Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Ryan's heart thumped. Brianna and Daniel had done it; they had chosen Harbor View Weddings for their venue. As a result, here he was, shooting the breeze with Regina Charm and her cohorts as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to do when, two weeks ago, he'd worried whether he could even hold on to the building he'd painstakingly restored. Money wouldn't be an issue anymore. Not with an article in Weddings Today proclaiming Harbor View as the … how had Curtis put it? The fabulous new venue in America's Top Wedding Destination. His phone would be ringing off the hook.

But Evelyn hadn't stopped by to congratulate him yet. He hoped she would. He wanted her beside him when he asked Ms. Charm to mention the Captain's Cottage in the article. His building might be the newest, and with its beautiful views of the harbor, it was certainly one of the prettiest places to get married, but the Captain's Cottage would always be an iconic venue in Heart's Landing.

Turning, he was just in time to catch a glimpse of Evelyn as she left the podium. In the split second before she disappeared into the crowd, he registered the bright spots of color on her cheeks, the tears in her eyes. His heart sank. He'd tried to warn her, had tried to get her to at least consider the possibility that Brianna and Daniel might opt to hold their wedding at Harbor View. He'd tried, but he'd failed. Now she was hurt, and instead of turning to him, she was running away. He had to stop her.

"Ms. Charm, I'm sorry but, uh, something's come up that I need to take care of."

The senior editor for Weddings Today frowned. The straight black hair she wore in a precision cut rippled. She swung away from Curtis's camera to face Ryan, her lips pursed. "I'd like to get a few more pictures for the magazine."

He shifted uneasily. Regina Charm had a legendary temper. No one needed to tell him how important it was to maintain good relations with her. But Evelyn had a knack for acting and speaking first, thinking later. And while he loved her spontaneity and wouldn't change that about her for all the world, he couldn't let her leave without making sure everything was all right between them. He swung a look to Curtis. Did the photographer know more than he let on? He took a chance. "Hey, man, you got what you need there?"

Curtis lowered his camera. His gaze swung from Ryan to the woman rapidly making her way through the crowd. "More than enough. I'm good."

Ryan didn't wait. He reached for the editor's hand and gave it a firm pump. "It's been a pleasure, Ms. Charm. I'll see you at the wedding, if not before." With that, he bounded down the steps, leaving one of the most powerful women in the industry with her mouth agape.

Over his shoulder, he heard her mutter, "Why, I—"

"Don't mind him. Love makes you do crazy things," Curtis cut in. "You know, I don't think I like this image of you and Brianna …"

By then, Ryan was too far away to hear the rest. Not that he cared. Only one woman mattered right now, and she was making a beeline out of the park. Deep in his heart, he knew if she reached the Captain's Cottage before him, if she climbed the steps to her apartment on the third floor, if she closed the door behind her, she'd close the door on their love as well. He had to catch up with her before that happened.

He scanned the park. Most of the attendees had dispersed as soon as Mayor Thomas delivered his closing remarks. Now, loud snaps echoed beneath the trees. A crew from Public Works had already begun folding chairs and loading them onto carts. He caught sight of Evelyn near the last row. He was in luck—Mildred Morrey had pulled her aside. The delay gave him just the chance he needed. He jogged toward the women, reaching them just as Mildred said her goodbyes.

"Evelyn," he said, closing the gap between them in two final strides. "Where are you off to? I wanted to introduce you to Regina Charm."

Evelyn swung toward him. "No need. We've met."

Like the hearts that hung from buildings throughout the town, her expression could very well have been chiseled from stone. Instinctively, he held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I was going to ask her to mention the Captain's Cottage in the article, but if you don't want me to …"

With visible effort, she straightened. Her expression softened. "Sorry. I did it again, didn't I? I don't want to ruin your moment. You must be thrilled with Brianna and Daniel's decision. Congratulations. You won."

Ryan gulped. Evelyn's voice sounded as stiff and unnatural as the text-to-speech function on his phone. As he watched, her face crumpled. Tears dampened her cheeks. Wanting, needing, to fix things for her, he stepped forward. His footsteps halted when an unfamiliar gleam flickered in her green eyes.

Was she playing him?

He shook his head. Once upon a time he'd believed she was capable of manipulating a situation to get what she wanted. But that was before. Before he'd gotten to know the real Evelyn. The one who went out of her way to buy flowers for her friends. Or plan a daylong trip so a bride-to-be could have her perfect day. "You want to tell me what's really bothering you?"

She pressed a hand to her throat. "Jason trusted me to take care of the Captain's Cottage in his absence. He counted on me to convince Brianna and Daniel that the Cottage was the best place in Heart's Landing to get married." Her shoulders slumped. "But I didn't do my job, did I? I lost." She inhaled. "I lost, and it's all my fault. I should never have let myself get distracted. By you. By us. "

"Whoa! Wait a minute." Talk like that moved her dangerously close to a line that, once crossed, would mean the end of them. His heart ached. He had to stop her before she said something she'd regret. He held up a hand. "You don't think you're taking too much responsibility for something that was never under your control?"

Looking miserable, Evelyn shrugged. "This is the first time ever that another venue will be featured in the Weddings Today article. What else am I supposed to think?"

"Oh, I don't know. How about trying this on for size—Brianna and Daniel wanted a waterfront wedding. No matter what you said or did, the Captain's Cottage couldn't give them the wedding of their dreams." Pulling himself to his full height, he towered over her. "A certain redhead told me that's what we do here in Heart's Landing. We create the perfect wedding for every bride … and groom."

She stared at him, her green eyes wide. The ghost of a smile played across her lips. "Well, there is that, I guess."

Relief, pure and cleansing, washed through him. He got that she was upset. He'd figured she needed a moment to calm down, just like he'd known he would if the shoe were on the other foot. Now that she had, he held out his arms. In an instant, she sagged against his chest. "It'll be all right. Everything will work out. You'll see," he murmured into her hair. Evelyn was the most capable person he knew. She might not have figured out all the answers for her future, but she'd accomplish whatever she put her mind to when the time came.

"Are we still friends?" she asked, tipping tearstained cheeks to him a few moments later.

He needed every ounce of his will and then some not to kiss away her tears. But workers were dismantling the stage. The sound of drills and hammers filled the air. Standing in the middle of all that wasn't exactly where he wanted them to share their first real kiss. A first kiss deserved moonlight and violins. He settled for brushing his lips against her forehead. "I'd like to think we're more than friends. I want us to have a future together."

"Even now that you know how much trouble my big mouth can get us in?"

He shook his head. "I've known that since the day I met you. Besides …" He slung one arm around her shoulders and steered her in the direction of the Captain's Cottage. "You owe me a dinner at Bow Tie Pasta. You haven't paid up yet. I won't give up on you until you do."

They laughed then and cut through the park, arm in arm. The soft grass whispered beneath their feet. Birds chirped in the trees. From the street came the steady clop-clop-clop of horses' hooves as another bride rode past in the back of a carriage. With Evelyn at his side and a recommendation from Weddings Today in his pocket, everything was right in his world.

Well, not quite. There was one debt he needed to repay. Unless he was sadly mistaken, Curtis had covered for him with Regina Charm. The photographer might prefer to blend into the background, but he'd watched the man work. Ryan doubted very little escaped his notice. He stuck his hand in his pocket and whistled. He owed Curtis a drink. It was a debt he'd gladly pay tomorrow, after Brianna and Daniel said their "I do's" at Harbor View Weddings.