Page 9 of Runaway Bride’s Husband

“Yeah. It looks like it,” I agreed, suddenly realizing that this was the longest conversation we’d had all night. It was a little awkward, though. Stilted.

He gave me a polite smile and I gave him one back, but then we turned to face her again, both of us playing our parts perfectly. We went in opposite directions as soon as Annie wandered away, though. For just a second, I watched Daniel disappear into the crowd, his broad shoulders quickly swallowed by the swarm of tuxedo-wearing men around the bar.

It was still a little surreal to think that he was becoming my husband tomorrow, but instead of going after him and trying to spend some more time together, I went to join Ryan, my father, and Nora, curious about what they were talking about.

As I crossed the room, however, my dad saw me coming and immediately dropped the conversation, his expression changing as I reached them. “Maggie.”

I smiled. “Hi, Daddy.”

“Ryan and I were just discussing how fortunate this arrangement is for both families.”

My stomach plummeted, but I kept the smile on my lips. “Of course.”

“A Pembroke and a Hawthorne is an excellent match. There is considerable strength in bringing our families together.”

I nodded, feeling Ryan glance at me, but when I looked back at him, his attention was already back on my father. Almost like he’d never even looked at me at all.

“It certainly is a great match, Cliff,” he agreed. “Very sensible. It’s going to do amazing things for both companies.”

My dad nodded enthusiastically. “Our future is brighter than ever.”

Good Lord, why am I starting to feel like I walked into a shareholders meeting? My fingers tightened around my champagne glass when I realized it felt that way. At its core, that was what this was, except I was the stock that was increasing the companies’ value.

Suddenly, I needed air. Or stronger alcohol. Or both.

Yeah, definitely both.

When I glanced around for the nearest exit, Ryan noticed, but my father didn’t, still talking like he was congratulating himself for making such a good match. Nora hung on his every word, smiling and nodding like she was learning from the master, but Ryan suddenly pulled out his phone.

“I’m sorry.” He looked at the screen for a moment, studying whatever notification had just come through with the kind of intensity that suggested personal correspondence with the president. Then he looked up again. “Can I borrow Maggie for a second? This is the videographer who’ll be here for the wedding tomorrow. There are a few things she needs to confirm with Maggie tonight.”

Oh my gosh. He’s lying. I’ve already spoken to the videographer, but Ryan Thayer is giving me an out.

My father looked at me but inclined his head toward Ryan. “You’d better go find out what she needs, sweetheart. I’ll see you later.”

Ryan smiled, gently touching my elbow as he started moving backward. “I’ll catch up with you again later, Cliff.”

My father nodded, but he was already turning back toward Nora, loudly asking about her plans for the rest of her sons as Ryan dragged me away. I went willingly, following him through a set of glass doors and between two cabanas overlooking the dark gardens.

Once we were safely away from the party, he stopped and spun to face me. “Go.”

“Excuse me?”

“Just go, Maggie. Collect yourself and calm down before the big day tomorrow.”

I stared up at him, his blue eyes almost a silvery kind of transparent in this light. “What will you tell them?”

He shrugged. “You’re fine, right? You just needed a minute, so you headed to bed early to get your beauty sleep before the early start in the morning.”

“Right,” I said slowly. “I know you faked that message from the videographer, by the way. I’ve already dealt with everyone who will be bringing a camera anywhere near this place.”

He smirked. “You can thank me later, but for now, just go before someone sends out a search party. Do whatever you need to do, Maggie. As long as you make sure you don’t make that face again tomorrow.”

“What face?”

“The one you were making while your father was bragging about this match.”

I sighed. “Was it that obvious?”