Page 94 of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

“Will you accept our offer?” I ask.

“Will I—Of course, I accept!” She lunges close to hug me, then Caleb.

“And we can do all those things on your bucket list,” I add. “The seasonal garden beds, expanding the hiking trail. All those extras you never explored before.”

She wipes her eyes, nodding. “Just like John and I always wanted to do. You’re making my dream come true. If he were here to see it happening…” She sighs wistfully, but I can tell she is content. “You two. You make me so darn happy. I just knew you were meant for each other.”

Caleb chuckles. “Maybe you can mention matchmaker services on your ads.”

“Oh, hush.” She dismisses him with a wave. “I hardly had anything to do with it.” But then she winks, and I laugh along with her.

When Caleb yawns, though, she gets up. “Oh, you must be tired. I followed along online, Lauren. If you left that wedding this morning, oh, dear. Honey, you must be exhausted.” She exaggerates a cringe. “But I don’t have any rooms until tomorrow.”

Caleb nods, standing as well. “That’s when my two-week reservation will start.”

“But what about the cottage?” I ask.

Marian nods. “Of course!” She slings her arms around us both, guiding us back toward the kitchen. She insists we take the leftovers and eat up, and then rest.

“And that’s the boss’s order,” she scolds playfully. “You two get a good night’s sleep. A few nights. You deserve this. Then later, when you’re ready, I want to hear all of it. Not a single detail left out about this wedding you saved her from.”

Caleb smirks. “Make sure she tells you about how she tried to ‘save’ me, too.”

I smile at him and grab the bag of plastic containers of her recently served pot pie.

I won’t lie to her. I can’t promise Caleb and I will only try to get a good night’s sleep.

“Thanks, Marian.” I lean over to kiss her cheek.

“Thanks, Mom,” Caleb adds. He pauses, smiling down at her. “You’re the mother I always wanted.”

She gives him a proud smile. “You two are the son and daughter I dreamed to enjoy.”

On that touching note, I grab Caleb’s hand and lead him back to the cottage. The last time we were here, I made the biggest mistake of my life, thinking I could spare him trouble by going back to Jeremy.

This time, it feels like we’re starting all over properly, and with the naughty smile he gives me after I lock the door behind us, I know getting a solid night’s rest won’t be happening just yet.

***

In the morning a few days later, we head to the kitchen, lured by the scent of coffee and sausage. Marian meant it when she ordered us to rest up and relax. She dropped off food at the door and let us be, wholly uninterrupted. I needed those few days and nights of nothing but sex, love, and talking with Caleb. Like a pre-honeymoon.

“Morning!” Marian cheerily greets from the kitchen. “Ah-ah.” She playfully swats Caleb’s hand when he tries to steal a sausage link. “Respect the system when you’re in my kitchen.”

I sit at the small, round table and pour my coffee. “Hey, that almost rhymes.”

Caleb sits too. “I thought the ‘system’ was for preparing the food.”

“Shh.” She straightens at the stove and winks at me. “Now tell me, please. I’m so curious how it happened. Did you run from the altar? Did he crash the wedding?”

“Hmm. A little of both?” I glance and Caleb and he smiles.

“Something like that.”

“Oh, come on. Tell me! Did that loser get what he had coming?” she asks as she sets two plates down for us.

“If you mean a supposedly broken jaw courtesy of Caleb’s left hook, then yes.”

She gasps at me, then Caleb. “You punched him?”

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