Falling for the Groomsman (16 page)

“Yeah, we’ll see about that,” Kady said, grinning. “Now let’s get you to bed…after I get that signature.”

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning, Christine flinched at her reflection. She looked more monster than glowing bridesmaid, and who could blame her? She’d been up all night, going over every single thing that had happened since the second she’d crashed into Tyler in the hallway. Since he kissed her and made her forget, for a short time, that she was supposed to be having careless fun and leaving her past behind her.

Now she was supposed to leave him behind, too.

She wasn’t sure if she could do it. Continue on like this, letting Tyler think she didn’t care about him. Maybe she should tell him the truth. Make him listen, since he’d refused to last night. She would tell him he’d meant more to her than he would ever comprehend. Or maybe she should just leave him alone.

Christine left her room, deciding to hobble around without the crutches today. Her footsteps slowed down at Tyler’s door. She was supposed to go straight down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, but she stopped at his door, her heart racing light speed ahead.

Lifting her hand, she knocked on the door before she could talk herself out of it. After a minute of waiting and no sounds from within, she realized she was wasting her time. He wasn’t there. She straightened her shoulders and headed for the elevator. As she waited, she tugged her skirt down and slapped her cheeks. She looked like a ghost and knew it. Any little kids who crossed her path would be certain to run away screaming for their mommy and daddy. She kind of wished she could do that right now herself.

Run to her parents.

Her mother had always been the best at giving advice. Dad hadn’t been quite as good, but he had always been great at listening and letting her talk. Then, after she spilled her guts out, they would go get ice cream and she would dangle her feet off the back of the truck—just her, her mom, and her dad against the world.

She’d never felt as alone as she did now.

And she missed her brother.

The doors opened and she scanned the dining room. Tyler wasn’t there, but her girls were. She plastered a smile on her face and made her way over to them. As she seated herself between Regan and Julie, she picked up the cloth napkin and placed it in her lap.

“Hey guys,” she said, trying to sound cheery and alert.

Regan looked at her, her gaze scanning her in the way that only Regan’s could. She had a way of looking at someone and knowing that something was up—and she usually figured out what that
something
was far too easily, too. But today she didn’t look quite as together as she normally did. She had her hair pulled in a loose ponytail and wasn’t wearing any makeup. Christine tried to think of the last time she’d seen Regan out and about without makeup on.

She couldn’t even remember.

“You okay?” she asked Regan.

Regan waved a hand. “I’m fine. Let’s talk about
you
. What happened with you and Tyler last night? Spill your guts.”

She didn’t even pretend to not know what Regan was talking about. “He thinks I was playing him,” Christine said, her voice low. “And now he hates me.”

“You can fix it,” Julie said, leaning forward and closing her hand over Christine’s. Whereas Christine felt like pure shit, Julie radiated something that looked like pure happiness. In fact, she’d never looked better. No doubt because of her association with Reed. Good for her. “There’s nothing that can’t be undone if you explain your reasons.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Christine said, swallowing hard. “But I think I’m going to try anyway, even though it’s hopeless.”

“What are you going to do?” Regan asked, leaning over and grabbing the carafe of coffee. She poured Christine a cup and handed her two creamers and a pack of sugar. “What will you say to him?”

“I don’t know yet,” she admitted.

When she fumbled with the creamer lid, Regan took it from her and poured it in. At the same time, Julie opened the sugar and dumped it in Christine’s cup before stirring it. “Drink. It’ll help,” Julie said.

Christine picked up the cup and inhaled the aroma. “I have no idea what
to
say, honestly. The truth, I guess? All of it.”

“Do you love him?” Regan asked, her voice uncharacteristically soft. She liked to present herself as hard and tough as balls—which she was—but she had a squishy chocolate center she didn’t let a lot of people see. “Do you want to be with him?”

“I…I think I always have, even if I didn’t know it.”

“Tell him,” Regan said, shrugging. “Simple enough, right?”

The waitress came up with her pad. “What can I get you girls?”

“Waffles,” Regan said, closing her menu.

“Me, too,” Julie said, doing the same.

“Make that three.”

The waitress smiled and took their menus. “I’ll put that in right away.”

As soon as she was gone, Christine blurted out, “He was going to move to be with me. To Colorado.”

Regan’s eyes went wide. “Oh boy.”

“Wait just a gosh darn second.” Julie frowned at Christine. “Start at the beginning.”

Christine took a deep breath and proceeded to tell them everything. From Mexico, to the first night at the wedding, to the woods, and finally ending with the dance they’d shared last night. By the time she was finished, she felt even more drained, and yet somehow more energetic. “…So, yeah. Now I need to figure out how to fix it.”

“Fixing it should be easy enough to do,” Regan said, pouring a second cup of coffee. “I’ve seen him. He loves you, too.”

“No, he doesn’t. He didn’t say anything about love.” Christine looked from Regan to Julie. “If he loved me, he would have said it, right?”

Julie shook her head. “Sweetie, around you, the man doesn’t know whether to check his behind or scratch his watch.”

Her heart stuttered. “Really?”

“Really,” Julie said, grinning. “When the wedding shenanigans are over, you’ll be good to go.”

“Well, uh, about that.” Christine nibbled on her lower lip. Reagan nodded and gave her an encouraging smile, and reached out to squeeze her hand. “There’s something I haven’t told
every
one yet.”

“What?” Julie asked, leaning forward on her elbows. “What didn’t you tell us?”

“I’m moving.”

Regan rolled her eyes. “Everyone knows that. Tell her
where
.”

“I’m moving back to Maine,” Christine said in a rush, holding her breath as she waited for Julie to explode.

“What?” Julie shrieked. “Since when?” She turned to Regan. “Wait, did you know about this?”

Regan leaned back in her chair and smiled, as calm as a cat basking in the sun. “She told me since, well, I’m a headhunter. I helped her find her new job.”

“Why didn’t you tell
me
?” Julie asked. “You’re supposed to tell me everything.”

“I was going to.” Christine grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I
wanted
to, but I know how busy you’ve been with the wedding. I didn’t want to give you more to think about.”

“I wouldn’t have minded!” Julie said, hugging her tight. “Why are you moving?”

“Well, for one…it felt like it was time to move on. All this time, I’ve kind of clung to Kady as my security blanket, in a way. When she moved to Boulder, I did, too—even though it wasn’t with her. But now she’s getting married.” Christine shrugged. “It’s time for me to be on my own.”

“So you’re not going to move in with your brother?” Julie asked.

“No. Not at all. I’m going to be in my own place.”

“You need it after your roommate from hell,” Regan said.

“Seriously.” She dropped her face into her hands. “This was so straightforward before, but now it’s a big mess. I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

Julie rubbed Christine’s back in big, sweeping circles. “You know what you need? You need to indulge in some waffle therapy. Here comes our waitress.”

The whole time they ate, Christine’s mind was on Tyler. She’d been in love with him since Mexico, and she’d been a fool not to know it. Sure, it had been years and years in between with no contact, but those feelings had never died. It had taken one conversation and a kiss to show her that much, even if she’d stubbornly ignored what was staring her right in the face in her attempt to get revenge.

When they finished eating, she scanned the room for their waitress. She was in the corner of the room, taking an order from Kady, Colt, and Kady’s parents. Tyler wasn’t there. Good. Maybe that meant he would be in his room this time.

Regan laughed. “Go. I’ll cover your portion.”

“Huh?” Christine looked back at Regan, her cheeks hot. “No, that’s okay.”

“You need to go talk to him or you’ll explode. I can see it.” Regan grabbed Christine’s empty plate and set it on top of her own. “Just go.”

Julie nodded and kicked her chair with her foot, shoving it back some. “We got this.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” they both said at the same time.

Regan shooed her away. “Hurry up, and report back to us when you’re finished.”

“I will.” Christine stood up on shaky legs. She bent and hugged Regan, then Julie. “Thanks, guys.”

“Anytime.”

She smiled at them and headed across the dining room. She avoided looking at Kady’s table. If she were spotted, she’d have to go over and hug everyone and talk and sit and all that crap. Right now, she wanted to talk to the only Dresco who wasn’t there.

She
needed
him to listen to her.

The whole elevator ride up, she went over everything she wanted to say in her head. Rehearsed her speech so she wouldn’t mess it up again. Went over all the things she had to make him understand before he gave her an answer. All alone in that elevator, she was ready. Confident.

Ready to conquer the world for him.

But when the elevator doors opened and she started walking toward his room, her legs felt as if they were weighted down with anvils, growing heavier with each step she took toward his room. Her pulse leaped so fast that she worried she would have a heart attack before she even spoke to him. At least he was a doctor. If she collapsed, he could resuscitate her with a little mouth-to-mouth.

Hmm. She liked the sound of that.

She knocked three times. As she stood there, heart racing, she shifted her feet and swiped her sweaty palms on her skirt. The longer he took to answer, the more her mind hopped from one scary conclusion to another. It wasn’t until she heard a feminine laugh from inside the room that she realized he might not be in there alone.

As a matter of fact, he must not be. If there was a woman in there…

Then she was too late. He’d already moved on. Julie and Regan were wrong—he didn’t love her. Not if he was already in there with another woman. She backed away slowly, swallowing past her aching throat, and headed to her own door, blinking back the tears trying to escape. She hadn’t cried in eight years, and this made twice in twelve hours. She was a mess. A big, ugly, crying freaking mess. She slid her card into the lock and pushed her door open.

She froze…unable to move or speak or
think
.

Chapter Nineteen

Tyler stiffened when the door opened, a basket still half filled with murdered roses in his one hand, and a handful of petals in the other. He was supposed to cover the bed and floor surrounding it with the red things before she came back. He was trying to create a romantic setting and all that shit, since he’d messed up the last romantic gesture he’d made for her, but now it was ruined.

He’d been caught red-handed…literally.

He’d sent Kady down to keep an eye on Christine. She was supposed to text him when or if Christine left the dining room, but that hadn’t happened, had it? Apparently, she’d missed Christine’s exit, because she stood in the door with tears on her cheeks and wide eyes. Wait…tears?

Why the fuck was she crying?

He dropped the basket and rushed to her side, cupping her cheeks and wiping the tears away with his thumbs. “Shit. Don’t cry. I can’t…I won’t…what’s
wrong
?”

She made a weird sound, half laugh, half moan, and gripped his forearms. “I thought…it doesn’t even matter. What are you doing?”

He ignored her question. “It matters. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s stupid.” Her eyes were shining with happiness, even as tears ran down her face. Would women ever make sense? She even smiled up at him. “Did you leave your TV on?”

He blinked at her. “I don’t know. Maybe. Why?”

“I went to your room and I heard…voices.” She licked her lips. “I thought you weren’t alone in there. I thought there was a woman in your room with you.”

His heart squeezed tight. Had she been crying because she thought he had someone in the room with him? If so, that meant she cared. If she cared…he stood a chance in hell of getting her to give him another chance to love her right.

He wouldn’t fail this time.

“Red, I wouldn’t be with someone else.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re the one I want. No one else will ever be good enough. Just you.”

She blinked up at him. “R-Really?”

“Really. But you’re early. I’m not ready for you yet.”

“Would you like me to go back in the hallway?” she asked. The tip of her nose was still red, but the tears had stopped. “I can wait out there if you prefer.”

“Don’t be silly,” he said, his heart racing.

She peeked over his shoulder at the half-covered bed. “So, uh, what’s going on back there? Why does my room look like a greenhouse?”

“Give me a second to get my thoughts straight.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re early.”

“You already said that.”

He laughed nervously. “You’re right. I did. So, let me just say this: I get it now. I get why you wanted payback, and I’m not mad at you anymore.”

She bit down on her lower lip. “When I came here, I had a list of things to do, but none of them were about you. I wanted to be wild and free, but then I saw you. I wanted you so badly it hurt. My whole made-up list turned into a reason to be able to touch you. To be with you. It was a stupid, silly excuse and nothing more. You have to believe me.”

“I know. I do.” He grabbed her hands and led her toward the bed, easing her down on it. He frowned and looked over his shoulder. “Wait a second. You should be still be using your crutches. If you don’t want to be carried down that aisle, you’ll—”

She rolled her eyes. “
Focus
, Tyler.”

He cleared his throat, knowing he was stalling because he was about to spout some shit about his feelings, and he’d never done that before. He’d learned to suppress his feelings long ago. In the ER, emotions got in the way of rational thinking. People got killed in his line of work if his head wasn’t on straight.

Now he had to let all those suppressed feelings out of the cages?

God help them both.

He couldn’t fuck this up. Couldn’t lose her. Not this time. He kissed her head again, loving the way she leaned into him and sighed. “That night in Mexico, I was a different man than I’ve ever been. With you, I knew we had something special. That it wasn’t just a one-night stand.”

She nodded and squeezed his biceps. “I know. You don’t have to explain yourself. Just like you get it, so do I. I’m not mad anymore, either.”

He shook his head. “I
know
, but that’s why I ran away.” He let go of her and dragged his hand down his face, knowing he was fucking this up. “I knew we could be something serious. I was young, and I was due to leave the country in a few days. But I’m not that boy anymore. There’s so much I have to tell you. So much to say.”

She bit down hard on her lip and remained silent, nodding.

“I was scared back then, but I’m not scared now.” He blew out a breath. “Okay, that’s a lie. I’m terrified. Terrified of not being enough for you. But even more so, I’m terrified of losing you. I’ve spent a long time trying to deny the fact that we belong together. I spent a hell of a lot of years running from the way you made me feel that night, thinking that it was for the best, but I refuse to run away again. From now on, I’ll run
with
you, not away from you. If you feel the same way about me, all you have to do is say the word.”

“Tyler,” she whispered, her voice cracking. She reached out and pressed her hand to his cheek. “Yes. I feel the same way.”

Relief, joy, and hope crashed through him and he kissed her hard. She tried to wrap her arms around him and pull him closer, but he ended the kiss before she got too close. There was more he had to say. He wasn’t done yet. “Wait. There’s more.”

She blinked up at him. “There is?”

“You’re moving.”

Her smile faded. “I know. But we can—”

“Shh.” He placed his finger on her mouth and smiled down at her. “There’s a lot of things we
can
do, but there’s only one thing I
want
to do, and it’s not open for discussion. I’m moving to Maine with you as soon as I can possibly manage it—just like I’d planned to move to Denver.”

Her eyes went wide. “What? No. You can’t. You just took that job, and Kady is out here. Your parents—no one else is on the East Coast.”

“But
you’ll
be there.”

She bit her lip. “Tyler…”

His heart twisted. Did she not want him there? Was he moving too fast? Probably, but he didn’t care. He’d spent the last eight years missing out on time he could have spent with her by his side—he didn’t want to spend another second in that state ever again.

But if she wasn’t ready…

“Why are you hesitant? Is it because you think it’s too much to ask of me?” he asked, his voice cracking despite his best attempt to keep it even. “Or I can’t because you don’t want me to be with you? Which is it?”

“I want to be with you. I do.” She cradled his face in her hands and kissed him before pulling back from him. “But you
just
got that job, which you took after you gave up your
other
new job to be with me. It’s absolutely asking too much of you.”

“Exactly. I took the job to be with you,” he said. “If you’re not there? Well, it loses its appeal.” He met her eyes again. “I already politely declined the job in Denver, after explaining the situation. Turns out they have a sister hospital out in Maine, and they’re looking for a new ER doctor, too.”

She blinked up at him. “And they want you?”

“Of course they do,” he said, grinning. “Why wouldn’t they? I’m an excellent catch.”

She laughed and swatted at him. “I know that.”

“But the question is…do
you
want me? Because, Red? I know I should have said this years ago, and I’m an idiot for not doing it already, but I love you.” He kissed her gently, making sure not to press too close. There was too much left unsaid. “I love you, and I don’t want to make the same mistakes I’ve made in the past. I know you’ll need time to trust me before you could maybe love me, too, but I’m willing to wait. I’ll wait forever if I have to. I swear it.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at him. “You don’t have to wait. I already love you, you silly man.”

He froze. “You do?”

“I do, and I have since Mexico. I just didn’t know it.”

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Barely dared to breathe, in case he woke up and found out this was all a dream or some shit like that. “So can I move to Maine with you?”

She let out a happy laugh and nodded. “Yes. If you really want to, then oh my God, yes.” She leaned in and tried to kiss him, but he pressed his fingers to her lips again. She sighed in exasperation, but the happiness in her eyes told him she wasn’t that annoyed. “What
now
?”

“I’ll move there with you on one condition.”

Her brow furrowed. “Okay?”

“We live apart from each other.” He smoothed her hair back. “You need to try out that independence thing for a little while first, and I refuse to mess that up. When we’re both ready, we’ll move in together. Deal?”

She nodded and smiled up at him, tears swimming in her eyes. “Deal.”

This time when she kissed him, he didn’t stop her. Her mouth melded to his perfectly, and she pressed the entire length of her body against his. He groaned and walked her backward to the bed. When the back of her knees hit the mattress, he pushed her back on it. He landed on top of her, pulling back far enough that he could look into her eyes, but not so far that he had to let go.

He couldn’t. Not now. Not ever.

“I love you,” he murmured.

She smiled up at him and brushed his hair off his forehead. “I love you, too.”

His heart soared, and he closed his mouth over hers, keeping the kiss gentle and sweet. He was going to take his time showing her just how much she meant to him.

And for once? They were in a fucking bed.

He kept kissing her, his tongue moving across hers, and stripped her skirt off, followed by the rest of her clothes. Once she was naked, he stood and divested himself of all of his own clothing, too. She leaned up on her elbows and watched, her eyes smoky hot. The sight of her lying sideways on the bed, her bare feet on the floor and her naked body all there for him to see, made him fall to his knees between her legs.

“Jesus, woman.” He trailed his hands up her thighs, inching toward her clit. “You know, this is the first time I’ll be making love to you on a bed.”

Her head dropped back and she let out a shuddering breath. “It won’t be the last.”

“Thank God for that,” he murmured. “You look wet for me, babe. Are you ready?”

“
Yes
.” She moved restlessly. “I need you so bad.”

“Hmm.” He slid his fingers in between her legs, brushing against her slit. “I’m not sure you’re ready for me to take you yet.”

She whimpered. “
Please
.”

He bit down on the spot right above her knee. She moaned and pressed closer, so he did it again, an inch higher. When she whimpered and buried her fingers in his hair, urging him higher, he moved up her thigh until he was just close enough to touch. But he didn’t.

“Say it again.”

“I need you,” she panted, her breasts moving with each breath. “So bad.”

“Not that.” He ran his finger up her thigh, climbing higher until he reached her clit. He moved his finger over her, making a small circle over the distended bud. “Tell me what I want to hear.” He slid his finger lower, plunging into her depths. “Tell me you love me.”

“I…” She licked her lips. “I love you.”

He thrust his finger inside her in one fluid motion, his thumb pressing against her clit. He watched her the whole time, studying the way her body took his finger in. She squirmed beneath him, needing more. He pressed a kiss to her thigh, right next to her core, and wiggled his fingers deep within her.

She cried out and arched her hips, rolling them in a circular motion. He pulled his finger out, added another one, and thrust his hand again. She dug her nails into his scalp, calling out his name, and he bit her soft thigh. She cried out again, rambling on and on about needing him.

He could get used to hearing that every single day.

He’d get to.

Pulling out of her, he thrust his fingers again, but this time he added his mouth, rolling his tongue over her clit until she was thrashing about on the bed, one leg flung over his shoulder and the other pressing down into the mattress. When he scraped his teeth against her and sucked, flicking his tongue over the love bite, she clenched around his fingers and came, hard and long.

He rode out the climax, moving his fingers and applying a light pressure until she came back down. When she fell back on the mattress, he grabbed a condom off the nightstand—thank God he’d thought of that before—and rolled it on. He slammed into her with one thrust. She shrieked and clung to the headboard, soft whimpers escaping from her as he pulled out and rested against her entrance.

She cupped his face with her hands, wrapped her legs around his waist, and kissed him. He groaned, melded his mouth to hers, and moved inside her. At first, he kept the tempo slow and easy, making love to her instead of seeking out his pleasure. But as they moved, becoming one even more with each thrust, he lost control. As he made love to her, her nails scratched down his back, drawing blood.

His stomach clenched, and his balls tightened, but he still didn’t let himself go. Not until she came, too. He reached between them and pressed his thumb against her clit, deepening his strokes. Every fiber in his being demanded he seize the pleasure that was so fucking close he could grab it, but he didn’t reach out. Sweat poured down his temples, but he kept moving, angling his hips just right.

He broke off their kiss, his breathing harsh. He rested his weight on his free elbow, his forehead pressed to hers. “Fuck, babe, I need you to come. I need your pussy tight on my cock, squeezing me.”

“I’m…so close.” She moaned and dragged her nails over his back, sending shards of pain shooting through him. “I love you,” she moaned.

“I love you, too,” he said, kissing her again.

As his tongue moved over hers, he rubbed his finger over her clit and thrust again. Her body tightened and she clenched down on him, sending him over the edge, too. He stiffened and the pleasure crashed over him, taking him to a different plane for a little while. By the time he came back to reality, she was collapsed on the mattress beneath him, a limp hand resting on either side of her head.