Bride on the Run--A Clean Romance

by Anna J. Stewart

“Oh.” Sienna blinked, her eyebrows knitting. “That must have been difficult for him. Nineteen and a single father?”

  “He made it work. We all did. Me and Frankie, we helped as much as we could. And he had his parents until they moved away. The town really came together to lend a hand. She’s a community kid and one of the best people I know.”

  “All the same, I couldn’t imagine having a baby at nineteen.” Who was she kidding? She couldn’t imagine having a baby now.

  Monty shrugged. “Sebastian was a natural with her from the moment she was born. He made her the center of his world. The kind of dad every kid deserves to have, you know?” He winced. “Sorry. I guess maybe you don’t.”

  No. She didn’t. But she was getting better at accepting that. “What happened with Mandy’s mother?”

  “Brooke? She came back to town unexpectedly earlier this year to, well, make amends really. She and Sebastian got married on Mandy’s birthday last month.”

  What was it about this Butterfly Harbor place that they had so many weddings? “Happily-ever-after after all, huh?”

  “It’s been great, so, yeah, I don’t want Mandy’s heart broken, Sienna.” He gripped the edge of the counter and bowed his head. “And, Kyle, he’s had a really rough life until recently. But the last few years, he’s turned things around. He doesn’t deserve this. And then there are his parents, Lori and Matt.” He scrubbed his hands down his face. “I can’t even imagine what they must be going through.”

  “Then don’t try.” She turned him toward her, caught his face in her hands. “If you need to get back, we can get you on a plane. You can leave the boat here, with me. I’ll watch over Dream while you get home to your family.”

  “I couldn’t ask you to do that.” But she could feel the tension leaving his body as she kept her confident gaze pinned to his.

  “You aren’t asking,” she said softly. “What do you want to do?” Don’t go. Please don’t go. But she’d understand if he did.

  “I—”

  His cell phone buzzed in Sienna’s pocket. She released him and handed the cell to him. “It’s Frankie.” His voice was barely a whisper when he answered. “Yeah. How’s Kyle? How’s Mandy doing?”

  Sienna held her breath, praying for good news, but bracing herself for bad. She was about to serve their breakfast, but stopped when Monty caught hold of her shoulder, slid his hand down and threaded his fingers through hers.

  Cold food didn’t bother her; staying where she was needed, if only for a few minutes, mattered. She could hear the female voice on the other end of the call, but couldn’t really make out anything she was saying. Judging by Monty’s expression, good news had won out.

  “How long will he be—?” Monty nodded. “Of course. Tell Mandy not to worry about work. I can get someone to cover for whatever time she needs.” His smile returned, not quite as bright as she would have liked, but it was there, and her own heart started beating again. “What about Matt and Lori? They need anything...yes, I know I’m not in a position to...Frankie...” Monty rolled his eyes and mouthed “sisters” at Sienna. “I can get on a plane if you need me to.”

  “You will not!”

  Now that screech Sienna heard. She bit her lip to stop the laugh from emerging. Monty held the phone out a good six inches from his ear. “Okay,” he said finally, when Frankie stopped yelling at him. “Okay, Frankie. I got it. Just one more...” He paused to listen some more. “Uh-huh. Wait...what? Frankie, stop for a sec. What happened at the site?”

  Sienna watched his relief give way to anger, frustration and, finally, resignation. “Definitely not great news. Who’s going to—? Oh. Okay. No. Don’t worry. I’m not stepping into that hornet’s nest. I’ll just keep going as I am, but call me if there’s anything you need me to do. Okay. I’ll check in with you later... Uh-huh. Yeah. Give Mandy a hug for me. Lori, too. She’s probably frantic about Kyle... Love you, too. Bye.”

  “Kyle’s okay?” Sienna asked when he hung up and let out a long, controlled breath.

  “By some miracle.” He set down his phone.

  “What happened?”

  “From what Frankie found out, the cement holding the main pylons didn’t set properly. Can cement set improperly? Anyway, the whole structure started to crumble. Jed Bishop, the construction foreman, and two other workers were inside when it started to go. Kyle ran in to try to get them out and got caught in the collapse himself.”

  “How bad were they hurt?”

  “Jed’s got a broken arm, scrapes and bruises. The other two workers are in about the same shape. Kyle got the brunt of it. Concussion, broken ribs and a busted leg. That’s why surgery took so long. They had to put in a steel rod. Poor guy’s looking at a good few months of recovery and rehab.”

  “I’m so sorry. But at least he’s going to be all right.” Sienna rubbed her hand down his back.

  “That’s definitely the good news. Not so sure about the future of the sanctuary. They’ve had to call in state investigators. Construction’s been halted. Frankie suspects the project will have to be started over again, which is going to put it off schedule. Then there’s the question of who’s to blame. If it’s a substandard-material situation or faulty construction or...” He shook his head. “That project’s been the mayor’s claim to fame for the past couple of years. Gil’s going to have one heck of a time climbing out of the rubble of this if he’s involved somehow, especially with the election looming in November. It’s going to be such a mess.”

  “A mess you can’t do anything about right now. Kyle’s okay. So’s Mandy.” He wasn’t leaving the boat. Sienna breathed her own sigh of relief, then wondered when she’d become so used to him, so attached. It was something she’d have to think about later. For now, she’d make things easier for him here. “You can’t ask for more than that right now. So maybe stop fretting. Have some breakfast. You’ll feel better.”

  * * *

  SIENNA WAS RIGHT. Monty did feel better. Hearing from Frankie had definitely helped, as had the bacon, along with half a pot of coffee. The engine was running smooth, last night’s storm had passed, leaving only a pristine sky in its wake, and there was a beautiful woman flitting around his boat taking pictures of every creature, in the air or the sea, that made an appearance.

  He could literally feel the worry lifting off his shoulders. Dream continued to pull them into the late afternoon with nary a hiccup. From his seat in the wheelhouse, he kept his attention divided between the open water and Sienna as she moved around the boat looking for new pictures to send to Charlie and Simon.

  Occasionally she’d wave up to him and point at the water, and he’d ease back on the throttle, smiling as she gave him a thumbs-up that all but erased the uncertainty and doubt from his face. Had it really only been a couple days since he’d found her tucked into his closet? He rubbed a hand against his chest.

  Funny. He was having a difficult time remembering what it was like being out on the water by himself. She was entertaining. And distracting. In all the right ways. He’d always thought of himself as an easygoing guy, but around Sienna, the real world really did seem to melt away.

  Not a good mindset, he reminded himself, for the long term. The more time he spent around her, the harder it was to keep his distance. It had been a long time since he’d wanted to kiss a woman as badly as he wanted to kiss Sienna.

  The idea wasn’t only keeping him awake at night, but he was also having to fight off the desire during the day. Like now, for instance, as she darted to the other side of the boat, the sound of her laughter ringing in his ears as she played hide-and-seek with what he could only assume was one of their dolphin escorts.

  He could try to believe that all he wanted was for the real world not to interfere, but it would.

  Reality was exactly what was waiting for them once they docked.

  He reached for his cold coffee, checked his gauges. I
t looked like it was clear sailing ahead, straight through to Butterfly Harbor.

  And that, Monty tried to convince himself, was most definitely good news.

  * * *

  SIENNA LEFT THE bow of the ship and went to her favorite spot below the wheelhouse. Sitting down, she scanned through the photos she’d been taking, deleting and tweaking them so Monty could send a new batch to his proxy passengers. It was a small task, but big enough to keep her from focusing on what she’d be dealing with once they docked in Butterfly Harbor.

  “Squawk! Guaca-mooleeee!”

  Sienna yelped and shot up in her seat. The phone toppled out of her hand and clanged onto the deck.

  She swung her legs down and, shielding her eyes, searched the boat. There, on the wheelhouse railing, was Duchess, perched in all her festooned, parroted glory.

  “Duchess! What are you doing here?” Sienna stood up, wondering if she’d gone half-crazy by asking a bird a question.

  “Squawk. Give us a kiss.”

  Sienna snort-laughed, covering her mouth as Monty emerged from below deck, wiping his hands on a rag.

  “What’s going on?”

  Sienna couldn’t do anything but point.

  “Oh, for the love of Pete.” Monty planted his hands on his waist and glared up at the bird. “I’ve only got room for one stowaway this trip, you silly bird. Shoo, Duchess.”

  “Shoes, glorious shoes!” Duchess sang in that high-pitched falsetto, then tilted her head almost upside down. “Work it. Work it. Squawk. Give us a kiss.”

  “I don’t think so.” Monty turned grumpy eyes on Sienna. “You’re not helping at all, you know.”

  “I know.” Sienna couldn’t stop laughing. “Come on, Monty. This is too funny. You’re beginning to attract stowaways now. Duchess, come here.” Sienna put up her hand. “You need to come down.”

  Instead of complying, Duchess stretched out her wings, flapping them a good three times before settling where she was. “Kiss, kiss, kiss.” She made smooching sounds, then turned her back to both of them.

  “I’m not set up for birds,” Monty grumbled.

  “I don’t think she cares. She came on her own. I wonder how she found us?”

  “A trail of bread crumbs, perhaps?”

  “Don’t be such a grump. You’ve got a mascot now. Maybe she’ll come with us all the way to Butterfly Harbor.”

  “If she does I’m giving her to Frankie as a wedding gift.”

  “I’ll see if I can get her to leave,” Sienna said, starting for the ladder. “You have to admit, she’s pretty cute up there. Take a picture. At least one. It would make for great advertising. ‘All creatures welcome at Wind Walkers Tours.’ Go on. Go get your phone.”

  She kept her distance from Duchess while Monty did as she suggested. Personally, she was thrilled to have another living being around. Hanging out in close quarters with Monty Bettencourt was proving more difficult than she’d anticipated. Especially after that almost-kiss yesterday in the internet café. Not that he’d given any indication of wanting to repeat the scenario. If anything, he seemed a bit more standoffish. Was he not attracted to her or was he giving her space because he thought she was still hung up on Richard?

  Richard. Ugh.

  “Richard, ugh,” Duchess repeated.

  “Oh, no.” Sienna flapped her hands wildly at the bird. She’d said that out loud? “No, no, don’t repeat that, Duchess. I shouldn’t have—”

  “Richard, oh, no.”

  “No, Duchess. Richard bad. Very, very bad.”

  “Bad. Bad, bad, baaaaaaad!” It was like the parrot was writing her own opera.

  “Do they make muzzles for birds?” Sienna muttered to herself. She peered down and saw Monty standing there with his cell phone, snapping pictures. She stayed out of view as Duchess turned in slow circles, preening and showing off as if she knew exactly what was going on.

  “You want something to eat? I bet you’re hungry, aren’t you, Duchess?”

  “Guaca-moleee!”

  “Sorry, no can do. How about some strawberries?”

  “Yum. Duchess Queen. Berries, berries.” Duchess bent down and clanked her beak against the railing.

  “Don’t go pecking at his boat. It’s got enough problems already,” Sienna warned as she headed back down. “Or he really will kick you off.”

  Duchess let out what sounded oddly like a raspberry. All that was missing were crossed eyes and a tongue sticking out.

  “Do you think she’s normal for a bird?” Monty asked when Sienna had two feet on the deck.

  “You are asking the wrong person. But maybe our best bet is to ignore her. If she gets bored, she’ll leave.”

  “One can only hope. What are you doing?”

  “Getting her something to eat.”

  “Isn’t that counterproductive to us getting her to leave? She’s a wild animal. She can find food.”

  “What kind of hosts would we be if we let a guest starve?” She dug out one of the containers of strawberries from the back of the small fridge. “By the way, when you start working on this remodel, please install good appliances. This boat really could be amazing if it’s outfitted right.”

  “Gee, if only I’d thought of that before I’d bought her,” Monty said. “Don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of ideas for what to do with her.”

  Why that statement made her blush, she didn’t know. “Just an observation,” she said. “I thought hearing the good news about Kyle would have made you less grumpy.”

  “I’m not grumpy,” Monty countered as he shut the electrical closet door with more force than was necessary. “I’m frustrated.”

  “Obviously,” she said, and rinsed off a couple of berries before she sliced them. “You’re the one who’s worried about burning out the engine.”

  “That’s not what I’m frustrated about.”

  “Then what’s the—oh!” She blinked up at him. All rational thought evaporated like steam when she caught the sweet, humble look in his eyes. “Monty?”

  “Sienna?”

  She searched for an answer. Her life had taken so many turns lately, so many unexpected detours, what was one more? Besides, it was an answer she wanted, wasn’t it? She wanted to know—needed to know—if what she was feeling for Monty was real or if it was merely a reaction to his kindness for helping her to escape.

  “I don’t not want you to do this, or...yes.” She slipped her fingers over his broad chest and felt her breath hitch in her own.

  “Double negatives always fascinate me,” he murmured and dipped his head.

  She let out a sound—a gasp? A moan? She couldn’t be sure until he stopped a breath away from the kiss he promised. His smile widened, those tiny crinkles in the corners of his eyes appearing as he slid one of his hands around her waist. He pulled her close.

  His mouth brushed hers; a touch so light she wondered if she’d imagined it. In that moment, every cell in her body surged to life. The feel of his warm skin beneath her fingertips left her longing for more as his lips drank her in.

  Until now, kisses like this had been relegated to the books she read, the movies she watched. The kind of kiss that ignited a woman’s blood and had her craving more from the man in her arms. His mouth was as perfect on hers as it was when he spoke to her; filled with humor and laughter and quiet intensity that demanded a response. There wasn’t a part of her that wasn’t filled with thoughts of Monty Bettencourt.

  “Squawk! Nice flat back!”

  Sienna pulled back before the laugh erupted. Her shoulders trembled as she struggled to hold it in, but it wasn’t any use. She could sense the frustration in Monty, and even as she wanted to spring it loose, she wasn’t sure the entertainment wasn’t more satisfying.

  “Go away, bird,” Monty growled.

  “Kiss, kiss, kiss.” Duchess flapped into
the cabin, her talons clicking on the table as she perched and twisted her head one way and then the other. “Berries for pretty girl.” She clicked her beak.

  Sienna swore she saw the bird grin.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “SQUAWK. LAND HO. Reach for the sky!”

  A flap of feathers and the now-familiar sound of sharp talons clacking onto the railing beside him announced Duchess’s arrival in the wheelhouse. They’d spent most of the day on the water, making steady progress toward home.

  “What’s up, bird?”

  Duchess belted a familiar tune about blue skies shining.

  The perfectly pitched melody had Monty’s lips twitching. It hadn’t taken long for the bird to grow on him. Despite Monty’s pleas to fly away, the parrot had yet to find other suitable accommodations and appeared to be sticking with them for the foreseeable future.

  So there Monty sat in the captain’s chair, arm draped over the steering wheel, with a fitness-obsessed bird as his copilot. Duchess pranced, searching for her spot. Monty counted his blessings she didn’t perch on the steering wheel.

  “Okay to come up?”

  Monty glanced over his shoulder. Sienna was halfway up the ladder. She had her hair loose today, those long waves catching against the wind.

  His resolve to keep his distance after that kiss they’d shared in the galley wavered. “Sure.”

  “I brought you coffee.” She waggled the travel mug in one hand as she climbed up. “A peace offering.”

  “A what?” He accepted the metal container eagerly and shifted his empty mug out of the way.

  “A peace offering. Things have been weird between us ever since...” Now she cringed as she stepped up behind Duchess and stroked the bird’s back. “You know. Ever since we k-i-s-s-e-d.”

  Duchess squawked and did a little dance on the railing. “Ten more reps, baby!”

  “Careful. I bet she can spell, too,” Monty warned a pink-cheeked Sienna.

  “Wouldn’t surprise me. She’s a clever bird.”

  “Clever bird. Very clever bird,” Duchess agreed with a violent bob of her head.