The Wedding Setup, page 5
“Do I have something in my teeth?” he asked, scrubbing at them with a finger.
“No,” she said, smiling. “No—I’m getting used to you again.”
He took her hand in his. “God, I missed you.”
“Me, too.”
“So, Ryann,” Jai said. “Tell me all about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Well, Stuart told me some of the details, but I want to hear them from you, too. I know you two grew up in Cold Spring and moved to the city together for college. And now you’re in marketing, and you own your own business.”
Ryann laughed. “That’s me in a nutshell. Not much more to tell, really.”
Jai rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes—but I want the rest of it. Family? Girlfriend?”
Ryann couldn’t help her reaction, her spine stiffening. “No,” was all she managed to say, looking away and at Stuart. His eyes softened, and he squeezed her hand, still in his.
“Ryann doesn’t talk to her family anymore,” he explained.
“Oh, God,” Jai said. “I’m sorry. Stuart mentioned that before, and I forgot.”
She rotated her shoulders, trying to relax. “No. Please don’t apologize. I’m not usually so touchy about it. I’m just tired.” She took a moment to sip her beer, tasting, this time, a hint of chocolate under the cherry overtones.
“My family and I stopped talking after I came out,” she explained.
“Christ,” Jai said. “I’m so sorry.”
She lifted a shoulder. “It’s fine. It was a long time ago now. And I got a parting gift—a college degree and enough money to start my own business. Could be worse.”
They all sipped their beers in awkward silence, and she wondered, once again, why she’d bothered coming here. The fact that Stuart hadn’t reminded Jai about her past before she came actually hurt more than anything. It suggested a lot, foremost of which was that he barely talked about her. Both men were staring at their hands, and if she didn’t say something to change the subject, the tension would get even worse.
She plastered on her most executive smile. “Tell me about the wedding party, fellas. There’s me and who else?”
Jai seemed grateful for the chance to move on. “Uh, well, we’re still deciding.”
She laughed. “So close to the wedding?”
“We still have thirteen days,” Stuart said.
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, but really? You guys don’t know yet?”
“Well, we only got engaged last week—the night before I called you,” Stuart said.
Jai glanced over at him. “And it’s not that we don’t know. We just can’t agree on who to include.”
Stuart nodded. “Jai has sisters, but you’re all I’ve got on my side. I told him he could have as many people as he wanted in his party, but he doesn’t want it to be uneven.”
“Couldn’t you have some of his family on your side?” she asked.
“See!” Jai said, triumphant. “I told you that’s what we should do.”
Stuart lifted his shoulders. “I guess so. But who goes where? I’m worried some of your sisters won’t see it like you do, Jai. If they end up on my side, won’t that seem like, I don’t know, they’re not as important?”
Jai put his giant arm around Stuart’s shoulders, squeezing him. “You know that’s not true, sweetie. All my sisters adore you. I actually think some of them like you more than me. You’re like another little brother they never had.”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
Stuart’s smile was broad and happy, and Jai kissed him, long and deep. Once again, Ryann glanced around the room, wondering if anyone would notice or care, but everyone here was in their own world. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen two men kiss in public outside of a gay bar or at Pride.
“So tell me about your sisters,” she said when they broke apart. “I’d like some idea what to expect. Which one is your maid of honor?”
“Well, actually,” Jai said, “my maid of honor is my best friend, Maddie. She’s supposed to be here in a few minutes.”
“Maddie’s actually how we met,” Stuart explained. “She’s an artist, too, a sculptor, like me. She and I met at the foundry here in town, and she introduced me to Jai last year.”
“Almost a year to the day,” Jai said, staring at Stuart.
They were lost in each other’s eyes long enough that Ryann wondered if she should remind them that she was here with them.
Stuart shook his head as if to clear it, his expression a little sheepish when he turned to her. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. You two are really adorable.”
“We try.”
“So, sisters?” she said, turning back to Jai. “How many are we talking?”
“Four.”
She whistled. “Wow. Older, I think you said?”
“Yes—I’m the baby. My eldest, Jos, is ten years older, and then it’s one about every two years on down to me.”
“They all have ‘J’ names,” Stuart said, rolling his eyes.
“So do my parents and the aunts, uncles, and grandparents on my dad’s side,” Jai said. “And when my parents got to me, they just spelled the letter.”
“Wow. Four sisters,” she said, shaking her head. “Must have been a lot of baby-dress-up parties when you were little.”
“You better believe it. And tea parties, and slumber parties, and makeovers, and everything else. It was a blast.”
“They’re all nearby?”
“Yes. Jos is the farthest—she lives in Denver. Joan is just outside of Berthoud—a few miles south of here—and Janet and Julia are here in Loveland, still, like me.”
“You grew up here?”
“Born and raised! A little like you two—small-town gay. Stuart and I have joked about it before. Difference is, I never went to the big city.”
The men were staring fondly at each other again, and Ryann took a moment to sip her beer and check her phone. Ted was supposed to call her with an update today, but so far she’d heard nothing from him or anyone else. She’d have to excuse herself to check in some time soon.
“I hope you two hit it off,” Jai said.
“I’m sorry, what?” she asked. He’d said something before she caught this.
“You and Maddie—my best friend. You’ll be working a lot with her the next couple of weeks, so I hope you hit it off.”
“Oh, yes, of course. Me, too.”
She saw Stuart beaming next to him and narrowed her eyes.
“Excuse me a sec, guys,” Jai said, standing up. “I’m going to go in back and call her to see if she’s on her way. It might make more sense to have her meet us at the restaurant.”
He stood and fought his way through the crowded room toward the back hall. Once out of sight, Ryann leaned forward, motioning Stuart to do the same.
“You two better not be doing what I think you’re doing,” she said.
“And what would that be?” he replied, one eyebrow raised.
“Setting me up with Maddie.”
“Who said anything about setting you up?”
“I see some wild scheme in your eyes, Stuart. I swear to God, if you planned this whole thing—”
He laughed. “Sure, Ryann. We planned an entire wedding so we could set you up with our friend.”
Her blood pressure lowered, and she leaned back, drinking her beer. Of course Stuart would never do something like that to her. He couldn’t possibly think she’d sunk so far or become so desperate. She smiled weakly at him, trying to apologize with her gaze, and he lifted his glass in a mock salute, draining it before setting it down.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m being stupid.”
“Still…” Stuart said.
“What?”
“She is your type.”
She launched to her feet and slammed her hands on the table. “Goddamn it, Stuart—”
“Whoa! I’m sorry,” a woman’s voice said next to them. “Am I interrupting something?”
She glared over at the woman, ready to snap at the interruption, but her voice caught in her throat. It was the same handsome butch she’d seen this morning at the bus station, collecting letters. The one who winked at her twice.
“Hi,” the woman said, holding out her hand. “I’m Maddie.”
Chapter Four
Ryann’s mouth snapped shut, and she stared at Maddie for an awkward length of time, long enough for Maddie’s happy expression to falter with uncertainty. Finally, Ryann’s brain kicked in, and she held her hand out to the other woman, adding her usual boardroom smile.
“I’m Ryann. Nice to meet you.”
Maddie’s grin broadened, and the grip with her gloved hand was solid, almost hard. “You, too. If I’d known who you were, I would have given you a ride this morning. I almost offered anyway. You seemed a little…lost.”
Ryann sat back down. Maddie, strangely, sat next to her rather than on Stuart’s side. Stuart was peering back and forth at them, obviously confused.
“We saw each other in passing this morning,” Ryann explained. “At the bus station.”
“I was doing a letter pickup,” Maddie added.
“Ah!” Stuart smiled. “That makes more sense. For a second there, I thought you two knew each other, and I couldn’t figure out how. I don’t know why you didn’t call me when you were there, Ryann. I would have come and gotten you.”
She didn’t know how to explain herself without coming across as pathetic, so she sipped her beer, hoping the topic would change. She was strangely unsettled by the woman and the situation, and she was still pissed at Stuart. Her hand was shaking slightly, and she had to concentrate to bring her glass to her lips without spilling it.
“Is that the Valentine’s beer?” Maddie asked.
“Yes,” Ryann said. “It’s delicious. They’re calling it Cupid’s Kiss.”
“Can I try it?”
Ryann was surprised, but after a moment’s hesitation she held it out to her. Maddie took a long swallow, her eyes closed, and Ryann’s breath caught in her throat at the sight. Maddie opened her eyes and handed back her glass, smiling.
“That’s so good. Erin’s really outdone herself.” She stood up. “I’m going to go get one. Do you need a refill?”
She hesitated, wanting another, but shook her head. Maddie gave her a quick wink, and Ryann watched the woman walk away, weaving through the crowd. She and Jai ran into each other in the crowd, and they embraced, Jai enveloping her.
“See something you like?” Stuart asked, startling her.
She jumped. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on,” he said, laughing. “You can hardly tear your eyes off her.”
Her anger was returning, and she leaned toward him, lowering her voice. “Stuart—I’m warning you. Don’t start this shit.”
He held his hands up. “Okay, okay! I’ll drop it. You two can work it out for yourselves. You’ll be spending enough time together the next two, well, almost two, weeks. I’m sure things will develop on their own.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re an asshole. You know that?”
He winked, and then his attention moved away to Jai and Maddie, who were coming back, both holding two beers.
“I got you one anyway,” Maddie said, sitting down next to her again. “You looked like you wanted another. But I’ll drink it if you really don’t.”
She was surprised again. Maddie was right.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I actually lucked out with you being here. The beer hasn’t been released to the public, so Erin wasn’t going to give me one until I told her this one was for you. She gave us both of these for free. You charmed her, I think.”
She started taking off her outer layers of clothing then, and Ryann made herself move her eyes away. She was starting to feel the effects of the beer now, and that, coupled with her fatigue, had lessened her self-control. The urge to watch the other woman was tugging at the edges of her willpower, and she made herself concentrate on the men, who were staring at each other, moony and starry-eyed, Jai playing with a curl of Stuart’s hair.
“Don’t mind them,” Maddie said. “They’re always like that.”
Ryann had to look up to meet her eyes since Maddie was a little taller than her. She was also little broader overall, with wide, strong shoulders and obvious muscles under the sleeves of her flannel shirt. She had light, sandy hair cut in a short pomp fade, dark-blue eyes, and a light scar that cut through one dark eyebrow. She was dressed very much like Stuart and Jai—in a thick blue flannel shirt and dark jeans with heavy snow boots. She was striking, with a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, her features overall somewhat aquiline and altogether appealing. Stuart was right—she was very much Ryann’s type.
She blinked rapidly, realizing a second too late that she’d been staring at her again.
“I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m just so glad they found each other.”
“Me, too,” Maddie said. “I’ve never seen Jai so happy.”
“Me, either, with Stuart, I mean,” Ryann said.
Stuart broke in. “You two getting acquainted now?”
“A little,” Maddie said, flashing those bright teeth and dimples at her again. “Though I don’t know much about you, Ryann, other than you being Stuart’s friend from New York. He said you’re in marketing?”
“Yes—that’s right.”
She glanced at Stuart, who was watching them intently. He was grinning at her, knowingly, but she couldn’t work up to her previous anger.
“That’s partly why I wanted her here,” Stuart said. “She’s really, really good at event planning. You should see the galas her company puts on. Incredible.”
“Have you done weddings before?” Jai asked.
“No,” she said, “and Stuart’s overselling it. I’ve planned some big work events is all.”
“Hey, that’s great!” Jai said. “Maddie has some experience, too. You guys should be perfect together.”
“Oh?” she asked, looking at Maddie. “You’ve done events, too?”
“She’s basically the whole reason Loveland’s even on the map,” Jai explained. “She’s involved in all of the Valentine’s Day stuff here in town.”
“He’s exaggerating,” Maddie said. “I do some volunteer work—that’s all.”
“And she’s understating it,” Jai said. “All those decorations out there in town—that’s her doing.”
“He’s really embellishing now.” Maddie rolled her eyes. “I helped design some of the lights and decoration displays—that’s all.”
“And she volunteers for the Rotary Club, and the Lion’s Club, the Elks, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, and everything else. She knows about everyone in town.”
Maddie’s cheeks had reddened slightly, and Ryann couldn’t help but think about how cute she was slightly embarrassed like this.
“And this morning?” Ryann asked. “When I saw you in the bus station getting letters? Is that one of your jobs?”
Maddie smiled. “No. It’s another thing I help out with. We have a remailing program here.”
“What’s that?” Ryann asked.
“People from all over the world send their valentines here, inside a second, bigger envelope. Volunteers take the valentine out of the larger envelope and stamp it with special Valentine’s Day stamps. I help pick up the local letters and stamp them a couple of days a week.”
For Ryann, it was hard to gauge the vast resources of time and money all of this must take—the remailing program, the decorations, the advertising, all the various endeavors she’d seen devoted to the holiday here in town. She’d been here less than a day, and she could tell how well it had been done. And it was run by volunteers? For no compensation? It was hard to fathom.
“She’s our resident do-gooder,” Jai said.
Maddie’s cheeks and ears reddened further, and she ignored him. “This is the city’s busiest time, so of course the guys decide to get married now. I’ll help where I can, though.”
“Of course,” Ryann said.
“I’m usually free most of the day on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the weekends. I have class on Mondays and Wednesdays, and studio time on Fridays and a few other afternoons.”
“Class?”
“She also teaches at the community college,” Jai explained.
“I’m an art professor,” Maddie said.
Ryann returned her attention to her beer, sipping it again to give herself a moment to compose herself. Her heart was racing a little. Damn it, Stuart, she thought. She hated when he was right. Maddie was exactly her type. Her volunteering was a little hard to understand, the scale of it anyway, but it was commendable, and of course the results were impressive even from what little Ryann had seen. Plus, she’d always had a thing for professors.
“So,” said Stuart, clapping his hands. “We have a full list of tasks for you to take care of for the wedding, and we agreed: a lot of it will be up to you two. Neither one of us wants to step on your toes. You’re the experts.”
“Exactly,” Jai said. “We want you to have full control. You don’t even have to ask our opinion—we trust you completely.”
“And what will you two be doing while we do all the work?” Ryann asked.
“Getting my beauty sleep,” Stuart said, fluttering his eyelashes.
Jai rolled his eyes. “We’re doing some of the other tasks ourselves, but we’re mostly working on Stuart’s show.”
