Project: Runaway Bride

by Heidi Betts

  He’d already opened up to her so much when she hadn’t expected it at all, and he would tell her more when he was ready.

  So she simply waited, letting him work through his thoughts and feelings while they remained close and connected.

  Eventually, his chest trembled as he took in a deep, shaky breath, blowing it out again slowly. Then his eyes locked with hers, so full, dark and sincere that her own lungs hitched slightly.

  “I’m telling you all of this because...when Valerie left, she took the future I thought I was going to have with her. The whole wife, kids, white picket fence, minivan part of the American dream. And without even realizing it, that caused me to stop trusting people.... Women especially. I didn’t want to get hurt again, but more than that, I didn’t want to make plans and get my heart set on something only to have it torn away from me.”

  Releasing one of her hands, he brought his knuckles up to brush the line of her cheek. “That’s why I thought what we had was perfect. Intensely passionate, but casual, and with the knowledge that it was going to end. Maybe not as soon as it did, but eventually. No strings, no commitments, no expectations.”

  He gave a short, humorless laugh. “It didn’t work out that way, though. From the very beginning, I was head over heels for you. I’m not sure I fully realized it at the time, and if you’d asked, I would have denied it to my dying breath. But it was there, so clear it nearly steals my breath to think of it.”

  Juliet’s own breath was turning thick and heavy in her chest, her eyes growing damp.

  Had he just admitted he cared for her? Maybe even...loved her? She was afraid to move, exhale, to so much as blink for fear he would stop talking or, God forbid, change his mind and start to backtrack.

  So she remained perfectly still, waiting and hoping he would say more, her muscles rigid as her nerve endings popped like kernels of corn in a kettle of too-hot oil.

  “Even before you told me about the baby, I wanted to be with you. It took every ounce of self-control I had to sit in my office the day of your wedding and not race to the church to stop it from happening. And the only reason I went into the office at all on a Saturday was because I knew if I stayed home, there’d be no chance of me staying put. If your sisters hadn’t shown up when they did to tell me you’d run off, I honestly don’t know how much longer I’d have lasted, anyway. I was about to chew through my desk, imagining you walking down the aisle into the arms of another man.”

  Despite her determination not to move, she couldn’t hold back a watery chuckle.

  Reid smiled in return. And then he grew serious again. “When I think about Valerie leaving, I’m sorry things didn’t work out. I’m even more sorry that I haven’t been in Theo’s life. But when I think about losing you...”

  He shook his head, the tendons in his throat working as he swallowed hard. Untangling his fingers from hers, he cupped her elbows instead, tugging her just a fraction closer until only the slightest whisper of air could pass between them.

  “It makes me crazy. My chest gets so tight I can barely breathe, and my heart stops beating altogether.”

  Juliet inhaled sharply. The moisture that had been prickling behind her eyes for the past few minutes suddenly spilled over to roll down her cheeks.

  “Baby or no baby,” he continued in a voice rough with emotion, “I’m in love with you, Juliet Zaccaro. I want to marry you, be with you forever, work on that whole home-hearth-and-family American dream I never thought I’d have. That is, if you’ll have me.”

  She was crying in earnest now, giant tears running in rivulets down her face and messing up the makeup she really shouldn’t have worn today. But though she suspected she was on her way to looking like a Halloween reject, she couldn’t have cared less.

  She was staring into the eyes of the man she loved, and he’d just told her he loved her, too.

  “Of course I’ll have you,” she told him.

  Resting her palms flat on his chest, she felt the pounding of his heart beneath the layers of fabric and flesh and muscle, and knew it matched the staccato beat of her own.

  “I love you, Reid. I never could have gotten involved with you when I did, the way I did, if I hadn’t already been headed pretty strongly in that direction. It broke my heart to walk away from you—both times—but I did it because I didn’t think you felt the same about me, and I didn’t want to start down the path of yet another convenient but loveless relationship that was likely to end in disaster.”

  Going up on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed as his slipped around her waist to hug her tight, picking her right up off the ground.

  “Even if I hadn’t found out I was pregnant,” she said quietly against his neck, “I couldn’t have gone through with the wedding. I don’t want to be married to a man I’m not totally and completely in love with, or one who doesn’t feel that way about me. And the only man I’m totally and completely in love with is you.”

  Reid leaned back to meet her gaze, his soft chocolate eyes so warm and inviting that if she was standing on her own two feet, she was pretty sure her knees would have buckled and she’d have melted into a puddle on the floor.

  “I’m glad you’re pregnant,” he told her in return. “It will give me an excuse to rush you down the aisle and make sure you’re wearing my ring on your finger for the rest of your life.”

  “I like that idea,” she said. “Very much.”

  “So do I,” he whispered against her lips before taking her mouth in a long, sultry kiss.

  When they came up for air, she was boneless and very possibly mindless, as well. They were pressed together from chest to knee, and since he was the only thing keeping her upright at the moment, she hoped they stayed that way forever. Especially when having him wrapped around her like cellophane was one of her favorite pastimes.

  “How would you feel about giving me a tour of your bedroom before your family realizes we’re here?” he murmured against her lips. “I’m especially interested in testing out the bed.”

  She chuckled. “I think that could be arranged. But you do realize you’re going to have to sit through dinner with my parents afterward, don’t you? And we’re going to have quite a bit of explaining to do.”

  Quite a bit, she thought with a silent snort. Talk about a big, fat understatement.

  “Whatever it takes to win them over and make you my wife,” he said as she turned and led him by the hand into the bedroom.

  Since he wasn’t actually interested in the room itself, he didn’t bother looking around. They went straight to the bed and stood at its edge, facing one another. She tipped her gaze up to his and he lifted a hand to her cheek, stroking back and forth with the pad of his thumb.

  “Thank you for giving me a second chance,” he whispered, so close she could smell the last remaining hint of his cologne.

  She knew he wasn’t just talking about now; he was talking about the past and the present and the future. A second chance to make right everything that had gone wrong and move forward into the best life either of them could ever have, as long as they were together.

  Running her fingers through the silky hair at his temples, she held him tight and touched her forehead to his. “Thank you for not letting me get away.”

  “Never,” he promised, his hands flexing at her waist. “Finding people is what I do, sweetheart. And I will always find my way back to you.”

  Epilogue

  Juliet stood in front of the cheval glass in her bedroom at her parents’ estate. Unlike the last time she’d worn this dress and been about to walk down the aisle, she was smiling. A wide, beaming smile she couldn’t seem to dim or get under control.

  She never would have imagined that she could look at the fairy-princess bridal gown her sister had designed for her and be filled with anything but bad memories. Yet here she was, dressed head to toe in the very same crepe and tulle, feeling happier than any woman had a right to be.

  As usual, Lily had worked a creative miracl
e. Rather than ditch her original wedding dress or start from scratch to design another, she had deconstructed the gown to such a degree that pretty much the only thing the two versions had in common was the color—snowy, pristine white—and the basic materials.

  She had changed the cap sleeves to narrow straps. Trimmed the skirt so that it no longer belled out but fell straight to the floor, with all of the layers of glorious tulle creating a bustle and train at the back instead. And most important, she’d turned the fitted bodice into more of an Empire waistline to accommodate Juliet’s growing pregnancy.

  She wasn’t showing that much yet, Juliet hoped, but she was nearly three months along, and the telltale bump of her belly did tend to give her away. The magic Lily had worked with the gown, though, meant no one at the ceremony would know unless she told them, and the pregnancy wouldn’t be noticeable later on in photographs.

  Behind her, the door opened. She watched in the mirror as her sisters entered the bedroom from the attached sitting room.

  “Whew,” Lily said in an exaggerated tone, closing the door behind them. “She’s still here.”

  “We thought you might be considering running away again.”

  “Ha-ha,” Juliet replied deadpan, turning from the mirror to face them. “I have no intention of going anywhere until this knot is legally and very officially tied.”

  Lily smiled, moving to the vanity to gather the sprigs of fresh flowers that would be woven into Juliet’s hair. “Glad to hear it. I think having you disappear before another one of your weddings would send Mother completely over the edge. She’s down there ordering random guests to keep an eye on all the exits just in case.”

  Zoe snorted in amusement, but Juliet felt only a pang of guilt at what she’d put her parents through the last time around. And now again, with more wedding plans and the worry that she wouldn’t follow through this time, either.

  She wondered if her groom-to-be might be suffering the same unease.

  “What about Reid?” she asked. “Is he expecting me to make a run for it, too?”

  “I don’t think so,” Lily answered.

  “He’s too busy wearing a path in the study rug and checking his watch every five seconds,” Zoe supplied.

  Juliet’s smile slipped a notch, her brows winging downward with a hint of worry. “Is he all right? He’s not having second thoughts, is he?”

  That would certainly be an ironic turn of events—the runaway bride finally ready to walk down the aisle only to be left at the altar by a runaway groom.

  “I should say not.” This from Lily as she stood at Juliet’s back, arranging the flowers in her upswept hair. “He keeps asking where you are and how much longer until we get this ‘damn show on the road.’”

  Juliet chuckled at her sister’s low-throated impression of Reid’s growing impatience. As strange as it might sound, she took the description of his sour mood as encouragement. Clearly, he was as eager as she was to formalize their commitment to each other.

  Her hand fell to the small rise of her abdomen, rubbing gently. Things were going to be so much different from this point on, but in the very best ways possible.

  Not only were they about to join their lives as husband and wife, but soon they would be welcoming their very own little boy or girl into the world. And rounding out their happily ever after even more, Reid’s son was back in his life.

  At her encouragement, he’d contacted the child’s mother. The woman hadn’t been thrilled at first by his unexpected reappearance, but after a series of phone calls, emails and text messages, she’d agreed to let Reid visit Theo. Since then, they’d managed to work out an amicable visitation schedule without getting lawyers and the court involved, and Valerie had even agreed to let Theo attend the wedding. The ten-year-old was going to be their ring bearer, and was absolutely adorable in his tiny tuxedo.

  Lily patted her shoulders and turned her to once again face the full-length mirror. “There you go. You look amazing.”

  “Even better than last time,” Zoe added from where she was leaning against one of the tall bedposts. She was twisting one foot back and forth on the four-inch heel of her self-designed bridesmaid shoe and idly checking her French tips.

  “Thank you,” Juliet said, used to Zoe’s preoccupied manner.

  “Ready to go?” Lily asked, handing her an artfully arranged bouquet of red and white roses wrapped in lace and interspersed with sparkling crystals that matched the ones on Juliet’s gown.

  “Oh, yes.”

  The smile was back on her face as the three of them left her suite of rooms and walked slowly through the house to the base of the winding stairwell. Lily made her stop and wait for a few minutes while Zoe ran ahead to tell their father the ceremony could start. It was his job to give Reid the go-ahead to take his place with the minister before returning to walk Juliet down the aisle.

  A second later, the music began, played by a ten-piece orchestra set up in the backyard. Her mother—once she’d gotten over Juliet’s first failed wedding attempt and learned she was going to be a grandmother—had gone all out, taking over 100 percent of the wedding preparations as though she was a born event planner. She’d decided on the music and the flowers and the food for the reception, as well as converting the entire rear of the estate into a bridal tableau fit for a queen.

  As stunning as it was, however, and as beautiful as she knew it would look in the pictures, Juliet didn’t particularly care about the backdrop of the ceremony. All she wanted was to become Mrs. Reid McCormack, regardless of the day or time, who was in attendance or how nice their surroundings might be.

  To the lovely instrumental strains of “The Wedding March,” Juliet walked down the white fabric aisle on her father’s arm. Tears of happiness prickled her eyes as she saw Reid waiting for her at the end, standing so straight and tall in his tailored black tuxedo. The lines of his handsome face softened with love as he looked back at her.

  Finally, she was there, accepting a peck on the cheek from her father as he handed her over—physically and symbolically—to her husband-to-be. Reid clasped her fingers, giving them a gentle squeeze as he smiled down at her.

  “You made it,” he said softly, speaking directly to her despite the fact that the minister stood only inches away, waiting to begin, and more than a hundred guests were looking on in anticipation of the exchange of vows. “I didn’t even have to run after you this time.”

  She gave a small shake of her head. “No more running,” she promised. “Not when I’m exactly where I want to be.”

  If possible, his smile widened even more. And then, before the minister could say a word, before he’d gotten even close to pronouncing, “You may now kiss the bride,” Reid pulled her close and did just that.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story, don’t miss a single novel in PROJECT: PASSION, a series from USA TODAY bestselling author Heidi Betts:

  PROJECT: RUNAWAY HEIRESS

  Available now, from Harlequin Desire!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR SON by Catherine Mann.

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Desire story.

  You want to leave behind the everyday! Harlequin Desire stories feature sexy, romantic heroes who have it all: wealth, status, incredible good looks…everything but the right woman. Add some secrets, maybe a scandal, and start turning pages!

  Enjoy six new stories from Harlequin Desire every month!

  Visit Harlequin.com to find your next great read.

  We like you—why not like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  Read our blog for all the latest news on our authors and books: HarlequinBlog.com

  Subscribe to our newsletter for special offers, new releases, and more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  One

  Elliot Starc had faced danger his whole life. First at the hands of his heavy-fisted father. Later as a Formula One ra
ce car driver who used his world travels to feed information to Interpol.

  But he’d never expected to be kidnapped. Especially not in the middle of his best friend’s bachelor party.

  Mad as hell, Elliot struggled back to consciousness, only to realize his wrists were cuffed. Numb. He struggled against the restraints while trying to get his bearings, but his brain was still disoriented. Last he remembered, he’d been in Atlanta, Georgia, at a bachelor party and now he was cuffed and blindfolded, for God’s sake. What the hell? He only knew that he was in the back of a vehicle that smelled of leather and luxury. Noise offered him little to go on. Just the purr of a finely tuned engine. The pop of an opening soda can. A low hum of music so faint it must be on a headset.

  “He’s awake,” a deep voice whispered softly, too softly to be identified.

  “Damn it,” another voice hissed.

  “Hey,” Elliot shouted, except it wasn’t a shout. More of a hoarse croak. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Whatever the hell is going on here, we can talk ransom—”

  A long buzz sounded. Unmistakable. The closing of a privacy window. Then silence. Solitude, no chance of shouting jack to anyone in this...

  A limo, perhaps? Who kidnapped someone using a limousine?

  Once they stopped, he would be ready, though. The second he could see, he wouldn’t even need his hands. He was trained in seven different forms of self-defense. He could use his feet, his shoulders and his body weight.

  He would be damned before he let himself ever be helpless in a fight.

  They’d pulled off an interstate at least twenty minutes ago, driving into the country as best he could tell. He had no way of judging north, south or west. He could be anywhere from Florida to Mississippi to South Carolina, and God knows he had enemies in every part of the world from his work with Interpol and his triumphs over competitors in the racing world.