Page 21 of Runaway Bride’s Husband

She’d go from being the heiress who postponed her wedding when the guests were already seated to runaway bride, to homewrecker, and God only knew what else. The speculation would run the gauntlet from affairs, to family feuds, to pregnancy, and if they could, they’d probably even pitch a murder in there somewhere.

The tabloids weren’t exactly known for their restraint.

“She needs to go home before this gets ugly,” Holden agreed, his own thoughts obviously having gone down the same path as mine. “Does she know that, though? Do you think she has any idea how bad it can get?”

“She thinks she knows.”

One of the curtains moved in the window, but I pretended not to notice. Just like I was pretending I hadn’t seen the tears or the panic in her eyes when I’d found her under that table.

That was why I’d told her to run, though. I knew what it felt like to feel trapped. Alone. I knew what it was like to have the burden on your shoulders to fight for the family name, the legacy, and to keep on keeping on no matter how you felt about it.

“Okay, so she thinks she knows, but she doesn’t really,” Holden said slowly. “I’ve been keeping an eye on the headlines and they’re okay for now, but the rumors are already starting. It won’t be long before one or more catches fire.”

“Yeah.”

“So maybe it’s time to change your approach. You know you don’t have time to fuck around, but she’s sick of people telling her what to do. It’s understandable, if a little naive under the circumstances.”

“It’s not naive, Holden. Unless someone has been through what we have, there’s no way for them to know how bad it can get or how fast. She probably thinks it’ll be a mean headline or two and then it’ll pass.”

“It won’t. We’re talking about the Pembrokes and Hawthornes here. Neither family is going to want to be seen as having lost the battle and they’ll keep fanning the flames themselves if that’s what it takes for them to not look weak.”

“I know, but at the same time, I can’t force Maggie to leave and she’s not going to do it willingly either.”

“So suck up to her,” he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “If she’s not coming out because you’re ordering her to, stop ordering her to and actually try to think about it from her point of view.”

“That’s your advice?”

“I have more.”

“I’m afraid to ask.”

“Lucky for you, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll tell you without making you beg for it,” he said. “Be nice to her, Ryan. Right now, you’re a finance bro sitting on her grandfather’s porch in the rain, telling her she’s a liability who’s going to be in big, big trouble when she gets home.”

I groaned. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, fuck.” Holden laughed. “Suck up to her. Otherwise, I guarantee you’re going to be sitting on that porch forever.”

I sighed. “She’s impossible. I’m trying to help her.”

“She’s a woman who just ran away from her wedding, which was arranged for her by people I’m sure also claimed to be helping her.”

“Yeah, but the difference is that I actually have helped her. Surely, she should trust me by this point.”

“Ryan, she’s scared. Try remembering that instead of trying to logic your way into that house, because that’s not going to work.”

“Yeah. Okay, I’ll try. Any other advice?”

“Yeah. Hurry the hell up. This is supposed to be my time off and our dear brothers are already making me jump in to cover for you.”

“You?” I grimaced. I did not need Holden making a mess of what I’d spent the last few years trying to build while I was stuck on a sodden porch. “Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

“Great, because I’m very close to starting to cry whenever Colin’s name pops up on my screen.”

“I’m coming. Just don’t touch anything.”

He laughed. “Let me tell you what. Because you’re doing someone else a favor, I’ll do one for you. I won’t touch any of your precious deals, but I can’t promise not to poke them a little just to make sure they’re solid.”

“Don’t you dare,” I muttered, then hung up on him and pushed to my feet, more determined than ever to get in that damn house.