Page 57 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

I shake my head. “You know, you talk as much as Elle does.”

“There’s no need to exaggerate, Nash!” Kit yells at my back. “No one talks as much as Elle.”

Elle follows me into the bedroom. “Nash, maybe you should sit this one out. It’s probably going to get ugly.”

“I was about to say the same thing to you,” I say, putting her clothes on the bed. “Do you want Kit and me to handle this? You don’t need any more stress.”

“Kit hates my mom. She’s just going to add fuel to the fire.”

“Then I’ll handle it myself. She can stay here with you.” I take her shoulders and lean down to look at her. “You don’t have to deal with anything you don’t want to deal with right now. I’ve got your back.”

“Thank you, but you can’t protect me from this. I should have called Mom back this morning. I’m sure that’s making her crazier. Believe me, she will burn this town to the ground if she doesn’t get what she wants.”

“I absolutely can protect you. I’m not going to let anyone come at you—even your mom.”

She nods her head. She looks really tired again. I pull her to me and give her a quick squeeze.

“It’s going to be fine. Get dressed. After your parents leave if you need more hugging or crying or liquor—whatever—I’ve got you, okay?”

She nods again as I leave the room and close the door behind me. Kit’s sitting on a kitchen stool, staring at me.

“Nash, I’m not saying this to hear myself talk. Really. I have a Ph.D. in Elle. You’re wading into dangerous waters. Please back off a little bit. She’s not able to think for herself right now.”

I’m starting to get a little bit pissed at her. “I don’t know what you think you’re seeing. It’s innocent. I’m just being nice to her. Nothing’s going to happen.”

“Oh yeah. I saw the way you looked at her butt. That wasn’t a friendly look.”

I shake my head as I walk over to her. “She’s a beautiful woman. No man could see that and not stare for a second. Just a natural reaction. Nothing more.”

I hear Elle walk out of the room behind us. She’s still got my shirt on—now tied at her waist over her ski pants. “My shirt was still a little wet. Can I wear this for now?”

“Yeah, of course. Keep it,” I say, walking over and grabbing their coats off the rack.

“Wait, what’s wrong?” Elle says. “The mood in the room has changed.”

Kit walks over and takes her coat from me. “Of course the mood has changed, Elle. Leni’s energy has already enveloped the entire town.”

Elle sighs and looks up at me as I help her into her coat. “Last chance to stay out of this. Save yourself. Kit and I are used to it.”

“Well, I don’t know about used to it.” Kit mumbles as she walks out the door.

I look down at Elle. “I’m coming with you. What did I tell you about that California law?”

“Oh right,” she says, laughing as she pulls her snowflake mittens on. “But I’m telling you, you’d probably rather spend a few nights in jail than meet my mom.”

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