Page 34 of The Runaway Bride's Vow

He sighed. “Let me measure it again.” He reached for his tape measure, but it wasn’t in his toolbelt. “It must be out in the pickup. I’ll get it.”

“No. You stay here,” she said. “I’ll go get it. Where is it?”

“Look in the center console.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.” She lifted up on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

His heart thump-thumped. Even though they’d been dating for more than two months now, every time she kissed him, it held the excitement of being the first time. He wanted to ask her if she was as crazy about him as he was about her, but every time he went to start a serious conversation, she would distract him. It was like she was purposely avoiding talking about her feelings. Was it possible she didn’t feel the same way about him?

That didn’t seem right to him. Her sweet kisses had become prevalent and always ended with a smile. There was something else going on. He could only imagine that it had something to do with her being dumped at the altar.

He couldn’t imagine a guy doing that to her or the hurt and embarrassment she’d felt. He would never do something like that to her. Not ever.

When she pulled back, she smiled up at him. Happiness shone in her eyes. It eased his worries. A smile like that couldn’t be faked. It was a good sign. A very good sign.

The chapel was almost done.

It just needed a few finishing touches.

Brooke was thrilled with how it had all turned out. In addition, Clara was really happy with Brooke’s work at the office while she was out of town. She’d even suggested giving Brooke a small wedding to plan from beginning to end. It wasn’t the promotion Brooke had wanted, but she knew it was a test and if she passed it, she’d be on to bigger responsibilities.

She remembered her father saying that you couldn’t skip steps or things wouldn’t turn out correctly. The memory caused a pang of hurt in her heart. Why wouldn’t he talk to her on the phone? Every time she asked her mother or sister, they both made excuses about him being busy.

Lately, she’d started calling her mother more often. She was anxious to repair the rift that had happened when she’d abruptly left town. And she was excited for her family to meet Logan.

She’d already mentioned Logan to her mother. When she’d first brought up his name, the conversation was a bit stilted. Her mother was hesitant to get excited about this relationship. Her advice was for Brooke not to rush into anything.

She knew her mother was still thinking about Brooke’s disastrous engagement. Her mother just didn’t understand that this time things were different—Logan was different—she was different.

Once her parents met Logan, they would understand. Logan was kind and thoughtful. He might be a bit gruff on the surface at times, but she’d learned how to get around his grouchiness to find his sweet center.

She thought about how far they’d come since their coffee debacle. They talked every day. Sometimes in person, which she preferred, and other times on the phone. They talked for hours about their pasts and about their dreams for the future. She’d never talked so easily with anyone. It was like she could confide all of her secrets and know they’d be safe with him.

As she walked out of the chapel, her feet didn’t feel as though they touched the ground. She couldn’t stop smiling. She wasn’t sure where this thing between them was headed. She was still not ready to dive into a serious commitment after her disastrous relationship back in Iowa.

Besides, there was no need to rush things. This time around she planned to take her time and make sure it was right for both of them before she was ready to walk down the aisle. Not that they’d ever discussed getting married. She let out a nervous laugh at the thought. Talk about rushing things along.

She moved to the pickup and was relieved to find it unlocked because she hadn’t thought to ask for his keys. She opened the door wide open and began searching for the tape measure.

She was surprised by how clean the inside was for a work truck. She found the tape measure in the center console just like he’d told her. In order to reach it, she had to lean across the seat to grasp it.

When she lifted her head, she glanced out the windshield. The clear blue sky was marred by something dark and gray. She paused. It took her a second to realize what she was seeing.

Her chest clenched. It was smoke. She gasped. It was coming from Mabel Grace’s house.

Oh, no! No! No! No!

Her mind immediately went into panic mode. A million frantic thoughts collided in her mind. She stood there for a moment, making sure this was real.

Then pulling herself together, she ran for the chapel. Logan was the only person inside because Henry had already moved on to their next project.

She was moving so fast she tripped going up the steps to the front door. She reached out. Her hand caught hold of the black railing. She quickly caught her balance. She kept going. Her hand grasped the brass handle and yanked the door open.

“Logan!” She yelled his name as loud as she could.

Immediately, he swung around to face her. Worry reflected in his eyes. “What’s the matter?”

“Hurry.” Her hands trembled. Her breathing came in rapid, short gasps. “Fire.” Her thoughts jumbled together. She struggled for her words to make sense. “There… There’s a fire.”

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