Page 6 of The Mountain Man's Runaway Bride

“Oh, come on.”

“Maybe I won’t murder you, but I’m at least going to kick your ass.”

“She can’t be that bad.”

Glancing over my left shoulder, I watch as Quincy strolls around the great room in my cabin, studying every knot on the wall like it’s a damn museum exhibit. She’s dressed more casually now in a pair of sweats that are every bit as enticing as the gown she wore earlier. Maybe even more.

A bird chirps out the window, and her bright eyes flicker to it. A slow grin spreads across her lips, lighting up her whole face.

My heart skips a beat, and I swallow hard. “You have no idea.”

“Are you saying she’s hot?” Boone laughs.

“I’m saying she’s not even my mail-order bride. She’s a bride who left her real groom at the fucking altar this morning.”

There’s a long pause. “Wait, what?”

“You heard me.” I clench my jaw, but I’m still unable to tear my gaze from her. “She ran out on her wedding. Hopped an early flight for their honeymoon. Now, she’s in Alaska still wearing her damn wedding dress.”

Well, not any more. She had that short wardrobe change.

“You’re joking.”

If only. “In my stupidity, I thought she was the bride you ordered for me. I didn’t even know who she really was until we were halfway to my place.”

Boone bursts into laughter, which only stokes my irritation. “Oh my god. That’s better than anything I could’ve planned.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“It’s a little funny.”

I grit my teeth. “She has nowhere to go, Boone. You put me in a position I didn’t ask for. I never would have been at the damn airport if you hadn’t told me some poor woman was flying here.”

Oh God. “The other bride. I didn’t wait to see–”

“Don’t worry about the other bride. Just put all your energy into enjoying the happy little accident that landed in your lap. A bride on the rebound. You’re totally going to get laid.”

I hang up before I say something even more incriminating for when I murder him.

When I turn back around, Quincy’s crouched by the fireplace, tracing the grain in the wood frame.

“You built this?” she asks.

“I did.”

“And the rest of the place?”

I nod.

“It’s beautiful. Everything is. And it’s so… strong and comforting. It reminds me of you.”

I blink. No one has ever described me—or anything I’ve made—like that.

I clear my throat. “If you want to stay here for a while, you can. Until you figure out your next move. There's not much room.”

“But it’s better than nothing. Heck, it’s probably even better than the honeymoon accommodation's my ex had in mind.”She stands slowly, brushes off her hands, and meets my gaze. “Thanks, Knox. I... I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.”

As she reaches her full height, the top of her head barely reaching the bottom of my chin, I’m once again keenly aware of how soft and sweet she looks. Good enough to eat.

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