“There are lots of people to talk to,” Clara said. “Now isn’t the time to go chasing after the help.”

He frowned at her. “She’s not the help.”

“Don’t make a scene,” Clara said quietly. “If she’s not the help, who is she?”

Ryder just shook his head. “For your information, she’s the woman I love.”

He caught a glimpse of Bass and Penny and moved toward them, ignoring Clara and her protests.

“Have you seen Whitney?”

Penny frowned. “Why? So you can break her heart again?”

Ryder shook his head. “I know I hurt her, sis. That’s why I need to find her.”

“I just saw her and apparently Clara is a beeotch that made her carry trays,” Penny said, then got up in her brother’s face and poked him in the chest with her finger. “Do you know why she even came here tonight? For you. She was just going to drop off the food and leave, but she stayed. Because she didn’t want to damage your image, your name, or… Jesus! She’s walking around crushed, serving your town so you look good.” She glanced at Bass. “Honey, please hit him. He deserves it way more than you did.”

Bass gave Ryder a look and shrugged, like he was saying, what am I gonna do, tell her no? He started rolling up his sleeves.

Shit, Penny was right. He did deserve to be laid out. Whitney was humiliating herself for him. No stronger woman lived than her. She’d put herself in a situation that made her feel horrible, all because he’d made such a big deal about his public persona.

“Bass, buddy,” he said. “Penny, my darling sister. You can both deck me. I promise. But right now, I have something much more important to take care of.”

If he couldn’t find Whitney, he’d figure out a way for her to find him.

…

Whitney sniffled and rubbed her eyes. She was not crying again. She hadn’t all day, but after running into Ryder—no, serving him—she was ready to break in half. Her face already hurt from staying up last night packing, drowning in ice cream, and bawling her eyes out. Now she was just humiliated. She hid in the kitchen for a moment, too afraid to peek out and even look at the massive crowd in the ballroom.

She should be on her way out of town, heading to her next stop like the tumbleweed she was. Only this road trip wasn’t full of adventure and hope.

It was full of regret and despair.

She thought of the last time she’d been alone with Ryder. How he’d confided in her. Made her feel like more. Like she wanted more with him. But the Ryder in private and the Ryder in public were two different people. And she couldn’t have him both ways. No matter how much she wished otherwise.

“Can I have everyone’s attention please?” a loud voice boomed out. She knew that voice, had heard it whisper her name several times in the dark. It was Ryder.

She glanced from the kitchen entryway and saw him standing on a large cabinet, holding a microphone.

“There’s something I’d like to say, and with the majority of the town turning out tonight, I think it’s the perfect time.”

A few hoots and claps rang out.

He cleared his throat. “I’m Ryder Diamond, and I’m done.”

“What the hell?” Whitney whispered.

“All my life, I didn’t think there was anything or anyone I could love as much as I love this town,” he said. “But I’ve recently discovered that I love someone more. And her name is Whitney Drake.”

Oh holy God. Her heart fell into her stomach, and she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“See, I’ve been living in a shadow. But Whitney has made me want to step out of that and be a better man. With her, I’m just Ryder. And that will have to be good enough. Because I’m going to be spending all the energy I have making her believe how much she means to me.”

Whitney stepped out of the kitchen, her gaze locked on Ryder’s and her chest cracking from the pressure of hope.

His eyes met hers and his face softened to a painfully tender expression. “I’m sorry, sweetness. I’m so sorry.” He hopped down off of the counter and walked her way. The crowd parted slowly as he got closer and closer. “I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay. I want you any and every way I can have you. In public, in private, and everywhere in between. I want to show you how much I need you.”

She shook her head. “You told me to leave,” she whispered. It was the one thing he’d made clear. So why was he changing his tune now? “You worked hard for all of this.” She opened her hands and motioned to their surroundings.

“I should have been working harder for you. Because none of this matters without you.”

Her anger rose fast at how quickly she felt tempted to give in to him. But no, she had to get out of there. She couldn’t let him throw away his precious reputation.

“What the hell is your problem?” she whispered, trying to keep the pain out of her voice. “Go back to your life. You don’t need me.” Everyone was staring, and Ryder didn’t seem to care. But she couldn’t let him draw attention to himself like this.

His shoes scraped the polished floor as he took another step toward her.

“My problem is that I’m chasing a woman that is damn difficult to catch,” he said, dropping the mic and coming toe to toe with her.

“I’m leaving, Ryder, just like you wanted.”

“I thought that’s what I wanted. But what I want is you.”

She shook her head. “You have a big deal going on with Clara, and you made it clear that I don’t have a part to play inside your boundaries.”

“I don’t care about any of that. And to hell with boundaries. I want you. I’m so sorry, sweetness. When you came at me, wanting me, I didn’t believe it and thought the worst.”

Her throat struggled to swallow. No, she couldn’t give in. She’d already put herself out there and lost him. No way could she bear more heartache.

“I’m a wild one, remember. You said so yourself. I don’t have roots and you do.”

“Yes, but I see now that we can have both. A home here and an adventure wherever your heart wants to go. If you’ll have me with you.”

Her eyes shot wide. “What? Have you lost your mind?”

“I think so…yes.” He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket and handed it to her. She opened it to find some kind of color-coded chart. Looking closer, she realized what it was.

“A vacation spreadsheet?”

He nodded. “Seems I haven’t taken any vacation time in…ever. I have quite a bit saved up.” He tapped the sheet, and she saw just how much he did have. “Diamond is my lineage. But you are my home, sweetness.”

She folded her lips. He stood before her, following his impulse to declare his love for her, ready to give up every bit of control if it allowed him to be with her. The thing that terrified him most, and he was doing it, for her. He wasn’t asking her to change. He was willing to change for her.

She saw Clara in the crowd, her arms crossed and a tight grimace on her face. “Ryder…this is too much. What about your deal with Davenport? What about your business?”

“I’ll figure it out. You are the deal I want to pursue. I don’t want to miss out on a life with you. Whatever the cost.”

She lost the battle with the tears she was fighting. They spilled down her face, and Ryder was right there, brushing his thumb over her cheeks to wipe them away as he moved closer, until she was beneath the shadow of his presence and caught up in his warmth.

“I know you need a souvenir of every place you go…” He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and handed her a small box. “I had this made for you.”

Her heart stopped when she opened the box and found a ring. But it was missing a center stone. Instead, it held a piece of candy.

“It’s a place holder. You can pick out any gem you want, any kind, and put it in there,” he said.

More tears lined her eyes, and she looked up at him. “I kind of have my mind set on a specific Diamond.”