by Soraya Lane
When they arrived at her floor she stepped out, opened the door for the parcels, and then tipped the bellboy. She eyed the boxes like they were full of bombs and sat down on the sofa, slowly opening the card again. It was the first time she’d seen Ryder’s handwriting and it was more scrawly than she’d expected.
Chloe, meet me downstairs at 7 p.m. I’ll be in the lobby waiting. I’ve sent up three dresses hoping that one will be right, and I need you to trust me. Wear your favorite one and I’ll see you soon. Ryder.
A knock at the door made her jump. “Room service!”
Chloe crossed the room, tipped the waiter, and took her wine. Thank god she’d ordered it. She took a long, slow sip and eyed the boxes in the center of the living area. She set down her drink and slid a nail under the seal of the first one, sucking back a breath when she saw the dress wrapped so carefully in tissue paper. It was the softest dove gray color, and as she lifted it out she could see that it was strapless, the bust shaped and the soft fabric bolstered by structured stitching and a nipped-in waist.
Chloe draped it over the chair beside her and opened the second one, eyes almost popping out of her head as she spied the off-white layers of tulle. The bust was a delicate symphony of tiny beads that gently caught the light, the waist defined by a subtle strip of satin, before the tulle took over and made a princess skirt.
Tears pricked her eyes as she held it up. Was Ryder serious? Did he actually expect her to wear one of these dresses without knowing what the hell he had planned? Was this some kind of test?
She reluctantly put down the second dress and opened the final box, parting the tissue to inspect the dress. It was satin, the softest champagne color, and she imagined it would hug all her curves like a second skin, fluting out like a mermaid’s tail at the back.
Chloe put it carefully back in the box and rose, taking her glass and going to stand beside the window. She looked out over Vegas and sipped her wine, her thoughts full of dresses that didn’t make sense to her. All she wanted was to rewind twenty-four hours, hell, even a few hours, and just stay there forever. But of all the good things that had happened to her in her life, none had lasted. Not one. Each great moment had been replaced with one ten times worse than the last.
She picked up her phone and dialed Ryder. It rang, then went to voice mail, so she hung up, turning at the same time to survey the open boxes behind her. Here she was, surrounded by exquisite dresses that looked suspiciously like wedding gowns, all alone, and wondering what the hell was going on. All she knew for sure was that Ryder was expecting her to take a serious leap of faith, and as romantic as whatever he had planned for her might be, trusting anyone like that didn’t come naturally to her.
Her phone vibrated in her hand and she glanced at the screen, swiping across to open it. “Shelly?”
“Would you like to tell me what the hell is going on?”
Chloe flopped down onto the sofa. “You’re never going to believe it, but I’m in Vegas. I surprised Ryder at the rodeo here and I haven’t left yet.” She hadn’t realized how desperate she’d been to talk to her best friend.
Shelly laughed down the line. “Oh, I believe you,” she said. “Because one of Ryder’s brothers personally escorted me onto a private jet about ten minutes ago, with the promise of a fun trip to Vegas.”
Chloe put down her glass, goose bumps tracing across every inch of her skin. “He what?”
“I’m sipping champagne and looking into some seriously sexy brown eyes right now.”
Oh my god. “Give Nate the phone,” Chloe ordered. If Ryder had sent someone to get her friend on the jet, she’d bet hands down it would be Nate.
“So you want to tell me what’s going on here?” Shelly asked.
“Honestly? I have no idea,” Chloe admitted. And she didn’t. Not the faintest damn clue and it was driving her insane.
“Hey baby.” Nate’s voice came on the line and she heard Shelly giggling in the background, no doubt in heaven traveling in luxury with Nate.
“Tell me what’s going on,” she demanded. “And don’t give me any bullshit excuses.”
“Sorry darlin’,” Nate drawled. “Ryder told me he’d beat the crap out of me if I told you anything.”
“Nate,” she said, trying to sound less pissed off and ending up pleading. “I thought we were friends.”
His laugh was loud through the phone. “No, sweetheart, you stole all my money in a card game and got me stupid drunk playing poker. I love you, but we’re not friends.”
She paused, looking at the dresses again and hating that she didn’t know what Ryder was up to. She was always in control, never let anyone in her life just make decisions for her. At first it had been about survival, now it was just because she was stubborn as hell and liked her independence.
“Then what are we?” she asked, holding her breath as she waited for him to answer.
“Family,” Nate said, the one word he uttered almost making her heart stop it held so much power. “Or at least we might be.”
Chloe dropped the phone and crossed the room, never taking her eyes off the dresses. Her instinct was to pack her bags and run, but … this was Ryder. She was the one who’d pushed him to prove himself, and now she was going to have to sit tight and see what he had planned for her. She’d already run once and regretted it, so if she had to knock back a few shots and lock the door, then so be it.
Chapter 26
Chloe walked out of the elevator for the second time that day. Her pulse was racing, heart pounding as the doors opened. She expected something to happen the second she stepped out, but nothing did. She glanced around, pleased she’d been the only one traveling down. She smoothed a hand down her dress, the satin so smooth beneath her fingers it felt like a second skin. Part of her had wanted to wear the one with the beautiful tulle skirt, and a big part of her wanted to rush straight back up and slip into it, but the more sensible side of her brain wouldn’t let her. Because what if it was all some cruel joke, what if it wasn’t what she was thinking it could be, what if Ryder wasn’t waiting for her like he’d said he would be.
She gulped and stepped into the lobby, her heels clicking on the polished tiles. It was always busy here and tonight was no different, except that tonight her nerves were jangling like wind chimes in the middle of a blustery storm, and she was checking out every single person.
“Chloe.”
She stopped, took a big breath, and looked around. Ryder. He was standing waiting for her, dressed in a suave black suit, white shirt, and perfectly knotted tie. Chloe’s feet didn’t want to move, but she forced them to, walking toward his smile. Ryder’s grin had always managed to get her—the way his eyes crinkled ever so much at the sides, his intense blue eyes like pools of the ocean as they fixed on her and never looked away. When she was in his gaze and transfixed by that smile, she was a goner.
Chloe went to call out to him, to tell Ryder that he had a lot of explaining to do, when the words promptly died in her mouth. Oh my god. What the hell was he doing? She slowed, feeling as if she were walking on a cloud as he dropped to one knee in the lobby. From the corner of her eyes she could see people stopping, knew they were being watched, but all she could truly see was Ryder before her, smile still fixed in place, bent on one knee, a hand extended out toward her.
She reached him, took his hand, and stared down at the man she was so stupid crazy in love with.
“Ryder, what’s going on?” she whispered, not wanting anyone else to hear them. She knew there could only be one reason they were both dressed the way they were with him down on one knee, but still.
“Chloe, will you marry me?” Ryder’s deep voice sounded like it had been dragged over gravel, his drawl husky.
Chloe choked. She couldn’t say a word, didn’t know what to say. All she could do was stare at him and focus on stopping her jaw from hitting the floor.
“Chloe?” he prompted, chuckling as he squeezed her hand, still on bended knee. “Don’t leave me hanging d
own here.”
“When I said I didn’t think you’d commit, I didn’t expect a proposal,” she murmured, still trying to get her head around what was happening.
Ryder rose, still holding her hand as he reached into his pocket with the other and pulled out a blue Tiffany box. She gasped, hands to her mouth as he opened it to reveal the biggest diamond she’d ever seen, surrounded by an entire band of smaller ones.
“Chloe, I love you,” he said, reaching for her left hand and tugging it down, slipping the ring onto her finger while she stared. “I’ve never loved a woman before so I know I have a crappy track record, but the one thing I do know is that I don’t ever want you to walk out of my life again.”
She raised her eyes from her finger, the dazzling diamond completely bewitching her until she stared into the bright blue gaze she’d grown to love.
“Will you marry me, Chloe?”
“Yes,” she whispered, barely loud enough to hear herself. “Yes, Ryder, I’ll marry you.”
He threw his arms around her and pulled her in tight, kissing her like it was the last kiss of their lives. Ryder’s hands found their way up to her hair, stroking her gently at the same time his mouth slowed. Clapping sounded out and Chloe glanced sideways, seeing a crowd had gathered. Ryder took a bow and then reached for her hand, raising it to his lips for a kiss and then slipping his arm around her waist.
“We have to go.” He spoke directly into her ear, the same sexy voice she knew so well from the bedroom.
“Why?” Chloe would rather he dragged her back upstairs.
“I asked you to marry me, sweetheart. So let’s go get married.”
Chloe stopped, not taking another step and forcing Ryder to do the same. “What did you say?” she asked, heart racing at the same time as her breath caught in her throat.
“I said it’s time for us to go get married. We don’t want to keep everybody waiting, do we?”
She burst out laughing, incapable of words, staring at Ryder and waiting for him to tell her it was all a joke.
“Come on, baby. Your maid of honor has flown in from Texas, and I’m pretty sure she’s wanting to get this over with so we can all hit the town.”
“You’re serious,” she asked. “You’ve spent the entire day…” She was lost for words again, not even finishing her sentence.
“Planning our wedding,” he finished for her, drawing her close again, his hands to her face, gently cupping her cheeks. Ryder dropped a soft kiss to her lips, then another. “I know Vegas might not have been your dream wedding destination, but I love you, Chloe, and I want to marry you. I have my brothers here and your best friend, and that’s all we need.” He touched his forehead to hers, somehow managing to calm her. “If you feel the same, there’s a car waiting outside for us right now.”
She laughed, it was all she could do. The whole day had been unpredictably crazy, and now here she was about to marry a man she’d once thought would never commit to her for their pretend relationship, let alone a real one.
Chloe stroked his face, admiring how handsome he was, then fiddled with his tie, playing with the knot. “You look damn fine all dressed up like this,” she told him.
He chuckled. “Just because I’m not riding rodeo doesn’t mean I’m trading in my Wranglers for suits.”
She stood on tiptoe so she could press a kiss to his neck, inhaling his cologne and running her hands down his back and to his butt. “You look good in a suit, but I’ll never stop admiring your ass in a pair of jeans.”
Ryder made a growling noise and planted his hands on her butt, making her squeal. “It just so happens that you look damn fine in satin,” he muttered. “Although you’d look even better out of it.”
They stared at each other, the heat between them scalding, but it was Ryder who sighed and took a step back. “I’ve got all night to pleasure you. Come on.”
* * *
Ryder waved away the driver and opened the car door for Chloe himself. He slid in beside her and took her hand, grinning as the vehicle pulled away and they headed for the chapel.
“Please tell me Elvis isn’t marrying us,” Chloe joked, dropping her head onto his shoulder.
“Damn, you don’t want Elvis? How about Cher?”
She laughed as he draped an arm around her. “I can’t believe you did all this.” Ryder watched as she held her finger out, admiring the diamond as it sparkled.
“Do you like it?” he asked. “If you don’t, we can change it.”
He’d never been so nervous buying a gift, but he wanted Chloe to have that ring on her finger for a long time, and it had sure put the pressure on.
“Ryder, I love it,” she said, snuggling closer to him, tucked under his arm, cheek to his chest. “I just can’t believe any of it, that we’re going to get married, that we’re even together right now.”
“We’ve come a long way from meeting at the rodeo.” He laughed. “Hell, we’ve come a long way from you offering to win back my ranch.”
She gazed up at him. “What I want to know was why you trusted me.”
Ryder stroked her hair, grunting as she slid one hand down his thigh. “Sweetheart, you had a glint in your eye that told me you weren’t bullshitting, that you needed a way to make money for law school. You know, my granddad told me you were a keeper as soon as he heard what you’d done.”
She laughed. “Does he know what we’re doing right now?”
“No, but he will tomorrow when I fly you home as my wife.” The vehicle slowed, then stopped, and Ryder removed Chloe’s hand from his inner thigh. “As much as I’d like you to keep stroking me there, we have a wedding to attend.”
“Shelly’s going to be in heaven being looked after by your brothers.”
“Last I heard she was drinking them under the table. We’ll be lucky if she’s coherent enough to sign as witness.”
Chloe’s smile warmed his heart, her eyes meeting his melting something inside of him that he’d thought would always stay cold. He’d never had a mom to care for him, never let any woman in his life close other than to warm his bed, and Chloe had only been in his life such a short time and she’d already changed him.
“You know, I was going to challenge you to a game of poker,” he confessed. “I had this grand idea that if I told you the stakes, that if I won you had to marry me, that the only way for it to actually happen was if you let me win.”
She shook her head. “You made me promise that I’d never let you win unless you were actually capable of beating me.”
Ryder leaned across and kissed her, the tangy taste of her lip gloss as familiar to him now as her perfume. “And I meant it. Which is why I decided it was best not to challenge you.”
She slipped a hand around his neck, giggling into his mouth. “Well, good. I would have hated to beat you and lose my husband in the process.”
Ryder reluctantly let her go. “You ready?” he asked, pushing open his door to get out and holding out a hand to her so she could follow.
“As I’ll ever be,” she replied, smoothing down the satin of her dress to show off a perfect set of curves that he was desperate to explore some more.
They walked hand in hand toward the Vegas chapel, greeted by a guy dressed in a tacky sixties outfit. When they stepped inside it was Nate Ryder saw first, standing with his hands shoved into his suit pockets and a worried expression on his face that quickly turned into a smile. Chase was holding a beer and Shelly was saying something to make him laugh.
“The bride and groom are here,” Ryder announced, just loud enough to get their attention.
Shelly turned first, eyes widening as she saw Chloe. She was rushing at them within seconds, arms around Chloe in a big hug. His brothers came closer.
“I take it your plan worked?” Chase asked.
Ryder grinned. There was no erasing his smile, not today.
“I never saw our baby bro being the one to wear the ball and chain first,” Nate said, slapping Ryder on the back. “But if you’re g
onna have a chain attached, Chloe’s a pretty nice ball to be dragging around.”
“You calling my girl a ball?” Ryder joked, holding his fists up like he was ready to fight.
“Settle down, Romeo,” Chase interrupted. “Your bride’s waiting.”
“And we only have about fifteen minutes left before the next bride and groom arrive,” Shelly announced.
“Do you want to walk her down the aisle?” Ryder asked Shelly.
“No,” Chloe interrupted, touching her friend’s shoulder as she passed and reaching for Ryder. “I want to walk down the aisle with my husband. No offense, Shel.”
Ryder stared down at Chloe, caught in the web of her gaze. She was beautiful, that was one reason he wanted her so damn bad, but there was a challenge in the way she looked at him, a desire there that he loved the most. Hell, she’d beaten the pants off him at cards and as good as slashed Parker off at the knees when she’d played him, and then she’d managed to charm his brothers and leave him speechless when she left him. And now here she was standing beside him, demanding that he hold her hand and walk her to the altar. He’d thought it was enough doing what he loved for a living, working with horses every day, being on the land, but something had been missing, and that something was Chloe.
“You think I’ll ever tame you enough to have you barefoot and pregnant?”
Chloe stood on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his neck, laughing as he held her around the waist and spun her around. “Not a chance.”
He reluctantly let her down, interlinking their fingers. “Let’s do this.”
“I hope you don’t have any vows prepared,” she said.
Ryder winked at Chloe as they wandered down the aisle, a corny rendition of “Here Comes the Bride” bursting from the speakers. “Damn right I have.”
They stopped when they reached their celebrant, dressed in flamboyant clothes and wearing a bad blond wig. She managed to get their names right and said the official words, then Ryder interrupted her.
“I don’t actually have vows,” he said, looking into Chloe’s eyes, “but I do have some things I’d like to say.”
