the clock showed it wasn’t yet eight, and filled him in on what had happened. A sleepy sounding Timothy promised to take care of everything that morning once he got to the office. Ryan knew he would.
Satisfied, after ending the call, Ryan focused on deciding what he wanted to do about Maria. Ever since his meteoric rise to fame, there had always been women wanting something from him. Maria Miranda was the first one who’d taken off as soon as she learned who he was. This was unusual enough to give him pause.
Why? Why had she run away? One thing he knew for sure. He would find out. He knew her name and she’d told him she owned a wedding chapel here in Galveston. It wouldn’t be that difficult to find her.
After getting another water and aching for coffee, he clicked on the TV and tried to relax. But he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Puzzles had always intrigued him. Figuring out where the pieces fit had enabled him to develop the software company that had made him rich. The apps and games his talented designers developed had made his business into a billion-dollar enterprise, especially when his company had gone global. Recently he’d turned down offers from both Microsoft and Apple. Even Google had approached him, especially once he’d branched out to Europe and Australia. But he’d refused to even consider selling. He loved his company, had a great staff, and wouldn’t know what to do without it if he sold. Plus, he had enough money. What would he do with even more?
Though he’d planned this extended vacation with the thought that he’d do as little as possible besides relax and unwind, the prospect of untangling the mysterious Maria’s secrets filled him with exhilaration and a fresh sense of purpose. He hadn’t felt this excited about anything in a long, long time.
First up, though, he needed to hit the grocery store. What good was a beach house without the basic amenities like coffee and food? Once he’d gotten the necessities taken care of, he’d turn his attention to the delectable beauty.
“We’ll figure this out,” he vowed, out loud, even though no one else could hear him. He wasn’t giving up on her, not yet.
* * *
Wedding Chapel Near the Sea. Just the name made Maria smile. Even if she hadn’t been able to manage an ocean view, the salty scent of the waves permeated the air. She loved her business and had spent long hours restoring the old Victorian house until she had it exactly the way she’d envisioned. Romantic, nostalgic and tranquil.
And it worked. Even catching sight of the pale peach paint with beige trim made her happy. Every morning she drove to work and went inside with a smile on her face. Today would be no different. She refused to let what had just happened ruin her day.
“You’re way too chipper for this early,” her receptionist, Kathleen, groused, her usual response to Maria’s cheerful “Good morning.”
Maria merely smiled, just as she always did, and continued on into her tiny office. She’d painted the walls bright yellow, just because the color reminded her of sunshine, and decorated with pictures and statues of pigs, because they made her laugh.
“What do we have on the schedule today?” she asked.
“The Thompson wedding is coming by to talk dates.” Kathleen appeared in the doorway, reading from a ledger. “They’ll be here at ten. And the Woodards are bringing the balance of their deposit at two and will want to go over the final details.”
“Anything else?”
Kathleen started to shake her head, but turned when the front door opened. “Can I help you?” she asked, heading toward the reception area. “Are you here to discuss planning a wedding?”
At that point, Maria turned on her computer, waiting for it to boot up. Kathleen was good at her job and wouldn’t let a potential customer get away without being made aware of all they had to offer.
“I’m here to see Maria.”
The sound of the familiar deep voice sent fire through Maria’s body. She froze, hands on her keyboard, wondering how on earth he had found her and what he wanted.
“Do you have an appointment?” Kathleen asked, sounding slightly breathless.
“No, but I don’t need one. She’ll see me.”
Exhaling, Maria stood. “That’s okay, Kathleen,” she said, pitching her voice loud enough so she could be heard. “I have a little time to talk to Mr. Howard.”
At the name, Kathleen let out an audible gasp. “I’m so sorry,” she gushed. “Forgive me. I wasn’t entirely sure it was you. Of course, let me show you Ms. Miranda’s office.”
Before she could, Ryan appeared in Maria’s doorway. He looked so rugged and masculine, so out of place in the pointedly delicate decor, Maria had to suppress a smile.
Instead, she put on her best professional face, praying he couldn’t tell how her heart practically pounded in her chest. “What can I do for you?” she asked.
Stepping into her office, he closed the door. His sheer size made the space feel three times smaller. “Why’d you run away?” he asked. The quiet question felt much more dangerous than it would have if he’d showed anger.
Again, she couldn’t help but marvel at the clean-cut lines of his face and the self-confidence he radiated. Her heart jolted, her pulse hammered, and her mouth went dry.
Nope. Not going there.
Carefully, she shrugged. “I changed my mind. And I have to say, the fact that you’ve shown up here, at my place of business, confirms I did the right thing.”
He glowered, his dark eyes still far too beautiful and seeing way too much. “I’m not stalking you, for Chrissake. You told me you owned a wedding chapel. There are only two on the island proper—yours and The Wedding Chapel on Broadway. I figured this one would be yours, and I wanted to talk to you, so here I am.”
Crossing her arms, she carefully titled her head. “And, again, what can I help you with?”
Her impersonal tone had him coming closer, dragging a hand through his hair, which only made him appear sexier. “I like you,” he said, his expression serious. “And I thought the feeling was mutual. How about this? Go to dinner with me tonight. No strings. Just a nice meal and some conversation.”
She didn’t have to feign her horror. “No, thank you. Wherever you go, there are cameras and paparazzi. That’s not my thing. At all.” She flashed him her most detached smile. “I’m sure you won’t have trouble finding someone else to accept your invitation. At least, judging from the admirers following you around the club last night.”
His mocking smile sent a shudder down her spine. “I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”
Instant heat. Right there, in between her legs. Her entire body, in fact. Still, she held her ground. “I’m sorry, Mr. Howard. The answer is no.”
She thought he might argue with her at the very least, or maybe say something charming, in the hope of coaxing a smile. After all, if one believed his press, he was a player of the highest degree, used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.
Instead, he crossed the distance between them, cupped her face with his large hand and kissed her.
Stunned
