Saved by the Bride (27 page)

“You want me to apologize for spending last weekend with your
family?” Disbelief scored his face and he slowly put the glass down. When he
spoke, his voice was eerily quiet. “You seem to have it all worked out, Bridey,
so tell me your theory on why I accepted your proposal?”

She spun her engagement ring around until the diamond cut into
her palm but the pain didn’t hurt as much as what she said. “For AKP.”

He stared at her for a long moment and she watched his eyes
fill with pain—pain she’d just put there. It tore back through her, searing her
and shattering her heart. Oh, God, what had she just gone and done? But she knew
exactly. She’d got everything horribly, horribly wrong. She’d let all her
insecurities and fears come between them and now she’d driven Hank away.

He turned from her and gripped the mantelpiece, his shoulders
rising and falling as if he’d just run a marathon and was left gasping for
breath. Her own lungs cramped so hard they refused to move air and she stared at
his back, feeling powerless and unable to speak. She didn’t know how to fix
this. “Sorry” didn’t sound like nearly enough.

When he finally spoke, he still didn’t look at her. “Do you
really believe that I chose you because of work?”

She wrung her hands and emotional fatigue threatened to drag
her into a heap on the floor. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know
is that I was the one who pushed for us to get married and with each passing day
you seem to move further away from me.”

He raised his head and turned back to face her. His eyes, which
had always been so warm, were clouded with the swirl of ragged emotions. “Do you
still love me, Bridey?”

She didn’t have to think. “Yes. Of course I do.”

“Thank God.” He strode over to her and pulled her in close.
“Bridey, I love you. Please know that I love you.”

She sagged against him in relief and his arms tightened around
her.

He gazed into her eyes. “I’ve loved you from the moment I saw
you walk onto the floor with your father in those shoes that belonged on a
catwalk rather than a factory floor.”

His emotion spun around her and she stared at him, stunned.
“Then why did I have to do all the running? Why didn’t you ever ask me out?”

He stroked her cheek. “It’s not easy being the chief engineer
in a billion-dollar company and in love with the boss’s only daughter when even
she has occasional thoughts that I only want her for the power and
prestige.”

Her head fell onto his shoulder and her battered heart tried to
beat more steadily. “Oh, Hank. I’m so sorry. I just wanted everything to be
perfect. Insurance. But all I’ve done is make a mess of it all. No one would
believe I’m an academic when I’ve been behaving like such a silly fool.”

His hand trailed up and down her back. “To me you’re the
quintessential modern woman. You’re smart, intelligent and you know what you
want, which is why I thought it was wonderful that you proposed to me.” He
stroked her hair. “Had I realized it had you so worried, I would have told you
this story earlier. Do you remember the celebratory dinner we had the night
after you proposed?”

“At Le Luna? Of course I do, it was amazing. I could never work
out how you got us a table at such short notice.” Suddenly things fell into
place and she gasped.

He nodded. “The night you proposed, you beat me out by
twenty-four hours. I’d booked the restaurant a month prior because I’d planned
to ask you to marry me.” He gave a wry smile. “Mom and Dad are right. I don’t
make decisions in a hurry, but when I finally make them, I make them for
keeps.”

“Oh, Hank. I’m so sorry I ruined your plans.”

“No, don’t be sorry for that.” He shook his head emphatically.
“I saw it as a sign of us being in sync and ready to move forward with our
lives. You gave me what I wanted most in the world.”

He led her to the couch and sat her down. “Bridey, I love you
with all my heart, but how did we get to this place tonight? Things have slowly
been building to this since we got engaged and I don’t ever want to come here
again, so let’s talk.”

“You’re right—we need to talk. Where do we start?”

“With your hurt. You said you think I set my phone so I
remember to call you. That’s not the reason at all. Usually, I’ve wanted to call
you at least four other times in the day but work’s been frantic. I set my phone
for seven because if I’m still at work and the day’s gone to hell in a
handbasket, everyone on the floor knows that from 7:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., I’m
completely unavailable to everyone except you.”

Her heart lurched. How could she have been so stupid to think
he didn’t love her? Just like a light being shone into a dark corner, she could
now see her recent behavior clearly. “You’re right, Hank. I’ve been obsessed and
I almost let it ruin everything.”

She took in a steadying breath as she realized how close she’d
come to losing him and tried to explain. “I was scared. Mom and Dad had a
shotgun wedding and it ended, well, you know how it ended.” She sighed. “I got
this idea in my head that if our engagement and wedding were perfect then it
would be like insurance and we’d be together forever. Just saying the words out
loud makes me realize how dumb it was and how crazy I’ve been.”

He slid his hand along her cheek. “I’m sorry I’ve been
distracted with work and I know I’m not very good at telling you I love you, but
I do. From this moment onward, I’m going to be telling you every day and every
night, but, Bridey, there’s more to love than words.”

“I know, but my filter’s been out of focus and it fuzzed up
everything.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Last weekend, all I
wanted was to be with you, but you’ve been telling me for two months now how
important this family vacation is to you, so I made sure I spent time with your
family. I was trying to bond outside of work.” He gave her an ironic smile.
“Granted, I probably overdid it some, and I’m never drinking a mint julep
again.”

She laughed. “Overdoing things is a Callahan trait.”

“Very true. The reason I spent so much time with your dad,
Logan, Finn and your mom was because I wanted to get to know them. For you.”

Her heart expanded so much she thought it would burst and she
hugged him hard. “I don’t deserve you.”

He teased her with dancing eyes. “Probably not.” Then his face
sobered. “Bridey, we have to keep talking. The way we always did before we got
engaged. If you’re happy, sad, worried, scared, I need to know.”

She nodded, absolutely secure in his love. “You’re right. I’ve
missed us.”

“Me too.” He ran his thumb over the diamond on her engagement
ring. “You and I are not your parents, Bridey. We’re us, and we do things
our
way. I want you to be happy because the last two
years with you have been the best of my life. The next fifty will be too.”

She couldn’t stop the flood of tears that poured down her face
and she buried her face in his shoulder. “Oh, Hank, I love you so much. We don’t
have to get married. Let’s just live together.”

He shook his head and pulled back so he could see her face.
“No, we’re getting married.”

“But you’ve hated all the wedding stuff.”

“No, I’ve been worried that you thought we needed the biggest
wedding of the year. We don’t need that but I want to stand up in front of the
people we love and publically declare my love for you. I want to see you in a
beautiful white dress. I want to watch you glide down the aisle toward me on
Sean’s arm, knowing that you’re pledging your love to mine. But do we really
need it to happen in front of four hundred people with eight attendants on
either side?”

She shook her head. “No. All I need is you.”

He brought his mouth down on hers and as his tongue made
pledges to be honored later, ribbons of pleasure ran along her veins and then
burrowed down deep, stroking memories and demanding new ones. His hands deftly
pulled her thin shoulder straps down and she sighed as her breasts spilled into
his hands, soaking up his touch that she missed so much.

She lay back on the leather couch and pulled him down with her.
This time he didn’t pull back or worry that they were in her father’s house.
This time he slid his hands under her skirt and his fingers worked their magic
as his mouth branded her as his.

She was panting and wet with need, and her hands fumbled with
his trousers before she guided him into her. It felt like coming home. He filled
her with himself, with his strength and with his love. With each stroke, she
rose with him until she tightened around him and gathered him up. Taking him
with her they flew off the precipice together and out into the future.

When he finally raised his head, his eyes glowed with the color
of polished oak. “The library’s soundproofed, right?”

She laughed. “Actually, it does have thicker walls because
Grandpa wanted to block the noise from the house so I guess it works both
ways.”

He grinned. “In that case, I think we’re going to be doing a
lot of reading this weekend.” He cuddled her close. “Do we have to wait until
next July to get married?”

“I guess not.” In the languid post-sex haze, an idea exploded
in her head. “What about at the end of the month?” She wriggled under him.
“Annika’s friend asked me if we’d like to get married in Whitetail. Of course I
was obsessing at the time so I said no but, why not? My family’s here and your
parents are home for the rest of the summer. We can fly in our closest friends
and the people our parents want to have and cap it at two hundred. Given the
short notice, they probably won’t all come. We can give Nicole some broad
guidelines and color schemes and then let her arrange everything. All we have to
do is turn up.”

“Okay, but when you’re organizing your dress don’t go casual on
me because I’m wearing a tux to our wedding.”

Her hand snuck under his shirt. “You know I always go weak at
the knees for a man in black tie.”

His hand trailed along her inner thigh. “Darling, I can make
your knees weak right now.”

And he did.

Chapter Sixteen

Annika leaned over to turn off her office computer and
knocked a stack of folders off the desk. “Damn it.” She’d been clumsy all
morning and after spilling coffee on two shirts, she’d resorted to wearing one
of Esther’s aprons. With a sigh, she slid off her chair and started pulling the
papers back into the correct folders.

Finn, having ended his phone call, bent down to help her. When
all the folders were back in a neat pile, he hauled her to her feet. Gently
holding her by her upper arms, he hooked her gaze. “Breathe, Legs.”

She bit her lip. “Everything hinges on my meeting with Ty
Dennison going well. I lost Ellery’s guy to Superior-Duluth because of the port
and I need this industry. Without it, Whitetail will die.”

Finn frowned the way he always did when she talked about
Whitetail. “
You
didn’t lose Kugals. They did their
sums and the port won because it offered them exactly what they needed. That’s
business. You’ve done your preparation for Long River. You’ve put in the long
hours and that’s all you can do because you can’t control Ty Dennison’s
decision.”

“I wish I could.” She stepped into him, wrapping her arms
around him, and needing to feel his heartbeat against hers. Loving him way too
much.

He stroked her back. “Life doesn’t work that way, Annika.”

I
wish
it
did
. She looked up into those fathomless dark eyes
and tried to read them, but once again he’d carefully hidden away all his
emotions like he always did. Almost always did. The memory of his meltdown after
the campout stayed strong.

He traced his thumb along her cheek. “Do you want me to come
with?”

She shook her head, even though part of her wanted him there by
her side. “Thanks anyway, but Whitetail has to do this on its own. We organized
who’s doing what at the town meeting and Ellery’s representing your
interests.”

“That he is.”

“I’m meeting Ty at the airport, giving him a tour of the town,
calling into a few stores where everyone will make a huge fuss of him, and
they’ll showcase true Whitetail spirit. Afterward, we’ll meet Ellery at the
warehouses.”

“Sounds like a plan.” His phone rang and he gave her arm a
squeeze, released it and then took the call. “Finn Callahan.”

She heard the pause and saw the moment he became the CEO he was
destined to be. “There’s a flaw in that plan, Henrico. Let’s talk it through so
it’s visible to you.”

Annika watched him stare out the window as he listened intently
and knew that even though he was standing looking at one of the country’s
prettiest lakes, he wasn’t seeing it. He was in another world where he belonged
and she was firmly in Whitetail. Her town. Her place. A town that after today
would hopefully have a new industry and new jobs.

She was acting mayor and she must look the part so instead of
arriving windblown from the motorboat, she’d brought the truck back yesterday.
She picked up the keys.

Finn turned at the jangle and mouthed,
Good
luck
.

His support made her heart roll idiotically in her chest.
It
doesn’t
mean
what
you
want
it
to
mean
. All it meant was that Finn was a caring man. A
caring man who didn’t love her. She forced a smile onto her face, gave him the
thumbs-up sign and carefully made her way down the stairs.

An hour later she turned the truck onto Main Street with Mr.
Dennison sitting next to her. She was looking forward to seeing his reaction to
the banner she’d organized—the one that said Welcome Long River Electronics. But
the banner strung between the post office and Peterson’s Market read Whitetail
Welcomes the Callahan-Neiquest Wedding.

What
? Every instinct had her foot
slamming down hard on the brake, but somehow she managed to hold back, which was
just as well because giving a potential town investor whiplash wasn’t a good
idea.
Bridey
and
Hank
are
getting
married
in
Whitetail
? She couldn’t believe it. Why didn’t she
know this? After all, she was the one designing invitations for a Chicago
wedding which was a year away. She racked her brains for clues or snippets she
might have heard to indicate their change of plan, but she came up blank. The
last time she’d seen Bridey and Hank was at the party. The bulk of her weekend
had been spent on the island with Finn, pretending the real world wasn’t just
across the lake. The only time they’d had any real contact with his family was
when Logan had come to visit after his and Finn’s kayaking adventure.

The brothers had lit a fire and then she and Logan had enjoyed
a great time teasing Finn about getting sticky marshmallows everywhere except
between the graham crackers when he was making s’mores. It had been Annika who’d
taken Logan home when Finn had suddenly needed to make a vital phone call—one
she was certain wasn’t very vital at all, but got him out of having to see Sean.
When she’d arrived at Kylemore it was Esther who’d received Logan with a hug and
had told her that everyone was in Whitetail. Annika assumed they’d gone berry
picking as Marion had been talking about it on Friday night.

On Monday morning, when she and Finn had been cuddled up in the
post-dawn chill, they’d heard the helicopter leaving. Finn had mentioned that
Bridey was heading back to Chicago for a few days with Hank. Nothing had been
mentioned about the wedding being moved forward a year or that the venue had
been changed to Whitetail. Surely she’d know if it had?

Why
?
You’re
not
family
. She bit her lip against the truth. She’d
fallen in love with Finn and she adored his family, but she wasn’t part of it. A
shot of acid burned her stomach, making her feel ill.

A rogue thought suddenly pinged her. Late on Saturday, Nicole
had texted the first of two messages. Messages she’d ignored because she’d
either been having fun with Finn or frantically preparing for today. Had the
Callahans and Neiquests been in Whitetail on Saturday planning the wedding?

“...pretty big event.” Ty’s Southern drawl brought her back
with a jolt.

“Excuse me?”

“This wedding.” He pointed to the shop front of Whitetail
Market and Video, which had hearts all over the windows, and Nicole’s salon,
which had white tulle with tiny golden hearts filling the display area.

“Ah, yes, the wedding.” She smiled tightly as she pulled into a
parking space in front of the imposing town hall. “But today’s all about Long
River Electronics. Please come and enjoy a tour of the town and meet some of the
business leaders.”

Ty waited for her to alight and then met her on the sidewalk.
The plan had been for the aldermen to meet her here, and then together they’d
escort Ty and introduce him to the more prominent business owners. The aldermen
were there and so was half the town. Relief flooded her. She had no clue what
had happened to the banner but it seemed that Whitetail was on track after
all.

Mrs. Norell was the first person to notice her. “Anni.” She
waved and walked over. “This is marvelous news, isn’t it?”

Annika was aware of Ty standing next to her and as nothing had
been decided she carefully said, “We mustn’t get ahead of ourselves. Mr.
Dennison hasn’t even seen the town yet.”

Ella beamed at Ty. “It’s wonderful that you’re spending some
extra time in our town before the wedding. Which side are you on?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m not part of the wedding.” Ty glanced
at Annika with a questioning look.

Annika tried not to grind her teeth and frantically used her
eyes to signal everything they’d discussed at the town meeting. “Mrs. Norell, Ty
represents Long River Electronics.”

The woman nodded and looked slightly disappointed that Ty
wasn’t connected with the wedding. “Pleased to meet you. If you’ll excuse me I
have to run. Miss Bridget Callahan wants to have some of her wedding photos
taken in my garden and I’ve got my work cut out for me to have it looking
perfect for our bride.”

Ella hurried away and Annika hastily called out to John
Ackerman who came over beaming. Before she could introduce Ty, John said, “Anni,
can you believe it? The Callahan wedding has ordered all their fresh produce
through me. The times they are a-changing.”

If it had been possible to shoot daggers through her eyes she
would have done it. “That’s great, John. This is Ty Dennison of Long River
Electronics and if they choose to expand in Whitetail then your market will
prosper as a result.”

John shook Ty’s hand. “Good to meet you, Ty. Are you
married?”

Ty looked taken aback. “Ah, no, sir, I’m not, but I’m
considering it.”

“Well, you keep us in mind when you pop the question to your
girl. You couldn’t choose a better place than Whitetail to tie the knot and we
can take care of all your wedding needs. Bridget Callahan has chosen us ahead of
all those swanky Chicago hotels because we give our brides the key to the town
for their day.”

Annika silently groaned and was about to steer Ty away when
Nicole rushed up, gripped her arm and with an accusing tone said, “I thought
you’d sorted out your phone problems, Anni? We need an urgent meeting. There’s
so much to do in such a short time and the invitations have to go out
yesterday.”

Annika stifled her scream of frustration. Had everyone
forgotten how important today’s meeting was? That Ty Dennison held the future of
Whitetail in his hand with the offer of jobs. Real jobs. She couldn’t believe
the town would risk jobs because of a wedding.

She shook off Nicole’s hand. “I’ll call you later when I’ve
finished meeting with,” she emphasized the words, “Long River Electronics.”

Nicole’s chin shot up. “Make sure you do.” She extended her
hand to Ty. “I’m Nicole Lindquist and my salon’s across the street. However, I’m
also the coordinator of Whitetail—Weddings That WOW. Annika probably hasn’t told
you but,” she threw her hands out to encompass the town, “we’ve just scored a
major wedding and the publicity it’s going to generate will cement Whitetail as
‘the’ place to get married.”

Ty shook Nicole’s hand. “Congratulations, ma’am.”

Annika heard the tightness in his Southern hospitality. If
she’d had a flue as a body part, smoke would be pouring out of her. She was
fuming with Nicole’s grandstanding and so furious with the town for letting her
down that she was ready to spit. She frantically glanced around trying to find
someone who would focus on Ty instead of Bridey’s wedding. Someone who would
help her rescue what was starting to look like a runaway disaster.

Luke Anderson—bless him—was crossing the street toward them.
After college and spending five years working for an agricultural company, Luke
had returned to Whitetail and taken over the running of the family dairy farm.
He loved the farm and the town in that order and could trace his ancestors back
to the first Swedes who settled in the district in 1846.

“Luke, may I introduce you to Ty Dennison of Long River
Electronics.”

Luke gripped the Southerner’s hand firmly. “Welcome to
Whitetail. We might be small but we’re big on service.”

Ty returned the greeting. “That’s good to hear. I grew up in a
small town and my company has small-town values which I won’t compromise on. My
staff’s like family.”

“Then you’ll fit right in here.” Luke smiled. He gestured to
the town hall. “My forefathers arrived here to make a new life and community has
always been a strong part of Whitetail. We’re keen to expand that to encompass
new ventures.”

The three of them strolled along the street with Luke calmly
and quietly adding important details to Annika’s commentary about Whitetail.
This was fortunate because as they passed each shop and she saw yet another
wedding window display with a sticker that said Official Supplier to the
Callahan-Neiquest Wedding, she was having trouble keeping her mind on selling
Whitetail when Whitetail had sold out on her.

It was a relief to finally meet Ellery at the warehouses.

As they stepped through the doorway with the now-finished
mural, Ty stopped short and stared at the bridal wonderland.

“I was under the impression the warehouses were empty.”

Annika rushed to reassure him. “Technically they are. This is
just a goodwill gesture for Whitetail—Weddings That WOW.”

“The town’s business?”

“I’d hardly call it that. They have a couple of weddings booked
is all.”

Ty shot her a look. “It feels more than that, Ms. Jacobson.” He
turned to Ellery. “If I choose Whitetail, I’d want the entire space.”

“Absolutely.”

Ellery started talking square footage and Annika went ahead
thankful she’d closed the door on her studio, and she headed down the corridor
to the actual warehouse. She hauled open the heavy door and stopped short. Al
Larson’s carriage and limousine were parked inside. Huge metal poles lay on the
ground along with a sea of white industrial PVC that she’d swear was a massive
marquee.

Ty strode past her, pointedly walking around the marquee frames
before zigzagging between the vehicles, and then he kept on walking. The rigid
set of his shoulders clearly stated that he wasn’t happy.

Ellery pressed the big, red loading dock switch and, with a
clank, the large door started to roll up. A truck was parked in the loading
zone, and a deliveryman with a sign machine walked directly to Ty.

“Chairs for the Callahan-Neiquest wedding. Where do you want
them?”

“I don’t,” Ty ground out.

The delivery guy looked confused and Annika ran over. “I’ll
sign for them.”