Page 38 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

“If you don’t come back with me right now, it’s over.” He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms.

“Seriously? An ultimatum?”

“You made a complete fool out of me. Do you know what people are saying about us? About me?”

“I don’t care what they’re saying. Who cares what people think of us? It’s none of their business. It’s between you and me.”

He shakes his head and blows a long breath out. “You’re so naive, Noelle. Stop being selfish. Not everything’s about you. You need to start thinking about how your decisions affect other people.”

I push my chair back a little bit. “No, I don’t.” My eyes start to tear up again. “I need to think about myself—what’s going to make me happy. I can’t make decisions based on what’s going to make you happy—or my mom or your dad.”

“And here I thought I made you happy.” He’s glaring at me. “So you’re going to stay here? How long?”

“I don’t know. Like the rest of this week. Maybe through Christmas. I need a little time.”

He puts his hands over his face to muffle a frustrated grunt. “Christmas Eve is in two days. I’ll give you until then.”

“Thank you,” I say. “Do you want the ring back?”

“Are we not engaged anymore?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what’s supposed to happen now?”

“I still want to marry you, despite all this,” he says, standing up. “Come back with me. Everyone’s still in town. We can have a party tonight and get married next week.”

“I can’t come back. Not right now.” I take the ring off and try to hand it to him.

“Keep the ring,” he says, shaking his head. “I don’t even feel like I know you right now, but I’ll come back up here on Christmas Eve and we can talk again. I’ve got your stuff in my car if you want it.”

“Yeah,” I say as he turns around and starts toward the door. He glances at Nash but keeps walking.

Steve grabs my bag out of his car and hands it to me. “This is all I found in your suite. Your phone’s in there, too. I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Okay, thanks. I’m sorry, Steve. I really am.”

He rolls his eyes as he gets in the car and leaves without replying. I watch his car drive up Main Street and out of sight. I feel a jacket go over my shoulders.

“You okay?” Nash’s voice is soft and gentle. He wraps the jacket tightly around me.

“No, but I will be,” I say, shivering. “Did you tell me you could get me a room somewhere? I’m exhausted.”

“Yeah, I’ll take you there.” He looks down at my feet. “Elle, you’re standing in the snow. Your socks are drenched. You’re going to get frostbite.”

I didn’t even notice. I jump out of the snow and try to shake it off the socks.

“The inn’s just down the street. C’mon,” he says, bending down. “I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

As I climb on his back, he takes off my socks and dries my feet on his shirt.

“Wait, don’t take off my socks. It’s so cold out here.”

“Dry, cold feet are better than wet, cold feet,” he says as he starts massaging them in his big, warm hands. “And I’m a little worried you don’t know that already.”

“Is that Ranger training?”

“That’s common-sense training.” He puts his arms around my thighs and takes off across the street. “And are you ever going to stop digging at my past?”

“Definitely not.”

“You’re a lot, Elle,” he says, laughing.

I wrap my arms around his neck and lay my head on his shoulder. I’m so tired. I can barely keep my eyes open.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispers as he leans his head against mine. “I promise.”

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