Billionaires Runaway Bride

The clerk behind the front desk checked me out quickly. I grabbed Molly’s bag along with my own to head out through the doors. A trickle of nerves went through me. I didn’t know what to expect now that I had crossed the threshold of defending my former friend’s fiancée. Ex-fiancée.

It was cold and rainy when I stepped outside in the direction of the rental car I had promised Peyton I would take care of myself after dropping her off at the airport.

“Alfie.”

The sound of Harry’s voice from behind me brought out an array of emotions. I turned on my heel to regard him coolly as he stepped out of the phone booth in front. His white shirt was rumpled and stained while his hair was unkempt. A shadow of a beard covered his jaw while the stench of cigarettes, cheap perfume, and whiskey wafted off of him in rolling waves.

“What?” I asked, flatly.

“I know you’re mad, mate,” he said, as he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for the complete sham that my wedding turned out to be.”

I shook my head at him. “Something tells me that you blame Molly for that.”

“I do blame Molly for that.” His eyes narrowed at me. “She left the wedding knowing damn well that everyone had flown out to be here, or at least traveled to be here for us both.”

“You cheated on her. What did you expect?”

“She’s known about it,” Harry said, shrugging. “Molly is a smart woman. A part of her had accepted it a long time ago.”

It was sorely tempting to smash my fist into Harry’s face in a blind hope that maybe it would knock him back into the old Harry—my friend who I missed.

“I doubt that she did,” I replied. “She didn’t go through with the wedding, so I don’t think she had accepted it in her mind.”

Harry’s jaw worked while he chewed those words over for a moment. I took another step in the direction of the rental car, but Harry stopped me by saying, “It doesn’t matter anymore. She doesn’t want to be with me anymore, then that’s fine. I have other women in my life who want to take her place in a heartbeat.”

“Great, mate. That’s fantastic. Now, excuse me—”

He stepped in my path before I could take another step. “I overheard that Molly left in your rental car.”

The accusation hung clearly in the air. I kept my face carefully blank while Harry studied me intently. I didn’t want to sell out Molly’s hiding place yet. I knew word would spread around Devon that Molly was in my estate, but for the meantime, Molly deserved some peace and quiet.

“I have to go, Harry,” I said and gave him a sharp nod. “It was great seeing you. Good luck with wherever your endeavors take you.”

“Alfie—”

I ignored Harry’s calls as I walked across the stony pathway to the rental car. Placing the bags in the rental car, I hopped in the driver’s seat. I looked up briefly in my rearview mirror to see Harry staring after me with a miserable frown spread across his face before Ashburton disappeared behind me.

I let out a relieved breath when Devon appeared over my dashboard. It was one of the small towns that I truly felt comfortable in. The hustle and bustle of London was nice, but nothing compared to the quietness of Devon. The residents of Devon were also friendly. They looked after one another, including me, whenever the media came looking for me.

George’s Grocery was a small store on the corner of Main Street buzzing with usual energy on an early Sunday morning. I parked in front of the store before grabbing a small cart. There wasn’t any food in the house just yet from what William had told me on the phone. They weren’t expecting me to return, or to have an unexpected guest.

Cart full of groceries and basic necessities, I walked up to the check stand George Malley ran himself. The older man’s smile wiped away the unpleasant encounter with Harry outside of the hotel in Ashburton.

“Morning, Alfie,” he bellowed, hands moving fluidly as he scanned every item I placed on his check stand. “Didn’t expect to see you here this weekend. No important business?”

“Nothing that can’t wait,” I replied with a smile. “I’m taking a break from work for a little bit.”

“Good for you, mate. You’re too young to be working as hard as you do. Although—” he paused to wink playfully at me, “your phone company and plans have been wonderful for me so far. Who knew that an old timer like me could have a phone?”

I grinned as George chuckled heartily. “I’m glad it’s working out for you, George. I’ve been very firm on customer service with my employees.”

“They are doing fantastic,” George said. “Everyone should have a raise.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” An idea struck me as I loaded the grocery bags back into the cart. “Would you mind doing me a favor, George?”

George nodded. “Anything.”

“Keep your eyes peeled out for Harry,” I said. “If you see him stroll into town, give me a call right away.”