Bride on the Run--A Clean Romance

by Anna J. Stewart

  She actually shuddered. By breaking up with Richard she’d probably dodged the biggest bore in the world.

  She definitely was not getting married. Nor would she be moving out of the house she’d lived in with Nana for the past ten-plus years. In two weeks, she’d have more options. In two weeks, she’d turn twenty-five and the inheritance her grandmother had left her would officially become hers. But until then...

  Until then, her life was as empty as the nightstand between the two twin beds. She needed a break, needed some time to think things through, and maybe, finally, figure out who she was and what she really wanted.

  Her nose twitched and she sniffed the air. Her stomach rumbled and her blood began to pound. Oh, thank heavens. Actual food. After weeks of starving herself into her wedding dress, her nautical host was cooking something that smelled deliciously caloric. Sienna angled her head, a smile spreading across her lips at the sound of Monty humming on the other side of the door. Just being around him made her feel more at ease. Happier. The nerves he caused were entirely different from the ones she’d struggled with in front of the mirror this morning in the bridal suite.

  That Monty hadn’t balked at finding her on his boat was only part of it. That he wasn’t inclined to reveal her whereabouts to her father and fiancé was another point in his favor. He hadn’t pushed or prodded her for answers; he’d even offered her a bed to ease her exhaustion. Sienna’s smile brightened. He was entirely too good to be true.

  Still...she bit the inside of her cheek, an idea forming out of desperation. She had no life to get back to, at least not one she wanted to get back to. But she wasn’t ready to face her father and Richard. Not yet. Not until she had the security of her inheritance behind her and a plan of action in front of her.

  How ironic she felt most solid on a gently swaying boat that belonged to a stranger.

  She pushed to her feet and walked to the door, getting used to the dull throbbing in her ankle. After the drama of what she’d done this morning, this should be easy.

  Sienna found Monty where she expected to, puttering around the galley, keeping one eye on the juicy hamburgers cooking on the stove. The lights were on in the cabin now; they had to be, considering it was pitch-black outside. She could see the tiniest sliver of moonlight shining through the window over the table.

  “I had a feeling these might wake you up.” Once again, Monty took her appearance in stride. “How’s your ankle?”

  “Better, thanks.” She tucked a disobedient curl behind her ear. “The burgers smell great.”

  “One of my prelaunch traditions. You eat meat, don’t you?”

  “I will tonight.” Heck, she was hungry enough to eat a full cow.

  “Great.”

  She leaned against the table and watched as he stacked lettuce, tomato and other fixings onto a paper plate. He really was handsome, Sienna thought. Even more than she’d realized at first. Maybe it was his kindness affecting her judgment. Or maybe it was the stunning combination of green eyes and fiery hair overwhelming her. Now, in the dim light of the cabin, watching him move so gracefully in the small space, she was definitely appreciating more than his generosity. Gentle hands, a caring touch, an easy smile... Was there anything more appealing in a man?

  She cleared her throat, shifting uncomfortably. Definitely not the track she needed to be on considering what she was about to ask.

  “I take it you slept okay?”

  “Better than I have in ages.” She hugged her arms around her torso, then thought better of it and let her arms drop. “Thank you for the clothes. They’re perfect.”

  “You look the same size as Frankie so it wasn’t hard.” His grin dipped a little. “I ran into Richard and your father while I was buying them.”

  Her stomach clenched again, the way it always did when she wasn’t sure what would happen next. The worst he could say was no. “Speaking of them... I have been doing some thinking.”

  “Second thoughts about canceling the wedding?”

  “Any second thoughts I might have are more to do with how I let myself get talked into the engagement in the first place. Not that I’m ready to discuss that with him. Or my father.”

  Monty flipped the burgers, then after she nodded, poured them each a mug of fresh-brewed coffee. He motioned for her to sit. “You probably don’t want to hear this, but I don’t think either of them is convinced you’ve left the marina.”

  “No?” She swallowed the wonderfully hot coffee and nearly swooned. It was perfection, with the slightest hint of... She sipped again, frowned, and sent him a quizzical look.

  “Cardamom. Just a little.” He drank. “Tones down the bitterness.”

  “It’s lovely. Reminds me of a drink I liked in India.” Despite the scalding temperature, she eagerly sipped again. “You got the sense they’re going to wait me out?”

  “If they don’t do it themselves, I’d bet they get someone to. Your father even threatened to call the sheriff to search my boat.”

  Sienna winced. “He did not...” She could understand her father’s frustration with her, but this was taking things too far. “I’m so sorry. There’s no call for that. I’m a grown woman, after all, and in charge of my life.” All evidence to the contrary. She nearly snorted into her coffee.

  “Yes,” Monty said with a twinkle in his eye. “Yes, you are. It’s no big deal. I told him to go ahead. But don’t worry.” He held up a hand. “The sheriff’s an old family friend. Even if Chris did come on board and search, he wouldn’t give you away if you didn’t want him to.”

  “I feel like a teenager who’s run away from home,” she grumbled. Not that she ever had. By the time she was old enough to think about it, she knew very well her father didn’t care enough to come after her. Which was why this situation with Richard was so perplexing. Why bother with her now after ignoring her for so many years?

  “Yeah, well, since it seems neither of them is going to stop looking for you anytime soon,” Monty said as he got up to pull the burgers off the heat, “maybe you should go ahead and face them now rather than draw it out any longer?”

  “I suppose that’s one option.” She swallowed, gathering her courage. “Or there’s another one.”

  “What’s that?” He opened a bag of chips, popped one in his mouth and sat down. She waited until his mouth was full before she answered.

  “I was thinking I could come with you to Butterfly Harbor.”

  He didn’t choke. Not exactly. But he did push a fisted hand against his mouth as his eyes widened and watered. When he finally swallowed, he practically gasped, “You want to what?”

  “Just hear me out!” She held up both hands and dived into her rehearsed plea. “I know how to sail. I’ve been on boats my whole life. My grandmother taught me so I’d have something in common with my father. Not that that went any... Never mind.” She was babbling. She always babbled when she was panicked. “I cook pretty well, so we wouldn’t starve and you could eat more than peanut butter and hamburgers. I’ve always felt at home on the water, as if it’s where I belong, and maybe that’s what I need now. Just some time away from...everything. While I figure out what to do. I promise, once we get to Butterfly Harbor in a few days, you never have to see me again.” Monty stared at her, and for the first time she couldn’t decipher the expression on his face.

  “On the other hand,” she added, “if you were hoping for solitude, I can keep out of your way. I’ll even lock myself in the forward berth—”

  “I wouldn’t ask you to do that,” Monty said, cutting her off.

  Hope welled and surfaced like an inflatable dinghy. “Is that a yes?”

  “It’s a... I don’t know.” Monty cringed. “This trip’s going to be unpredictable. The boat isn’t in great shape. The engine’s temperamental. I can’t guarantee we’re going to get anywhere at a specific time. Could be up to a week before we get
there.”

  “Lucky for me I have no pending appointments.” A week. Not a lot of time, but it was more than she’d have if he said no.

  It seemed like an eternity before he spoke again, and when he did, her stomach turned over. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Sienna. As much as I’d like to help you, you’d just be delaying the situation you’re in. Take it from me. It’ll just make things worse.”

  “Frankly, they couldn’t get much worse,” she countered. “And no offense, but dealing with my father and my fiancé is my problem. I need time to clear my head. Really clear it. I’ve been in this haze since my grandmother died. It didn’t begin to clear until I looked at myself in the mirror, standing there in that dress, minutes away from marrying a man I barely know because it was what other people wanted.” Because she’d finally done something that had made her father happy. How ironic that pleasing him had made her absolutely miserable. “Running away might seem rash and irresponsible to you, but for me, it feels like I’m breaking free. A little extra time to sort everything out. If it helps,” she added when Monty still didn’t look convinced, “I can pay you.”

  His eyes sparked with irritation an instant before they narrowed. “Not everything comes with a dollar sign. I don’t want your money.”

  “Maybe not want, but I bet you need it.” She motioned to the cabin’s interior, reminded once again that time had a way of standing still in the oddest of places. “I imagine this boat cost you quite a bit. And it’ll take even more to fix it up to become the star of your fleet.” She could see he was surprised that she’d been listening to him earlier. “Seems to me the only thing standing in your path to make an instant profit with Dream is a lack of money.”

  All her life she’d been Winnifred Fairchild’s granddaughter, Vincent Fairchild’s daughter, solitary heiress to a fortune that could set her feet on any path she chose. It never occurred to her not to pay people’s way; to host the parties, arrange the trips. She’d been two years into college before she realized most of those friendships weren’t real. For some, she’d been a walking ATM. The rich girl so desperate for friends and emotional connections she’d literally bought and paid for them.

  Now here she was, doing it again. “Well?”

  “Well what?” His eyes went cold.

  “How much will it cost for you to take me to Butterfly Harbor.”

  “You don’t listen very well, do you?” He stood up, began gathering up his trash. “If you want to come with me, all right. I still believe you’re making the wrong choice by running away, but it’s your mistake to make. I do not, however—and I want you to hear me on this—I do not want your money.”

  She snapped her mouth shut. This didn’t make any sense. Who turned down money for doing something he was going to do anyway? Still, when she thought about continuing the argument, she realized he was standing stone-like, daring her to challenge him.

  “All right.” She nodded. “We won’t talk about payment again.” Until he wanted to. He’d change his mind. Of course, he would. In a few days or a few weeks, he’d see how much he could get done with a large check.

  “I’d still like to get access to my bank account. Enough to help cover my travel expenses. Is that acceptable?”

  “I suppose.” He narrowed his eyes. “Just how expensive are you?”

  “Not very. Just...particular.” She smiled. “Is there somewhere we can stop to get cash? And maybe a new cell phone.” And with a longer stay on his boat she was going to need clothes.

  “There’s a small town only a couple of hours north.” Monty nodded. “We can stop there tomorrow and get supplies.”

  “Great! So we have a deal?” She held out her hand. He seemed to wait an extra beat, then shook it.

  “Yeah.” He curled his fingers around hers. “We have a deal.”

  * * *

  HE’D SEEN IT, Monty thought a few hours later as he tried to sleep. He’d seen surprise and shock on Sienna’s face when he’d passed on her offer. It had been as clear as the Pacific on a summer day. It was as if no one had ever told her no before. Or turned down her financial favors. What kind of life had she led where she thought everyone had a price?

  His business sense was screaming at him. Of course, he could have used the money. The sooner he could get Dream operating, the faster he’d recoup his investment. Practically speaking, he was an idiot for saying no.

  But taking money for helping her out of a tricky situation just felt...skeezy. Not to mention the fact that he could hear his father’s disappointment with him from the afterlife. Bettencourts didn’t help people for profit—they helped because it was the right thing to do. And it seemed that transporting Sienna Fairchild to his hometown was the right thing. It was certainly going to be a complicated thing.

  His suggestion that she talk everything out with her father and fiancé had been an honest, well-intentioned one. Getting everything out in the open when you had issues with people was much less messy than running away or ignoring them. Communication was the way to move forward and start afresh. He hadn’t really expected her to take the advice; it had only been a few hours since she’d introduced herself to him. And the only price he’d have to pay would be sharing this very small boat with one very beautiful and distracting socialite.

  He groaned, rubbed both hands down his face. What had he been thinking saying yes?

  And why did he have the sneaking suspicion he would be the one who ended up regretting it by the time they reached Butterfly Harbor?

  He’d just have to make sure they got there in as short a time as possible. Five days max. Maybe six. He could manage that, right? Although being in close quarters with a raven-haired knockout with a penchant for teasing smiles and heart-lightening laughter was going to be...well, a new kind of challenge, that was for sure. The uncertain “good night” he’d received a short time after their handshake should make keeping his distance easier.

  “That’s probably for the best,” Monty muttered as he shifted in bed. A woman like Sienna Fairchild, who was probably into a million things, and traveled here, there and everywhere, wasn’t for someone like him. He liked his calm, routine life just how it was. Sure, he thought about getting married, settling down and having a couple of kids, especially now that his twin sister was about to. Not to mention most of his friends had done the same. He was fast becoming the spare wheel.

  Sienna Fairchild, however appealing, however entertaining, was not the solution to anything.

  He had absolutely no doubt once she saw Butterfly Harbor and the reality of the very mundane life he and his friends and family lived, she’d quickly realize exactly what she’d given up by leaving Richard at the altar. She’d probably call her ex the second they docked and beg him to take her back.

  Yeah. Monty squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to believe that. That’s exactly what would happen. Just as well to not get involved with her more than he already had.

  He grabbed his phone and looked at the clock. One o’clock. He planned to be out of the marina by six with a clear head, but a lack of sleep was not going to make that happen.

  Monty closed his eyes, willing his mind to slow, for the peaceful sound of the water lapping against the boat to lull him into the darkness.

  A soft thunk overhead had his eyes shooting open. He waited, listening, and wondered if maybe Sienna had left her berth and was clomping around the boat. Except she didn’t clomp. With her injured foot, she barely walked.

  Another clunk, a hiss of pain and a muttered curse that was definitely a male voice had Monty throwing his legs over the side of the bed and pulling on his jeans.

  He shoved his phone into his back pocket, quietly headed to the door and pulled it open. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he found Sienna on the other side, hand raised to knock.

  “What are you doing?” he whispered.

  “I heard a noise.” S
he was still wearing the sweatshirt, only she’d changed into the shorts that proved what he’d already discovered. Sienna Fairchild had fabulous legs. “I thought it was you.”

  “Well, it wasn’t.” He quickly shifted places with her and pushed her inside. “Stay in here and lock the door.”

  “But—”

  “My boat. My rules.” Chances were it was a group of drunk teenagers looking to break some marina rules—at least, he hoped it was that harmless. Regardless, he wasn’t about to let anyone damage Dream. He waited until he heard the click of the lock on his door before he climbed the ladder and pushed open the hatch.

  The cool night air rushed over him as he stepped onto the deck. He stood still, listening, waiting for an indication of where the intruder might be. Sure enough, he heard the stumbling footsteps again. Beneath the glow of the marina’s lamps, he followed the shifting shadow along the aft and approached the dark figure, who was attempting to peer into one of the long narrow windows of the galley.

  It was the blond hair that gave Richard away. That and the pale, almost glow-in-the-dark skin. The idiot hadn’t even bothered to wear a cap. Monty might have laughed if he wasn’t so annoyed. He leaned down and picked up the docking poll, and held the metal staff securely in his hand as he moved in behind a crouching Richard. He tapped him once on the back of the shoulder. “I told you to stay off my boat.”

  Richard let out a sound that reminded Monty of a wounded seal. He stumbled, tripped and, after trying to find his balance, pitched straight over the side of the boat and dropped into the water.

  The splashing and swearing that ensued made Monty wonder if the guy even knew how to swim.

  “Grab hold of the dock, Richard,” Monty called. It had been pure luck Richard hadn’t landed straight on the planks and broken his back. Shaking his head, Monty pulled out his phone and dialed. “Hey, Chris. It’s Monty,” he said when the sheriff answered.