Play Dead (33 page)

“Hayley?” he called, moving on his knees to the body.

“I’m up here.”

For a second, he couldn’t think beyond— Thank God!

“Careful,” she cried. “Farah’s got a gun.”

A wild flash of happiness swept through him like a riptide. “Don’t worry about her. It’s over. You’re safe.”

H
AYLEY STOOD
at the altar and inhaled the scent of roses filling the air. Candles infused with essence of rose flickered around her. She smoothed the skirt of the pale lavender-colored dress that fell in loose folds to her knees.

She couldn’t help looking at Ryan. The muscles of his shoulders strained at the black silk of his tuxedo. His shoulder had healed and he’d been working out again. Not that he needed to. Ryan had a rugged physique and a slow grin that made him the most attractive man she’d ever met.

They smiled at each other as “We’ve Only Just Begun” began to play. Conrad, standing next to Ryan, was beaming. Ryan had wheeled his father to the altar, but Conrad wanted to stand up beside Meg to be married.

“Regal. Positively regal,” Hayley whispered to the men when her aunt walked up the aisle. Aunt Meg’s silver hair was swept up into a cluster of loose curls at the top of her head. On The Wrath’s arm, she moved with elegance and grace that came naturally to her. The Wrath didn’t know Meg well, but he really liked her and insisted on escorting her.

When Aunt Meg reached the altar, the pastor cleared his throat and began the ceremony. Blinking back tears,
Hayley listened. She couldn’t remember when she’d ever been happier for anyone.

It had taken Aunt Meg a lifetime to find Conrad, and now nothing could part them. They were going to make the most of the time they had together. After the ceremony and reception, they were going to Tahiti. She let her mind drift as the ceremony continued.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the pastor concluded. They kissed and everyone clapped uproariously.

Slowly Conrad inched around, with Ryan at his elbow to make sure he didn’t lose his balance. Aunt Meg turned beside her new husband and offered him a shy smile.

“Friends,” the pastor said, “I give you Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Hollister.”

“W
HAT’S GOING THROUGH
that beautiful head?” Ryan asked as he guided her around the dance floor at the reception.

“Nothing…really,” she hedged.

“You weren’t thinking about the business again, were you?”

“Not exactly.” She gazed into his intelligent eyes. “I was wishing my parents could be here to see Aunt Meg.” She glanced over to the head table where Aunt Meg was sitting, holding hands with Conrad and laughing.

“They’re happy…despite everything,” Ryan said.

Hayley knew he was obliquely referring to Farah’s death and the scandal surrounding her parents’ plane crash. The Fordhams had been in the news daily. Now Trent was in jail awaiting trial for shooting Chad.

“Yes, they are happy,” she agreed. “And they deserve it.”

The music stopped and Ryan escorted her out to the Balboa Bay Club’s upper terrace overlooking the harbor.

“Let it go,” Ryan said. “Forget everything that’s happened.”

“That’s impossible. Even though it’s been a month, I can’t get over the extent of Farah’s fury, her absolute hatred for her own father. It’s…shocking.”

“Look.” Ryan slid his arm across her bare shoulders. “She was mentally ill.”

“But Trent—”

“He could have said no, but he didn’t. He was too weak.”

Hayley nodded and tried to put the situation out of her mind. They’d discussed this several times since Hayley had managed to get the better of Farah. She shouldn’t be dwelling on it during such a festive occasion. “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

“You referring to the jujitsu move The Wrath taught you? It saved your life.”

“No,” Hayley replied. Even now she couldn’t believe she’d managed to hook Farah’s leg and shove her over the railing. Farah had managed to fire her gun—and shatter the glass window before hitting the tile headfirst. “I’m thinking about second chances.”

“I’ll bite.” Ryan’s mouth twisted with amusement. “What second chances are we talking about?”

“Me, The Wrath, PimpIt. We’re all taking a second look at our careers.”

The Wrath had been so disturbed by killing a man—even accidentally—with an MMA maneuver that he’d decided to devote himself to promoting his gear. With Trent out of the picture, Hayley had been thrilled to have The Wrath join the team at Surf’s Up. It was a package deal. PimpIt, who’d never been much of a fighter, was going to work in the shop, too.

“Have you decided about your art career?” Ryan asked.

She hadn’t brought up this subject because she didn’t know how she felt. It had been the elephant in the room for the last few weeks. Today as Aunt Meg strolled down the aisle, Hayley had made her decision.

“I’m putting it on hold.” Her voice was shakier than she would have liked. “Well, not hold exactly. I’ll still paint. I’ll make time somehow, but I have to keep Surf’s Up going. I suspect it will head into new areas like MMA gear, but I don’t want all my parents struggled to build to fail or be sold.”

She allowed her subconscious thoughts to surface. “Mom and Dad had so much faith in me. I never realized how much. I was stunned that they’d left me the business.”

Ryan’s arms encircled her, one hand at the small of her back that was left bare by the deep vee of the gown. Her skin tingled under his fingertips.

“Hayley, I’ll back you no matter what you want to do.” His grip tightened and his expression became more serious. “Just save some time for us.”

“Of course,” she assured him. “People count the most. You are even more important to me than my aunt. You’re the best.”

His lips pressed against hers, then gently covered her mouth. She quivered at the tenderness of his kiss. A moment later, Ryan pulled away. “Talk about second chances. I’m getting one. I love you more than you can imagine.”

Her heart pounded erratically. Ryan had never used the “L” word before. He’d told her how much she meant to him, how frightened he’d been at the thought of losing her, but he’d never said he loved her.

“I’m crazy about you, too,” she whispered.

“Does that mean you love me?” he asked in a low, husky voice.

“Yes. I love you.”

Reclaiming her lips, Ryan crushed her to him. There was a dreamy intimacy to their kiss, a realization that what they shared was special.

“What do you say we wait until the happy couple returns from their honeymoon in Tahiti, then we exchange vows?”

Hayley had hoped Ryan would ask her to marry him. “Mrs. Ryan Hollister has a nice ring to it.”

“Speaking of rings.” He pulled a blue box out of his pocket and opened it. The diamond winked at Hayley. “You’re the second chance at love that I never thought I would find.”