Chapter 16
Ryder
The crescent moon was bright over the water. And the gentle waves under my yacht normally lulled me to sleep when I was upset, or angry, or drank too much and needed to crash.
Tonight, though, the gentle rocking did nothing for me. I’d spent hours on my workout, and then tried to rest. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Nicole’s face staring at me.
It was like she haunted me.
I kept the lights off, but staring at the stars tonight wasn’t making me peaceful.
Nicole had never cared about me. I should have realized that from the start. We were a contract deal and nothing more. And I was the one who couldn’t hold up my end.
It was my fault she’d ended the engagement.
Footsteps echoed above me and I jumped out of my berth. I tugged on my pajama bottoms and my heart ached for Nicole.
I squashed that idea right away. She didn’t even know I had a boat in port. But I rushed out of my quarters and onto the deck. My sister in her high heels and my brother, still in his blue, royal vest with the embroidery over his heart, stood waiting for me. Emily placed her hand on her hip and asked, “Ryder, what are you doing on your yacht?”
I shook my head. My sister and brother and I hadn’t been close in years. I massaged the back of my neck and wondered how to get them to go away. I said, “Emily … I wasn’t expecting company.”
She looked at my bare chest and her nose wiggled like she was disgusted by my muscles. To humor her, I reached into my quarters and grabbed a t-shirt as she said, “Clearly. Harry’s here and he has something he wants to say.”
I tugged the shirt over my head and once I was covered, so as not to offend Emily, I glanced at my brother and asked, “What’s that?”
Harry had his hands folded in front of him, like he was a little boy and Mom was going to punish him for taking an extra dessert. He said, “I was rude to you and your bride, and I’m sorry.”
Emily crossed her arms and I understood. She’d taken Mom’s place today. She said, “Tell him why, Harry.”
Harry’s face went bright red. I don’t remember him ever being embarrassed about anything, but he asked, “Do you remember Kaitlyn Munroe?”
My mind raced. Kaitlyn … no … Kate was a common enough name, but no face came to mind. I didn’t blink, but I said, “No.”
His shoulders dropped. Had he been in love? Did I screw up his life? He avoided eye contact as he said, “When Mom died, I was after Kaitlyn. But she said Mom preferred you over me because you were the handsome one.”
Whoever she was, she must have been important to Harry. I shrugged and said, “Sorry. I don’t know who she is.”
He gritted his teeth like this was the hardest moment of his life—when, as a soldier, he commanded men in his unit without blinking. “I was jealous … that Mom took more of an interest in your life. But I want you to be happy in your wedding tomorrow. Sorry I was an ass.”
Words I’d never heard him say in all the years I’d known him. I let out a long sigh. I wasn’t sure this mattered now, but I nodded and said, “You’ve been father’s favorite since we were born, Harry.”
His lips thinned and his head went up like I’d offended him. “I’m not. I’m the heir. Emily’s the favorite.”
She rolled her eyes and stood between us, but then she pivoted toward me and tilted her head. “This is silly. So why are you on the boat tonight? Is Nicole this old-fashioned?”
I turned away. None of this mattered. I’d lost the only person who mattered. I pushed on my forehead between my eyes and told them the truth. “Father refused to negotiate with Nicole’s lawyers. Once again, he doesn’t care about me or what I want.”
Harry widened his stance. “Do you want me to speak to him, Ryder?”
Nicole’s family had been there for her, but until this moment, neither of my siblings had asked what they could do for me. I met Emily’s blue-eyed gaze, unsure, as she said, “You know how he is. Stubborn to the core.”
My shoulders dropped a little.
“I will work on this, as a way to make it up to you and Nicole,” Harry said.
My heart raced and adrenaline pumped in my veins. But I held my head up and held my ground for incoming fire when I said, “Don’t bother. There is no wedding.”
Emily’s face went white. It was a reaction I wasn’t prepared for. My shoulders dropped. Emily said quickly, “Go, Harry. Fix things with Father. I’ll stay here with Ryder.”
