Page 86 of Runaway Bride’s Husband

“Only the guy,” he said. “I asked if Maggie was sure since she seemed so excited, but he was pretty rude. Just told me it was none of my business.”

My eyes slid shut. Probably Cliff, then.

“Like hell, she doesn’t need it anymore.” I reopened my eyes and pulled my phone out of my back pocket. “I’ll pay whatever it costs to put it back on the schedule.”

A slow grin spread across his face as he nodded. “I can do that for you. Are you sure you really want it, though? We were looking forward to doing a wedding for a change, but⁠—”

“She really wants it and she’s the bride, so that’s all that matters.”

Still grinning, he turned toward the trailers and shouted to the carnies that the wedding was back on, and a cheer went up around the lot. A few of them actually clapped and hollered for me, so at least I knew they were still committed to making Maggie’s day exactly what she wanted it to be, but this was as far as I went.

After making sure I had the correct banking details, I turned on my heels and started toward the car with the carnies still cheering, but when I saw Blanche in my periphery, my feet slammed to a stop of their own accord and I groaned. Shit, this is probably a mistake, but I promised her, didn’t I?

Before common sense had a chance to catch up, I turned around and doubled back to Steve. “Where’s the puppy?”

He laughed. “You still want him? He’s out back by the pen. I’ve been keeping a bag of his food ready in case you came back, but you’ll have to let me explain a few things about how to take care of him before I’ll let him go.”

I sighed but nodded, and an hour later, I was stuck in traffic heading back into the city with a puppy the size of a small bear sitting in my lap. He’d spent the first twenty minutes trying to climb onto my shoulder, then eventually made himself comfortable on my thighs and promptly fell asleep.

What the hell am I doing?

Honestly, I had no idea, but just as he started snoring, my phone rang and Holden’s name appeared on the screen in my car. The puppy barely even twitched when I hit the button on my steering wheel and took the call.

“What’s up? I’m driving, so make it fast.”

“Where the hell are you?” he asked. “Please tell me you’re driving to the bar where you’re supposed to be meeting me.”

“I’m, uh, not. I’m going to be late. Just tell the guys to go ahead without me tonight and have fun.”

“What? No. I—” The puppy let out a loud, whine-snore type sound and Holden cut himself off. “What the fuck was that?”

“A dog.”

“A dog? Why are you driving with a dog?”

“It’s nothing, but I’m going to have to call you back.”

“A dog is not nothing. I get that you’re lonely after⁠—”

“Jesus, Holden. This isn’t that. Just let me call you back when I’m done.” The Pembroke estate on Fifth Avenue was coming up, so I disconnected the call and pulled up outside, carefully lifting the monstrous puppy into my arms before climbing out.

This was easily one of the craziest things I’d ever done in my life, driving across the city to deliver a puppy to a woman who was getting married to another man soon, but I’d promised her I’d bring this dog to her myself if she sent out the invitations, and she’d done it.

Whatever had remained of my common sense was obviously gone, but I marched up the stairs and tried to ignore the towel-sized tongue licking my hand. Banging a fist against the door, I cradled the puppy against my chest, glancing down into his deep brown eyes as I waited for them to answer.

His mouth opened, his tongue lolling out like he was happy as he looked up at me. “Don’t look at me like that, man. You’re a problem.” A beat later, he licked my hand again and I sighed. “Fine. We’re both the problem.”

When the door didn’t open, I banged again. “Depending on how this goes, I’m either never going to see you again or you’re coming home with me instead. I don’t know what to tell you. Just be patient.”

He licked my hand again and I groaned, resigned to bringing him to my place after all, but then the door finally opened. Adelaide stood on the other side with a butler hovering behind her. She frowned when she saw me, the crease between her eyebrows deepening when she noticed the giant in my arms.

“Ryan?” she asked. “Who is this and why is it here?”

I held out the dog. “Here. It’s for Maggie. She’ll know what it’s about.”

With that, I handed him over to the butler. Then I marched back to my car. I was sure I looked insane right around now, simply dropping off a massive puppy and leaving, but it was what it was.

“Ryan, wait!” Adelaide called after me, but I didn’t stop. “Ryan! This isn’t our dog!”