Page 31 of The Mountain Man's Runaway Bride

In anticipation of my then-upcoming wedding and honeymoon, I’d sent her for an extended stay at my co-worker Devony’s place. Axel had hoped it would be a permanent extended stay. I’d insisted he’d get used to having her around.

I should have known then it wasn’t going to work out between us.

That I’d been too willing to compromise, too eager to please.

Too afraid to be alone.

I glance around the apartment—clean, orderly, perfectly curated down to the simple but cheerful floral art pieces on the walls and the color-coordinated velvet pillows on the couch. They’re all things I thought I wanted.

So why does it feel like nothing I need?

Dropping my coat onto the back of a chair, I sink down beside my suitcase and press the heels of my hands to my eyes. Maybe I’m just exhausted. Jet lag and heartbreak are a mean cocktail. I’ll cry tonight, have an actual cocktail, and sleep it off. Then, in the morning, I’ll rebuild the fractured pieces of my life.

Again.

A knock on the door startles me from my gloom.

I freeze.

No one knows I’m home yet. Besides the, “I’m fine, I’m in Alaska” messages I sent to my loved ones more than a week ago, I haven’t texted anyone.

Heck, I only turned on my phone to order a car at the airport.

There’s only one person who might have an inkling I’m home.

There’s a second knock. It’s even firmer. My heart flutters at the possibility. Maybe it’s Knox. Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he’s here to apologize.

Maybe—after some serious explanations for why he kept in touch with his mail-order bride even after we’d been falling for each other—I’ll give him a second chance.

Pushing myself to my feet and inch toward the peephole, pulse racing.

I nearly choke on my gasp.

It’s Axel.

The wrong him.

With a groan, I turn and push my back to the door. “You might as well leave.”

“Quincy, please.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“I think we have a lot to say. Especially you.” He heaves a hefty sigh. “Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to have you run out on me like that. With a room full of hundreds of people.”

“Humiliating.” I scoff at that. “Not heartbreaking or worrying.”

“Well, those things too, obviously.” He huffs again. “I don’t understand what came over you. Running out on me like that. After all we’d been through.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll get over it.” I push away from the door and reach for the handle. I’m mad enough to face him now.

I even feel strong enough.

Pulling the door open, I turn the full force of my glare on the man who once held my future in his hands. Apparently my expression is as fierce as it feels. He takes a step back, nearly bumping into the fire extinguisher on the wall behind him.

“Listen up, you little shit.” I narrow my eyes. “I heard everything you and your ‘boys’ had to say while you were cooling your heals before the wedding.”

“Look.” He takes a nervous breath. “I don’t know what you think you heard but?—”

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