Page 68 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

When we walk in the front door, she stops suddenly, causing me to crash into her again. For a second, I think she sees another Santa Claus until I look at her face. She definitely doesn’t look happy. I look across the room and see why. Trip Walker is about thirty feet from us with his tongue shoved down the throat of a voluptuous, young redhead.

“Holy crap,” Elle says, spinning around so she’s facing me. She tries to push through me toward the door. Too late.

“Well, well, well, look what we have here.” Mr. Walker walks over to us slowly. “I’m not sure why I’m even surprised. Nash, you’ve taken things away from Steve since you were boys—girls, awards, scholarships. I guess his fiancé shouldn’t be any different.”

“It’s not what it looks like—”

He puts his hand up to stop me. “Nope. I don’t even want to hear it. I can’t wait to tell Bitzy. She’s been wondering how to explain it to our friends. This will make it easier for her. I can’t say it’s going to make it easier for your mom though.”

I try to take a step toward him, but Elle spins around to face him—pressing her back against me. “And I can’t wait to tell your wife about that redhead whose face you were just inhaling.”

Mr. Walker laughs. “Oh, Noelle. Do you think anyone is going to believe anything you say at this point?”

“Nope, so good thing I got a picture. And I also have a picture of you and the tall brunette at Nobu a couple of months ago,” she says, taking a step toward him. I pull her back. “Steve was with me that time. Yeah, that’s right. Your son knows you’re whoring around L.A. Does Bitzy know? I’m guessing not. How about all your friends at church? And, let me see, you’ve been married more than forty years—back when you were still poor—so I’m guessing Bitzy didn’t sign a prenup. I wonder if she can claim California residency since you just bought that place in Malibu, then she could get half of everything.”

He takes a step closer to her and grabs her shoulder. “You really are a little bitch.”

“Hey! Watch your mouth.” I push him back and pull her behind me. “You ever touch her again, you will lose that hand. You understand me?”

He looks over his shoulder quickly to see if any of his group is watching. They aren’t. He puts his hands up in surrender.

“I have no desire to be near either one of you ever again,” he says, looking around me at Elle. “How about we call it even?”

Elle tries to walk around me. I block her with my arm. “Leave Nash and his mom alone. They’ve got nothing to do with this. And while you’re at it, back off my parents. And tell your wife to do the same.”

“We will back off everyone on one condition.” He points his finger at Elle. I want to knock it down, but I resist. “If you ever see me again, you act like you don’t know me. Both of you.”

“Gladly,” Elle says loudly. “I wish I didn’t know you.”

He smiles and backs away. “Nash, if you ever get her to the altar, watch out. She’s a slippery one.”

I wait until he’s back with his group and then turn to Elle. I half expect her eyes to be filled with tears, but they’re cold and hard. “You okay? You don’t look like you want to cry.”

“I don’t cry when I’m mad,” she says. “I want to kick his butt.”

I smile as I put my arm around her and turn her away from him. “Okay, but before the butt-kicking begins, maybe we should get lunch. I barely let you finish your breakfast. You’ll need some more energy.”

“Yeah, I probably need more protein if I’m going to fight him, right?”

“That’s the second thing they teach us in Ranger school—load up on protein before you kick someone’s butt,” I say, pulling her harder in the direction of the restaurant.

“I could probably teach Ranger school at this point.” She finally turns around and starts walking with me.

“There’s no doubt in my mind,” I say, smiling down at her.

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