I laughed. "Seriously, Adam. Too much CSI."

He arched a brow at me.

I sighed. "I'll be fine. I don't think he'll rob me. I already told him that I couldn't afford his services. You were the one who paid him. I doubt that he'll violate me in some way. A guy as hot as that could have his pick of any girl, any time, so I don't think he'll even entertain the thought of taking advantage of me. He's not a serial killer of some sort. We haven't heard of serial killings in the last decade in this city or in some nearby states." The last sentences were meant to be a joke. Adam really was being too overprotective.

Adam sighed and shook his head. "I'm not worried about any of that. I'm worried about you falling for him for real."

"I gotta tell you, Adam, it is easy. He's... a wonderful guy. He's smart, funny and charming. But I just met him, and I doubt he'll want to see me again after this."

Adam nodded. "Just be careful, okay? He's probably the best guy to replace Bryan with, but only if he's willing to share a piece of his heart with you."

I laughed. "Now, that's new!" Somehow, I can't believe the same ruthless Adam could say something like that to me. "Who are you and what have you done with my brutal cousin?"

Adam laughed and then he leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "I love you, Ash. Even if sometimes I have a weird way of showing it. I am so happy to see you laughing tonight. You sparkle like a diamond that even the bride herself is feeling like she is no longer the center of attention."

I stared back at Adam. "What? Did she say that?"

Adam shrugged. "Well, I danced with her and she basically asked me why you had to come. I told her that family sticks together. And besides, she sent you an invitation."

"What else did she say?"

"I think she's more irritated with the fact that people here are talking more about you, admiring your courage, and being happy for your newfound love."

"What did she say about Ryder?"

Adam sighed. "She was asking where you met him and how you met him. I said I don't know. She's keeping tabs of you and Ryder in her own wedding. This is a wicked plan, Ash."

I couldn't help laughing. "And it's working."

Adam nodded. "He's already won the hearts of our aunts. You might be up for competition. They already fancy themselves twenty-five years younger and in love with him." My eyes drifted off to where Ryder was, dancing with one of our young nieces. "And some of our nieces fancy themselves fifteen years older and in love with him."

Adam nodded. "I gotta hand it to the guy, when it comes to charming his lady's relatives, he's got a PhD."

I smiled. "Yes, he does. But I hope they won't remember him soon enough."

"Why?"

"Well, his name is Ryder Woodson. Somehow, he was mistaken by our relatives as Ryder Van Woodsen. Apparently, the Van Woodsens are famous in New York."

"Oh. Is that so?"

I nodded. "I mean, it's brilliant! That name tells the tale itself. But Uncle Reynolds already asked him if he could get a reservation into one of the restaurants that the Van Woodsens own. Ryder had to coolly say yes. But what if Uncle Reynolds goes to New York next week? What am I going to do?"

"What did Ryder say?" Adam asked with narrowed eyes.

"He said he knows some crew of some restaurants in New York. He'll be able to pull it off."

"Then maybe he'll be able to." Adam said icily. Somehow, something in his voice told me that he was also worried.

"He should have corrected Uncle Reynolds when he had him confused with someone else!" I groaned silently.

"Yeah. He should have." Adam said disapprovingly. His gaze drifting to where Ryder is now, dancing with Nicole. "He really does know the way to your heart, doesn't he?"

I had to laugh, because I thought it was actually cute of Ryder to dance with my best friend. He and Nicole inched their way towards us.

"Hey, Nic!" I smiled at Nicole. "Great party!"

Nicole laughed. "Thanks to the brilliant wedding planner!"

"Yeah. Wedding of my dreams!" I groaned.

"You're going to top this, sweetie!" Nicole said to me positively. "A few years, maybe months from now, you are going to do a lot better than this!"

Standing there, hearing those words from Nicole, seeing Adam nod in agreement and Ryder smile in encouragement, I felt I found a new hope in me. The hope to rise above it all. To rise and triumph above Bryan and Geena. I know that the time to start pulling my act together is... now. Here, with the three people who stood as my allies.

Chapter Seven.

WEDDING GARTER.

Worn by brides above the knee. Nowadays, wedding garters can come in different materials, and colors.

After dancing with Adam, Nicole and I switched and I was back in Ryder's arms once again.

"Hmmm... I thought you weren't going to dance with any other lady aside from me." I said, faking a cross expression on my face.

He chuckled. "Well, I figured, I needed to score with the women in your life, starting with your Mother. I danced with the rest because I didn't want them to think I was only impressing your Mother. Then I danced with your nieces and the little girls because I thought you'd think that was sweet. I danced with your best friend because I needed her approval too."

"What's the verdict?"

He leaned closer to me and said, "Your soul is sold, love. I'm afraid I am the highest bidder."

I laughed as I stared up at him. He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss on my nose before leaning his head to the side to gently kiss my neck. Then he sighed and pulled me closer towards him. I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Can you just be real?" I whispered.

"You mean... can I just be rich, famous, and all those things I pretended I was?" He whispered in my ear. I couldn't recognize the emotion in his voice. For the first time tonight he seemed uncertain. It was as if he was afraid of my answer.

I shook my head. "No. Not that. I wish you could really be the wonderful, funny guy who only has eyes for me, and would dance with my Mother, my aunts, my nieces and my best friend to gain their approval... for my sake. Not for the sake of the fake rebound story of the year."

It took him a while to say something. I felt his arms tighten around me and his breath blew in my ears, making my knees feel weaker than they already are. "Even if I'm just your bartender, I am that man tonight, Astrid."

I hugged him back and I sighed. "I know, Ryder. I hope you know you're not just a bartender to me. You're my knight in shining armor."

"I'm not pretending, love." He whispered gently. "I told you... I am yours tonight. And you are mine."

I sighed. "Yes. I am yours, Ryder."

And somehow, I found myself fantasizing that it was true. That he would want me to be his.

Not just because I asked him to.

Then I remembered what Adam said. It's easy enough to lose my heart along the way. Especially with a guy like Ryder. He didn't have to be the rich guy he was pretending to be. He's smart and ambitious. And he's sweet, charming and somehow, we... click.

Good thing, I only have this night to be with him. Only this night to have him exist in my life. This night to believe that I am the apple of this wonderful man's eyes... the love of his life!

Ryder pulled away from me slightly. He had a mischievous smile on his face when he leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the lips. I indulged in his kisses. How often would a god like this want to kiss me anyway?

Well, in real life, I actually didn't fancy filthy rich hunks and I never dreamt of dating one. I prefer to keep it real. I always thought a relationship with rich guys would be complicated. I wanted to be the center of my man's world. It's impossible to do that with a man who has the whole world in his hands. But tonight... I am making fantasies come true. Even though it isn't really my own. But it seems to be everybody else's. And it seemed Ryder just stepped out of the pages of a fairy tale. So tonight, I get to have him. He was my knight... regardless of how much money he had in his pocket.

And the more I kiss him, the more convincing we are to the rest of my relatives, and to Bryan and Geena.

We were interrupted by an announcement by the host asking all the single ladies to line up in the dance floor.

I rolled my eyes. "Do I really have to go?" I asked Ryder.

He laughed and gave me a kiss on the lips again. "Of course! You're the fairest of all the single ladies here. You should go."

I watched with a bored expression as Geena giggled and the guests cheered, then she threw her bouquet with such force that it missed the eager bridesmaids behind her and landed directly in front of me.

My initial reaction when I saw the bouquet headed towards me was, I paid for those! I paid for those! Maybe that's what made me catch it.

Geena rolled her eyes when she saw her bouquet in my arms. The crowd cheered. I smiled widely, pretending that I was ecstatic about catching it.

It was the guys' turn to catch the garter. I saw that Ryder was one of them. He winked at me just as Bryan made a toss and I saw him fight his way to catch it. He almost landed on one of the other guys but he triumphantly held the garter in his hand.

I sat on the chair and nervously watched as Ryder took my leg and slipped the garter on. He was told by the host to use his teeth to raise the garter up my knees.

I knew I had a violent blush on me. I could only squeal and cover my mouth with my hands. After all, I had to pretend that this wasn't the first time Ryder's lips were touching my legs.

The crowd cheered, 'Higher!' 'Higher!'

My heart pounded in my ribcage.

Ryder laughed. He held the lace in his mouth this time. His eyes sparkled as he slowly raised the garter higher above my knees.

'Higher!'

'Higher!'

He continued to raise the garter, watching the blush on my face spread to my neck, then further down my chest.

I wanted to tell him to stop but then I looked up and saw the frown on Bryan's face and the irritated look on Geena's. So I looked back at Ryder and laughed instead. He raised the garter higher towards my thigh and stopped regardless of the cheers of the crowd. Then he bent down to kiss my knee gently. He stood up, took my hand and pulled me towards him.