WOLF and the Runaway Heiress.

Chapter 06

RIO

“Ok, spill. Why are you holding back?” Bree dug right into both her food and the interrogation.

“What are you talking about?” I knew, but was hoping not to get into it right now.

But with the expression that Bree gave me, I knew it wasn’t something she was going to let slide.

“Don’t play coy with me, Missy. Why are you holding back with Liam? I thought you loved Liam. Why aren’t you jumping at the chance to get the title of Mrs. Liam Reid? Do you know how many people would be chomping at the bit to marry into the Reid family?”

I agreed with Bree. I knew that there were hundreds, thousands of women willing to throw it all away to marry into a family like the Reids, but I wasn’t like that. I didn’t care about the title or status. I already had that with my mum, and even then, I rarely used it.

My mum was homeless; she started her empire from the literal ground up. That is inspiring and something I intended to do myself.

My mum could have bought me my pastry chef degree. She could have bought me my own business by now, but I didn’t want that, and neither did my mum.

She wanted me to carve my own path, just as she had, and that was exactly what I was doing. I didn’t need the Reid family name; I had the name Ricard attached to me, and it was just as powerful, if not more.

The Reid family was a shark, constantly tearing into weaker families and companies, devouring them whole. My mother made her name by helping others and building hope and futures. I would never drop the Ricard name, and I've already expressed that to Liam.

When we got married, I would not take his name.

I will always be, Rio Lynnette Ricard.

“Bree, you already know where I stand on this. I care about Liam. I really do, but we just became engaged, and I won’t rush into anything. Also, I don’t see the drones of women chasing after Liam, as you often see with his brothers on social media. It’s like no one knows who he is.” I chuckled.

“Are you sure you’re willing to risk someone else coming along and stealing him away? I’m just saying, a guy like Liam isn't someone who waits forever. He knows his value. Is it worth the risk? What's the difference between marrying in a few months versus waiting and marrying in a few years?”

I lowered my fork and locked eyes with Bree.

“You can’t steal what isn’t willing to walk away. If someone comes along and can steal him from me, then he wasn’t as committed as he led me to believe. Right? I won't rush into something to try to keep someone. That isn’t how healthy relationships work, Bree.”

Bree laughs. I watch the lettuce from her salad vibrate in her mouth as she does.

Something was stirring with me, and I couldn’t figure out why or what it was.

“What would you know about healthy relationships, Rio? You’re mum's been single for like, ever, and Liam is your first real serious relationship.” Bree teased.

I dropped my fork and stared hard.

“Just because my mum and I are selective about who we give our time to, doesn't make us stupid or naive. Although now I am wondering, whose friend are you really? Mine or Liam's? I was the one who introduced you into my circle, yet you are pushing rather hard for Liam, Bree.”

She paused, and her eyes softened.

“Rio, I am your friend. Always have been. I’m sorry, I only wanted to see you and Liam get that happy storybook ending. David showed me two pictures of this resort, and it looks magical. I want you to have that dream wedding, and I can picture it happening there. I didn’t mean to upset you. I am really sorry.”

Bree’s mournful words chipped away at my upset, and I offered her a smile.

“It’s okay. I get it, and you're right. The resort that Liam picked out is incredible, but it’s also not for me. I always pictured something more rustic and outdoors.”

Bree snorted. “Babe, it's a resort; the outdoors surrounds it.”

“No, it's polished and screams pretentious. I wanted log cabins and a lake nearby. Heck, I might not even wear shoes. Just walk barefoot along to the forest bed and say our personal vows underneath a hundred-year-old trees, the sounds of woodland creatures in the background. You know, something more me.”

Again, Bree laughed. “It sounds like a scene out of snow white. You’ve got the handsome prince charming, but maybe settle for something with fewer bugs, babe.” Bree teased and finished her chicken Caesar salad.

“Regardless, I won’t cancel my plans with my mum. I am actually looking forward to this trip to Alberta. I’ve conducted extensive research on places like Jasper and Banff. I really want to hike through Elk Island, and I wonder if we’ll see bears and mountain lions. Apparently, there are goats just chilling up the sides of these mountains. How the f***k does a goat jump up each of these cliff ledges on a mountain? It’s crazy. I’m excited.”

Bree rolled her eyes. “You and your outdoor fetish.” She wipes her face, looks around, and leans in. “Tell me, is the se.x better outside also?”

I smirk. “Everything's better outside, Bree. You should try it sometime.”

We both broke out into loud laughter; the other patrons gave us the side eye, but neither Bree nor I cared what they thought. I was enjoying my time with my bestie.

“Alright, enough about me. Tell me all about Mister Secret-Dream Hunk!” I turned the tables back onto Bree.

She’d been dating this dream guy for months now, but I have yet to meet him. Part of me wondered if it was David. They were always together, and I caught them having secret conversations a few times.

I see that there is something there between them, but neither has been willing to admit it yet.

Bree’s face instantly flushed beet red.

“Stop,” She gushed. “We are taking things slow, and I don’t want to jinx it yet. I want to see where we are going before I introduce you to him.”

“So, there aren't titles yet, but is there—you know,” I wiggle my brows, and Bree gasps in embarrassment, tossing her napkin across the table at me.

“Rio.” She whines as I watch her ears darken along with her cheeks.

“Is it that good?” I continued to tease, bursting into laughter when Bree dropped her face into her hands, a look of embarrassment on her face.

“Yes,” She murmurs. She’s hiding her face, but I see her big smile behind her hands.

“Aha, so, I don’t need to meet him yet, but tell me, what’s he like?”

Brees' head snaps up instantly. “In bed?” Her mouth drops open.

I held my belly as I laughed at her response. “No, silly, as a person. Do you see a future with him? Tell me about him.”

“Oh.” Bree chuckles awkwardly. “He’s the best. He spoils me all the time. We do dinners together, and we’ve gone on at least half a dozen trips together already. It feels like a dream.” Bree gushes, her eyes looking faraway, as if she were trapped in her memories of it all.

“Wow, you’ve been on trips already? I didn’t know that. I always thought you were busy with family or work.” I asked calmly, but it did bother me that Bree never mentioned any of these trips to me. Not because I was jealous, but because I shared everything with her, but there didn’t seem to be the same respect in return.

Brees' eyes widened. “Oh, I don’t want you to be upset. I didn’t want to jinx anything. We’re taking things slow and haven’t told anyone yet,” she explains.

But my thoughts ran wild, as they often did. How could you jinx anything by being honest with her best friend? What was I going to do if she'd told me, rush to the airport and see them off, bunny slippers and curlers in my hair?

Something wasn’t adding up, and now more than ever, I was suspecting Bree and David were sneaking around. David has been going on a few trips over the last few months. Did they go together?