Epilogue
Dry Mountain Lodge
Late Summer
Liam tugged at his collar and cursed whatever genius who decided putting a man in a noose for a special occasion was a good idea. He hated suits, and especially tuxedos. He hated bowties even more. And he hated…waiting.
Waiting for the Runaway Bride.
And not just waiting, but waiting at a makeshift altar for the Runaway Bride.
The late Runaway Bride.
The magazine was just going to love this. They’d published their story to record-breaking sales for that week, and then spent a fortune on flowers for the wedding and even shelled out for a tropical honeymoon. Liam, inspired by Claire’s comment that night outside his apartment building about sneaking off to a warm, deserted island, had insisted on that last part and hadn’t been able to wait for her to arrive so he could surprise her.
Now he just couldn’t wait for her to get there, period.
“Okay,” Sawyer said. “That thing I said about her not being able to get away from you up here? I was a little bit wrong.”
Liam rolled his eyes. It was a poor substitute for a punch, but considering the number of people who sat facing them, all dressed in their fancy wedding attire, it would have to do. “That was eight months ago. She didn’t get away.”
“To the contrary,” Sawyer said, “she got away with one hell of a nice engagement ring.”
“If she took off with that, then she has both our wives,” Crosby said. “And Ethan’s, too.”
Liam groaned inwardly. Ethan and Rue had gotten married on top of an actively erupting volcano in the South Pacific—one of those that just simmered lava rather than spewing it, as if that was any comfort. No one had been late, including Claire. “She’ll be here,” he said. “I’m not sure about you,” he added, directing a glare toward Sawyer, “but she’ll be here.”
“Hey, don’t kick me out. You wouldn’t have met her if not for me.”
“I almost lost her because of your stupid bet.” Since then, she’d gone back to her job in the city, back to his bed, and she’d hired staff who would run the lodge during ski season.
“You accepted my stupid bet.” Sawyer hesitated. “And I’m sorry for any trouble it caused. I’m happy for you. I’ll be happier when she shows up, and happier still when I can take this thing off my neck, but she’s great. And she’ll show, because for some reason, she loves you.”
Well, damned if Liam wasn’t almost speechless. Finally, he managed to utter, “Thank you. Stupid bet and all. You are the one who sent me up here.”
“Hug it out, and get it over with,” Crosby said. He took his phone out of his pocket. “I’m calling Estelle. I doubt she ran too far too fast.”
Liam snorted. Estelle was eight and a half months pregnant and glared at Crosby every time she had to get off a sofa. Or put on shoes. Not that Crosby seemed to mind. He adored her, even when she glared, and Liam had seen enough no know there wasn’t a drop of aggravation in those looks she gave Crosby. Those two were disgustingly in love, and no one had been late for that ceremony, either.
About the time Crosby lifted the phone to his ear, the door burst open. Claire, in her wedding dress. Running toward a wedding, not away. Liam didn’t even notice who she was with. He was too busy trying to swallow against that knot in his throat. She went straight for him, and he met her halfway down the aisle, not the least bit ignorant of the fact they were going the wrong way.
“You had me worried,” he said against her ear. He needn’t be so quiet about it, because murmurs rippled through the assembled guests, almost making it hard to hear.
“You were not worried,” Claire whispered, smacking him playfully on the chest.
“No, I wasn’t,” he admitted. “But you are late. And I love you. Desperately, but in the cool way. Not the way that requires a restraining order.”
She laughed “And I love you. Madly. But you don’t need to panic, because I wasn’t running. Estelle’s in labor.”
Only then did he realize Estelle was leaning heavily on her brother, Grady, and a bewildered Crosby. Kelsie and Rue were talking over each other trying to say…something.
“I am not in labor,” Estelle insisted, and not very convincingly.
Liam looked at Claire. “And she’s here?”
“That’s why we’re late,” Claire said. “We stopped by the hospital.”
“And no one called?” Alice Chase came up, concern obvious.
“And left?” Crosby said at the same time.
“Very early labor,” Estelle said. “Not even really labor. Not even a centimeter yet.”
“That’s more than I ever needed to know about your cervix,” Sawyer told her.
Kelsie gave him a startled look. “I didn’t know you knew what a cervix was.”
“It’s in the pleasure zone,” Sawyer said. “Of course I know about cervixes. Or cervices. Cervi?”
“There’s no pleasure associated with this cervix,” Estelle muttered. “None at all.”
“I tried to tell her not to come,” Claire said, “but she didn’t listen. Grady was driving. She said she’d do that thing she used to do when they were kids if he didn’t bring her up here, and he said fine, but Crosby was going to have to take it up with her if there was a problem.”
“I meant to ask,” Kelsie said. “What was the thing?”
“Nipple twist,” Estelle said.
“Ah,” pretty much everyone said at once.
“I don’t want to rush anything,” Estelle said, “Because the doctor said it’s just pre-labor and it could be days, but on the odd chance my water breaks, I’m not going to be smiling for any pictures.”
“You can’t be serious,” Crosby said.
“You can’t seriously think I would smile for pictures while giving birth.” Estelle glared at Crosby. “I understand it’s painful. And if this is only pre-labor, I’m beginning to understand that I have no idea how painful it is. But if you think I’m going to have this baby on top of a mountain so you can have pretty pictures, you need to protect yourself.”
“Not what I meant,” Crosby said.
“No offense, Claire,” Estelle added, much more pleasantly than she’d addressed Crosby. “You know I love you. He’s the one who needs to be worried.”
“Yeah,” Liam said. “I think he got that.”
“As long as you’re okay,” Alice said, not looking entirely convinced.
Claire took Liam’s hand. “Let’s get married,” she said. “And none of us will have to worry.” She grinned. “Except maybe Crosby.”
Twenty minutes later, the Runway Bride was hitched.
But she didn’t stay the newest member of the Chase family for very long. Early the next morning, Estelle and Crosby had a little girl.
She was perfect.
Liam was beginning to think everything was.
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