Take the Bride (The Knight Brothers 1.5)

Ryder never wanted her to resent him for holding her back, so he’d broken up with her so she could live her original dreams, crushing his own heart in the process.

Knowing he’d lost her for good, he’d gone on with his life, and though that had included being with other women, none had ever come close to making him feel what she had. Over the years, he’d watched her date other men, knowing he’d lost his chance, that she still harbored anger and resentment despite putting up with him for Sebastian’s sake. When she’d ended up engaged, he’d known it really was over for them. No someday in their future. Until he’d opened his mouth at the wedding.

He glanced up, realizing he’d been driving for over an hour. He was on Route 80 in New Jersey, signs for the Delaware Water Gap and the Poconos ahead of him.

Shit.

He glanced over to the passenger side of the car. Sierra was still asleep. She was going to fucking kill him when she realized where they’d ended up, but what the hell.

He only had one chance to win her back, and he couldn’t do it in the city with her surrounded by her brothers and friends. Instead he was headed another thirty minutes away to a mountain resort that he was pretty sure was the cheesiest honeymoon capital of the northeast. A place that advertised heart-shaped bathtubs and themed rooms.

A place where they could be alone.

Chapter Two

Sierra woke up as the car turned off, the motor coming to a stop. She shook her head and looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. Trees were visible outside the windows, and a glittering sign said Paradise Cove, and beneath it, A Couples Only Poconos Resort.

“You have got to be kidding me!” She glanced at Ryder in disbelief. “What the hell are we doing in the Poconos?” She’d obviously fallen asleep for a good two hours, the shock of the day along with the glass of champagne she’d had prior to the non-wedding catching up with her.

He treated her to his most charming grin. “You always said you wanted to honeymoon here. That it was romantic.”

“I was seventeen!” she yelled at him. “I didn’t know any better. And we aren’t on our honeymoon.” She glanced down at her white wedding gown, not missing the irony of the situation but in no mood to find it funny.

She and Jason were supposed to be on their way to St. Lucia tomorrow morning. Instead she was in the honeymoon capital of Pennsylvania. Her stomach cramped at the reminder of all she’d left behind earlier today. Although she’d texted Sebastian from Ryder’s phone, she hoped her brothers weren’t too worried about her. She’d left her own phone in the bridal room and couldn’t know whether Jason had tried to reach her or not. But her brothers knew she was with Ryder, and if Jason wanted her, he certainly could contact them and find out how to talk to her.

Instead she was in the Poconos with her ex. She looked at the man who’d driven her over one hundred miles from home and waited for an explanation.

He placed an arm behind her seat, turning to face her. “By the time I realized how far I’d driven, we were half an hour from here. I couldn’t think of anywhere else to crash. And I wasn’t about to turn around and drive another two hours home.”

She frowned at him. “So now what? You expect me to stay here with you?”

“Would it really be so bad?” he asked, his voice gentling. “I understand you’re angry with me, but we’re here. It’s late. Let’s just go inside and see if we can get a room.”

The very idea of it was crazy. Nothing good could come of her being alone with Ryder now, and she really shouldn’t have left with him. But it was too late to take her actions back now.

She blew out a resigned breath. “Fine. But I hope they have a gift shop,” she muttered, needing a change of clothes because nothing about this trip had been thought through.

She climbed out of the car and Ryder helped her gather the train and fold it up so she could hold it over one arm. Then together, they walked into the main area of the resort and headed to the reception desk.

“I assume you have a reservation?” the woman behind the counter asked, her gaze traveling over Ryder in his suit, Sierra in her white gown.

“Umm, no. But we’d like a room for a couple of days,” Ryder said with a smile.

“One night,” Sierra countered.

He frowned at her and the girl behind the desk looked confused. She typed something into the computer and glanced up at them. “Our honeymoon suite is booked and we only have suites, not rooms, but I’m sure you’ll love what’s available. All of our suites have round king-size beds beneath celestial ceilings, log-burning fireplaces, and heart-shaped tubs or champagne-glass-shaped whirlpool spas.”