Read a special excerpt of One Way Back to Me! - Carrie Ann Ryan
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Carrie Ann Ryan Carrie Ann Ryan

Read a special excerpt of One Way Back to Me!

April 17, 2022

One Way Back to Me (The Wilder Brothers Book 1) releases in a few short hours! And to celebrate Alexis and Eli’s romance, I’m sharing a special excerpt! Are you excited??

The wrought iron gates that proclaimed the Wilder Retreat looked new, and signs directed people to the welcome area, the villa, the wedding venue, and the winery. I wanted to visit all of it, but first, I needed to go to the main house and meet with this Eli Wilder.

I needed this job. No matter what happened next, I needed this job. And I needed Eli Wilder to hire me and for things to make sense.

I did not want to move. I did not want to start over once again. Even though I was starting over now, it wasn’t by choice.

And this place already called to me. As I pulled into the front area I gasped, my hands tightening around the steering wheel. The place was beautiful.

There were two large buildings in the center, with paths to other small buildings around, but the majesty of what lay before me left me breathless.

According to their website, there was the main villa to the left, where I knew most of the rooms had to be, but attached to it with an open walkway was the welcome center, which also had a circular driveway to get to the winery.

Everything looked based on European architecture, but not German as was typical around this area. It looked as if someone had taken their favorite parts of certain architecture and pieced them together, and I knew it had to do with the original owners and not the Wilders, but I loved what the Wilders had now.

I stepped out of the car, grateful that the ground was paved and not gravel, since I was wearing my tall heels that made my legs look great and gave me the confidence I needed today.

The buildings in front of me were a white stone and stucco, gorgeous and well kept. There were trees all around, but in the center in front of the parking area, and off to the side just slightly, were these square stone pavers that looked to be an art piece, and I knew would be gorgeous for bride photos or any party images. It was as if someone had wanted their own mosaic, but with a Texas twist, and I couldn’t help but smile. Off to the side of that was a large open-sided farmhouse that was for events, and weddings could be performed in there, as well as the open archways in front of it. Everything looked relaxed, slightly Texan, slightly refined, and elegant.

People were milling about, looking happy, going about their day. I saw gardeners and maids and other staff members moving, everyone smiling and getting along.

The only thing this place needed was a wedding planner.

And, hopefully, that could be me.

What was good about this position was that it also came with room and board. Considering I was currently sleeping on a friend’s couch—a friend that needed me out since her husband was coming back stateside after being deployed for eight months—I needed this to happen.

I couldn’t believe I had been so stupid with Clint that I had lost everything. But no longer. This would be all mine.

I grabbed my bag, rolled my shoulders back, and made my way inside the beautiful building. Everything inside shone brightly, with white stone and polished wood. It was slightly masculine, with feminine touches of floral arrangements and delicate decorations. It was a beautiful dichotomy, and I loved it.

I moved forward and nearly tripped over my feet, a familiar face I hadn’t expected, but I should have, because I remembered that dance. I remembered Roy’s smile as he had explained to me who I had danced with and why the other man had been at that wedding. The wedding that had changed everything. The wedding that had broken me before I had even realized it.

I knew this man.

We had only exchanged first names before, but I should have put it together.

The man I had danced with and had felt that spark of connection with—that I had dutifully ignored—had been Eli Wilder.

The man I needed to be my boss.

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