Chasing the Runaway Bride (Bliss Series Book 3)

by Michelle Jo Quinn

  “I can give you a ride home,” Danny offered.

  “No, thank you. I’m fine on my own,” I declined politely.

  “I’ll walk you down then?”

  While we waited for the elevator doors to open for us, I turned to him. “Thank you, Danny, for coming here with them. I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy for you.”

  Danny and my father got along well now. Years ago, Daddy had been angry at him and almost refused to give his blessings when Danny had asked for my hand in marriage. Whatever had gone on after I left had seemingly fixed their relationship. Danny’s own father had been absent for most of his life—when his mother was diagnosed with Huntington’s, his father didn’t hesitate to pack his bags and leave his sickly wife and son.

  “I’m here for you, Hannah.” He took my hand and kissed the back of it as the elevator doors swooshed open. Before I got into the cab, he gave me his phone and room number. “Call anytime,” he said.

  After two hours of tossing and turning on my bed, I gave up on sleep. There really was only one answer to my questions. But before I could fully commit to my decision, there were other matters which required closure.

  I dressed quickly in a sleeved shirt, jeans and boots. With my keys in my hand, I shrugged into my leather jacket and made my way to the carport. The night was cool and the smell of incoming rain permeated the air. I had to make it to my destination before the heavens poured.

  It took ten minutes to get there. Without hesitation, I rapped on the white door.

  “Hi,” I greeted, biting my lip, and looking up through my lashes.

  “Hey,” Danny said as he opened the door wider for me. “Come on in.”

  The room was lit by a lamp on the desk near the windows. His laptop was on and there were papers stacked beside it. At least I was right to assume he’d still be awake. Whether he’d be open to a discussion was another matter.

  As I zipped open my jacket, it didn’t escape me that just the night before, and around the same time, I’d been in a different hotel room, seeking solace from another man. I swallowed the emotion that clogged my throat at the thought of Alex, and faced the man who sat on the sofa with me.

  He held my hands and pulled me to him. It was time we talked.

  Danny talked about moving on once he’d admitted to himself I wasn’t returning any time soon. I was right; his relationship with my father had changed when I left. They’d supported each other. Neither blamed the other for my disappearance.

  “When he was diagnosed, Walt told me he knew where you’ve been all this time. I couldn’t be angry at him when he explained why he just let you be,” Danny informed me.

  Then he’d spoken about graduating from Harvard Law, and moving back to Stowe to start his own firm. My father had helped him with his education, paying for all the fees his scholarship didn’t cover, in addition to any healthcare expenses his mother had required. My father had felt he’d owed it to Danny for not telling him where I’d been. In return, Danny became my family’s attorney, and with a minor in business, he’d managed to turn my father’s wealth into something akin to an empire.

  Ever since we’d started dating, I knew Danny was as smart as they came. He had big plans, and I would have gone along with him the entire time, if things had worked out differently.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye,” I started, wringing my fingers together. “But I’m not sorry I left. I had to.”

  Danny leaned an elbow on his thigh, propped his chin on his upturned hand and brushed the other through his hair. “I know. I was mad at you for a very long time.” He looked at me, studying my passive features. “But I would’ve understood. We could have postponed the wedding.”

  Before I could make a reply, he sat erect and raised a hand in front of his chest. I waited for whatever else he wanted to say.

  “I’m not mad now. I haven’t been mad at you for a long time, Hannah. Nothing I say now would change the past. All we could do now is to keep moving on. And I’m not gonna convince you to decide one way or another…but Walt needs you. He needs his daughter.”

  Nica’s jaw practically unhinged as she stared at me, a weird noise coming out of her mouth. I’d dropped a bomb on her, but if I had waited for the right time to say it, I wouldn’t have been able to at all. There was no right time.

  With an index finger, I pushed her jaw up, closing her mouth. She placed her Chinese food container on the table, and plastered her game face on.

  “What do you mean you’re leaving?” Her voice went an octave higher.

  I squeezed a piece of breaded chicken between my chopsticks, avoiding her stare. “I’m going back to Vermont with my parents.” I tried to keep my tone casual, like there wasn’t an eruption in volcanic proportions inside my head and my heart.

  San Francisco had been home to me for a number of years. I might have had a different name here, but it was where I built my own roots. My friends had become my family, since I abandoned my own. I’d grown fond of the people, the places, and every single nuance of this lively city. But my duty as a daughter called.

  “But...but...but...”

  I waved my chopsticks around as I spoke. “All my current projects are done…well, as done as they can be. Jewel can take over most of them, and the rest will work themselves out.” I’d spent the whole day making phone calls and sending emails to vendors, contractors, and clients, while Nica had taken the day off to see her obstetrician.

  “But you live here. What about your apartment?” she asked.

  “It should be good for a few months, then I’ll sublet it. I’ll ask Gerard or Mateo to look after it while I’m gone.”

  “So you’ll be back? This is just temporary, right?” Nica asked, her voice shaking. Any second now, she’d be crying. As if to prove my point, she sniffled.

  I shrugged, and placed my food beside hers. “It will depend on a lot of things.” I sat with my legs up on the sofa in her living room. With carefully chosen words, I told her about my father’s illness, and the necessary steps he’d have to go through in the coming months.

  She stopped pretending she wasn’t going to cry and let it all out. Every now and then, she would rub her belly, or reach for my hand. She’d wipe the tears off her face, and constantly blamed it on her hormones.

  “I’ll be back for your baby shower, though. And I’ll visit when that little she-devil is born.” I poked her burgeoning stomach, and felt a nudge back. “What the hell? Did she just kick me back?”

  Nica blew out an exasperated breath. “Yeah. She’s been relentless. As soon as I get any rest, she starts moving around.”

  I was suddenly squeamish. “I can’t believe you have a human being growing in there. Freaking weird.”

  She slapped my upper arm. “Get over it.” Then she sighed. “So you’re really leaving me, huh?”

  I propped my head on the sofa and watched Nica’s bottom lip quiver. “I’m not leaving you. I’m just leaving for now. I’ll figure it all out when I get there.”

  “What if you never figure it out? What if all of a sudden you choose not to come back? I mean...Daniel...he’s back in your life now too. That’s a big deal, right?”

  Danny. Was he back in my life? I thought after our talk last night, I’d know for certain where we stood.

  The sun had risen by the time I’d left his room, and only had enough time to head back to my apartment to prepare for breakfast with my parents. It had been an awkward meal. In the daytime, my father’s condition had been clearer for me to see. Since I was aware of what to look for, I spotted every manifestation of his illness. He was gaunt, easily tired, and weak. Before breakfast was over, I’d told my parents I’d be going back with them, but I’d made no promises of staying. I couldn’t, yet.

  Even with no sleep, and a heavy burden on my shoulders, I’d made it into work and buried myself in it. It helped me forget my sorrows momentarily. My assistant had been shocked to see me there the entire day, and the rest of the gang had stopped into my o
ffice to ask if I was okay. I shrugged them all off and scoffed at their concerns. Not one of them had any idea what had happened in the past couple of days. If I were to tell anyone about my impending departure, it was Nica who had to know first, which was why I visited her at home, bearing gifts in Chinese containers.

  She propped herself up with pillows against the back of the sofa, returning to her meal. I was going to miss times like this with my best friend. “What are you going to do in Stowe?”

  I chuckled at her question, as I’d been asking myself the same thing. “Other than look after Daddy and try not to get pissed off at my Mom? Not much. Be a princess?”

  Nica snorted. “A princess?”

  Right. There was something else she didn’t know. “Well...have you ever wondered how I survived all these years without my parents?”

  “I used to, but after finding out how resourceful you are, I stopped.”

  I laughed at her remark, digging into my food. “That’s true. But a huge part of it was my trust fund.”

  “Your what now?”

  I enunciated the words. “T-rust Fun-d.”

  “You have a trust fund.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Yes. Before I left home, I withdrew whatever I could from it. My paternal grandmother was a rich old lady, and when she passed, she gave a chunk of her money and properties to me and my...ahm...Daddy. Although I didn’t touch it much because we owned a maple farm.”

  Nica’s eyebrow raised. “Say that again? Maple farm?”

  “Yes, Nica. Maple farm. We’re the biggest producers of maple syrup in the country. Daddy had a knack for business and grew this huge production. Anyway, that’s where I grew up.”

  Nica narrowed her eyes at me. “Who are you?”

  “Stop it, Nica.” I slapped her hand lightly. “I’m telling you now. I know I’ve been a shitty friend for keeping secrets from you. Don’t think I haven’t been kicking myself for that.”

  Just then, we heard the ding of the elevator, announcing someone had arrived in their penthouse. I continued eating my dinner out of the box.

  “Your husband’s home,” I muttered.

  “Hmmm, yeah. With Alex,” she added nonchalantly.

  I had just popped a piece of carrot into my mouth when she said his name. My heart leapt into my throat. I chewed the carrot quickly and gulped it down with a sip of water. “Alex is here?” I kept my voice low.

  Nica nodded, looking toward the hallway where voices of two men came from, both speaking in their native language. “He called us yesterday saying he’s in the city for a bit. It was a bit of a surprise. I thought he’d be back in France. Martina was expecting him.”

  It was unusual for Alex to come here when his grandmother needed him.

  Well, hell. How was I going to escape the awkwardness which was about to rain down on me? I hadn’t talked to Alex since yesterday morning. God, was it just yesterday morning? It felt like a lifetime ago. With everything that had happened, hours seemed like months. Their voices stopped as soon as they reached the living room. I straightened and trained my eyes on the fog outside the massive windows.

  “Hi, baby!” Nica pushed herself up and leaned over the back of the sofa to greet her husband with a kiss. “How was dinner?”

  “Great. I missed you,” Levi said. I couldn’t look in their direction without wanting to choke myself. “Hey, Chase. Good of you to come and keep my wife company.”

  I raised a hand but didn’t move my head. “Yup.” I felt a dull ache on the back of my head. My ear buzzed. I adjusted my vision on the windows and saw the reflection of the man standing behind me. Even in the blurry glass, I could see he wasn’t happy. And I felt it like a vice grip in my chest.

  “Something to drink, Chase? I’ve got a couple of great vintages to go with your meal,” Levi offered.

  “Please.” I wanted to tell him to bring both bottles.

  Levi gave his wife another kiss before leaving. I listened to him speak to Alex in French, but didn’t hear his brother’s reply. Not that I would understand the words.

  Nica chose that moment to stretch up. “I’m going for a pee. Be right back.” I watched her waddle to the hallway. The pulsating in my ear was like a ticking bomb.

  Being alone in the massive space with Alex did not help quell my shaking nerves. When I finally made myself turn to him, all I saw was indifference. We stared at each other for a bit before he shook his head and made his way out to the balcony. Without another thought, I followed him out and was shocked when I saw what he held in his hand.

  “I thought you stopped smoking.”

  He was facing the night sky, and slightly angled his head in my direction, but didn’t look at me. “I thought you were single.”

  Damn.

  I sucked in a breath. There was no time for explanations. Not that I was ready for them. “I made no promises,” I countered.

  I received a humorless laugh. Then Alex turned, inhaling from his cigarette and pushing smoke into the air. I waved my hand, fanning the smoke away from me.

  “No, you didn’t. You only came to me when you were distressed, and, what is it you American girls say? Led me on?” He was mocking me. “I’d wondered why you kept pushing me away.” His free hand gripped the metal rails. “Now, I know.” Alex stepped closer to me and with the two fingers pinching his cigarette, he pointed. “Just to let you know, Chase, I don’t make it a habit to fuck unavailable women.”

  Pushing his hand away, I squared my shoulders. I understood why Alex was bitter. Not brave enough to argue his point, I blurted instead, “I want the photos.” It was one of the reasons why I followed him out here.

  “What photos?” he asked with a menacing tone.

  “You know what photos. I want them. All of them. I never signed any release forms so you can’t use them for anything, but just in case, I’d feel better if they’re in my possession.” Lessons for life: never sleep with a photographer. Never let them take photos of you in states of undress. And never ever let them take photos of you while having sex. “You can bring them to my office tomorrow.” Before he could say anything else, I turned away and walked back to the living room.

  “Chase? You okay?” Nica plopped back onto the sofa.

  I grabbed my jacket and helmet, which I had placed over a chair, and avoided eye contact with Nica. “Yeah, I forgot I told my parents I’ll go and see them. Tell Levi I’ll take that drink some other time.”

  “Right…” Nica wanted to say more, I could sense it, but she was always good at giving me space. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, bye.”

  I didn’t know how much of an effect the moment with Alex had on me until my hands trembled. Tears fell down my cheeks as soon as I got in the elevator. I squeezed my hands over my stomach, trying to get a breath in. By the time I arrived home, I was a heaving pile of mess.

  “Vermont? Like the mountains?” Becky, Nica’s assistant, responded to my announcement that I would be shipping out of the sunny state.

  Nica and I had decided it would be best to get the troops together and announce my nearing departure. The best reaction so far came from Gerard, with his mouth popping open and closed, his brain trying to formulate a comprehensive reply. He wasn’t normally this quiet, especially with an announcement this big.

  “I can’t believe your last name is Buford. I always thought it would be something magical. Like...like...” Jewel rolled her wrists in the air. “I don’t know.”

  “What’s wrong with Buford?” I challenged from my perch in front of the large conference table.

  “Nothing!” Her voice rose an octave, then she blinked at least five times. Liar. A horrible liar, at that.

  Gerard woke up from his semi-stupor, standing on his feet, palms on the glass top. “I can’t believe you used to live on a farm!”

  Nica sighed and rolled her eyes. This wasn’t exactly how she’d pictured it, surely.

  “It’s a maple farm,” I countered.

 
; “Did you have horses, and goats and cows?”

  I threw my hands up in the air. “Yeah, but it wasn’t that kind of farm. We used to have those for the kids’ petting zoo.”

  “Right.”

  Mateo finally tugged him back into his seat. “What Gerard means is that we are going to miss you, Chase.”

  Big Boss Nica added to the sentiment, “That goes without saying. Chase and I have gone through her events, and we’ll be allocating them amongst all of you. The biggest one is the twenty-first birthday party. Chase was able to secure Stefano as DJ, and she’s contacted all the vendors...” I could feel the tension in the room. This was a huge assignment. Anyone in the room would jump onto the bandwagon to oversee the event with a huge star-studded guest list. “Since it falls on one of your wedding days, Jewel, Gerard gets this one.”

  With a triumphant fist pump, Gerard shouted, “Yes!” And proceeded to do his victory dance, aka cabbage patch with a side of sprinkler. “Does this mean I get to have her office too?”

  Everyone else in the room shook their heads. And it hit me. I was going to sorely miss these people, my coworkers, friends, and even the assistant whose name still eluded me.

  “No. You don’t get my office. My move’s not permanent.”

  “Fine.” Gerard sulked, though two seconds later, he brightened up. “You know what this means?”

  “What?” Jewel perked up with interest.

  “We get to throw her a Bon Voyage party!” Another fist pump and victory dance.

  The murmur grew in the room, with all of them agreeing to the idea. There was no way of escaping this, so I might as well face it now.

  “Fine. Party at my place tomorrow. We’ll do it after work, or whenever. Don’t bring friends or partners.”

  “It’s so good to meet all of Chastity’s friends.” My mother grinned, touching the side of her face, eyeing the two good-looking men in front of her. Of course, she wouldn’t pick up on the fact they were married to each other.