Both of his friends nodded.

“It’s a lot of power to give someone,” Bass said. Ryder could tell by the look on his face that he knew, first hand, exactly what he was talking about. “But it’s worth it.”

“What if you give over the power and she breaks you?”

“It’s a risk,” Bass said. “But either you take it, or you let her go and always wonder.”

Ryder pinched the bridge of his nose. The throbbing ache of his mistake was hitting fast. He’d pushed her away to salvage his misguided need for boundaries. He didn’t have faith that she could really want just him.

“What do I do if the town doesn’t approve? It’s not just my future on the line if my business falls apart. A lot of people rely on me.”

Huck and Bass glanced at each other and raised their eyebrows, like they were in the company of a madman.

Bass shook his head. “Who gives a shit if no one approves of you and Whitney? You think it mattered one bit if you approved of me and your sister? I loved her too much to let her go.” He put his hand on Ryder’s shoulder. “And listen, man. You came around. So will the people of Diamond.”

“More than that,” Huck said. “If you’d open your damn eyes, you’d see that half of Diamond’s already in love with her. This could be her home. You could be her home.” He shrugged. “Assuming you’ve got the balls to give it a shot.”

Ryder swallowed. “I think I fucked up…bad.”

“No shit,” Huck said and slurped the rest of his juice.

“All you have to do is decide what you’re willing to risk to make it right,” Bass said.

And that was the hardest part, because Ryder knew the answer to that:

He’d risk everything.

Chapter Fifteen

Whitney adjusted the trays on the large table in the grand hall. Ryder and his crew really had done an amazing job. She was hoping to set up the food and then hide in the kitchen. People were already starting to trickle in, and Penny was busy running back and forth between the BBQ and the Hall with food, which left Whitney doing set up.

She felt like a piece of cattle on display. Any moment Ryder could walk in and see her. She wanted to be gone before that happened. In fact, the only reason she’d stuck around was because she’d promised Penny she’d help, and she wouldn’t leave her in a bind. There was more on the line here than good service. There was the “Diamond” family name. Penny had told her she could go anyway, but Whitney refused. She wouldn’t leave her friend high and dry like that.

But once she finished helping set up the food, she’d skedaddle out of there. With any luck, she could be out of town so fast no one would remember she’d ever stepped foot in it.

“Excuse me,” Clara Davenport said. She was in a floor-length sparkly gown with a perfectly sleek up-do, looking very much the princess of Kansas. “I would prefer the hors d’oeuvres to be circulated for the guests.” She looked down Whitney’s front. “Where is your uniform?”

Whitney glanced down at her black jeans and T-shirt. “Uh, I think you’re mistaken. I’m just helping Penny set up the food.” Penny was back at the BBQ, getting the rest of the food she’d made and bringing it to the hall.

“My father hired Penny to provide the food and staff. Aren’t you her staff?”

“Yes,” Whitney said.

“Good, then I want you to serve.” She gave another dissatisfied huff at her appearance. “We have several extra uniforms in the back of the building. You’ll wear a white button-down.”

“I’m not going to wear your uniform,” Whitney said instantly.

Clara’s blond brow peaked. “Oh no? I can’t have the waitstaff looking homely. This Hall is a staple of the town, and tonight’s event is important. For that matter, it would be a shame to mar Penny or Ryder’s name with your poor behavior and lack of professionalism.”

Whitney took a breath and tried not to retch. But for all her awfulness, Clara had a point. Whitney didn’t want to make Penny or Ryder look bad. If there was one thing she’d learned, it was that the Diamond name, especially in public, was sacred. She’d hate herself later, but for now, she was prepared to play the puppet.

“Sorry, no a-holes allowed in my place,” Penny said, hands on her hips, heading Ryder off at the entrance of the BBQ.

It was Saturday afternoon, and the place was empty, partly because most of the town was heading to the Davenport Hall—which was where Ryder should be—and also because Penny had closed for a few hours to transport all the food she’d made to the event. The trays of hors d’oeuvres were on the bar and ready to be packed up. He’d thought Whitney would be there working and helping Penny with the food. Maybe she was in the back? That is, if he could get past his sister to check.

“I came to see Whitney.”

“Oh, well, isn’t that nice. Seeing as how you told her to leave the other night. What’s the matter with you?” Penny said.

“A lot,” Ryder replied, not defending his actions. He’d been an ass, he knew it, and his sister was right to give him grief. “But I’m here to make it right.” He glanced over Penny’s shoulder and saw Rocco behind the bar. “Where is she?”

“She left. Like you told her to.”

“What?”

“Yeah, she came in and told me she couldn’t stay. That she was sorry, and would have given me notice, but she was thinking of you. Wanted to get out of your town so she didn’t cause you anymore trouble.”

Ah shit. He’d really, really fucked up. The glare on his sister’s face could melt skin and her tapping boot just got heavier and heavier.

“I need to find her, Pen.” He’d spent all morning working on his master plan to get her back. Because, yeah, he had to have a plan. He wasn’t barbaric. But something told him good manners and a sweet weren’t going to cut it.

“She’s gone. Took off a few minutes ago.”

“Where?” Ryder said quickly.

Penny just shrugged. “Don’t know.”

He looked at his watch. The event was set to start in half an hour, and he wasn’t even dressed. And he had no idea where Whitney was. But he still had time to check the roads. Maybe he’d get lucky and find her driving before she got too far.

Ryder didn’t pause. He ran out of the BBQ, hopped in his truck, and barreled down the road. He had to get to her, had to do everything he could to catch up to the one woman who was running off with his entire soul, and taking his future with her.

After spending thirty minutes driving down the major highway out of Diamond and finding no sign of Whitney, Ryder showed up to the grand opening of the Davenport Hall dressed in a tux and feeling like shit. He didn’t care that he was over twenty minutes late. Didn’t care that Davenport’s voice boomed from the other side of the room, or that the entire town was packed inside the main hall. He cared that he wasn’t with Whitney.

“You clean up very nicely,” Clara said, walking up to him and taking his arm. “My dad promised me you’d save a dance just for us together.”

She wasn’t letting go of the idea of being seen together, but Ryder was done with this game. He was done pretending to be the man everyone wanted him to be. He only wanted to be the man Whitney needed.

“Clara, no disrespect, but I’m a bit preoccupied.”

Jesus. He’d never felt so nervous in all his life, but then nothing had ever been so important to him than proving to Whitney she hadn’t made a mistake by wanting to be with him. He needed a drink. Fast. A tray passed by, and he took a glass of champagne and damn near knocked the waiter over.

“Sorry,” he grumbled. But his brows shot up when chocolate eyes met his, and he realized that it wasn’t a waiter. It was Whitney.

She stared at him for a second through her thick lashes, and then she turned quickly and bounded away.

“Wait,” he called after her, but she wove through the crowd like a pro, and between Clara’s hold on his arm and the hordes of people, he couldn’t catch up to her.