Page 10 of Impulsive Saint
“It is.” Tyler wiped at his face as he struggled to stand back upright. “It really is. You want me to take you to Vegas? You didn’t even know my name ten minutes ago.”
“But…” She tried only to have him cut her off.
“And you want to what, take a road trip with me? On a motorcycle? That’s like a three, four-day trip at least. I have a life and a job and you expect me to drop everything and chauffer your cute little ass across the country so you can… do what exactly? Why the hell do you even want to go to Vegas if you just ran out on your wedding?”
“Just… because I’ve never been and I want to go!” She stomped her foot and Tyler laughed again.
“God, you sound just like the whiny, overindulged, shallow girl I expected you to be.” Tyler shook his head.
“I amnotthat girl.” Ashtyn lost her tough girl façade, because that was all it really was anyway and let her absolute vulnerability show, “At least, I don’t want to be that girl. I don’t want to live inside the box or play by my father’s rules anymore. I don’t want to settle down and follow the path they laid out for me. From what you told me, I thought you of all people might understand that. You said you liked adventure and I’m in desperate need of one, Tyler. I have a bucket list and I need to do this. So will you help me? I should have added please, I realize that.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face and shook his head, “Ashtyn, this is a terrible idea.”
“Aren’t those the best kinds?” She tried for a winning smile.
“No, because you’re not this person. You’re just a rich girl with cold feet running away from home. You’ll come to your senses before you even get out of town.”
She took a little bit of offense to that but she tried not to show it, “We’re already out of town, Tyler. Look around, we’re not in Nashville anymore, Toto.”
“Close enough.” he snorted. “Besides, I only live a few miles from here.”
“Good. That’s perfect. I’ll run into the store over there and buy something to change into and then we can swing by your place and you can pack a bag and then we can hit the road.”
He pursed his lips, “It’s not happening Ashtyn.”
“Sure it is. I have to get out of this dress, like now. It’s ruined and it’s attracting attention. I’m going to… shit.” She frowned as she looked for her purse. “I don’t have my clutch.”
“See. You don’t even have your wallet with you, how exactly are you planning to get to Vegas?”
“Ooh. I forgot.” She reached inside her bra, causing Tyler’s eyes to widen and when she pulled out the crumpled bills she grinned triumphantly. “I grabbed these when I ran. I thought I might need to pay a cabbie.”
“I don’t think that’s going to get you to Vegas, princess.”
“I’ll figure the rest out. Right now, I’m going in that store over there and I’m buying some clean, normal clothes. When I get back, we can discuss where to go from here.”
“Home. You’re going home, Ashtyn.” he called after her but she ignored him.
He would come around, he had to. She might not know him well but he’d revealed something important about himself while they were talking. He was adventurous and he didn’t play by the rules but more than that, he was protective. He’d been intent on reminding her of all the ways this could have gone bad if he hadn’t been someone that wanted to keep her safe. But he was. Which meant he wouldn’t let her traipse off into the night alone or leave her behind. She could trust that he wasn’t going to go riding off the moment she went inside the store so she waved over her shoulder and headed towards the Target that was at one end of the strip mall they’d pulled into.
He’d come around to the idea while she did some shopping. She’d already figured it all out. She hadn’t really been thinking when she’d run out on her wedding. She’d ridden off on a motorcycle with a complete stranger without giving a thought to her safety. But now that she’d had time to think it all through, she knew exactly what was going to happen next.
Tyler was going to take her to Vegas and along the way he was going to help her check off as many bucket-list items as she could because what was the point of running out on her wedding if she didn’t start living right here and right now.
4
Tyler watched the big white marshmallow containing the teensy little woman that had become a gigantic pain in his ass, disappear through the sliding doors and into Target. His eyes stayed on the spot even after she was out of sight. He couldn’t believe the woman had just traipsed into a Target wearing a dirty, wrinkled wedding gown that probably cost as much as his motorcycle.
She was crazy. That was the only logical conclusion, certifiably nuts. She’d run out on her wedding. She’d gotten on the back of a motorcycle with a complete stranger. Then she’d asked him to take her on a road trip to Las Vegas of all places. She was crazy and entitled and completely ridiculous and yet, he found himself smiling as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and made the call he’d been putting off since the moment he stopped the bike.
He liked her. He hadn’t expected to, but there was just something about her. She was stronger than he’d imagined. Feisty and determined, and yeah, crazy too, but in a way that made him want to laugh and go along with whatever crazy scheme she came up with just to see what sort of trouble she’d get herself into next.
The phone rang in his ear once, twice, three times and he was almost convinced that it was going to go to voicemail when he heard the familiar hard voice on the other end of the line.
“Ty? Is that you?”
“Hey Blake, yeah it’s me. Look…”
“Where the hell have you been?” Blake cut him off with a growl, “I can’t believe you bailed on this wedding. I went to bat for you with Vaughn but…”
