Page 4 of The Bride's Secret

Her mouth dropped open and he winked, his eyes taking in everyone around them. She cleared her throat and then her smile grew, hesitant at first. “Oh good. We’re off then?” They walked together, Wyatt taking all of her things. She sidled up next to him. “What are you doing?” She whispered.

“Just dropping a bride off on her honeymoon.”

“What? You’re going with me?”

“I figure, I can’t just send you by yourself. A woman such as you deserves a bit of an escort, far as I can tell.” Even as he said the words, he sounded a bit over the top even to himself, but something about sending her off alone felt wrong, and he felt a tiny amount of responsibility for her, since she’d been mistreated by his own friend and since he’d driven her to the airport. He dipped his head as if he was wearing his old cowboy hat. “Well now, ma’am. I’ve been raised never to leave a woman in distress.”

She laughed and then shook her head. “And to think you and Heath are friends. I’ve never met two different people.”

Suddenly he wanted to be as distant from Heath as possible. “It’s been years since we’ve been close.”

Her eyes widened, and she swallowed and then turned away.

This was going to be quite a trip with a stranger, an emotionally crippled stranger. But he had to hand it to her. She saw through Heath’s nonsense at last and when she did, had the courage to step away.

“And from what I can tell, you just saved yourself years of sorrow.”

Her eyes grew so wide he was afraid they’d take over her face. Then she nodded. “So, did I do the right thing?” Her whisper almost flitted away to mingle with the conversation all around them. But he heard it and he nodded. “Yes, Ma’am I think you did.”

She nodded, and stood taller. Then she laughed, weak, but her face relaxed more. “I think I’m going to go change.”

“I’ll stay with your things.”

She stepped three steps toward the bathroom and then came back, face a new deep shade of red. “Um. I’m going to need some help.”

“Pardon me?”

“Getting out of the dress.” She turned her back to show him. “The buttons.”

His mouth dropped, and he felt his face heat. Then he looked around for a nice looking woman. “I can’t—”

“Oh please. I can’t wear this anymore.” Tears started to fall again. “Sorry, I’m not usually such a mess.”

“Alright, alright. Lead the way.” If she wasn’t so beautiful, it might not be so uncomfortable. But if any woman had ever been off limits, she was it, so he tried to pretend she was his sister.

She found a family bathroom that was vacant, and they both went inside. Wyatt didn’t miss the wink he got from a guy walking by at about the same time. Well, at least they could continue the marriage farce for a little while. It made everything less complicated, especially with her wearing this dress. He shook his head.

“What?”

“Oh, sorry, just thinking. What a crazy day. I don’t know how I’m gonna explain any of this to Heath.”

Her face fell. “Or my mother.” She swallowed. “Or Marguerite. That woman is gonna kill me.”

“You sure about this?” Wyatt lifted her chin with his finger.

“I thought you approved.”

He cleared his throat. “I do, but only if you’re sure. A woman like you could make any relationship work.”

She smiled.

“If you wanted to.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want something like that. I want.” She bit her lip, and Wyatt found himself fascinated by the gentle pressure of her white teeth on her soft mouth. “I want joy. I want the relationship to bring me joy, to be easy and hard, to make me smile more than I cry.” She sniffed and then her face pinched up, and Wyatt held his arms out. “I’m sorry for asking. Come here.”

She melted into him, hiding her face against his shirt. He could only guess what kind of mess it would be in once she was done. But as he wrapped his arms around her back, her soft skin from her bare-backed dress warm against his fingers, something nudged inside him and he found himself glad to be with her, happy he was the one to help, and a hint of protective care filled him. He placed his chin on top of her head. “It’s going to be okay. You’ll relax for a few days, then face all the demons. You’ve got the strength inside to do this.”

Pulling away, she smiled up at him, her makeup remarkably clean.

---