Something to Someone (Someone, Somewhere #2)

Chapter 4

FOU R

BEST MAN

Caroline

My heels clicked against the refurbished hardwood floors, and I spun as I stared at the newly restored, intricate ceilings.

The venue was relatively new, and it was my first time seeing the space. I hadn’t been able to make the opening party they’d invited me to several months prior, and now, I regretted not fostering a relationship with the owners sooner.

They were going to be booked solid for the next several years, and I knew a lot of the couples I worked with would love it.

It was a mansion built so long ago that it took them years to restore all the original features and fixtures that they could. The ballroom—yes, it had a ballroom—had stunning mahogany floors that I was sure ran throughout the rest of the house and ornate crown molding around the perimeter of the ceiling.

It checked off all the boxes Stephen and Miles had given me—it was not modern, it was romantic and elegant and absolutely stunning. And it had on-site rooms where the wedding party and family could stay that weekend.

“You look speechless, Ms. Grant,” Chuck, one of the owners, said a s he stepped into the ballroom. He was older and rugged with dirt under his nails and wrinkles from time in the sun.

I smiled at him and tossed my arms out to my sides, motioning to the beautiful place they’d created around us. “Honestly, I am. This place is…stunning.”

He peered around the room with a content smile as he walked toward me. “A lot of time and hard work went into making this place what it is now. It was in shambles when we bought it, but we knew we could make it something beautiful again.”

“How long did it take exactly?”

He thought for a moment. “Almost three years, but I don’t want to bore you with those details just yet. Are we waiting on anyone, or should we get the tour started?”

I glanced toward the front entryway and then down at my phone in my hand. The “best man” had already missed our first venue tour that morning, and now, he was late to the second.

Miles told me he’d forwarded the venue tour schedule to the guy, so I wasn’t sure what the issue was. I’d texted them asking for the best man’s contact information, but with the time difference, it was the middle of the night in Tokyo.

“I’m really not—” I began to say but was interrupted by the sound of steps coming from the front of the house.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” a familiar voice called. I looked up from my phone, and my jaw dropped.

I didn’t think there was much that could surprise me, but there I was, proving myself wrong.

Ryder strode into the room and stopped to introduce himself to Chuck as I attempted to wrap my head around what was happening. But it felt like my brain was short-circuiting at the sight before me. Not just that Ryder was there, but that he was there, and he was wearing a suit?

I don’t think I’d ever seen Ryder in a suit before, and I hated how I had to force myself to swallow and look away .

Chuck stepped aside, and Ryder smiled at me. That stupid, cocky smirk, I cleared my throat and raised an eyebrow at him.

“Hey, Caroline.”

“Ryder, what are you doing here?”

He laughed quietly, and Chuck looked between us. “I’ll be up front, Ms. Grant. Come find me when you’re ready to start the tour.”

I nodded apologetically. “Sure, thanks. We’ll just be a second.” I waited until he was out of the room and hopefully out of earshot to turn back to Ryder. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Ryder stuffed his hands in his black slacks, and I caught myself watching the way his pants tightened across his hips with the motion. Or how the jacket shaped his broad shoulders perfectly and the blue of his shirt was a few shades lighter than his eyes.

“I’m the best man,” he said.

“Of course you are,” I muttered, and he quirked an eyebrow at me in silent question. He’d introduced me to Stephen and Miles, I just hadn’t realized they were that close. “The universe is just…” I shook my head and waved him off. “Why were you late then? I’m guessing the suit has something to do with it?”

He shrugged. “I had a job interview. I’m sure you’re aware that I’m graduating soon, and I need to be able to make money after. That’s why I’m late, but I also told Miles this. I’m guessing he didn’t pass on the message?”

“Nope.”

He dragged a hand through his black hair and glanced around the ballroom. “Well, I’m here now, and this place is…insane.”

“How’d the interview go?” I asked instead.

Ryder answered without looking at me. “It went well. It was with an engineering firm downtown. Is this place in their budget?”

I looked down at the paperwork in my hands and found the cost. It was hefty but within their budget. “Yeah, their budget is large enough, they could afford almost anything in or around the city. That’s not going to be an issue.”

He nodded slowly and ran his fingers over one of the oak tables toward the edge of the dance floor. With his back turned, I took a second to take a deep breath and shake off the lingering thoughts that were trying to press in on the edge of my mind. Thoughts of a dirty phone conversation days before.

You’re working, I chastised myself. Control your thoughts. Do not think about how much you liked him explaining what you looked like ? —

“Caroline?” I blinked and glanced up at Ryder.

“Hmm?”

He smiled like he knew exactly where my thoughts had been, but he didn’t call me out for it. “Do you want to go get Chuck and start the tour? I know we’re on a tight schedule.”

“Yes,” I said, but it came out a little rough, so I cleared my throat and tried again. “Yes, let’s go.”