Page 113 of Runaway Bride’s Husband

Unfortunately, the only clothes I had here was the suit I’d had on yesterday, so I’d have to make a quick stop at the hotel before I headed back to the venue, but I still got as ready as I could and then pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“I’ll be back soon, baby.”

She made a sleepy noise and reached for me, but when she realized my side of the bed was empty, she cracked open one eye and moaned. “Noooo. Where are you going? Why are you already up?”

“One of us has to go make sure the world hasn’t ended,” I murmured, smiling as I stared down at her. “Just stay here, okay? I won’t be long.”

“You’re very bossy for a guy who hijacked a wedding probably about thirteen hours ago.”

I chuckled. “That’s because I’m very serious about taking care of my wife. All you need to do this morning is relax. Don’t clean or find any more mysterious family secrets to investigate, and most importantly, don’t run away.”

“Never.” She smiled up at me, but I saw the concern clouding her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

“No, but I’ll be okay. I’m going to go talk to your dad so we can stop worrying about that, and when I come back, you’d better still be naked.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” she teased. “What am I supposed to put on, anyway, my wedding dress?”

“Well, I mean, I love that dress now that I’ve seen you in it, and I’ll bring your stuff back from the venue, but no. You’re not putting anything on until we absolutely have to leave here.” I paused for a beat. “I’ll get more food, too. Just to make sure we don’t have to leave for as long as we can possibly justify staying.”

She chuckled and threaded her fingers into my hair for a kiss that almost convinced me to stay, but I was serious about dealing with her father. God only knew what steps he was taking right now to try and force us apart, and the longer I left it, the more chance there would be that he would find a way.

After I finally left the cottage, I drove straight to the hotel, snuck in a back entrance to avoid any possibility of seeing anyone I knew who might delay me, grabbed my stuff out of the room, and headed to the venue.

Cliff was in the ballroom when I was arrived, facing off with Daniel while Marcus hovered just feet away from both men. If I had known I would be walking into a match of wits, I might’ve brought some popcorn for Maggie’s oldest brother to enjoy now that it was about to become a three-way.

At least Daniel was smiling for the first time ever. Well, I hadn’t seen him smile for a very long time, anyway, but he looked like a completely different person, his features open and relaxed despite the verbal pineapple being shoved up his ass by his near-miss father-in-law.

“You embarrassed us all!” Cliff was shouting as I strode toward them, his face red and a vein in his neck throbbing. “For God’s sake, Daniel. You were supposed to be the level-headed one. I expected something like this from Maggie, but not from you.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Pembroke, you don’t know me well enough to expect anything from me at all,” Daniel said calmly. “Regardless, I apologize sincerely for the role I played in any embarrassment you might’ve felt, but I believe what happened was for the best.”

“You’re all just immature children who simply refuse to do what you’re asked⁠—”

“Perhaps that’s the problem, sir,” Daniel said, cutting him off without any remorse on his features whatsoever. “We weren’t asked, were we? We were told, and we’re not children. All three of us have every right to make decisions for ourselves and our own futures, and that’s all we did. Isn’t that right, Ryan?”

As soon as he said my name, he turned to grin at me, inclining his chin in a friendly greeting. Cliff, however, must not have noticed me before because he turned several shades redder as he spun in my direction.

“Well, well. The hero arrives. I must admit, I didn’t think we’d be seeing you again so soon.”

I kept my head held high and my eyes trained firmly on his. “You know I’m not the type to run away from responsibility simply to avoid confrontation, Cliff. Good morning.”

Marcus glanced at me from the other side of Cliff and Daniel, sighing as he lifted his hand to give me a half-assed wave. “Hey, Ryan.”

“Marcus.” I turned back to Cliff and slid my hands into my pockets. “Look, I⁠—”

“I think we’ve all heard quite enough from you, Thayer,” he snapped, glowering at me before he started pacing. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You interfered in a business arrangement that’s been years in the making. You manipulated my daughter and you have destroyed her reputation.”

Instead of arguing, I stood there and took it, letting him rant at me for another minute. He was actually pretty right that I’d had my turn to talk. Yesterday, when I’d barged into a wedding ceremony and claimed the bride as my own. It was only fair that he got to vent a little too.

“The Hawthornes are⁠—”

“Fine,” Daniel muttered at his side. “We’re fine. Don’t presume to speak for us.”

Cliff rolled his eyes. “Contrary to what their son seems to think, the Hawthornes have been thoroughly humiliated by you and my daughter for the second time.”

“That’s really not accurate,” Daniel said, then shrugged when Cliff shot him a glare. “What? I’m just saying. Don’t be upset on our account.”

Cliff shook his head and folded his arms across his chest as he turned back to me. “My family has never endured such insulting behavior and we will not start now. You have embarrassed us. You have betrayed the trust we placed in you when you offered your help. You have⁠—”