Page 7 of Runaway Bride’s Husband

What the hell happened to little Maggie Pembroke?

She’d always been pretty, even as an awkward teenager, but she was downright stunning now. Especially without all that warpaint she’d been wearing the other day. Honestly, she hadn’t even looked like her at the shower, which wasn’t really my thing.

Tonight, however, her dark blonde hair was pulled up into a high, very messy ponytail, not only ruffled by the hood, but obviously carelessly pulled together to begin with. Those blue-gold hazel eyes shone with a strange sort of apprehension, but they were wide and clear, her long lashes framing them like a picture.

I also had no idea why she spent so much time on makeup when the natural contours of her face were so defined already, her cheekbones high despite her slightly rounded cheeks. She had the cutest little button nose and her skin itself was completely flawless. The Pembrokes were old, old money, though. She probably wasn’t allowed out of the house without looking like she’d been approved by a committee.

Strangely, she didn’t look at all excited about what I’d just said, simply shrugging before taking another sip of her drink. “Sure. If they want to profile the wedding, let them.”

I frowned. “This is what all rich brides dream about.”

“Do you know that because you’re a rich bride yourself or are you just making assumptions?” she asked without skipping a beat.

My eyebrows slowly lifted. “Wow. You haven’t changed a bit.”

Her eyes widened with offense. “Well, it’s good to know that my mother tasking you with being my babysitter isn’t a thing of the past.”

“I was never your babysitter.” I scoffed. “Excuse me for trying to help when asked.”

“Yeah, well, you have a tendency to show up when I’m trying to get out of whatever situation I was forced into, so thanks for your help, buddy, but I’ve got it from here.”

As soon as she said it, I realized what this wedding actually was and I took a long sip of my beer as I tried to process it. It took me longer than it should’ve to swallow and speak again, but shit. Here I was, feeling sorry for myself about having to help when in the meantime the bride was about to commit the rest of her life to someone she hadn’t chosen.

That was a lot, even for me—and I was literally surrounded by it at all times. Hell, the exact same thing was waiting for me someday soon. “This is an arranged marriage, isn’t it?”

She nodded and finished off her drink, and I instantly put up my hand to order another round. Since it was none of my business, I didn’t pry or make a big deal out of the revelation. Frankly, I wasn’t even surprised. When you were born into a family like any of ours, this was what you got for the privilege.

I took another sip of my beer and nodded right back at her after I’d swallowed. “For what it’s worth, I know Daniel personally. He’s one of the good ones.”

Those hazel eyes lingered on mine for a beat before she scoffed down a dry laugh and turned to face the dark sea. “I know you meant well, telling me that, but it makes it worse, Ryan. Not better. Mostly because I know you’re right. Daniel is a good guy. He would’ve found some incredible girl who could’ve made him extremely happy. Instead, he’s stuck with me.”

I rolled my eyes. “That wasn’t what I meant. All I’m saying is that you could’ve gotten worse. Who knows? Maybe you’re the girl who will make him extremely happy. Stranger things have happened. Sometimes, these matches work out well. Just look at the Westwoods. You know them, right? So far, it’s gone really well for them, and for my older brothers, for that matter.”

She sighed, still not looking back at me. “Then they all got very lucky. Honestly, Ryan. Thanks for the attempted pep talk, but I’m okay. I don’t need it.”

I eyed her for another moment before I stood, pulled out my wallet, and set some bills down on the table. “Look, it’s pretty obvious you want to be alone right now, so I’m leaving, but at least let me pay your bill.”

When she didn’t move to push away the money, smack me for suggesting it, or anything else at all, I sighed and picked up my laptop. “Good luck, Maggie. Not that you need that, either. I’m sure everything you’re feeling is normal in a situation like this.”

She shrugged, but she still hadn’t looked at me again. I spun on my heels and left her to whatever she was thinking right now. The rehearsal dinner was tomorrow night and the wedding the day after. I was sure she would feel fine again by then, but on the other hand, I didn’t know Maggie as well as I’d once thought I did. The last time I’d seen her was at her debutante ball, and that night, I’d been so sure she was going to pull one of her usual stunts, but she hadn’t.

In the end, she hadn’t given me any reason to run and save her like in the past. In fact, I still wasn’t comfortable with the disappointment I’d felt when I’d watched her dance and laugh with her escort.

As I walked into my hotel room, I closed my eyes, feeling like I was finally closing a rather odd chapter of my life. Maggie wasn’t okay tonight. That much had been abundantly clear, but she would sort herself out. It was simply time for me to do the same.

CHAPTER 4

MAGGIE

It felt like Daniel and I had been standing in the same position for approximately three years, but in reality, it had probably been more like four minutes. Even so, I didn’t even jump this time when the wedding coordinator clapped her hands and called, “Again!”

Daniel stepped forward and I stepped with him. Together, we turned, paused, smiled, and reached for each other’s hands. Then we turned again. Who knew the choreography for getting married was more complicated than that of most Broadway productions?

As I looked up at him when the officiant started running through what he would expect of us, I knew Ryan had been right when he’d said I could’ve done worse. Daniel was a gorgeous guy, tall with sleek black hair and sharp, modern features that made him look utterly unflappable.

Even now, in the middle of a rehearsal for a wedding he didn’t want, he looked as calm as if this was merely another appointment on his calendar. I envied him for that.

“Alright, let’s reset,” the coordinator called before she started barking at one of her assistants.