But Allison’s face flashed through his mind. He’d seen her at her best and her worst. He’d seen her serious and playful. Sexy and professional. He knew her better than anyone else, save Jenny. Her likes, her dislikes, her dreams and fears. All of it had come out during their years together. They’d moved passed being mere colleagues a long time ago.
His fingers rose to the blue scarf around his neck. He remembered the night she’d given it to him at the first staff Christmas party she’d attended. She’d been a mix of nerves and excitement when she had pulled him aside and given him the gift. Though it wasn’t unusual to exchange little trinkets with his close staff around the holidays, he’d been left speechless by the scarf he knew she couldn’t afford. And while he had far more expensive, luxurious ones hanging in his closet, from that day on it had been the only scarf he wore.
Why? He’d told himself it was a respectful gesture, but that didn’t explain why, years later, he still looked forward to digging it out of storage every fall. It was a reminder of Allison. Of how she’d cared about him, even way back then when she was too naïve to understand their business relationship was developing into something far deeper than it should have.
Was that love? The yearning to spend every minute of the day with someone. The desire to make them smile no matter the situation. The crushing emptiness that came from being apart.
“When you think ten years into the future, who’s in your life, Dare?” Jenny asked. “Are you still alone in that big empty house?”
He didn’t want to be. It was a house made to be filled with the sounds of people. Children running down the stairs. A dog barking in the backyard. A wife laughing as he attempted to cook dinner.
There was only one person he could see that fantasy unfolding with.
He met his sister’s eyes. “She won’t forgive me.”
Jenny patted the lapels of his suit. “I’ve never seen you give up without a fight, brother. Surely you don’t mean to start now.”
No, he thought. Not when this fight was the most important one of his life.
“I need your help,” he said. “There’s something I need to get.”
If he was lucky enough to get another chance to talk to Allison, then he’d better make it count.
Chapter Twenty
“I can still get you a date to the wedding,” Gillian offered, sitting cross-legged on the bed.
“No thanks,” Allison said, coming out of the bathroom. “This will be tough enough as it is. I’m just going for the ceremony and then I’m out of there.”
“Mmm.” Gillian sipped from the mug in her hands.
“What do you think?” She twirled around in her sunny yellow dress.
“Classy. You’ll make him wish for what he can’t have for sure.”
“That’s not why I’m going.”
“Sure it isn’t. Jenny is such a close friend, after all.”
She grabbed her clutch and stuffed the invitation inside it. “I spent weeks thinking of nothing but this wedding. So what if I want to see the final result?”
“That’s not why you’re going and we both know it.”
With a sigh, she turned to the bed. “He tried to talk to me at the café. I think maybe I should have let him.”
Gillian tugged on a piece of her hair. “What are you hoping will come out of today, Allison?”
“I’m not hoping for a happily ever after,” she said. “The way we left things was…cold. Now that tempers have cooled, maybe we can have a real conversation and part as friends. He might even give me a decent reference in the future.”
“The man you love broke up with you and you what? Hope you’ll stay friends?”
She stuck out her tongue. “I’m still working in the business world even if it’s a different sector. All connections are good connections.”
Gillian collapsed back on the bed with a huff. “Save me from delusional friends,” she sighed.
“I know nothing more will come out of this,” she said, standing before the full-length mirror. “Darian and I won’t work. I’m worth more than he’s offering and I’m not going to let myself slip back into any old habits.”
“Right. So if Darian tries to woo you back you’re really going to turn him down?”
She met her own gaze in the reflection. Her nights had been filled with fantasies of Darian begging her forgiveness and pleading with her to come back to him. But those were childish wishes made in the dead of night. It was time to face reality and the truth was they were two very different people.
“I’m not going back to him,” she said, more to herself than to Gillian. “I don’t want casual anymore. I want something real and lasting. Darian just isn’t that man.”
He might never be. And even if he decided he was ready to settle down one day she doubted it would be with a woman like her.
No, she’d read about his engagement to some gorgeous supermodel in the paper one day. When that time came, she hoped she’d be able to wish him well.
Because right now the idea of him making a life with someone else caused her nothing but pain.
“I’ll call you when I leave the wedding,” she said as she slipped into her heels. “Give you all the juicy details.”
“You’d better,” Gillian said, sliding off the bed. “I can’t wait to hear how this unfolds. Weddings are synonymous with drama, you know.”
“Not this one.”
Gillian laughed as she followed her out the door. “Sure, Allison. Not this one.”
The setting was every bit as beautiful as she’d thought it would be.
Allison took her seat in the back row, glancing around at the manicured gardens. The aisle was lined with dahlia bouquets and she’d noticed several displays of them in the halls of the venue as well. Sam had worked wonders getting everything ready for the big day. She’d thought she’d stepped into a fairytale when she’d walked into the vineyards.
Jenny must be thrilled.
Settling into her seat, she decided she was glad she made the trip. It was gratifying to see all her hard work paying off.
But one thing she hadn’t seen since her arrival was Darian.
He’s probably with the bride, she reasoned. The ceremony would be starting any minute. Jenny’s fiancé was already at the gazebo, speaking softly to the minister.
On cue, music filled the air and the guests rose to their feet.
Standing, she turned to see the bride appear at the top of the aisle.
With Darian at her side.
Her heart rate increased as she gazed at her former lover. Of course he would look utterly elegant and dashing as he walked Jenny forward. Just once she wished she could see him and not dream about everything she couldn’t have.
But today wouldn’t be that day. Instead she drank in the sight of him, barely noticing his sister.
He smiled at the guests, nodding to a few here and there. As the pair moved forward, his eyes swept the crowd.
And landed on her.
Electricity shot through her body as their gazes collided. Her fingers curled around her clutch, wishing she could look away.
He held her gaze until the pair passed her, moving toward the gazebo. Her breath left her as she watched him walk away. Maybe talking to him wasn’t such a good idea. If he could incapacitate her with a look, how much worse would this go being alone with him?
They reached the gazebo and Darian gave his sister a hug before handing her off to her fiancé. He took his place beside Matt, folding his hands before him.
The crowd sat, settling in for the exchange of vows.
But she was helpless to look at anyone by Darian.
As the vows progressed, he looked back into the crowd, his eyes finding hers.
Turn away, she ordered. An impossible task. Instead she watched him as the air filled with familiar words.
“Do you take this man…for richer or poorer…to love and cherish…”
Though the crowd might be focused on the couple, for Allison it was as if the worl
d fell away. In this one brief moment, Darian was all she could see.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
A cheer swept over the crowd as people rose to their feet, breaking her eye contact with her former boss.
She pressed her hands to her cheeks as her neighbors jumped up around her. This wedding had been a bad idea. It made her want more than she could have.
Matt and Jenny walked down the aisle, their joy palpable to everyone. Following their lead, the crowd stepped away from their chairs and began herding into the reception hall. She had no doubt Sam was more than ready for them.
As the pack of people thinned, she saw Darian still standing near the gazebo.
Now or never, she thought. If they were going to talk, it should be now, before his brother-of-the-bride duties took him away.
Swallowing hard, she walked down the aisle, pushing past the stragglers.
How different this was from the last time they’d stood under this gazebo, she thought. It was almost fitting. It was here she’d first gotten the idea to kiss him. Seemed like poetic justice that it would also be the last place they ever spoke.
“You look beautiful,” Darian said when she reached him.
“That’s my line,” she replied. “It was a lovely ceremony.”
“Sahra really came through.”
She nodded. “We picked the right place for the job.”
A moment of silence stretched, but unlike the many hours they’d worked side by side without speaking, this quiet was strained.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said.
“I wanted to see what we created.” She shrugged. “And I thought maybe we could end things better than we did.”
“I’m sorry.”
She blinked. Those weren’t the words she was expecting. Darian never liked to admit when he made a mistake.
“I should have told you about the job offer,” she replied. “It was cowardly to hide it.”
“Then why did you?”
She exhaled slowly. “I knew when you found out, everything would be over. I wasn’t ready for that.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t react well.”
“It’s a pain to replace an assistant,” she said. “I get that. It’s not the way I wanted to leave.”
“I’m going to hire Greg. Seems like a good fit.”
“Good. I liked him.”
Silence fell once more. Perhaps she should excuse herself. They were being civil. That might be the best they could hope for.
“Tell me now,” he said before she could phrase the words. “Why you planned to leave me.”
Her lips parted in surprise.
“King Enterprises,” he amended. “I thought you were happy.”
“I was,” she assured him. “I just wanted a different pace of life. It was the job I needed to change, Darian. Not you.”
“And you think your new career will let you have the life you desire. You’ll meet your steady man and live happily ever after.”
“I think this choice will help move me in the right direction, yes.” A smile tugged her lips. “It might be a while before I put myself back in the dating pool.”
He nodded, his eyes leaving hers for a moment. “Did you mean it?” he asked.
Her mouth went dry. “Mean what?”
The look he gave her said she knew very clearly what he was asking.
“Yes,” she said. If this was their last meeting, at least she could be honest. “I think I’ve loved you for a very long time. I locked it away because I didn’t want to jeopardize what we had.” A small laugh escaped her. What a ridiculous reason in hindsight. So much time wasted. “When I decided to leave King Enterprises, sleeping with you wasn’t a consolation prize or a cheap thrill. Knowing I was leaving freed me from being your perfect assistant.” She shrugged. “For the first time since you hired me, I could ask for what I wanted. And what I wanted was you.”
He reached out to catch her hand. “I ruined everything.”
She shook her head, focusing on their twined fingers. “I never blamed you for being who you are. You warned me not to let my emotions get involved. This is my fault.”
A harsh chuckle burst from him. “I was an idiot, Ali. Something I’ve been for longer than I care to admit.” His fingers tightened on hers. “Because of that I pushed you away.”
“You don’t do relationships. I get it. Really.”
“I didn’t do relationships,” he agreed. “Before I met you.”
She jerked her head up. “What?”
“Jenny helped me see that nothing about you was casual. From the beginning it was a doomed plan. How can you be casual with someone you’re in love with?”
Her breath caught in her throat. She stepped back automatically, but Darian’s hand tightened on hers, keeping her where she was.
“What did you say?”
His smile was infinitely gentle. “You heard me.”
“You don’t love people.”
“No,” he agreed. “Just you. It happened so slowly I didn’t even realize it. You wormed your way into my life, and I find I can’t exist without you by my side.”
“That’s nonsense. We’re two very different people, Darian. We want different things.”
“You want a family. A partner you can trust for the rest of your life.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Exactly.”
With his free hand he reached into his tuxedo pocket and withdrew something small that glittered in the sunlight.
“Why can’t that be me?”
The diamond ring sparkled in his fingers.
“Darian…” His name was a mere whisper. “What are you doing?”
His soft laugh filled the air. “You can’t expect to make me realize you are the first person I’ve loved in my adult life and not expect me to do whatever I can to ensure I spend my years with you.”
“I didn’t ask you to do this,” she said, her eyes on the ring. “I’d never want you to be someone you’re not.”
“It’s because of you I’m becoming the man I should have been before my destiny was changed. You’ve been putting my pieces back together, Ali. Don’t desert me now.”
She shook her head. “This is crazy. This is not how things work.”
“There are no rules to follow,” he replied. “Give me a chance. We can have the ordinary life you planned for.”
She scoffed at the notion. “You don’t do ordinary. It’s not in your DNA to be anything other than extraordinary.”
“Then be extraordinary with me.” He pressed the ring into her hand. “I don’t care if you put it on today or five years from now. My question won’t ever change. I mean to convince you, Allison Reed, even if it takes the rest of my life.”
“Don’t say things like that.” It made it too hard to focus on reality. “This is insane. We’ve only been together a month. We can’t get engaged.”
“We’ve been sleeping together a month,” he corrected. “We’ve been together for four years. By that measure we’re rather behind the appropriate timeline.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” He pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. “You know me better than anyone else, my sister included. And I’d like to think I understand a great deal about you. Can’t you see taking this next step with me?”
Her fingers clenched the ring. She wanted to. God, how she wanted to believe the words she was hearing were true.
“It was the scarf.”
She glanced up. “What?”
“I figured it out, you see. It was the night you gave me the scarf. That’s when I started to fall for you.”
She swallowed hard. “That was years ago.”
“Apparently I’m a slow learner.” His smile was beautiful as he gazed down at her. “I’m in love with you, Ali. That’s why I reacted so badly when I thought I was losing you. You are the one person I can’t live without.” He leaned forward, resting h
is forehead against hers. “Please, don’t tell me I’m too late.”
“For a man as brilliant as you, you certainly went around this the wrong way.”
She heard the smile in his voice. “Agreed. But I didn’t have you to help me. Do you want to take a moment to rescript my proposal? I’m sure you could make it better.”
“I haven’t heard the proposal yet,” she said.
He drew back, hope in his gaze. “Shall I get down on one knee?”
“Don’t you dare.” She paused for a moment before asking for the only thing she wanted. “Just tell me you love me again.”
“I love you,” he said, taking the ring from her hand and turning it palm down. “I want to spend the next fifty years ordering Thai takeout and fighting over who’s the worst cook.”
“You are.”
“I want a rematch.”
“Fine.” A smile tugged at her lips. “But I interrupted you. Please go on.”
“I want to wake up with you in my arms every morning and fall into bed with you every night.” He touched her ring finger. “I want to build a life with you full of all the things I’ve tried to train myself not to miss.”
She tore her gaze away from the ring to look up into his eyes.
“Marry me.”
She grinned. Not exactly a question, but then again, what else did she expect from him? He was a man who took what he wanted in life. And to her eternal happiness, it seemed what he wanted was her.
“Yes.”
What other answer could she possibly give?
He slid the diamond ring onto her finger. It was an unfamiliar weight she looked forward to getting used to.
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she smiled up at him. “You can’t pay me enough to plan another wedding.”
“I don’t pay you at all,” he replied. “Anymore, at least.”
“If you want a big wedding, we are hiring a wedding planner.”
He leaned down to brush his lips over her cheek. “But you know we can do it better,” he whispered in her ear.
“Darian.”
He grinned. “Actually, I rather like your idea of a small wedding.”
“You are a captain of industry. You can’t do small.”
“We can do whatever we want,” he replied. “And right now I want to take you home.”
Right Billionaire, Wrong Wedding (Sexy Billionaires) Page 20
