I walked up the long stone path to the massive blue and white two-story house. It was more of a mansion than a house. I pulled the lapels of my coat closer, shivering, as I reached the top step. The chill I felt had nothing to do with the cold December breeze, but more to do with whom I was about to see. Just the thought of seeing them together left me chilled to the bone, with an awful sinking feeling in my gut.

I hated it, hated having to work for them, but I had no choice. The amount of money I was offered to do the job would get my business off the ground, from where its been for the last year and a half.

Releasing a sigh, I rang the doorbell with a heavy heart and steeled myself for the oncoming pain.

With their business, I should have been doing backflips across the snow-covered lawn, but I felt like I was on my way to my own execution. I had to watch the two of them together, happy and in love.

The door flew open within twenty seconds, revealing a disheveled but, oh so gorgeous man.

“Lucy.”

“Ryan, hi.” My words were breathier than intended, and I cleared my throat lightly. It was corny but the sight of Ryan always took my breath away and this time was no exception.

His brows creased. “Not that I’m not happy to see you but what are you doing here?”

I glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see her.

“Uh, I’m here to finalize everything with... Julie.” I had to force her name out, and it literally left a bad taste in my mouth. My heart sank deeper, as I processed my own words. Finalize everything. In just weeks, Ryan would be so far out of my reach, more than he’d ever been.

He blinked, his expression blank for a few seconds until realization dawned. “Oh.”

Then he looked crestfallen, leaving me perplexed.

“Gee, Ryan I don’t know much about marriage but shouldn’t people look more excited when they’re about to get hitched?” I let out a nervous giggle, and his frown deepened. Was it something I’d said? Awkward.

“Come in, Lucy. It’s freezing.” Ryan sighed and stepped aside.

I nodded and did as instructed, just realizing that Ryan didn’t only look disheveled, he looked tired and... sad. It had only been a few months since his sister and brother-in-law died in a tragic accident, but I thought his upcoming nuptials would at least put a smile on his face.

“Are you alright, Ryan? What’s wrong?”

He ran his fingers through his too long dark brown hair, that always looked liked it was overdue for a trim. But that was how Ryan had worn his hair for as long as I could remember. It gave him a bad boy edge, and I couldn’t help staring at him. Despite his look of despair, he was the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.

Of course, being in love with him since I was a kid, made me a tad biased. His masculine, angular face was fit for any magazine cover. And those crystal blue eyes, which looked like they were made from shards of ice, were so intense. Regardless of their color, they always radiated heat, so much so that I sometimes thought I would melt at his feet.

He was tall, a giant compared to me, at six feet four inches, and powerful. One could look at him and tell he’d an athletic background. Ryan Pearce. My brother’s best friend and totally off limits. Now more so than ever. Even if he weren’t engaged, he would never see me the way I wanted him to. Unrequited love was utterly depressing.

“I’m trying to be.”

“What’s wrong? Are the girls okay?”

His mouth twisted wryly. “As okay as they can be with me playing Mr. Mom.” He wiped a hand over his face and let out a mirthless laugh. “Luce, I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“I’m sure you’re doing fine, you’re too hard on yourself. I think you’re amazing for taking your sister’s kids after what happened.”

Pain flickered across his face, and I mentally kicked myself. I always did suffer from foot in mouth disease. “I’m sorry, Ryan. I didn’t mean to bring Beth-”

“It’s okay. Anyway, Maxine is in the living room watching cartoons, and Becky is asleep, thank God. I can only manage one child at a time.”

I smiled and peeked over his shoulder for any sign of her. She was the one I was there to see, after all; the bride to be. It was tough for me not to hate her. She was gorgeous, and relatively nice—for the most part—but she was marrying Ryan. My Ryan.

“I’m sure you have plenty of help.”

“Well, the babysitter is a godsend for when I need to run errands.”

“Why do you need a babysitter? Where’s Julie?” Once again pain moved across his features but disappeared quickly. Okay, I was clearly missing something.

“Didn’t your brother tell you?”

I snorted. “First of all, Eric never tells me anything. Second, I haven’t spoken to him in about two weeks.” Eric was still visiting our parents in Florida. “What was he supposed to tell me?”

“The wedding is off, Lucy. Julie left me.”

I gaped at Ryan, beyond stunned.

Instantly, a chorus of cheers and hallelujahs erupted in my brain. With a wash of shame, I halted the celebration and refrained from doing a happy-dance. He was obviously sad, and I wasn't going to add to his pain.

Though there was a person that definitely deserved a slap. Strike that, two people. I was going to strangle my brother as soon as I saw him. This, he could have called me for.

I felt a need to throttle the runaway bride too. I didn’t expect Ryan to call me and inform me. He was still grieving, and he had his hands full raising his two nieces. Julie however, could have given me a courtesy call since I was hired to cater for their damn wedding. Ultimately, there I stood, looking like a complete fool.

My mouth opened and closed several times, but no words emerged. Was I horrible for being relieved that Ryan wasn’t marrying that heartless woman? None of my encounters with her had been pleasant. A mixture of emotions surged through me. Joy, guilt for that joy, and heartbreak because Ryan seemed devastated.

“Oh, Ryan, I’m so sorry.”

I nearly asked what idiot would leave a man like him but held my tongue. But without thinking, I took several steps, covering the distance between us and flung my arms around him, needing to comfort him. Big mistake. His hard, toned body pressed against mine, sent me off kilter. My heart rate went into overdrive; my breathing escalated, and my skin tingled when his arms engulfed me. I pulled away, taking two steps back, sure that my entire face was crimson. Curse my fair skin.

“I... uh...” I stuttered.

Was it just my imagination or had Ryan’s molten gaze dropped to my mouth? He stepped towards me, about to say something when a little girl shouted, “Uncle Ryan, the pancakes smell funny!”

His eyes widened, and I sniffed, the smell of burning permeated the air.

“Damn! The pancakes.”

Ryan took off, leaving me to follow and wonder what just happened. I could have sworn some kind of strange, never before felt chemistry flowed between us, but surely it was all in my head. I was never that lucky.