Where There's a Will (Whiskey River Book 1) (6 page)

“I love this dish! I haven’t had it in ages. How did you—” She broke off and laughed. “You asked Adam, didn’t you? I can’t believe you went to this much trouble.”

“I wanted to do something special for you. This is our first date, you know.” He took her hand, turning it palm up, then pressed a kiss to it. “But I hope not our last.”

*

I
T WAS IMPOSSIBLE
to deny the shivers that went down her spine when he kissed her palm. Ryder wasn’t just getting to know her, he was letting her get to know him. The real man. The man that words couldn’t really describe.

He was showing her that he could protect her from those fears that had been born deep inside many years ago.

The shrimp creole was spicy and perfect. Everything about this night made her realize that denying she loved Ryder was ridiculous. She had fallen for him probably that first day they met.

“You have set the bar pretty high on this first date,” she said, at last. How could he possibly top it?

“Yes, I did. But Boots always said when you meet the right woman, you’ll know it. There’s no obstacle too big to overcome.” He laughed a little and added, “Though that sentiment coming from Boots is pretty funny considering he never found the woman for him.”

“Am I the right woman?” she asked, then panicked and put her fingers over his lips. “Don’t answer that. Not yet. It’s too soon.”

He sucked the tip of her finger into his mouth and bit it before taking her hand in his.

“I wouldn’t have mentioned it if you weren’t the right woman.”

She felt the stares of the other patrons in the restaurant, knew that they were watching the two of them. Whiskey River wasn’t a big town, but its gossip channels were phenomenal. They might be dining in San Antonio, but chances were by tomorrow morning everyone who stopped into to Riva’s Java for their morning coffee would know that she and Ryder had been getting cozy.

“How can you be so sure?” she asked. She wished she had his confidence. He had decided she was the right woman for him and was going after her like a shark that sensed blood in the water. It shook her.

Made her a little wary because she still wasn’t sure. How could she have the future she’d always dreamed of with Ryder? He was a dominant man and wouldn’t let her set the tone of their relationship.

“So what’s your favorite meal?” she asked.

“You’ll laugh.”

“I won’t,” she said. “What is it, steak on the grill?”

He arched both eyebrows at her. “How’d you guess?”

“I was joking.”

“I’m not. I’ve always loved a steak cooked just right on the grill and if you were there with me to eat it, maybe a cold beer in one hand, wearing those wicked red heels of yours and little else, I could easily die a happy man.”

She shook her head. He was blending laughter and romance together so seamlessly. If he’d taken a glimpse into her fantasies, into her dreams of what life with a man should be, he couldn’t have come any closer to perfect.

“Well, if you play your cards right, it might happen,” she said. The tight knot of tension she’d wanted to keep in the pit of her stomach so she didn’t make any mistakes loosened.

For the first time since she and Adam had moved out of The Barrels she didn’t feel alone.

Their dinner dishes were cleared away and she noticed that a small three-piece jazz trio came in and sat down in the corner. She’d heard that on the weekends they had live music here but she’d never had the money to spend on going out for dinner to a fancy restaurant. She was saving for her future.

The band played some old jazz standards and she took a sip of her water as she heard the first notes of
The Way You Look Tonight
. It was her favorite song.

But surely he hadn’t arranged for them to play it. One look into his eyes and she knew he had.

Suddenly the smoky sounds of a woman singing filled the room and she looked over at Ryder and knew that everything she felt for him was visible on her face. He’d done more than just create a perfect first date. He’d shown her how much she mattered to him and this night wasn’t the ending she’d worried it might be, but a beginning. One she’d been afraid to admit she wanted.

“Want to dance?”

She couldn’t speak. Was afraid if she opened her mouth a bunch of nonsensical words would escape her. This was her dream date with her real man, she realized. There was nothing about Ryder that wasn’t solid and real. And trustworthy.

He pulled her into his arms and danced her around the small area that was cleared near their table. He sang softly under his breath, a little off key but it was a rendition that she’d carry forever in her heart.

She rested her head on his shoulder and knew she’d never forget one moment of this night. The way he looked, the way he smiled…the way he’d made her realize that regardless of the outcome of her interview in Austin, leaving Ryder behind wasn’t something she was prepared to do. He’d changed her.

He’d shown her a way around her own fears and it hadn’t taken anything other than love. Well, the shrimp creole and stargazer lilies hadn’t hurt either.

When the song ended she put her hands on either side of his face and in full view of everyone who was watching them, went up on her tiptoes and kissed him full on the mouth. She slid her tongue past his lips and teeth and teased him with a deep passionate kiss. One that she hoped told him how much he meant to her.

She stepped back and slid into the booth and Ryder slid in beside her. “What was that kiss for?”

“The only way I could say thank you in such a public place,” she said, putting her hand on his thigh and squeezing. Now that she admitted to herself that she wanted Ryder in her future there was no way to control the desire coursing through her.

“Well then I can’t wait until we are alone,” Ryder said. His voice was deep, seductive just like the man himself.

“Me either,” she admitted. She had thought there was safety in only depending on herself. Had never realized that she might find her true strength with a man by her side. With Ryder by her side.

They had dessert—
crème
brûlée
—her favorite, of course, and then drove back to her place. Ryder made love to her “properly” in her bed and in the morning neither of them said a word about the future. They had three days until she went to her interview in Austin and both of them avoided talking about it.

Chapter Seven

‡

T
UESDAY MORNING ROLLED
around, sure as death and taxes. Ryder wanted to kick his own ass. Why hadn’t he told Addison that he, Johnny and Fiona were all on board with having her come in as a junior partner as soon as she passed her boards? Because he wanted to be sure she had a choice? What kind of stupidity was that?

He should have offered her the job. Maybe she wouldn’t even have gone to the other interview. What if she thought the other job was perfect? What if she decided she just couldn’t live in Whiskey River?

What if she decided she didn’t want him enough to stay?

The phone rang but he let it go to voice mail. Caller ID showed Trey Kelly calling, and since there was really nothing Ryder could tell him until after the will was read, he took the easy way out.

In two days all hell was going to break loose. Once all four brothers learned about each other and heard the terms of the will, there would be an explosion to rival the
Muy Bueno
oil well blowout. And damn Boots for including his ex-wife in the will so that she would be present as well. Once Ryder’s Aunt Paloma heard the truth, the shit would really hit the fan. Nightmare in Whiskey River, he thought morosely.

Damn it, where was Addison? She should be back by now. Unless she had decided to take the job. In Austin. Away from him.

Oh hell, he’d just have to commute. See her on weekends. But that wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted Addison to be his. Now and always.

“Ryder? Where were you?” Addison asked from the doorway of his office. “I’ve been calling your name for the last two minutes.”

He stood. His first instinct was to rush to her, take her in his arms and do anything necessary to get her to stay, but he stifled that instinct. “Sorry. I was thinking about the reading of Boots Kelly’s will.” He shook his head. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a disaster.”

“I have faith in you,” Addison said, crossing the room to take a seat in one of the dark leather chairs in front of his desk.

“How did the interview go?” he finally asked. Apparently Addison was good with saying nothing.

“It went well. The lawyers I met were all extremely nice and the two who interviewed me seemed to like me.”

“Before you say anything else, there’s something I need to tell you. Ask you. Offer you. Shit.” He was babbling like a schoolboy.

Addison smiled. “All right. I’m listening. What did you want to tell, ask, or offer me, Ryder?”

“Ford, Gamble and Lannigan would like to offer you a position with the firm. As our junior associate once you pass the boards.” There, it was out. They could talk money and other details later. At least she knew the firm wanted her.

“I didn’t realize you’d talked to your partners. When did that happen?”

“Two days after the tornado warning. When you were in class.”

“You all agreed?”

Annoyed, he snapped, “Of course we did. How could I offer you the job otherwise?”

Her response held a barely concealed amusement. “I simply wanted to make sure.”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked around his desk to stand in front of her. “Decision time. Are you taking the job in Austin or do you want to work here?”

“The Austin firm offered me the job. Great pay, good benefits, a chance to work my way up in the firm.” She walked over to him, stood beside him, leaning back against his desk, as he was doing. “I’ve thought a lot about what would be best for me to do. Since our date I’ve hardly thought of anything else.”

“Addison,” he warned, “give me the short version. You’re killing me here.”

Her gaze lifted to his, her eyes a deep, glowing green. “I accept your offer. I would love to work here with you, Johnny and Fiona.”

“Thank God,” he said and pulled her into his arms, kissing her until they both came up for air. “I’d ask what decided you but I don’t care as long as you stay. Here. With me,” he added.

She laughed and put a hand to his cheek. “I couldn’t take the other job. Not when my home and my heart are here in Whiskey River with you.”

The only answer to that was to kiss her again. “Addison,” he said after a while. “I have something else to ask you.”

“Ask? Not tell or offer?”

“Definitely, ask.” He got down on one knee and pulled a small box out of his pocket. Addison’s eyes widened and she put her hand over her heart. “I love you, Addison. Will you marry me?” He opened the box and took out the ring, a simple platinum band with a round cut solitaire diamond. “This was my grandmother’s ring. But if you want we can get you another.”

“Don’t you dare. I love this one. Almost as much as I love you. Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said, her eyes overflowing. “Now get up here and kiss me.”

“Gladly, my love.”

Later, they were sitting in Ryder’s chair with Addison in his lap, when he asked, “When can we get married?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never planned a wedding before.”

“Two weeks.”

Addison laughed. “My boards are next week, which would give me a week for the wedding planning. Let’s say a month. And that’s pushing it, I’m sure.”

“A month it is.” He kissed her and drew back to look at her. “I love you, Addison.” It felt good to say the words, words he’d never said to another woman.

“I love you, too, Ryder. So much,” she added, and kissed him.

*

R
YDER CLEARED HIS
throat as he walked into the conference room. Addison followed one step behind him. It had been awkward when Trey and Wyatt Kelly—Boots’ legitimate sons had arrived and asked why Xander and Nicholas Blue, two men they’d never seen before, were waiting in the conference room. The twins were twenty-eight, Wyatt was thirty and Trey, the oldest, was thirty-two. Nicholas and Xander weren’t identical, but they favored each other. In fact, there was a strong resemblance between all four men. Addison wondered if any of them realized it.

Things were about to get a lot more awkward, not to mention, tense, in the next few minutes. Addison held in her arms copies of the will and its stipulations but Ryder had suggested she wait until he finished talking with the men before she handed them out.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Ryder began.

“What the hell is going on, Ryder?” Wyatt asked. “I thought this was the reading of my father’s will. Who are these people and why are they here?”

“Yeah,
Ryder
, why are we here?” Nicholas Blue asked. “Your secretary was very vague about why we’re named in Boots Kelly’s will.”

“I’m getting to that,” Ryder said. “You know,” he said to his cousins, “that your father liked women.” He gestured to the Blues. “Trey and Wyatt Kelly, meet Nicholas and Xander Blue. Your brothers. Boots made provisions for all of you in his will.”

“What the hell?” Trey stood up and stalked over to Ryder, where he stood at the front of the conference room.

Ryder stood his ground, obviously not intimidated by his cousin. Nicholas and Xander both glanced at each other but revealed nothing else.

“First we’ve heard of it,” Nicholas said.

“Nevertheless, it’s true,” Ryder said. “Sit down, Trey.”

“Hell, Ryder, why didn’t you say something? When did you find out about our…brothers?” Wyatt asked as Trey went back to his seat.

“Client confidentiality,” Ryder said. “Any more questions or do you want to hear the terms of the will?”

“One more,” Xander said. “Does our mom know we were named in this will?”

“I’m not sure what Aunt Paloma or Lorna know,” Ryder said. “Those are conversations for you to have.” He glanced at Addison and she knew they were both thinking the same thing. Thank God Paloma Kelly had bailed on the reading of the will. Now her sons could deal with the fallout.