by Cher Carson
“How’s the new job going?” she asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Apparently Ryan had called Justin to extend the offer they’d talked about, and Justin jumped at the opportunity. She was sure Ryan was trying to win her over, but she didn’t want to spoil the opportunity for Justin, so she said nothing.
“Oh my God, Ryan Lang is a freakin’ genius,” Justin said, reaching over to steal a deep fried chicken ball from her container. “I’m telling you, he’s an artist. It’s no wonder he has a waiting list longer than my arm.”
She pushed the container of chicken balls and fried rice toward her brother. She’d suddenly lost her appetite. “I’m glad it’s working out for you,” she said, shifting her chair and firing up her computer.
“Al, he could have any intern he wanted, but he chose me. Any idea why that might be?” Justin asked, forking rice into his mouth.
“Not a clue,” Alana said. She knew Justin would eventually figure out the connection between his sister and new boss, but she hoped he would let it pass without putting her on the spot about it. Apparently that was too much to hope for.
“Liar,” he said, smiling. “Ryan told me you two…”
Alana felt the color rising in her cheeks. Would he have actually had the nerve to tell her kid brother that they had a one-night stand? “What did he tell you about us?” she asked, trying to appear nonchalant as she stared at the numbers on her computer.
“He told me he was crazy about you,” Justin said quietly.
Alana sat back in her chair, staring blankly at the computer screen as she fought back tears. She hated Ryan more now than the night she found out about his sexual escapades because now she knew what living with the memory of their love-making every day and night felt like. “I don’t want to talk about this,” she said, gripping her armrests. “He means nothing to me.”
“You certainly mean something to him,” Justin said, reaching for an unopened bottle of water on the desk. “We went out for beers after work last night and this smokin’ hot chick came on to him. When he blew her off, I thought maybe he was gay because I’d never seen him with a woman. I’d never even heard anything about him dating recently…”
Narrowing her eyes, Alana looked at him. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think he’s in love with you, sis.”
Her brother telling her his boss was getting married to someone else would have hurt less. At least then she could go on with her life, confident in the knowledge that he was a fraud. “No, he’s not. Just because he turned down one girl doesn’t mean he hasn’t been with a dozen others over the past few months.”
“I thought so too,” Justin said. “So I asked around the office, you know, tried to find out if he was seeing someone, but rumor is he’s got it bad for some chick and he hasn’t dated at all since she dumped him. Apparently, this is some kind of record for him.”
Alana tried not to react. His employees may be part of the ploy to make their boss look good. She couldn’t take anything they said at face value. “It really doesn’t matter. I don’t have time for a relationship, and even if I did, it wouldn’t be with a guy like him.”
“A guy like him? You mean someone who’s funny, smart, successful…” Justin began ticking his attributes off on his fingers.
“Why are you trying to sell me on him?” she asked, suspecting Ryan may be behind this impromptu visit. “Did he ask you to talk to me?”
“No, in fact I offered, but he told me he didn’t want to put any pressure on you.”
“I don’t get it,” she said, shaking her head.
“A few beers in, he started to open up a bit more. He finally told me what happened between you two. He said if he could do it all over again…”
She held her hand up. “I don’t want to hear about it. None of us get a do-over, Justin. He has to sleep in the big, old, messy bed he made with all those cheap sluts who...”
Justin tried to hide his grin behind his water bottle when she fired a pencil at him.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“You’re jealous of women he slept with before he met you. That’s crazy, Al.”
“I am not jealous. I’m just glad I got to know what kind of man he was before I got in too deep.”
Propping a boot on his knee, Justin asked, “You sure you’re not already in too deep?”
“No, I told you, he means nothing to me.”
Justin chuckled. “You forget, I’ve known you my whole life, and I know when you’re lying. You may think Ryan’s like Todd, but he’s not. He’s one of the good guys, and if you won’t give him a chance to prove that, then you’re the one who’s missing out, big time.”
Ryan cursed when a knock interrupted his train of thought. “Come in,” he barked.
Justin poked his head in the door, grinning. “Hey, boss, did I catch you at a bad time?”
Smiling, Ryan gestured to the chair across from him. Justin was a good guy and a damn fine doctor. He would be an excellent addition to his new clinic. “No, man, come on in. Take a load off.”
“Thanks. Listen, you mind if I talk to you about something kind of personal?”
“Not at all,” Ryan said, removing his wire-framed reading glasses and tossing them down on the desk. “I could use a break from my own problems. Let me hear about yours for a while.”
“This isn’t a problem exactly,” Justin said, hesitantly. “I mean, it’s more of an opportunity. If you’re interested, that is.”
Sliding his chair back and propping his designer shoes up on the edge of the desk, Ryan said, “Try me.”
“You know I’m getting married in Aruba this weekend, right?”
“Yeah sure, what about it?”
“I know this is really short notice. If I’m imposing, you just have to say the word…”
Ryan laughed. “Just spit it out already. I haven’t got all day, kid.”
“Sorry. Okay, here’s the deal. My best man got mono, and he can’t make the wedding. I thought about asking one of my other friends to step in, but then I thought of you.”
“Me? Why me?” Ryan asked, taken aback by the offer.
“We’ve been spending a lot of time together over the past few months, and I’d like to think we’ve become pretty tight…” Justin said, quietly.
“Hey, I feel the same way,” Ryan said, feeling like a jerk for making him uncomfortable. “I’m sorry; you just caught me off guard.”
“It’s okay.” Justin looked him in the eye. “If you think it’d be weird because my sister will be there, I totally understand. I can find someone else.”
“Did you just ask me to do this because you’re trying to help me out with your sister?”
“Listen, Ryan, not many doctors of your stature would take a chance on someone like me. I had no experience or references. I don’t know anybody in this business; I don’t have a last name that’s going to draw patients.”
“You’re a great doctor, and I’m damn lucky to have you,” Ryan said, pointing his gold pen at him. “Your sister told me about you, but you earned this job and my respect on your own merit. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“That’s just it,” Justin said quietly. “Very few times in a man’s life does he meet someone who’s willing to take a chance on him. You did, and that’ll change the course of my life forever. Now I can see possibilities I never even dreamed of before I met you. I want what you have: the talent, the successful clinics, and the respect of your peers.”
Sighing, Ryan scrubbed his hands over his face. “My friend, don’t envy me. I’d kill for something you already have.”
Frowning, Justin asked, “What’s that?”
“A woman who loves me.”
“I talked to my sister about you,” Justin said quietly.
Ryan’s gut clenched at the mention of Alana. He was so careful not to make Justin uncomfortable by asking about his sister, but he listened carefully for the past three months, hoping to glean any informatio
n he could about her. “What did she say?” he asked, hating himself for putting Justin on the spot. “If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to. I understand that your loyalty lies with your sister, not me.”
“You’re right about that,” Justin said. “If anyone ever tried to hurt her, they’d have to answer to me, and that includes you, Ryan.”
He respected the kid’s nerve. “I understand, buddy. I’d never do anything to hurt her.” He decided to lay his cards on the table. “I’m in love with her, whether she chooses to believe me or not.”
Justin grinned. “If you decide to be the best man at my wedding, you’ll have a whole week on a tropical island to convince her.”
Ryan stood, coming around the desk to face him. Extending his hand, he said, “I’d be honored to be your best man, thank you. And I want you to know, I’d feel the same way even if Alana wasn’t a factor.”
“Thanks,” Justin said, clasping his hand. “I think you’re exactly the kind of man my sister needs in her life. But if you’re still interested in playing the field…”
“I’m not,” Ryan said, holding up his hand. “Believe me; I’m ready to slip a ring on her finger the first chance I get.”
Justin laughed. “Good luck with that, buddy. She won’t make it easy for you.”
Chapter Six
By the time Alana arrived at the airport, she was exhausted. Leaving the dealership for an entire week meant she had to do twice as much work to prepare for the trip.
“There’s my maid of honor,” her future sister-in-law said, claiming the chair beside her.
“Hey, Jackie,” Alana said, reaching over to brush a kiss across her cheek. “Anything you need me to do to help you prepare when we get there, just say the word, okay?”
“We’ve taken care of everything, hon. You just need to show up.” Jackie pointed across the waiting area. “Hey, look. There’s Justin’s best man now. Wait ‘til you meet him, Alana. He is just about…”
Alana followed Jackie’s gaze and then felt nauseous. “Are you telling me that my brother asked Ryan to be his best man? What happened to Joe?”
“He’s got mono, couldn’t make the trip.” Jackie squeezed her knee. “I’m surprised Justin didn’t mention it to you. You okay? You’re looking kind of pale.”
“No, I’m good,” she said, fishing through her carry-on for a bottle of water. She didn’t even have to look up to know he stood in front of her; his sports sandals gave him away. She forced herself to meet his eyes. If they were stuck on an island together for the next week, she had to find a way to be gracious, even if it killed her. This was her kid brother’s wedding, and if he chose a dirt bag to be his best man, she had no choice but to support his decision.
“Hello, Ryan,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
“Does it bother you?”
That voice poured over her like warm, sticky honey, clinging to her like his…
Looking confused, Jackie asked, “You two know each other? Justin didn’t mention that to me.”
“Must have slipped his mind,” Alana muttered.
“Oh, I see my parents over there. Will you excuse me?” Jackie asked, getting up.
“Of course,” Ryan said, wasting no time claiming the seat she vacated. “I just met your parents. Lovely people. Your father must be making great progress; his speech and cognitive skills seem to have returned to normal.”
Glaring at him, she said, “I thought you specialized in the superficial. Since when do you know anything about neurology?”
Clutching his chest, he said. “Ouch. I was merely making an observation as a lay person, not as a doctor.”
Sighing, she cursed herself for treating him differently than she would her brother’s other guests. He was there for Justin, not her, and perhaps that’s what made her so cranky. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“No problem,” he said, quietly. “You look beautiful.”
She had rushed out the door wearing black yoga pants, a hot pink tank top, and flip flops. According to her perfectly coifed mother, she didn’t look fit to walk to the corner grocery store. “You’re lying, but thank you,” she said, thinking it had been a long time since someone had taken the time to compliment her. Probably three months.
“I’m not lying, sweetheart. Believe me, I saw you sitting here and every other woman around you became invisible.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re good. I’ll give you that, Doc.”
“Still not willing to believe I might be sincere, huh?”
Taking a sip from her water bottle, she considered whether to mention her talk with Justin. She didn’t want to seem like she cared. “My brother tried to convince me that you took a vow of celibacy,” she said, trying to keep it light.
“I have,” he said, looking somber.
She chuckled. “Yeah, like I believe that.”
Sitting back in his seat, he tipped his head back and closed his eyes, looking defeated. “Damn it, Alana. Why won’t you give me the benefit of the doubt? I’m not your ex; I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Now you sound just like him.” She made quotation marks in the air with her fingers. “‘I’d never hurt you, baby. They’re lying; they’re out to get me…’” Clenching her hands, she said, “You’re all the same.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said, leaning in so no one could overhear their conversation. “I admit to everything I’ve ever done. I’ve never lied, and I’ve never cheated.”
“And that’s supposed to make it better?” she asked, incredulous. “Your behavior was still reprehensible.”
“What the hell gives you the right to judge me?” he asked, shifting in his seat to face her. “I slept with women who knew the score,” he said, quietly. “I didn’t make any promises, and no one got hurt.”
She considered his reasoning and hated to admit that it made sense. What he did and who he did it with was none of her business. His choices didn’t make him a bad guy. He just wasn’t the guy for her. Extending her hand, she forced a smile. “I’m sorry, okay? You’re right; I may have judged you too harshly because of my ex, and that wasn’t fair.”
Grinning, he took her hand, turning it over to kiss her palm as he looked her in the eye. “You have no idea how much I wanted to hear you say that, sweetheart.” He extended his arm across the back of her chair, running his hand through her hair. “I’ve thought about you a lot…”
She slipped her hand out of his and inched back as much as the close confines would allow. “You misunderstood, Ryan. I’m not interested in picking up where we left off. I just want to call a truce so we can get through this week without killing each other.”
Gaping at her, he asked, “You’re serious? You don’t feel anything for me? The attraction’s just died; is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
Being within ten feet of him stirred up all kinds of emotions she was too afraid to analyze. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re lying,” he said, moving in closer. “You still want me as much as I want you. That day we spent together at my place was just a prelude. It could get so much more intense.” His eyes fell to her lips. “Let me show you.”
Wow. She felt his words spiral through her body like a hot coil as her imagination picked up where his vow left her hanging. “I can’t…”
“Yes, you can,” he whispered. “You remember how hot it was. That was just the beginning. I want to do so much more to you.”
She took a deep breath, trying to slow her erratic breathing. She felt like they were having phone sex right there in the middle of a busy airport, only he wasn’t some unseen stranger on the other end of a phone line. He was right in front of her, close enough to reach out and touch. “Stop, please.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her seat.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “Where are you taking me?”
“We need a little space, a little privacy,” he said, pra
ctically dragging her through the terminal waiting area.
“Why did you do that?” she hissed, trying to break free of his grasp.
“Your mother was watching us like we were the premiere feature. The only thing missing was the buttered popcorn.”
“Damn it,” she muttered, feeling the color rise in her cheeks. “I should have known. She’s probably planning a double wedding before you lose interest. Nothing would make her happier than a handsome, successful doctor actually showing an interest in her pathetic, workaholic, spinster daughter.” She knew she sounded bitter and resentful, but her mother had interfered in her personal life for too long. It had to end, now.
“Hey,” he said, pulling them into a private alcove. “Has it ever occurred to you that your mother loves you and wants you to be happy?”
“Sure, but her definition of happiness involves marrying a rich guy, having a couple of kids, and moving to an upscale house in the ‘burbs because that’s what she did. It never occurred to her that I worked hard to get a good education and I may want to use my degree to make a name for myself. I don’t need some man to take care of me or complete me…”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “Don’t you believe you could have it all: a great career, a guy who loves you, and a couple of kids to call you mommy?”
She was too much of a realist to get sucked into the Cinderella fairy-tale. She wasn’t expecting a white knight to ride in and rescue her from her dismal life. She had a plan to make the dealership profitable again so they could sell it and move on with their lives. “What makes you think that’s what I want?”
He traced her cheekbones with his thumbs. “You don’t want a man who’s going to love you unconditionally, someone who’s willing to put you above everything else in his life?”
