Page 27 of The Mountain Man's Runaway Bride

He shrugs and steps back, his expression full of something I can’t quite name. “Take your time. I’ll warm up the plane.”

The small regional airport is barely more than a building with a few desks and a snack bar, but it’s still buzzing when we land. Knox kisses my knuckles and tells me he’s going to refuel his plane.

I head inside, phone in hand and anxiety growing by the second. I can’t explain it. This feels wrong. I know it’s what I’m supposed to do. This time away from home was to help me clear my head after everything that happened.

But even though it hasn’t been a full two weeks, this place has grown on me. It’s become… important. Grounding.

And then there’s Knox. Calling him a vacation fling feels so wrong. Calling him a friend with benefits is minimizing.

What do you call the man who has turned your life upside down and helped you see it the way it should be?

The desk clerk sends me down to the airline’s main customer service counter, and I wait. And wait. And finally get a very nice but utterly unhelpful response about my return flight being overbooked, but not to worry, because I’ll be rebooked on another flight shortly. They just can’t tell me when.

Frustrated, I turn to leave—and that’s when I hear it.

A voice.

“Hi, I’m looking for Knox Callahan? He’s supposed to be meeting me?”

I freeze. Turn slowly. And there, standing at the arrivals area, is a petite woman in a stylish coat and boots that are clearly not rated for Alaskan snow. She has a suitcase beside her, and she’s scanning the crowd with anxious, hopeful eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I say, stepping closer before I can stop myself. “Did you say…Knox Callahan?”

She brightens. “Yes! Do you know him?”

Do I know him?

I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. “He’s…he flew me here, actually. But he’s not expecting anyone.”

Her brows draw together. “Really? That’s weird. We’ve been talking for weeks. Ever since I signed up through Frontier Hearts?”

Frontier Hearts?

She glances around again, her fingers tightening on the handle of her suitcase. “I was going to back out, but he’s just been so sweet in all his messages. Telling me how excited he is to meet me. That he understands if I have cold feet but hopes I’ll still come.”

Her voice cracks a little at that. “So I did. I came.”

I feel the world tilt beneath me.

Knox. Messaging her. Reassuring her. Waiting for her?

I force a smile and nod numbly. “I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”

“Would you let him know I’ve arrived?”

“I will,” I lie, my voice distant. “Excuse me.”

I step outside into the cold air before she can see my face fall apart.

It all makes sense now.

Why he kept saying it wasn’t a good idea between us. Why he held back. Because he already had someone coming.

Because I was just a mistake he made while waiting.

It turns out I was just the layover before the real bride arrived.

TEN

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