Page 7 of Will to Run

Hazel

A runaway bride? Well, this is exciting. Not that she’s running away, but that Jaxon is trying to put moves on a runaway bride. That has to be a first, right? Did anyone have runaway bride on Jaxon’s high-season hookup Bingo card?

Jax

Fuck you, I’m not trying to put moves on her. The ex-fiancé was supposed to be golfing with his best man, but in a stroke of dumb luck, she found the two of them exploring other holes. Besides, she wouldn’t have made it through the pass tonight. Really, I’m a lifesaver. A hero, if you will. A hero who is showing intellectual superiority with not one but two golf puns. Anyway, we’ll be there soon.

Ev

Is she pretty?

Jax

Stunning

Case

I rest my case. Hook. Line. Sinker.

After watching a series of fishing gifs come through, I lock up and jump in my car. This is shaping up to be an different kind of evening. Who says interesting things don’t happen here?

5

DELLA

As soon as my car door closes, my phone rings.

“Speak of the devil, I was just about to call you,” I say to Quinn.

“Del, stop the car. I don’t know where you are, but you cannot, and I mean cannot, make it through the mountains tonight. My parents just called. There’s a crazy storm, and I know you don’t even know what that means, but you won’t be able to get through the pass.” Panic laces her voice as she talks a hundred miles an hour.

“Quinn, I know. I’m not even in the mountains.”

“Thank God,” she breathes. “I was so worried when they called. I didn’t even think to look, which is stupid, because there always seems to be some kind of spring storm up there, but I wasn’t even thinking.”

“Actually, I’m staying at a ranch tonight.”

“A ranch? How did you manage that? Most ranches are closed right now. I was going to give you a list of places you could stay.”

“Well, I stopped at a mechanic in a place called Amberheart Valley and asked the guy there to put on snow chains. But not only did I have the wrong ones, he told me I couldn’t go. And then he offered to let me stay at his ranch. I said maybe and just got in my car to look it up. Because right now, the way life is going, I have to make sure it’s legit before I follow this man to my disappearance and subsequent death.”

“You have got to lay off the crime shows, Del,” she laughs.

“I think you’re right about that, but the guy’s name is Jaxon, and the ranch is called… let me look… The Heart of Will Ranch.”

“Shut. The fuck. Up.” Quinn says slowly, as if I’ve just dropped the craziest news ever. “The Heart of Will Ranch? Run by the Wills family. They are like… ranching royalty.”

“Really? He seemed normal as he was shirtless, working on a car,” I say casually.

A barely human squeal rings in my ear.

“Della. They are a big deal. And hot as hell. Well, the brothers are. And the sister is fucking gorgeous, too. Plus, rumor has it they’re super nice. Holy shit, I can’t believe you are going to stay at The Heart of Will Ranch as a guest of Jaxon freaking Wills. Do you know how many people would die to be in your position right now? You should hook up with him.”

“Oh my God, Quinn, stop. The man is literally saving my ass by offering me a place to stay. I’m not looking to seduce him… on my wedding day.”

“Eh, he’s kind of a player, so he might seduce you. Honestly, that might be the perfect thing. Get in, get fucked, get out. Wear protection. In Driggs, things aren’t nearly as exciting, but I bet you’ll be thinking of Jaxon for long after. You have to. Oh my God, you just have to. Put in a good word for me, too.”

“What about Scott?” Scott is Quinn’s boyfriend of three years.