Page 29 of Runaway Bride for the Boss

Andrea looks from me to her brother and back again, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. I use one hand to push my glasses up my nose and the other to push my hair back as I smile awkwardly at her.

Alexander comes back toward us waving a couple of heavy tomes. “I came for these.”

Is that a textbook on Astrophysics? I squint at the book. Strange choice for a home library. He gives me a short nod and then backs out of the library.

“Is something going on between you two?” Andrea asks.

“What? No, of course not! What do you mean?”

She shakes her head slowly. “First he sees you in the rain and offers you a ride home. I imagine he was at a construction site when he saw you. Alex willingly left a work site to drive you home.”

“Well, I guess so.” It wasn’t a question, but I feel the need to answer, anyway.

“Then when you got home, he made you hot chocolate while you were in the shower. He had George drive you to the bar, with said mug of hot chocolate that could have spilled in his precious car. Alex did all that? My brother, Alexander-the grump-Beaufort?”

“I was very careful to avoid any spills in his car,” I assure her, not sure where she’s going with this.

“And then, he bought you a phone, while making sure to add your line to his plan. You’re saying there’s nothing going on between you two…which can only mean one thing—” Her eyes go comically wide as she does the math and obviously comes to the wrong conclusion. “Alex has acrushyou! How adorable.”

I’m so relieved at how left field her conclusion is that a laugh escapes my lips. And once I start, I can’t stop. Alexander Beaufort, a crush on me? I continue laughing, a couple of tears even escaping from the corners of my eyes. Andrea glares at me.

For some reason her glare is hilarious and it sends me into another fit of laughter. “Oh my goodness, I’m s–sorry. I’m not laughing at you, I swear.”

“What’s so funny, then?” She crosses her arms over her chest.

I inhale deeply, my laughter slowly winding down. “He doesn’t like me, Andrea, I promise you.” At least I’m sure of that.The man might want me, but he doesn’t like me. He doesn’tlikeanyone.

“You don’t know him, Autumn. If it were Ezra, I wouldn’t pay it any mind, because that’s the kind of person he is. But Alex? He doesn’t go out of his way for anyone.”

“Maybe he just feels sorry for me,” I point out. “After all, I’m living in his house because I’m homeless and have no money. Then he saw me drenched in the rain. I even had a panic attack in front of him when—” I clamp my mouth shut. Shit.

“You had a panic attack?” Andrea grabs my arm. “When? What happened?”

It doesn’t feel right lying to her, but I can’t exactly tell her the truth, either. “My glasses got fogged up in the rain, and I couldn’t see. It led to a panic attack. He had to calm me down and then clean the glasses for me.”

“Oh, Autumn. I’m so sorry.” I gasp in surprise when she wraps her arms around me in a hug. “That must have been terrifying. Especially being locked in a car with the local grouch,” she adds with a snicker.

I slowly relax in her arms and hug her with a soft laugh. Andrea has a way of getting you to open up and then making you completely at ease. This must be what it’s like to have close girlfriends. It’s nice… really nice. Even before Larson made me cut ties with my friends, we weren’t all that close. Not really. I’ve always made friends easily, but kept people at arm’s length. I don’t even remember the last time I was hugged by a friend.

“Do you want me to take you on a tour of Brattleboro? It would be a VIP experience with a third generation local. I know all the good places.” Andrea grins, dropping her suspicions about me and Alex. At least for now.

“That would be amazing.” I say, returning her wide smile.

Andrea drivesus to the Liquid Elixir where she parks her car so we can tour Downtown on foot, starting on Main Street. The streets are lined with huge elm trees, whose branches reach across and create a canopy over the road. At this time of year, the leaves have changed to orange, which adds an enchanting feel to the already quaint and charming town.

Andrea talks a bit about the town as she points out small shops and some landmarks, like the Wells Fountain at the Northern end of Main Street, which was designed in the 1800s by a Brattleboro architect, who was actually a cousin of President Rutherford Hayes!

“Brattleboro may be a small town but it’s the city of small towns.” Andrea says, nodding with pride. “We actually have five colleges and college campuses, which is more than many cities can boast. Our population fluctuates heavily from students depending upon the time of year.”

Downtown Brattleboro has everything lined up in cute little stone-front stores with colorful awnings; from food and drink to galleries and entertainment, all within a three block stroll. Andrea points out Mocha Joes, which is everyone’s go to for coffee.

“But if you ask me, Patio Coffee has the best cup of joe in town.” We run into the shop to grab a warm drink, which she offers to pay for, but I decline. “I can’t believe you’d choose a hot chocolate over what I just said was the best coffee in town!” She sips from her cup and lets out a dramatic groan.

“I’m not a caffeine junkie, like someone I know,” I tease, and she hits my shoulder playfully, making me stumble a few steps. And there are a ton of breweries. Like a ton! On Main Streetalone, I counted three breweries. In the Downtown district, the total is at least nine.

“And now for the crown jewel. Voila!” Andrea spreads her arms out dramatically as we reach the end of the street. She points to a breathtaking four-story art deco building.Latchis Hotelis written in bold neon letters.

We take a right turn, and I see the building extends beyond, making it quite large. About the same size if not even bigger than the New York Public Library,where Larson insisted we have our engagement party. And a few feet away there’s another sign;Latchis Theater, attached to the same building.

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