The Rancher and the Runaway Bride

by Susan Mallery

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Brady said grimly. It was Rita’s—make that Randi’s—fault.

  He felt like a fool, or worse. When he thought about how he’d told her everything about Alicia. Jeez, she must have had a hell of a laugh at his expense, thinking she and his ex-fiancée had a lot in common. Did she get a kick out of destroying men’s lives? Was his next?

  Fury rose in him, fueled by embarrassment and the loss of expectation. He’d had plans for them. Dreams. He’d thought when things settled down for her maybe they could—He rose to his feet and tossed a couple of bills on the table. “Sorry, Travis, but I’m not good company right now. Can we do this another time?”

  Travis nodded grimly. “I didn’t mean to mess things up,” he said.

  “You didn’t. You made things more clear for me. Thanks, buddy. I’ll be in touch.”

  Brady left the bar and drove back to the hotel. Thoughts tumbled through his mind. He tried to figure out what he was going to say to her, but he couldn’t focus on anything but his rage. No wonder she hadn’t wanted to tell him her secrets. There was no way for her to come off as anything but a lying, cheating bitch.

  He crossed the parking lot and walked quickly to the four-story building. Their rooms were on the first floor, in the back. Rooms, he thought with a grimace. He’d given her a room of her own. Ever the gentleman. Ever the sucker.

  When he reached her door, he raised his hand, made a fist and pounded loud enough to wake the dead. There would be no excuses this time. No matter what, he was going to get the truth out of her.

  * * *

  The loud pounding brought Randi off the bed like a shot. She dropped the book she’d been trying to read. “Who is it?” she called.

  “Brady.”

  “Oh, you’re back earlier than I thought.”

  She rushed to the door and unlocked it. Before she could turn the handle, Brady did it for her and pushed into the room.

  “How was your drink?” she asked.

  He slammed the door shut and stared at her. Instinctively, she backed up a step. The anger on his face made her nervous, but what really got her heart rate up was the pain and disappointment lurking in his eyes.

  “Brady?”

  “That’s me. Brady Jones. It’s been my name my whole life. But you can’t say that, can you? Randi.”

  She pressed a hand to her throat. Dear God. “You know.” It wasn’t a question.

  He nodded, then walked to the window. “Yup. Me and Travis had quite a little chat. Turns out you’re something of a celebrity back home. That would be Grand Springs, right? Seems the whole town is talking about the runaway bride. After all, it’s not every day a young woman runs off and leaves her intended standing at the altar. But it does happen. I’ve had some personal experience with that. But then, you’re already familiar with my story, aren’t you.”

  She retreated to the bed and sank down onto the mattress. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, covering her face with her hands. “I was always afraid it would come to this. I never meant—” She paused, not sure what to say. It was so hard to think. Her entire body ached with pain and cold. She’d seen the look in his eyes. He loathed her. The worst of it was, she couldn’t blame him.

  “You never meant to what? Lie? But you did. You lied from the moment you showed up at the ranch. Leaving out facts about your past is the same as lying. Did you have a good laugh when I told you about Alicia? Did you think I was a fool, just like your fiancé? What was his name?”

  “Hal,” she said automatically. “And no, I never thought you were a fool. Alicia is the stupid one. She should never have left you.”

  “How kind of you. I wonder if Hal has someone offering him comfort right now.”

  “He doesn’t need comforting,” she said. “He never really cared about me.”

  “That’s a convenient way to justify your actions. Unfortunately, there’s no way to prove it’s true. His actions suggest otherwise. After all, he was willing to marry you.”

  His tone indicated Brady wasn’t sure why any man would want to have anything to do with her. She fought tears, knowing that giving into them would only leave her more vulnerable. She had to pull herself together, to find a way to convince Brady that she—She bit her lower lip. Convince him of what? Her crime was there for everyone to see. She’d done exactly what he accused her of—she’d run out on her wedding, exactly the way Alicia had run out on him. At least she hadn’t been running off to be with another man, but she doubted he would consider that much in her favor.

  “It’s not what you think,” she said dully, and straightened. He still stood at the large window. The sliding glass door was open to let in the afternoon breeze. He placed one hand against the screen.

  “Why don’t you tell me what it was like?” he asked.

  The silky smoothness of his voice didn’t deceive her. She knew he was still furious, yet maybe he was willing to listen. Did that mean he would give her a chance, or was he going to try to trip her up? Either way, she had to risk it. She couldn’t let him walk away hating her.

  “Everything I told you about my past is true,” she began. “My mother is very interested in the Grand Springs social scene. I’ve always been a disappointment to her.”

  “Gee, I know what that feels like,” he said.

  She winced, then continued. “I never had serious boyfriends. There were a couple of guys in high school, but nothing I wanted to pursue, and a relationship or two at college. When I came home after graduation, my mother started inviting Hal over. I knew what she was doing, and I even knew why. Hal has a political future. If her daughter was related to the mayor, or the wife of a future state legislator, my mother’s social position would be guaranteed.”

  “None of which excuses what you did.”

  “I know.” She pulled one leg to her chest and rested her forehead against her knee, then closed her eyes. It was easier to confess her weakness in the dark. “I just sort of went along for the ride. I suppose I kept thinking something would happen to stop things, or that I would find out I really liked Hal. But it didn’t stop. We were dating, then engaged, and one day I woke up and we were getting married.”

  She sucked in a breath. “I never loved him. I didn’t know what love was.” Until now. Until a strong, noble man had entered her life. But she didn’t say that. Brady wouldn’t believe her. Besides, it was a cheap trick and she was determined not to resort to that.

  “There I was, alone in the bride’s room, listening to the music. As I stared at myself in the mirror, I knew I couldn’t do it.”

  “So you ran.”

  “Yes. Yes, I ran and it was wrong. I was young and stupid and I’ve grown up.” She raised her head and stared at his stiff back. “I made a mistake. A huge one. I was afraid that if I tried to get out of it my mother would convince me to go through with the ceremony.”

  He turned to face her. The fury remained, as did the contempt. Her heart sank.

  “That’s it?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I’ve changed, Brady. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m not that young woman anymore. I’m responsible. Look at the job I’m doing for you. You don’t have any complaints, you’ve said so yourself. Please try to understand.”

  His gaze narrowed. “If you’re so grown up, why didn’t you go back?”

  It was the one question she couldn’t answer. What was there to say? The truth?

  “Forget it,” she said. “There’s no point.”

  “Yes, there is. Rita—” He grimaced. “Randi, why didn’t you go back?”

  “I couldn’t.” She lowered her foot to the floor and stood up. “All right, if you want to know the reason, I’ll tell you. You’re not going to believe me, but it’s the truth. I swear it is.” She drew in a breath and squared her shoulders.

  “When I was running out of the Squaw Creek Lodge, where we were holding the ceremony, I heard some people talking in the corridor. I didn’t want them to see me so I
ducked into one of the meeting rooms. I was on my way back out when I realized I wasn’t alone. There were a couple of men in the room. When they realized I’d interrupted them, they pulled guns on me. They were going to kill me. I haven’t gone back because I don’t know what to do about those men. I don’t know who they are or what they want with me.”

  She felt the tears forming. As Brady’s expression hardened into disbelief, the first one trickled onto her cheek. She brushed it away impatiently.

  “I knew it,” she said softly. “You don’t believe me. Do you really think I would make up something that stupid?”

  Before he could answer, someone knocked on the door. “Who is it?” he called impatiently.

  “Room service.”

  He glanced at her. She shook her head. “I didn’t order anything.”

  “You have the wrong room,” Brady said loudly.

  “It’s this room. An order for Randi Howell, in 104. That’s you, right miss?”

  Randi felt as if she were in a plane and they’d suddenly descended ten thousand feet. Her ears absorbed the sentences, but as if through a thick cloud of pressure. The world reduced itself to two words. Randi Howell.

  “How do they know my name?” she asked, too stunned to do anything but stare at Brady.

  His eyebrows drew together. “They shouldn’t. The room is registered under my name. They shouldn’t even know about Rita Howard.”

  There was another knock. “Miss, your order.”

  “Come on!”

  Brady grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the sliding glass door. Before she’d caught her breath, he’d tugged her outside and onto the small patio. A low, thigh-high block wall separated the small space from the parking lot.

  “Climb,” he ordered. Seconds later, the front door slammed open.

  Randi swung one leg over the wall and glanced back. Her eyes widened. “They’re not the same men,” she said, unable to believe what she saw. But the guns they were holding looked identical…and just as deadly.

  “Get down!” Brady roared, pulling her off the wall and onto the ground as a loud popping explosion filled the air.

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Randi hit the ground, Brady threw himself on top of her. The echo of the gunshot faded.

  “You get her?” one of the men asked.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Brady glanced around frantically. They were in a two-foot-wide planter that was more parched earth than plants. From there, asphalt stretched out to form the parking lot.

  “Let’s go,” he whispered urgently.

  Randi nodded, scrambling up as soon as he did. Brady grabbed her hand and pulled her to the left, following the line of the patios instead of making a break for the parked cars. He thought they would have more cover here. Besides, his truck was in this direction. If they could make it past two more rooms, they could duck behind the large rented moving van up ahead, then plan a strategy for getting to safety.

  Behind them, the men spilled out onto the small patio. “Where the hell are they? Check those cars out there. They can’t have gotten—There!”

  Brady didn’t waste time glancing back. “Duck!” he yelled, and jerked Randi hard to the right.

  She hunched down and half stumbled after him. The rental truck was only a few feet away. Pulling her along with him, he sprinted for cover. Something slammed into the ground at their feet. Randi screamed.

  “Aim higher. Don’t worry about hitting the guy. We can figure out how to deal with that later.”

  Brady sucked in a breath and dove for the truck. As they rounded the corner, he felt the whiz of a bullet by his left ear.

  “Too close,” he said as they paused for a second. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

  Randi nodded. Color drained from her face. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. We’re going to head for my truck. It’s over there.” He pointed to the black pickup.

  She nodded. “Okay,” she managed to say between pants.

  “Keep low. We’ll weave between cars. Don’t waste time looking back.”

  He took off at a run. Randi kept up, her footsteps blending with his. He could hear the men behind them, the rapid pounding on the asphalt. Then there were other sounds. People screaming there were men with guns in the parking lot. Shouts to call the police.

  He looked up and saw his truck. Digging in his pocket, he found his keys. When they reached the vehicle, he unlocked the driver’s door, then pushed Randi in first.

  “Keep down,” he commanded.

  She scrambled in. He followed on her heels, closing the door while inserting the key. The engine roared to life. He hit the gas and aimed for the exit. To his right he saw the two men staring at him. There was no sign of the handguns, although both of them looked furious enough to kill with their bare hands.

  The hotel parking lot dumped out onto the feeder road for the interstate. Brady was already going sixty-five when the truck burst onto the smooth blacktop. Five miles later two smaller highways intersected their path. He took the second, heading west for about twenty miles, then going north for another forty. By nightfall, the hotel was nearly two hundred miles behind them.

  * * *

  “I don’t expect anything to happen,” Brady said into the phone. “But tell the men to be on the lookout. Those two goons got a good look at my license plate, and I’m sure they can trace it. Lying low is the logical next step, so while I’m sure someone will be watching the ranch, I doubt they’ll come in with guns blazing.”

  He listened while Tex reminded him that twenty years with the marines had left him an expert at combat.

  “Consider yourself in charge of defending the place,” Brady said, only half kidding.

  “How’s Rita?” Tex asked.

  Brady glanced at the woman sitting on the edge of the double bed closest to the bathroom. “Okay for now. We’ll spend the night here and make some plans in the morning. I’ll keep you informed.”

  “Tell her—” The older man paused, then sighed. “Tell her to take care of herself. You take care of her, too.”

  “I will.”

  “And yourself. You’re no good to anyone if you get your ass shot off.”

  Despite his tension, Brady smiled. “I’ll remember that. I’ll be in touch.” He hung up the phone.

  Silence filled the room. He returned his attention to Rita—Randi. She sat stiffly, her back straight, her eyes fixed on the motel room’s only door. She’d folded her arms, clutching them tightly to her chest, but he didn’t know if that was to ward off danger or to hold herself together. She hadn’t said much of anything since they’d made their escape. He’d been too busy trying to get them to safety to bother with questions, but now he had several.

  Yet he wasn’t sure he could ask them. Rita—damn, Randi. When was he going to get used to her new name? Randi was close to collapse. He would have to tread carefully.

  Giving himself time to come up with the right thing to say, he glanced around at the motel room. It was barely big enough to hold the two double beds and a narrow dresser. The fixtures in the bathroom were about thirty years old. The entire place needed paint, but it was clean and in a tiny town he’d never heard of. Chances are the bad guys hadn’t heard of it, either.

  He moved to her bed and sat down next to her. Her only acknowledgment of his presence was her words. “They’ll find us.”

  “Not likely. I’m not sure where we are, so how could they know?”

  “They found me once.”

  True enough, and he wasn’t sure how. “I took the license plates off the truck the last time we stopped for gas. We’ve been off the interstate for a hundred and sixty of the last two hundred miles. You’re safe.”

  “For now.”

  She turned to him, and he saw the fear darkening her blue eyes. Her skin was ash-colored, her mouth trembling. He reached up and tucked a strand of curls behind her ears.

  “If it makes you feel any better, I believe you no
w,” he said.

  A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Good.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Brady. Sorry for lying to you, sorry for getting you involved in all this. I’d apologize for coming to the ranch in the first place, but I can’t. Whatever happens, I’m not sorry I met you.”

  He wanted to read something special into her words, but he knew she was still functioning on raw nerves. She didn’t know what she was saying.

  “No apologies necessary,” he told her.

  “I think one or two are probably required.” She relaxed and let her hands slip down to her lap. “I know what you’re going to ask me. You want to know why they’re after me. I don’t know.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I swear, I don’t know. They saw me and pulled guns and I have no idea why.”

  “Hush,” he murmured, and pulled her close.

  She came willingly to him, leaning her head against his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist. With one hand, he stroked her hair, with the other he traced a line down her spine.

  “Start at the beginning,” he said. “Tell me exactly what happened that day.”

  She gave a strangled sob. Hot tears dampened his shirt. He rocked her gently, whispering soft words of concern.

  She clung to him for several minutes. He felt her heartbeat slow slightly and her cries quieted. While he thought about what had happened and wondered how the hell they were going to get out of this mess, a part of him acknowledged the pleasure of holding her. Supple feminine curves flowed against the hard planes of his body. Heat enveloped him, stirring blood and need. He forced away any thoughts of desire, knowing that wasn’t what she needed from him, but it was too late. The ache in his groin grew, as did his arousal.

  “I was in the bride’s room,” she said, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck. “My mother had rented the local ski lodge for the wedding. I was pacing because I was scared. They were about to start the wedding march and I’d just figured out I didn’t want to marry Hal.”

  She raised her head and looked at him. Tears filled her eyes and streaked her cheeks. “I swear I didn’t plan to run, Brady. I didn’t know what else to do.”