“Look,” I said dangerously. “You can try to stop me, but I’m very tall and I will bite, so I don’t recommend it.”
“Just think about this a moment,” Nolan said. “We can make A Plan.”
“I don’t need to think about it!” My voice echoed through the space, louder than the wind outside. “I’m not just going to sit here and eat charcuterie while Sunny might be hurt or cold or worse! I’m not losing someone else I love!”
No one spoke. And for a minute, even I didn’t register what I’d just said.
But the last word I’d spoken was still there, still in the press of my teeth to my lips, and reflected in the eyes of everyone staring at me.
“Holy shit,” someone said.
I pressed my hands to either side of my face and dragged in a breath. Oh my God, I loved Sunny. I was in love with her.
What the fuck.
“Okay, okay,” Bee said, flapping her hands at the crowd. “Let’s give Mr.Man Bun room to breathe here. Nolan, take the basket of animal products into the kitchen, Jack take off your coat. Let’s all meet in the library and then come up with A Plan in there.”
Everyone moved except for me and Bee. I was still standing with my hands pressed to my head, my thoughts as scattered as the snow on the marble floor.
I loved her.
I loved her.
I’d been so tremendously stupid.
A face appeared in front of mine. “Psst! Romeo!”
I blinked at Bee.
“Do you really love her?”
I nodded dazedly. I didn’t know where the panic over Sunny’s disappearance ended and the elation over being in love with her began, and I was breathless from it.
Bee looked around to make sure we were alone, and then leaned in. “The stables, the farthest stall from the door. There’s a snowmobile in there.”
I suddenly became alert. “What?”
“The keys are on a hook inside the stall. Nolan and I... ah, borrowed it once while we were doing reshoots for the secondDuke the Halls. We found a small lane that goes from the edge of the gardens to the lodge, a few miles at most. It could betough going, but it might be easier than driving into town and then back up to the lodge on the main road.”
I yanked her into a hug. “You’re a lifesaver,” I said.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” she said into my chest. “I hope we’re all wrong and she’s sitting in the lodge with half a candy cane in her mouth. Now you better go before the others notice.”
“Right.” I let go of her and cast a quick look around, trying to gather my thoughts. I needed a coat and a hat and my boots.
“Wait!” Bee exclaimed. “Share your location with me first.”
“Oh,” I said. “Smart.”
“Just a benevolent stalker. Okay, go. Bring my Sunny back to me.”
I saluted her, already half running away. And just a few minutes later, I was bundled up and atop the snowmobile, tearing away from the gardens like a man being chased, snow kicking up behind me.
Just hold on, Sunny, I thought.I’m on my way.
Chapter Thirty-One
Sunny
