Page 3 of Billionaire's Runaway

“I see your ESP is working full-force,” I laughed.

“Well, I know you wouldn’t call me on my honeymoon unless there was a problem.”

I heard Fray in the background, telling her to find out where I was.

“My car died,” I told her. “I’m sorry to call you; I really am. But I didn’t know who else to phone. Most anyone else would sic my dad on me. He canceled my credit card, so I can’t even get someone to come tow me, so I can get it fixed.”

“Where are you?”

“In the middle of BFE Michigan?” I sighed.

“More specific?”

“Northern BFE Michigan. I’m about ten miles outside of Brandywine. Upper Lake Michigan.”

“’Kay,” she said. “Hang tight. We’ll get you taken care of and safe. It could be a couple hours, alright? But we’ll have you out of there by tonight. Will you be okay to wait there?”

I heard Fray talking in the background while I glanced down at my console. “Yeah, I have water and my tablet. I’ll just kick back with a book. I’ll wrap up in a blanket, since it’s February and pretty dang cold. At least, it’s not snowing.”

Yet. The rain had been slowly turning sleet-like over the past half hour.

“Stay as warm as you can. Don’t go off with any strangers; you hear me? We’ll be there soon?”

“You’recoming?” I exclaimed. Crap, I didn’t want her leaving her honeymoon for me.

Emerson didn’t answer. Glancing down at my phone, I saw it hadn’t died yet, but the wind must have shifted or something. I had zero bars, and the cell had dropped the call.

I sighed, tossing it onto the seat beside me. This day was super freaking great. And I’d just disrupted Em’s day, by dragging her into my drama, too. Well, fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck.

* * * *

The knock on my window startled me from sleep, and I jumped about a mile, slamming my head against the glass in the process. I rubbed my hand across the frosted-up surface, trying to clear it enough to see outside.

All I could make out was a large body in what looked like a long wool coat. It was open, revealing a charcoal suit, white shirt and silvery-gray tie. I couldn’t see the person’s face through the icy glass, but this wasn’t a tow-truck driver or some regular Joe happening by. The guy seemed like a businessman of some sort.

Then he leaned down, and I reared back, my eyes wide as I met the dark-brown stare of the man I’d steadfastly tried so hard to forget.

He didn’t look happy as he glared at me, even as a smirk lifted one side of his full lips.

Luke…

“Open the door, Laura,” he ordered, his voice muffled by the window.

I hesitated. If I released the lock, there was no protection from him—not that I thought he’d hurt me. I just… A deeper, more fragile part of me was in danger.

“Laura,” he growled.

What could I do? Stay here and freeze? I didn’t have much choice. Even as bundled up as I was, my fingers barely worked due to the cold. I fumbled with the mechanism. I’d barely clicked it when the door opened. Luke crowded inside immediately. He pulled me into his arms, leaving everything else, then stalked toward a running black SUV, waiting several yards away. My arms went around his neck. I held on tight, though I didn’t think he’d drop me. His warm woodsy scent enveloped me, and I closed my eyes momentarily just letting it sink into me, envelop me, comfort me. Along with it came surprising peace.

“What are you doing here?” I murmured into his neck.

“Get everything from her car. Everything. Clean it out,” he told the man we passed. I hadn’t even seen him until we were going by him.

“Yes, sir.”

Luke didn’t say anything more until we were settled into the back of his vehicle. “I’m here to get you.”

“I…”

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