Stealing the Groom (6 page)

Chapter Five

The next morning, Chad woke with a sore neck. He’d held himself stiffly away from Amelia in the bed because the day before had felt eerily right. Being with her felt right, which was one of the reasons he’d stayed instead of leaving. They’d eaten supper on the porch, watching as the daylight had conceded to the evening. Played numerous rounds of checkers until Amelia got annoyed at her losing streak. Talked about everything under the sun. Except for what was on both of their minds. That kiss. That damn mind-blowing kiss.

He’d felt like an inexperienced teenage boy again. Hoping to get lucky and not knowing what to do if he did.

But this little break from reality was all over. Today, he would go home and get back to his plans. He would tie up the loose ends here and they’d be on their way.

He heard noises a second before the front door was flung open, crashing against the wall behind it, then footsteps came into the cabin. He turned toward the doorway of the bedroom and faced the shocked expression of a middle-aged man who didn’t look happy to see him.

“What the hell is this?”

“I can explain.”

The man’s expression darkened. “You’ve got ten seconds.”

Chad introduced himself and quickly explained the situation. He rattled off his grandfather’s cell phone number. “If you call him, he can verify what I’m saying.”

“Uh-huh. I don’t give a damn who he is. I’m Mark Olsen, owner of this cabin and sheriff of Honeymoon Hills. I got a phone call about suspicious activity in the area and here you are. Now get up and get dressed.”

Great
. Of all the cabins, they had to break into one owned by someone in law enforcement.

Beside Chad, Amelia jolted awake. He felt her tense when she spotted the sheriff. She scrambled into an upright position and held the blanket up to her neck, her hair falling into riotous waves around her face.

She blinked and looked at Chad, then back at the sheriff.

“We can explain,” she said, echoing Chad’s earlier words.

The sheriff looked pointedly at the clothes they’d rinsed out and hung to dry on the back of the chair. “I think I get the picture.”

Amelia’s face flooded with color “I know how this must look…”

The sheriff waved off her attempt to speak. “You’ll need to come down to the station with me and then I’ll probably arrest both of you.”

Chad wrapped an arm around Amelia’s shoulders and held out a hand in protest. “Hang on a second. Arrest? On what grounds?”

“For arson. Breaking and entering.” The sheriff paused, allowing his words to sink in.

“Arson? But the fire was an accident!” Amelia protested, hitching the blanket up higher.

“Accident? I suppose breaking into this cabin was an accident, too?” the sheriff said.

“No, we meant to break into the cabin,” Amelia said.

Chad groaned and shot her one of his please-let-me-handle-this looks. “Sheriff, I already explained what happened.”

“You did, but I’m not buying it. Get outside. You’ve got two minutes.”

When the sheriff exited, Chad pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering in a low voice. “I don’t believe this.”

Amelia said, “Well…that certainly is a unique way to get jerked from a sound sleep.” Holding the blanket with one hand, she pointed to her clothes with the other. “Toss me those, will you?”

Chad grasped her wrist, feeling anger pump through his veins. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve stirred up this time?”

Amelia tugged free and rolled her eyes. “Will you relax? This situation doesn’t have to get blown out of proportion.”

“Due to what you’ve dragged me into lately, I don’t know that it’s wise for me to even ask, but what do you suggest we do?”

“Simple. We’ll go with the sheriff. I’ve talked my way out of worse than this before.”

“I don’t even want to know what you’re referring to that could be worse than this and I don’t know if it escaped your notice, but he didn’t look like the neighborhood welcome wagon.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Ame, don’t make this any worse than it is.”

“How could it get worse?”

Chad groaned. “Famous last words.”

When they were dressed and went outside, the sheriff motioned them forward. “Let’s head into the business district of Honeymoon Hills, folks.”

Chad’s brows rose.

“You plan to arrest us, then?” He kept his hand on Amelia’s back as they walked to the waiting police car.

“Nope. While you were getting dressed, I called your grandfather. He backed your story and he’s on his way with your”—he shot a look at Amelia—“
friend’s
grandfather.”

Relief flowed through him and Chad hung back while the sheriff opened the back of the car and Amelia slid in. “Then there’s no need for you to give us a lift into town. We can wait here if that’s okay. There’s plenty of room in the car with our grandfathers. We can ride to the airport with them.”

“Airport? That’s not the plan.” The sheriff leaned against the open door, crossing his arms over the top.

Chad frowned, not understanding. “Then what’s going on?”

“We’re meeting your grandfathers at the wedding chapel in the main square of Honeymoon Hills, where the two of you will be married.”

Chapter Six

When they were on their way into town, the sheriff passed a cell phone back to Chad. “Your grandfather wants you to call him.”

Chad dialed quickly and Amelia watched his expression change from astonishment to anger and finally resignation. “So that’s it, then? They won’t listen to reason?”

When he finished the call, he passed the phone back to the sheriff and muttered in disbelief. “There’s no way out.”

“What? No way out?” Amelia asked in alarm.

“Claire’s gone. She left after I called her at the rest area when we were on our way up here.”

Amelia tried to hide the glee she felt at his announcement. He didn’t see it now, but in the end, not marrying Claire would be the best thing that happened. She touched the back of his hand. “I’m sorry.”

He turned to her, pinning her with a hard stare. “Not as sorry as you’re going to be.”

“What?”

“You and I are getting married.”

She laughed and bumped his shoulder. “That’s funny.” Her laughter faded when his stare didn’t waver. “You’re not being serious?”

“Painfully serious.”

Amelia gasped. “Why? What?
You and me?
Not even.”

“My grandfather explained that the board convened a special meeting. They’re trying to oust him as we speak and appoint someone to take his place. If I don’t take control of the company, for the first time in fifty years, Walker Industries will be run by someone outside of the family.”

“How does me marrying you help?”

“Despite what the board is doing, my grandfather won’t give me the shares unless I do. He’s willing to let go of the company if I don’t marry.”

“No! Your grandfather can’t be that controlling. I’ve known him for years.”

“Yes.”

“Chad…I can’t…we can’t…”

“I don’t have a choice if I want to save the company. And since Claire’s taking off is your fault, you owe me your help. You and I are getting married today.”

Going to get married? Amelia leaned her back against the seat and closed her eyes, feeling as if she’d set an avalanche of events in motion and couldn’t get out of the way in time.

She could hear Chad’s deep breaths beside her, a habit he had when he was trying to make sure he didn’t say something he would later regret.

“I can’t believe this. Now what?”

Rubbing her forehead, Amelia said, “Well, I noticed the doors aren’t locked. When we’re at a stop sign or a traffic light, we can bust out of here and make a run for it.”

He whipped his head around to stare at her. “Run from the sheriff? Are you serious? You want to become fugitives from Mayberry?”

When she nodded her head, he added, “How can you joke about this?”

“Because I believe everything always works out in the end.” Amelia offered a tentative smile, but he didn’t respond. “Besides, we need a marriage license, and unless I’m sorely mistaken, your grandfather can’t instantly produce one. So no need to stress out just yet.”

He groaned and rubbed the back of his neck angrily, “Amelia, I’m afraid your positive attitude isn’t going to help us right now. Not everything is glass-half-full. This is one mess you’ve created that you can’t get either of us out of.”

“There’s always hope for every situation, no matter how dark it appears to be at first glance,” Amelia argued.

Chad clamped his lips together and Amelia did the same, knowing that nothing she said would make a difference. What could she say? She’d stopped his wedding only to drag him kicking and screaming to the altar for another one?

If the situation weren’t so dire and if they ended up getting out of this, they could have a good laugh about it later.

If not, they may end up never speaking again.

No, this was going to be okay. No matter what. She wasn’t going to let Chad’s doubts and fears creep into her head. After all, they only lived once! And there was still the issue of the license.

So why were her insides rioting?

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped before a town square. A lawyer’s office, a medical practice, and a dentist’s office were tucked in one of the buildings. Beside that building, there was a Department of Motor Vehicles office. Right across the street was a repair shop and a gas station.

Farther down the street, Amelia noticed a small theater advertising the latest movie releases.

As a movie buff, Amelia could have appreciated spending an afternoon catching one or two of the new releases. Not today, though. Too much spinning in her head. She couldn’t formulate a good escape plan with all this pressure.

The sheriff pulled the car to a stop in front of his office. He got out and opened the rear door, motioning them both out with a jerk of his thumb. “We’ll wait inside for your grandfather. He said it would take him a couple of hours to arrive.”

Chad and Amelia walked into the small office where a woman looked up from a desk. She raised her eyebrows questioningly at the sheriff. “Doris, these two are going to wait over there.” He pointed to a waiting area off to one side.

Amelia settled herself on the hard plastic chair and crossed her legs. Then uncrossed them. Tapped her foot. Looked at the ceiling and then the floor. Stared at the droning television where a talk show host rambled on.

“Realizing that you’re as trapped as I am?” Chad asked softly.

Amelia blew out her breath. “It feels surreal.” She pushed her hair away from her face and leaned back so that her head rested against the concrete wall. “I don’t want to marry you.”

“And I don’t want to marry you. But I will not lose what I’ve worked so damn hard for.” He got up. “I’m going to see if we can get some coffee.” He walked up to the woman at the desk and she pointed to other side of the room.

Amelia bit her lip. Talk about your bad days. She felt itchy all over. The thought of losing her freedom made her feel as if she were going to break out in hives any second. She squeezed her knees to fight the urge to get up and dart out of the office. Deep breath. Chad needed her. She could do this.
No, she couldn’t.

When he handed her a steaming cup of coffee, she looked up at him, knowing the panic was easily read on her face. “Chad…”

He shook his head and resumed his place beside her. “Believe me. If I thought I had any other option, I would jump on it.” He sent her a glance. “You’re breathing heavy. Not going to pass out, are you?”

“Please,” she scoffed. “I’m not a fainter. I’m just trying to think up a solution.”

“Good luck with that, but after all this, you can count me out of any of your future schemes. Ever.”

“Stop bitching and help me think.” She snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it. You can throw yourself on the mercy of the board. You’ve told me before that they like you.”

“They like my grandfather too, but don’t have a problem wanting to toss him out on his ass. What makes you think they’d work with me on this? I’m still only a few years out of business school.”

“Because you’re charming? Handsome? Persuasive?”

He set his coffee cup on the small table beside him. “The die has been cast, Ame.”

She got up and paced the room, waving her hand to cool her heated face. “No, no. There’s always a way out.” Stopping suddenly, she faced him, her eyes wide. “I’ve got to get out of here.” She headed to the door but he beat her to it, giving the woman at the desk a reassuring smile when she frowned at them.

With his arm wrapped around her shoulders, he guided her back to the chair. “Take a deep breath and sit.” He sat beside her. “You give new meaning to the term runaway bride.”

“Don’t be so nonchalant about all this.” How could he be so damned calm?

“What do you want me to do? Beat on my chest? Swing from the light fixture? Tapping into my inner Neanderthal won’t help.”

“So you’re going to accept our fate? You’re not even going to try to help me come up with a way out?” Amelia wiped her forehead. Where was a fairy godmother when you
really
needed one?

“Nope, I’m not going to help.” He reached for a section of the newspaper and snapped it open.

She slumped back against the seat and watched the clock tick slowly toward her doom. If she got out of this mess, she was going on the straight and narrow. No more interfering in Chad’s life. She’d become a better person. Give more to charities. Recycle more.

She looked hopefully out the window. No superhero in the sky to rescue her. Reality was such a kick in the teeth. She bit her lip. What could she do? She pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m having a heart attack,” she whispered.

“No, you’re not.” Chad didn’t even look up from the paper. “You’re having a panic attack brought on by responsibility charging at you.”

“I don’t have panic attacks.”

“Relax, Ame. A minivan and two kids later, you’ll see the light side of this.” He cast a glance at her.

“Go ahead. Yuk it up. Have you forgotten that you’re the groom?”

“Sticks and stones, my dear.”

She pushed down the top of the paper and met his gaze. “That’s all you’ve got?”

“Pretty much.”

She let go of the paper. It was going to be the longest day of her life. Wedding dress, straitjacket, same difference. Flowers. Someone droning all that forever and ever stuff that linked one life to another.

“If I kick it, say some nice words at my funeral,” she said.

“I’ll even shed some manly tears.”

“I don’t know why I’m talking to you,” she said and closed her eyes. Then opened them.

Almost three hours later, Chad’s grandfather Henry Walker and her grandfather Noah Snyder arrived. When the door of the sheriff’s office closed behind them, there was a long moment of silence. Then Henry cleared his throat. “Let’s get this over with.”

He went in search of the sheriff and Noah moved forward, wrapping Amelia in a tight hug. “You about finished creating havoc?”

“I’d say my work here is almost over,” she said in a pained voice.

Henry returned. “I’ve written a check paying for the damage to the cabin.” He tucked his checkbook back into his coat pocket. “Let’s get this wedding over with so you can get back to the company.”

Chad stopped him. “Did you talk to the board?”

“I was able to reach a couple of the members, but it wasn’t productive.”

Noah rubbed Amelia’s cold hands. “We made the ceremony arrangements on the way here. There’s a formal-wear shop across the square. A minister will meet us at the chapel once you two are changed and ready.”

They left the sheriff’s office and the blood pounded in Amelia’s ears with each step they took. On the way to the formal-wear shop, they passed a small wedding chapel tucked away on a parcel of land that bore witness to the recent storm. The tops of colorful pink and white geraniums littered the sidewalk and one of the flowerpots was overturned with soil spilling out onto the street.

Deep breath.

Amelia stumbled over a dip on the sidewalk and bumped against Chad. “Easy,” he whispered.

“While you two are getting dressed, we’ll make sure you get some breakfast dropped off at the shop. We’re going to the courthouse to see about the marriage license. Henry said he knew the judge…hopefully he can push this through.” Noah patted her hand and said in a firm whisper, “Everything will be okay.”

Nothing would be okay.
Amelia swallowed, a whirlwind of emotions raging inside her heart.

“Well,” Chad said as they walked away from her beaming grandfather. “We’re not married yet. You still trying to come up with an escape route?”

“I’m wondering if maybe the store has a back exit we can slip out of,” Amelia replied.

“You could buy some time to adjust to the idea of getting married if you fainted at the altar.”

“My grandfather would wait until I came to, prop me up, and keep right on going,” Amelia grumbled.

Chad sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. Noah’s always wanted to hurry up and marry you off.”

“He worries about me,” Amelia said in defense of her grandfather.

“For good reason, considering the last scrape you got into.”

“From a distance, that alligator looked like a statue. I thought it was a great photo opportunity.”

“You’ll never hear a cautious person say they had their purse taken by an alligator.”

“Things happen,” she quipped as she stopped in front of the door.

“Especially to you.”

Amelia ignored that and touched the sign on the door. “MJ Formal Wear,” she read aloud.

“This is it.” He took a breath and pushed on the door of the shop.

A group of tiny silver bells chimed. Once they crossed the welcome mat, two saleswomen walked forward to greet them.

Amelia caught one last glimpse of Chad before she was led away by one of the women. “We have a restroom in the back if you want to freshen up.”

“Yes, thank you.” Amelia touched her hair. She probably looked as though she’d just been voted off an island. She hadn’t thought to even run a brush through it.

A few moments later, looking at her flushed face in the restroom mirror, Amelia slowly removed the brush from her purse and went to work on her tangled hair.

Setting the brush down on the side of the sink, she made a face at herself and said out loud, “Congratulations, Amelia. You’ve managed to screw up two lives with a single escapade.”

She quickly pulled her hair back in a band she found in her purse and applied some makeup.

As soon as she stepped out into the main area, the saleswoman greeted her. “I believe we have some lovely dresses in your size at the rear of the store,” she said with a smile. Amelia followed her across the carpet to the area.