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.
“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.