Page 29 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

She looks back down to the valley. “It looks like a snow globe. It’s beautiful.”

I drive down Main Street and pull up in front of Izzy’s.

“One of the owners of this bar is about your size if you want to change your clothes.”

“Yes, please.” She grabs the door handle. “I can’t wait to get into something comfortable.”

I grab her arm and pull her back. “Wait for me to come around and get you. I don’t want you to fall in the snow. With that dress on, I might not ever find you.”

She’s putting flip flops back on her feet when I open her door. I shake my head.

“They made more sense when we were in L.A.,” she says, trying to jump down.

I stop her. “Nope. You’re going to get frostbite on your feet. I’ll carry you.”

When we walk into the bar, everyone stops talking. I’m just realizing what this looks like. I’m carrying a bride over the threshold into the room.

“Seriously?” Gabi says, peering at me from behind the bar. “I tell you to find a single woman at the wedding and you bring home the bride?”

She puts her hands on the bar and leans forward so she can get a better look at the billows of white falling all around Elle.

“Well technically, she’s still single.” I usher Elle over to a seat at the far end of the bar. “You think Izzy has any clothes she can wear? They’re about the same size, right?”

“Honey, are you okay?” Gabi strolls over and pats Elle’s hand. “Blink twice if he’s holding you against your will.”

She smiles as she squeezes Gabi’s hand. “I’m fine. Actually, I think I might be holding him against his will.”

“Hmm.” Gabi turns to me. “Are you making her say that?”

I roll my eyes at her as Izzy charges through the kitchen door.

“Wait, what’s this I’m hearing? Does Nash have a lady friend with him?” She wipes her hands on her apron before she extends one to Noelle. “Hi. I’m Gabi’s wife, Isabelle, and I can already feel in your aura that you’re the perfect person for Nash.”

“Better take a look at what’s she’s wearing before you make any more predictions, honey,” Gabi says, laughing.

Elle smiles and shakes Izzy’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Noelle and I could really use a change of clothes. Do you have anything I can borrow?”

Gabi pushes Izzy out from behind the bar as Elle slides Hank’s jacket off and hands it to me. Izzy laughs when she sees the wedding dress. “Only you, Nash. Did you tackle her halfway down the aisle and run off with her?”

“I didn’t kidnap her! Why does everyone think I’m a caveman all of a sudden?”

“Well, I don’t know about ‘all of a sudden.’” Izzy takes Elle’s arm and pulls her toward the back stairs that lead up to her apartment.

“Wait.” I stand up and walk toward them. “Elle, come here for a second.”

She follows me over to the corner of the room and frowns when she sees my serious face. “What’s wrong?”

“You need to call Steve. I know he’s worried about you.”

“You don’t even like him. Why do you care what he’s feeling?”

“I don’t like him—at all. But you apparently love him or did at one time.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “Did he hurt you or something?”

She shakes her head. “No, nothing like that. It’s just—”

“Stop. You don’t have to explain it to me. I’m just saying if you were my bride—no matter what hideous thing I did to make you want to run away from me on our wedding day—I would still be worried until I knew you were safe.”

She looks down at her feet and sighs. “You’re right.”

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