Page 33 of All I've Waited For

Maybe that could change, though. He’d forgotten how much he’d missed surrounding himself with good guys who could make him a better man. A stronger one.

Eyeing their progress on the floor, he put aside the nail gun and snagged the flooring gun instead. The extra power pulsed from his fingertips through his entire body.

“You’re here, aren’t you? Besides, we’re already getting the place fixed up for our wedding, so it’s not a lot of extra work.”

Well, that solved one major problem on Derek’s list.

Now if only he could get Ashley Baker out of his head.

Chapter 10

Sixteen days before his wedding, and he was just getting the first official tour of the place where he would make Claire his wife.

Of course, he’d spent time here as a kid and teen. But that was a lifetime ago.

So much had happened since then.

“This is the ballroom.” Ashley stopped next to double doors leading into a large space on the upper level of the Iridescent Inn. Ben and Bella were out but had apparently given Ashley permission to do the tour solo.

If he’d known that, Derek would have brought Heather or Christina along. Or better yet, Mia. Four-year-old nieces made great buffers.

As Ashley flicked on the lights, they stepped into the room. Derek couldn’t hold back a low whistle at the impressive sight before him. The huge windows faced the ocean. Being up high like this gave them a long view of the coast. And the ballroom itself was well appointed, with several chandeliers reflecting light off the bronzed, polished concrete floors. Apparently it had been a huge catchall room for years until Bella had decided to renovate it into a money-making events venue a few months ago.

“We have a few options.” Ashley spun in the large, open room, and he found himself stepping closer to her for no logical reason. “We can hold the ceremony on the beach, in the courtyard, or in here, although this space is clearly better suited for a reception. It doesn’t feel as intimate as I’d think a ceremony should be.” She scrunched her nose as she assessed the space. “Then we could do the reception here or in the courtyard. Or any combination of those, really. What do you think Claire would want?”

His muscles tensed at her mention of his fiancée. “I’m having trouble picturing how you’d set the courtyard up.”

“Let’s go take a look. I’ll show you my vision.” She turned off the lights and led the way down the hallway. They passed a guest or two before reaching the upstairs lobby—which was really more of a large living room—then veered outside to the upper deck where several chairs allowed guests to take in the vista. A winding staircase led down to the courtyard, which was enclosed by a low stone wall and an arc of overhanging trees. Water trickled down a tiered stone fountain near the exit, a wrought iron gate that opened onto a path toward the beach. Flowers of various colors bloomed in all stages of life.

“This is really nice.” He walked out onto the travertine pavers. “I can’t believe Ben isn’t making a fortune off of doing events at this place.”

“He will. Bella’s a perfectionist and wants everything to be just right before they start.” Ashley followed him. “So you approve?”

“Yeah, of course. Not that I have any choice. But even if I did, I think this would be perfect.”

“Good. Ben and Bella are doing their ceremony on the beach and reception here in the courtyard. What do you want?”

He considered all the options. “To be honest, I’d like to do the same, but I don’t think Claire will want to worry about sand in her shoes and the wind off the ocean blowing her hair during the ceremony.” The wind could be brutal at times, and it was unpredictable. But there was something strong and striking about the wild ways of nature. Still, he was making decisions for both of them, and Claire trusted him to take her desires into account. “So what are you thinking in terms of setup?”

A breeze rustled Ashley’s hair across her cheeks while she studied the courtyard and walked to one end. “I think I’d do an arch here, then split rows of white chairs on either side, creating an aisle here. We can adorn the ends of the aisles with bows so everyone has to enter from the outside. And depending on how simple or done up you wanted to go, we could add some flower sprays around the arch.”

He strode over. “So I’d stand about here?”

“Yes. And Claire can enter the courtyard from that lower door.”

Studying the open courtyard, he tried to picture it—how it would really be to watch Claire step down the aisle toward him.

But his mind rebelled against him, imagining a smiling blonde instead of a solemn brunette heading down the path, dressed in white, holding a simple bouquet of flowers.

Get it together, man.Derek pivoted and headed toward the fountain. He leaned over to trail his fingers through the pooled water at the bottom. The cold pricked his skin, a welcome relief to the burning sensation racing through his veins.

“Derek? You okay?” Joining him at the fountain, Ashley sat on the edge. She pulled her fingers along the placid surface, and circles rippled out at her touch. Her long hair fell over her shoulder, nearly hitting the water. His fingers ached to feel the spun gold against his skin.

Listen to him, waxing poetic. He should leave. Right now. Instead, Derek lowered himself next to her. “No, I’m not. This is hard, Ash. And I’m sick of it.”

Now why had he gone and saidthat? But for once, he didn’t want to think. Just wanted to be near her, to feel the electricity rolling off of her, making him feel something he hadn’t in a very long time.

Ashley pulled her hand back into her lap, wiping the water onto her jeans. “Sick of what?”

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