Page 5 of Love on the Run

Now, she was barreling out of the church on her wedding day.

Her attention focused on her feet bouncing down the stairs until she was three steps from him. When she finally looked up, her eyes widened a mere second before her foot slipped off the step.

Poised and ridiculously perfect, Anna Harris even tripped gracefully. The whole thing happened in slow motion. Her foot landed unevenly, her shoulders pitched forward, and her arms reached toward him.

Then, someone hit fast forward. Beau opened his arms, and she tumbled right into his chest. Wrapping her up, he took a step down when the force threatened to send them both falling. Turning, he held her suspended above the stone stairs.

And that’s how Beau ended up dipping the bride on her wedding day.

Anna clung to his back and shoulders, huffing quick, loud breaths. “I—I almost fell.”

“Yep. But I caught you.”

Please don’t panic. Please don’t make a big deal out of it. Please don’t cry. For the love of all things good, please don’t cry.

Beau raised her, holding her steady until she balanced on her feet. “Are you okay?”

Anna brushed her hands down her dress. The purse she’d been carrying was at the bottom of the stairs. “Um, I think so. You caught me.”

“Yeah,” Beau drawled. “We covered that.” Didshe really expect him to just let her fall? Of course he would catch her. “You’re all good?”

She nodded quickly, still gasping for those quick breaths that were doing nothing to calm her.

“Breathe. I need more words, Anna.”

She looked up at him, and a wave of dread slid down his back. Her wedding started in fifteen minutes, and her hair was escaping from the pins holding it up. Was she wearing any makeup? Why was she in running shoes?

Shoot. She was running.

Granted, she needed to run. She needed to run as far and as fast as she could from Dean What’s-His-Face. That guy was the definition of a loser.

She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and closed her eyes. “Yes. I’m okay.” She swallowed hard and looked him up and down. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. I thought I was going to your wedding, but since it looks like you’re not going to your wedding, I guess I’m free.”

Anna turned to the building. Her blonde hair flared around her, still looking great despite being a little messy.

Satisfied that no one was coming after her, she grabbed Beau’s hand and continued down the stairs. “Good. Let’s go.”

Beau tugged slightly on her hand. Holding hands was one of those weird touchy-feely thingspeople did in relationships, and he didn’t like the idea of being led around by Anna. “Whoa. What are you doing?” She’d been about to marry the world’s biggest moron. Did he really trust her judgment?

Anna stopped and turned to him, still gripping his hand. “I have to get out of here, and I need a ride.”

Beau took in her outfit. “You can’t get on my motorcycle like that.”

Anna looked down at her short dress. It was cute. Well, it was something other than cute, but Beau wouldn’t be analyzing it any more than that.

When she looked up, it was her sincerity that struck him. “Why not?”

“It’s fifteen degrees out here. You’ll freeze. And no skirts on the bike. That’s dangerous.”

That was a new and unexpected rule. Who would have thought he’d be laying down laws about skirts on his bike today or any other day?

Anna’s shoulders sank, and her blue eyes narrowed. “I really need your help.”

Oh no. She would not lure him in with a pitiful pouty face. He was immune to feminine wiles, and she was wasting her efforts to suck him into a situation that wasn’t any of his business.

“Anna!”

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