Always a Bride

2. Finley

2

Finley

One Year Later

“Just another minute, Mom,” I groaned, rolling over in bed as the incessant noise continued. “Will someone please shut off their music?” I was not in the mood to get out of bed. My warm, comfy bed. It was August in Florida, why was it so freaking cold in here?

“Not your mom,” a familiar voice said. “But I’m not above dragging you out from under your ridiculous amount of blankets like she would. And this noise? It’s your alarm clock, Brainiac.”

I cracked one eye open, taking in my best friend and roommate for the last year, Rae. She grinned down at me, way too awake for this time in the morning. Wait… alarm clock. What time was it? I sat up, rubbing my eyes and peering around her at the clock.

“Crap on toast, I must have hit snooze.”

“Yeah, like a million times.” She shook her head with a smile that told me I amused her as always. I didn’t know anyone who enjoyed mornings as much as her. She leaned forward, auburn hair falling over her shoulders in an unbrushed mass as she felt my forehead. “Yep, I knew it. You’re sick.”

“What?” I pushed her hand away. “I’m not sick, Rae.”

“Looks like it to me. I mean, it’s Saturday, and Saturdays are for rest. You, my dear, should rest.”

I knew exactly what day it was. One year ago, I became the thrice left-at-the-altar girl, Gulf City’s unwed bride. But that was then, and now, my life was on a completely different path. A better one. At least, I thought so.

I was happy… or I wanted to be. That was something, right?

I pushed the covers off my legs and stood, looking down at Rae. “I really do have to work today.”

“You always have to work. I don’t have a wedding to set up today. Can’t you just play a little hooky?”

“Begging? Is that what it’s come to now?”

“If it means you’ll stay, then yes.”

I stumbled on my way toward the bathroom. I wasn’t really a clumsy person, but my body never truly woke before it had a serious injection of caffeine. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I’ve only been at this job for six months. I still have to make a good impression.”

Rae flopped back on my bed with a dramatic sigh, her hazel eyes lifting to the ceiling. “Fine.”

I smiled to myself as I got into the shower and took the fastest one known to man, or more accurately, known to woman. I didn’t even sing, which was a feat for me.

I’d had an entire year to think of all the things about me that would have turned Christian off after living with me. I was no peach, okay. Not even close. No Southern Florida girl with bleached-blond hair and a ridiculous tan. I was pretty, I’d always known that, but it was an understated pretty, the kind that was never really noticed until I walked down the grand staircase in Cinderella’s dress, trying not to trip over my feet.

In other words, I made a gorgeous bride with my hair and makeup done and a too-poofy dress accentuating every curve. But plain, everyday Finley was utterly unremarkable.

It was a good thing I got to play the bride so often.

I snorted out a laugh and turned off the water, reaching past the foggy glass door for a towel. As I dried my hair, I ran through the list of things that probably drove Christian up a wall. The habits men before him had hinted I should change.

I sang in the shower. Badly. Blast me.

I snorted when I laughed. Egad!

Then, there was the whole closet book nerd thing. I loved all things fantasy or science fiction. Don’t even get me started on Dune. Sometimes, men looked at me like I spoke another language. It would be funny if they were the type to get the hots for nerds. They weren’t.

My first almost-husband once told me his least favorite thing about me was that I sometimes ate sushi I bought at a gas station. Sue me for my iron stomach.

I should have retorted with, “At least I don’t cheat on my girlfriend,” but all the good comebacks rarely came to me when I needed them.

Rae was in the kitchen when I emerged from my room, dressed in slacks and a short-sleeved sweater. It was more casual than my weekday business skirts, but it would only be me and Austin, my boss, at the office today.

My best friend in the whole world—don’t tell my mom—handed me a to-go mug of tea. “See, this is why I moved in with you.”

“Really?” She arched a brow. “I thought it was because you were left at the altar and then couldn’t afford your place on your own.”

“You’re mean.”

“Too soon?”

I pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I love you, honey. Don’t wait up. I’ll be home late.”

She pushed me toward the door. “You’re cheating on me; I’ve known it for a while. Tell your boy toy I saw you first.”

I laughed. “I’m sure he’ll understand.” The truth was, no one seemed to get my friendship with Rae. We were so completely different, but from the moment we met in the ninth grade, none of those differences mattered. We just clicked, and there’d never been any looking back.

I squinted into the morning sun. It was going to be a hot day, I knew that already. Sliding into my in-need-of-some-love Outback, I took a sip of tea and a deep breath.

Rae was right in that Saturdays should be for rest, but since taking the job at Bennett Investments, there’d been very little of that. My boss was a workaholic and, in turn, expected his executive assistant to be one as well.

Bennett Investments sat in a beautiful, wooded commercial district outside Gulf City. It took up four floors of a glass-faced tower that was also home to bank offices, a home loan company, and a few other businesses.

The parking lot was mostly empty as I strolled toward the double doors and into the modern lobby where white tile stretched toward a bank of elevators.

By the time I got to the third floor, I noticed the light in Austin’s office was already on. Stopping in the doorway, I leaned against the frame and crossed my arms as I examined him.

If this building was beautiful, the man running the show was even more so. Austin Bennett had been built perfectly from the ground up. I let my gaze travel up toned legs clad in custom-fitted slacks, over strong arms that flexed as he clenched the edge of the desk. He stood bent over, reading a document I couldn’t see, his caramel eyes hidden from me.

Blond hair sat looser today than it normally did when he gelled it to within an inch of its life. I enjoyed Saturdays. Very much.

“Are you going to come in, Miss Kelly, or continue to ogle me?” His voice was smooth as it slid over me.

“I wasn’t ogling you.”

He looked up for a brief moment with the hint of a smile on his lips. “Good morning.”

I walked further into his office with a smile of my own. No matter how much I hated getting up in the morning, my day always got better when I arrived here.

Austin reached for me, pulling me into a bruising hello kiss. Yep, I was that girl. The assistant dating her boss.

There was no way this could go wrong.

But even if it did, I’d enjoy it while it lasted because Austin Bennett was perfect. Every part of him. Gentlemanly, beautiful. He wasn’t the kind to cheat or do anything that would besmirch the honor of the Bennett family name.

I was lucky, really.

“What’s in store for today?” I enjoyed Saturdays when it was just the two of us in the office, no clients coming and going, no suck-ups vying for Austin’s attention and praise.

“My father is coming in this morning.”

That had me stepping back. Mr. Bennett was the true boss who controlled things around here, but he never worked the weekends. “Do you know why?”

“I’m assuming it has to do with the expansion.”

Bennett Investments was opening a new location in New York City. It had been all anyone here talked about the last few months. They had yet to make a decision on which senior executives they’d relocate to oversee operations.

“Hmm.” I didn’t like it. Mr. Bennett had a way of throwing a wrench into plans, making Austin cancel dates to meet with him late at night, being so utterly overbearing that we’d kept our six-month relationship a complete secret from him and everyone else. “Well, I’m going to go start a pot of coffee and check your messages. Are we still on for dinner tonight?”

“Yes.” He smiled his perfect, all-American boy smile. “Can’t wait.”

Austin always knew the right thing to say. As I got the coffee started and finished the tea Rae sent me with, I couldn’t stop thinking about how different we were.

We both grew up in Gulf City, but he attended a private school down in Tampa while I went to public school. He grew up with the kind of life I never could have dreamed of. Private jets, maids, cooks, fancy vacations.

My family’s idea of a vacation was spending a day at the Lee ranch riding horses. Not that I was complaining. I loved horses. But we lived so near the beach we never saw any reason to leave.

Well, my parents hadn’t. I’d dreamed of more, of seeing everything outside of Gulf City.

By the time I finished writing up notes from Austin’s messages, Mr. Bennett was strolling through the doors looking like he owned the place. Well, he did.

His designer suit was out of place in the Florida summer. I pictured myself in a full suit during August and nearly started sweating just thinking about it.

I stood as he approached. “Mr. Bennett. May I take your jacket?”

He shook his head. “No, thank you, Annabelle.” I didn’t correct the name. He called me something different every time we spoke, which wasn’t often. “Where is my son?”

“I can fetch him for you if you’d like to wait in the conference room.”

He nodded. “Don’t let me wait long.”

I practically sprinted to Austin’s door and poked my head in. “Your father is here.”

He stood abruptly, smoothing out his shirt. The only time Austin’s perfect veneer cracked was when he faced either of his parents. “Hold all my calls. This might take a while.”

He disappeared into the conference room as I walked to the kitchen. It wasn’t my first rodeo, so I knew how to ease two men’s ire if they started fighting—which wouldn’t be new for them.

Coffee was the answer to everything.

The machine finished dripping, and I poured two mugs. Black for Mr. Bennett—like his soul. Okay, not really. I’m sure he was a perfectly nice man outside the office. Rae would lecture me about giving people a chance. But then, that was coming from a girl who spent her time making other women’s romantic dreams come true instead of putting herself out there.

I stirred a bit of creamer into Austin’s mug and carried them both to the conference room where I already heard their voices raised. I sighed. What was it about men? They couldn’t have an argument without getting red faced and stupid. Their stubbornness and their need to be right all the time would be the end of them.

I, on the other hand, preferred to avoid conflict at all costs.

I skirted the room and placed the mugs in front of them. “Coffee, gentlemen. Drink it before the argument commences.”

They didn’t listen. Did they ever?

As I exited the room, I heard Mr. Bennett say, “There’s nothing to discuss, Austin. I need you to fly there in a week. You’ll spend a week there and then return.”

Austin was going on a business trip? If that timeline held up, he’d be gone over my birthday, a birthday he’d been teasing a surprise for.

It was completely un-assistant like of me, but I needed to know more. Leaving the door open a c***k, I retrieved my coffee and then crouched down near the door to avoid being seen through the half-wall of windows looking out from the conference room.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Of course, when it was important, they lowered their voices. Come on, guys, I know you can yell. Let’s hear it.

If Austin saw me like this, he’d think so much less of me. When it came to our relationship, I’d vowed to do things differently than last time when I just let my freak flag fly. I hid my most annoying habits from him, which were basically all my habits.

My nosiness being one. I had this need to always know what was going on.

I never showered at his place in case I burst into uncontrollable song. Yes, that was a thing.

Around him, I tried to be as perfect as he was. The perfect assistant, the perfect girlfriend. It was a mask I wore, but I figured if the relationship lasted, I could gradually reveal the scary version of myself.

Like the one crouching outside a meeting, her thighs burning because she was so out of shape.

I wasn’t really sure if I’d be able to get up when this was over.

I inched closer, but Mr. Bennett was whispering now. There would be no answers. I knew I should get up now and walk away with my dignity intact, but I stayed, my coffee my only companion.

When the door swung open years later—okay, probably only minutes—I tried to jump to my feet, to run back to my desk, but my knees ached and refused to cooperate, leaving me in this position for the rest of my humiliating life.

And what did I do? Reached behind me for a plant and dragged it in front of me as if it could shield me from their eyes.

Mr. Bennett walked right by me, but shiny black shoes stopped in front of me. “Finley? What on earth are you doing?”

I sighed and pushed the plant away. “My knees locked up, and I couldn’t get up on my own.”

A raised eyebrow was his only response.

“Would you believe me if I said I was watering the plants?”

“Do you want me to believe you?” Good old Austin. He’d argue with his father but never with me. It worked for us, for me, but it also added a coldness to our relationship I’d never been able to shake.

“I kind of just want you to help me up.”

He extended a hand down and pulled me to my feet.

I followed him back to his office and hesitated on the threshold. “So, you have to leave over my birthday.”

“Yes.” He shuffled papers on his desk, a habit of his when he didn’t want to discuss a topic. He didn’t bring up the fact I’d eavesdropped, but I knew it annoyed him. The tension in his shoulders said as much.

But there was something else. Whatever his father had said to him changed his entire demeanor from the man who’d kissed me only an hour ago.

But who was I kidding? He’d never tell me what was truly bothering him. It would wipe off some of that shine he made others see in him, the perfection as the coolheaded millionaire.

He was polished steel, shining marble.

But even steel could have flaws.

Dinner was a quiet affair, not unusual for Austin. After a day of work, he was normally lost in his own head, running through numbers and thinking about client requests. He was good at what he did, the best, in part because he never left work behind at the office. It was always on his mind.

“You look distracted tonight.” I sliced into my filet, the kind of food I never ate when I wasn’t with Austin. He insisted on the best restaurants when I was always happy with diner food.

“Just thinking.”

I took a bite, struggling to keep myself from moaning. Okay, maybe the food was worth the price. We’d driven to Tampa for his favorite waterside restaurant with its white tablecloths and dressed-to-the-nines patrons.

I didn’t feel out of place exactly, just like I was living someone else’s life. A year ago, when I stood at that altar, I’d never imagined myself sitting here across from Gulf City’s most eligible bachelor, but here I was.

And I enjoyed every bit of it.

Unlike most of the guys in town, he’d never brought up my claim to fame, something I was eternally grateful for. Growing up in a small town had its advantages, but it also really sucked when everyone knew everything about their neighbors.

Like when they were continually dumped during their weddings.

Some people said I rushed into marriage, others that I chose the wrong men.

And still, some blamed me, saying I must have secret prepper tendencies or like an extra toe.

I wasn’t sure which I truly agreed with. Sure, I probably shouldn’t have said yes to Christian before we moved in together, and I shouldn’t have let us make it to the wedding. I truly thought I loved both Ryan and Kyle, my ex-fiancés, which made me realize I wasn’t sure what love was.

“Finley, did you hear me?”

Austin had been talking, and I hadn’t caught a single word. My cheeks heated. “No, I’m sorry.”

His smile was strained. “I said I needed to ask you a question.”

“Okay, shoot.” His brow furrowed at the informal phrase. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I mean, go on.”

He cleared his throat. “You and I enjoy each other’s company, do we not?”

“Of course.” I gave him a quizzical look. What an odd question.

“We’ve been dating for six months now.”

I nodded.

“And over those six months, I’ve grown fond of you. I respect you, Finley.”

I smiled at the compliment. Earning respect from Austin Bennett was a feat some people tried for years to achieve. “I care about you too.” Where was this going? We hadn’t yet reached the L-word stage, but I could probably get there soon. I did really care for him.

He scrunched his forehead once again at my choice of words. Respect and care for were two different things, but I knew he felt both for me. He just couldn’t say it.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a jewelry box.

“Oh, is this my birthday surprise?” I loved surprises as long as they weren’t the “I’m in love with someone else” kind. Maybe with him heading out of town next week, he’d decided to celebrate early.

“You could say that.” He opened the box revealing a princess cut diamond ring bigger than any I’d ever seen in my life.

And my heart stopped.

No.

Austin.

Don’t. Do. This.

I knew the movements of a man preparing to propose. I’d seen them enough. Austin shifted in his seat. He reached slowly for the box with his free hand and pulled out the ring. Then, he started to rise.

“Austin…” I couldn’t get another word out.

He lowered himself to one knee. Of course he’d do it on one knee. The man did everything right.

So, why couldn’t I breathe?

“Water,” I croaked. “I need water.” But I’d already drained the water glass sitting next to my wine goblet. I reached across for Austin’s, my arm nudging my wine glass. It tipped, almost in slow motion, the red wine spilling over my plate and onto the fancy tablecloth.

Yet, I couldn’t look at it. I couldn’t look at anything but Austin as I gulped his water.

“Finley.” He ignored the spilled wine—a very un-Austin thing to do—and took my hand. “I think we make a good match. You fit into my world seamlessly.” That was what he thought, but I’d hidden my real self from him.

“I—”

He cut me off. “We’re so alike in many ways. I want you to be my wife.”

Around us, other patrons watched the scene unfold. They most likely knew who Austin was and thought I was lucky he ever glanced my way. But I’d told myself exactly one year ago that the next time I planned a wedding, it would be with the man I’d spend my life with.

Was Austin that man?

Or had he been safe because I never saw it getting to this point?

I flung myself out of the chair, stepping to the side and colliding with a waiter who was balancing a tray on one hand. The momentum sent us tumbling to the ground, plates of steak and fish clattering to the tile. Sauce soaked into my sweater as I scrambled to my knees. “I’m so sorry.”

The waiter looked at the mess, then back at me. “Honey, if a man like that proposed to me, I think I’d freak out too.”

Then, Austin was there, helping me to my feet. “It’s been quite a day of mishaps for you.”

“Can we go outside, Austin, please? I need some air.”

He threw money on the table before placing a hand on my back and leading me toward the door.

Once outside, I sucked in fresh air and looked down at my ruined sweater. Gravy stained the hem, and there’d be no getting it out. “I’m sorry.” I covered my face in my hands. “I’m such a mess.”

Austin didn’t say anything. He only waited for my meltdown to end. If he were one of my brothers, he’d force me to say whatever was on my mind.

If it was my mom or Rae, they’d put their arm around me and soothe me with their immense kindness.

But Austin only stood by, waiting for the moment to pass.

Finally, I got my breathing under control and chanced a glance at him. “I’m sorry.”

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug, showing no emotion on his face.

I looked to the water, silver moonlight reflecting off the surface. “This doesn’t have to do with you.” It was the truth. I didn’t freak out because of who asked me to marry them, only because someone did. Again.

I walked toward the walkway near the water and lowered myself onto a bench. Austin followed me, but he didn’t sit.

“Austin, I think I’m falling in love with you.” I’d never said it out loud before. “But I’ve thought that before. You know my history. I’ve had three weddings and no marriages. I can’t go through that again. I just can’t.” Each time, it broke a little part of me, but I wasn’t sure he’d understand that.

He didn’t respond for a long moment before reaching for my hand and pressing the ring into it. “Will you at least consider it? I promise, Finley, once I make a commitment, I never back out.”

I did know that about him. Austin was dependable. It was one of the reasons his clients loved him.

But was that all this was? A commitment? Did I only want dependable?

I wrapped my hand around the ring and nodded, willing the tears from my eyes. “Okay.” I owed him that much.

I’d think about it.

And then, maybe there’d be a fourth wedding for Gulf City’s unwed bride.