Read Always the Designer, Never the Bride Online

Authors: Sandra D. Bricker

Always the Designer, Never the Bride (39 page)

"Do you need some help with that?" Riley asked, cringing as Audrey struggled to keep her fork in hand.

"No, no," she said, adjusting the sling on her arm and trying again. "I think I've got it."

"Are you sure?" With a half-laugh, half-groan, she added, "Because you really look awful."

"Thank you, Riley. Feel free to be honest. Don't hold anything back."

"Oh good," she replied with a chuckle. "Can I get you some more Neosporin for your nose?"

A grin rose on Audrey's face, and she winced as it did. She'd scraped her nose and cheek on the gravel when she flew off the car, and she hadn't had much luck camouflaging the shadow of tomorrow's black eye with cover stick. And the ugly blue and white sling cradling her sprained shoulder did nothing for her carefully-chosen outfit. But none of that took away from the fact that Audrey Regan and Riley Eastwood were now colleagues. And fast friends.

"So do you want to tell me what that was this morning?" Riley asked as she cut her salad into smaller bites.

"Not at all." They shared a laugh, and Audrey sighed. "I've been in a real time of flux these last couple of months. A lot of things have crossed my path, but none of it felt quite right. I think I became sort of like a deer caught in headlights about making a decision on direction."

As she looked up from her pasta, Audrey blinked to make sure of what she saw.

"That's a good analogy," Riley stated seriously. "I've seen a scared deer before. That's just what it looked like." Noticing Audrey's expression, she added, "And so is that. Are you all right?"

Audrey's jaw dropped slightly as he approached their table in Morelli's restaurant, and her entire face tingled as a wide grin spread over it.

"Hi, angel."

"J. R.?" she exclaimed, but when she tried to hop to her feet, pain yanked her back down to the chair.

"Audrey, what have you done to yourself?" he asked, caressing her shoulder.

Recognition dawned and he grinned at Riley. "Riley Eastwood, right?"

"Yes. Good to see you again."

"You too." J. R. folded into the empty chair next to Audrey. "What happened?"

"Riley ran over me with her car," she said, dead serious.

"Hey!"

Audrey popped with laughter.

"If anyone ran into anyone else," Riley objected, "I would say it's the other way around."

"What are you doing here so soon?" Audrey asked him. "Does Carly know you're here?"

"Not yet. I came straight here to see Russell."

Audrey's heartbeat thumped in her ears as she looked at him. "It's so good to see you."

Riley wiped her mouth with the corner of her napkin, then laid it across her plate. "I'm going to let you two reconnect."

"Oh, don't go," Audrey said.

"I have to get packed for an eight a.m. flight tomorrow. I'll call you in a few days. You take care of yourself, please. And J. R., it was great to see you again."

Audrey leaned on the table edge to push up to her feet. Rounding the table, she hugged Riley with her good arm. "Thank you so much, Riley."

"I'm thrilled to be working with you."

"Same here."

Once Riley left the restaurant, J. R. helped Audrey get settled back into her chair.

"You are a sight for sore eyes," she told him, shaking her head and grinning like a ridiculous schoolgirl.

"Back atcha," he teased. Gingerly touching her cheek, he asked, "Does that hurt?"

"Like you can't believe."

He leaned forward and placed a careful, gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth. Her pulse tapped in the hollow of her throat, and Audrey smiled.

"You're working with Riley Eastwood?"

"Oh." She grinned. "Yes."

"That's great."

Audrey nodded. "It really is. I finally feel like . . ."

"The road smoothed out?"

"Exactly."

"I'm glad for you, Audrey," he said. "Does she have anything for me?"

She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"I've been getting a lot of offers lately. I thought maybe you wanted to make one too."

She chuckled nervously. "What are you talking about?"

"The call from Carly . . ."

Audrey's face felt suddenly warm, and both palms went instantly damp.
He knows.

". . . and from Russell. And then Jackson. Funny how
everyone in Greater Atlanta
needs me so much, all of a sudden like that. Don't you think so?"

"I guess . . . you're a likable guy."

"Yeah, that must be it, huh?"

"Well, frankly, I don't see it so much. But I guess so." He remained silent for several stomach-wrenching moments before Audrey glanced over at him. "So if you knew, why did you come? You could have just called them all out on it and stayed in Santa Fe."

"Well," he began. "There are two reasons."

"The first?"

"Carly. Especially now, Devon needs to know she's being looked after. And I want to be there for them both."

"You're a good brother." She touched his hand and smiled. "And second?"

"The place kind of grows on you. Have you ever noticed that?"

A noisy pop of laughter came out of somewhere deep in her throat. "Yes," she said, nodding. "Indeed it does."

"The people here are. . ."

"Unforgettable."

"Yes."

"I know. It's kind of hard to think about leaving them behind."

"It is," he remarked.

"Yeah, all of them. Sherilyn and Andy, Emma and Jackson . . ."

Me? Am I one of the unforgettable ones?

"Yes, Audrey."

She turned and looked into his steel-blue eyes. "What?"

"You."

"Me?"

"You. You are hard to leave behind. I admit it, okay? I want to be here because you're here."

She melted into another one of those J. R.-driven schoolgirl smiles. Completely against her will, J. R. Hunt had driven her to . . .
giggle?

Oh, good grief. Get ahold of yourself, girl.

"Oh, and now you're going to get all cute and cuddly over it," he teased. "There will be no living with you now."

"If it irritates you so much, maybe you should go back to Santa Fe then."

J. R. curled his arm behind her neck and gently pulled her toward him.

"This is it," he whispered into her ear, and Audrey's eyes jerked upward to meet his.

"What do you mean?"

"You. Me. This is it."

"It is?"

"I realized it somewhere outside of Birmingham," he commented.

J. R. took her face into his hands and carefully pressed his lips against hers. A rush of electricity skittered up Audrey's back and brought goosebumps to the back of her neck.

"Just to be clear," she said as their lips parted, and J. R. laughed right out loud.

"Yes, Audrey. I'll say it slowly to be sure you understand.
I
. . .
love
. . .
you."

"You do?"

"I do."

She had to ask. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I don't know how great a deal it is for you, or whether I'll be any good at this at all, but it's done now. I'm in love with you."

"Do you think maybe we should get you a second opinion?"

"You are such a pain in the rear end."

"I know," she admitted with a grin. "I'm sorry. I just want to enjoy the moment. Do you mind?"

"No. Go ahead."

"Oh good. So! About these feelings you have for me. Love, you called it?"

Discussion Questions

Audrey is very different from the other women in the book. How do you think her unique qualities serve the story?
What do you think solidifies the growing attraction between Audrey and J. R.?
J. R. isn't your typical leading man. What depth do you think is derived from his personality and appearance?
Do you think J. R.'s lifestyle affects his ability to commit to Audrey?
There are many peripheral characters in the book. Which ones do you think had the greatest impact on Audrey and J. R.?
How does the long-standing relationship between Audrey and Carly affect them and contribute to the advancement of the story?
What do you think of the family dynamics between J. R. and his brother? Do you think it plays an important part in the future of J. R. and Audrey's relationship?
How did you feel about the way faith and prayer was approached in the telling of the story?
How did Audrey's faith mature over the course of the book, and how did the people around her contribute to her spiritual growth?
What did Kat symbolize through her role in Audrey's life?
Sherilyn and Andy provide a homestead in the background of the story. How does the one provided by Carly and Devon compare, and what specific purposes do both couples provide for the advancement of the story?
What did you think of Lisette, and specifically how she was perceived by LaMont?
How did you feel about the ultimate decision Audrey made regarding her future as a designer?