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“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Chapter 7
Rylie’s phone vibrated on her desk for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, but she just ignored it. She already knew that the calls were coming from Asher after the first angry voicemail and she didn’t have time to deal with it.
Besides, it was almost time to leave and she was exhausted. Dustin and she had looked at three other vineyards before he’d gotten a call from his mom to let him know that the Castle Ballroom at his family’s winery was available. Once they’d gotten back to the office, Rylie had e-mailed Tonya Rolland pictures of all the venues and available dates, including the link to the Castle Vineyards website. She figured she’d let her decide, but she had a feeling Tonya was going to love Castle; it really was the prettiest venue in Sweetheart.
Now she just needed to sit back and wait for her to respond.
Of course, she could easily do that from the comfort of Dustin’s pool house, but after spending the whole day with him, she’d needed a break. Not because he’d been obnoxious or flirtatious, but because he’d been…pleasant. Even gentlemanly and…
Well, it kind of freaked her out.
Checking the time on her phone, she stood, rubbing her growling stomach. It was a quarter past six. There was a good chance she wouldn’t even bump into him if she left right now. She needed to go by the store and grab groceries; as good as that burrito was, she didn’t want to take advantage of Victoria or Dustin. She’d already gone by the bank to pull money for rent. Despite Dustin’s assurances that she didn’t have to, she couldn’t just stay there for free. She needed to pay something.
Rylie picked up her purse from the edge of her desk and headed for the door. She saw Kelly’s door closed at the end of the hall. She was probably in there with the company attorney, Christian Ryan, which was good. Rylie wasn’t in the mood to talk about anything that happened yesterday and if Kelly caught her alone, she would check up on her. Right now, Rylie just wanted some quiet time.
Rylie walked down the hall, her tote over one shoulder. She’d changed back into her dress when they’d finished looking at venues, and she had taken down her bun, letting her long hair fall in loose waves over her shoulders.
She was just about to push the door open when she saw Asher’s truck parked across the street. He was leaning against the side of it with a big bouquet of bright flowers in one hand.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself as she pushed open the door and headed straight to her car. Her wedges tapped along the pavement as she quickened her step.
“Rylie. Ryls! Wait a minute.”
She didn’t even look at him as she reached her car. “You need to go, Asher.”
His tone was wheedling. “I just want to talk, baby. Give me five minutes.”
“No!” she shouted, holding her tote against her front like a shield and finally looking at him. “No. I gave you three years of my life. I’m not giving you a second more.”
His face
paled. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
Her whole body trembled as his cheeks flushed red, and his dark eyes narrowed. He threw the flowers on the ground at her feet, then pointed at her menacingly.
“You’re going to regret this.”
Rylie felt a rush of strength. I doubt it.
She didn’t say it aloud though. The last thing she wanted was to set him off again.
“Good-bye, Asher.”
Rylie stared him down, refusing to turn her back on him again. She waited, her calm a façade; if he could hear the pounding of her heart, he’d know she was full of it.
“Hey!”
Rylie recognized Dustin’s shout before she saw him coming out of Something Borrowed. Damn it, she’d thought he had left for the day and been too distracted by Asher to notice his car on the other side of hers.
Dustin held up his phone as Asher turned around. “I’ve got 911 already typed out and my thumb is hovering over the talk button. Just give me a reason.”
Asher snorted. “The big protector.”
Dustin’s face darkened. “I’m not playing with you. Get the hell out of here.”
