guy but I have to admit this is a nice place.”
“Getting married beside a creek, with the water washing over the rock, does sound nice.” She pulled the shawl closer around her. When she had trouble adjusting it Ryan removed it, untwisted it and placed it across her shoulders once more. His hands lingered warm and heavy on her shoulders for a second. She missed his touch the instant it was gone.
“I think it’s more about making a commitment and less about having a wedding.”
Worry entered her voice. “You don’t think Sophia and Aiden will last?”
“I’m not saying that. I think they’ll do fine. It’s just that I was in the service with too many guys whose wives had to have these big weddings and the marriages didn’t last two years.” He took her arm and placed it through his, putting his other hand over hers. She felt protected. Something that had been missing in her life for too long. They walked in the direction of the house.
“I had no idea you were such a cynic.”
Ryan shrugged. “Maybe I am, but I just know what I’ve seen.”
