Page 19 of Runaway Bride for the Boss

Dr. Roberts asks a few questions and gives me a form to complete. Afterward, she leads me to the in-house lab where I have to take off my contacts before a couple of tests are run. I sigh inwardly as I imagine the amount of money being racked up right now. I should just kiss the idea of my car goodbye for now.

The test results are immediate, and the doctor explains in simple terms what I already know; not only am I practically blind, but I have astigmatism. It’s a kind of defect in the eye that causes distorted images and makes things appear very blurry. Meaning glasses or contacts are not optional, especially while driving – if I ever get my car back that is.

“But you already knew that, didn’t you?” Dr. Roberts asks kindly.

“Yeah, but I’m starting to get eye strain late at night. I’m not sure if it’s because of the constant use of contacts, but I’d like to switch to glasses regardless.”

She nods in understanding and continues the exam. Once my prescription is determined, she takes me to the cases of glasses to try some on. She takes out three different frames to try thatshe thinks will accent my face shape, which I appreciate greatly. The doctor is clearly an elegant woman with impeccable taste, so I’ll wear whatever she thinks looks good on me!

I take out my contacts and try on the first pair. I squint into the mirror. The doctor smiles politely and says, “Perhaps you should leave your contacts in until you choose your frames. The glass in these is just for show.” My cheeks redden, and I mumble, “Of course, that makes perfect sense.”

I love the gold frame and design of the next pair she hands me, which I try on with my contacts –I mean come on Autumn, stop embarrassing yourself. “These are perfect! They make me feel like…me.”

“Great.” She looks pleased with my selection, which is reassuring. “Do you have insurance?” She winces when I shake my head to say no. Oh boy, that can’t be a good sign. My heart starts to pound with trepidation as she explains that the receptionist will give me the bill in an hour when my new glasses are ready. I thank her one last time before I head back to the front. I spend the next hour waiting in the reception area, barely able to focus on my book because I’m so stressed about the expensive purchase.I’m doing this for me, I remind myself.

“Looking sharp, Autumn.” Andrea whistles wriggling her brow at me and I chuckle. I lift my hand up to adjust the frame – which fits my face perfectly – and toss her a wink since I’m feeling sassy and confident in my new specs. I gasp when the receptionist hands me the bill, and I sway on my feet.

Shit.

“Um, do you accept payment plans?” I ask, but before she can respond Andrea drops a black Amex card on her desk. “Andrea!”

“Don’t give me that look. My treat.” She offers me a small smile.

A lead like weight forms in the pit of my stomach. “I can’t just let you pay for my glasses, Andrea.” I complain as the receptionist swipes the card, and Andrea types in her pin.

“It’s done. Consider it a signing bonus,” she declares. I sigh heavily as I follow her.

“Look, I appreciate what you’ve done for me so far,” I start as Andrea pulls out of the clinic’s parking lot. “But it doesn’t sit well with me to have you pay for my glasses. Here.” I squeeze a couple of bills into her pant pockets.

“Autumn—”

“No, listen. That only covers a small portion. My next paycheck should cover the rest. Please don’t argue, Andrea. When I left my ex, I promised myself not to become reliant on anyone else. Not that I think you’d try to use it to control me or anything,” I rush to add when she tosses a glance at me. “But it will make me feel better if you let me pay.”

“Fine.”

“Thanks.” I murmur, glad she’s not arguing. Larson started with buying contacts for me. Then a trip to the salon here and there with the expectation that I come out looking the way he likes. Then some clothes that fit his image of the perfect girlfriend…until it escalated so far that I didn’t recognize who I was anymore.

“One day, when you’re ready, you’ll have to tell me all about this ex of yours. He sounds like a real piece of work.”

He is. He really is. “We don’t need to go to the mechanic anymore. I don’t think I’ll need my car to make any trips into town for a while, I have the essentials.” And I don’t have the money to pay for the repair right now, anyway.

Andrea gives me a pointed look but, thankfully, she doesn’t try to argue. We continue the rest of the drive home in comfortable silence. I stare out the winder while my thoughtsslowly drift off to the smoldering gaze of one dark, haunted Beaufort brother.

CHAPTER 12

ALEXANDER

I’m in the middle of analyzing blueprints for a new office building when my office suddenly goes dim. The lack of natural light makes me glance up from my computer and out my window to see it’s nearly dark. It can’t be that late already, can it? I turn my wrist to check the time, and as I do, a familiar pitter patter sound starts outside. The time on my Rolex reads only four PM.

Looking up again I see raindrops beginning to fall.Goddammit. A heavy sigh escapes me as I rub my head with my fingers. We’re putting up a new building off Briggs road today, starting with the concrete work. If the rain is heavy like it’s threatening to be, it will really set us back. The rain picks up, falling down faster and harder. Just my fucking luck.

I get up from my seat just as my office door swings open. “It’s raining,” Noah announces.

“No shit, genius.”

He rolls his eyes at my sarcastic reply and follows me out of the office. “From the looks and sound of it, it’s only going to get worse,” Noah says. I don’t answer him as I get into the elevator. I text my driver to meet me at the entrance.

“We’ll have to go to the site to see how far the guys have progressed so we know how to handle this,” I tell Noah who nods in agreement.

---