Lisette Belisle - The Wedding Bargain

She smiled back. “I’ve got my spray can of mace.”

He laughed, sounding so masculine and sure. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

She nodded.

Despite the urge to cling, Olivia let him go. Although she had no guarantee, she didn’t think he’d leave her stranded. In fact, he’d probably send someone back to get her; but she didn’t expect much more consideration from him. After all, he didn’t owe her anything. She knew how easily people broke their promises.

Her less-than-ideal childhood had left Olivia wary and afraid to trust. She and her mother had lived in so many places, one step ahead of an eviction notice. Despite all the setbacks, large or small, Avis had always managed to bounce back. Olivia had recognized but never fully understood her mother’s false air of gaiety until she was old enough to appreciate the cost of her mother’s freedom.

Olivia was still paying the emotional price.

How many times had her mother left her small daughter at a friend’s house while she took off with the latest man in her life? Olivia never knew when, or if, Avis would be back. For the most part, people had been kind. But sometimes, even the most generous of friends had grown impatient with being saddled with a child for long periods of time. Olivia had learned to read the signs when her welcome wore off.

Now as she watched Drew walk away and disappear into the gloomy night, she recalled all the other promises to come back that hadn’t been kept. She had no intention of falling for a man’s promises. She sighed. It was the perfect ending to a frustrating day.

D rew didn’t look back. The long walk into the nearest town cleared his head. Heaven knew, he needed it. Stillwater hadn’t changed much, he noted. Built around a quaint town square, it was vintage New England.

A clear, crystal-blue lake provided recreational activities and drew tourists year-round. The fall foliage season was now in full swing, which meant that every hotel and motel within miles was probably filled to capacity. The town was all a bit too familiar.

Drew had misspent his youth here, then lived through more years than he cared to admit regretting that turbulent period. He’d grown up in the neighboring town of Henderson. At the age of eighteen, like a lot of restless teens, he’d thought his home-town was too small to hold him.

So he’d gone looking for some excitement in Stillwater, which was equally small, but the scenery was different, especially the girls. He’d found one girl he thought was special, but she’d proved him wrong. The scars from that experience had lingered a long time.

Now, through some stroke of misfortune, he was linked up with Olivia, who was clearly bad luck—as if he couldn’t come up with enough of his own. It continued.

For one thing, the gas station was closed. But they had an emergency phone number. Drew dialed it on a pay phone and got quick results. A mechanic agreed to come out with a tow truck—just in case.

While Drew waited for the man to arrive, he leaned his shoulder against the phone booth. A short overhang sheltered him from the rain. His gaze wandered down Main Street, drawn to the Stillwater Inn. The place had a new front, new owners. But it was still rustic, overlooking the lake. The water lapped at the dock.

Long ago, he’d fallen in love with a waitress from the Stillwater Inn. They’d both been hotheaded, rebellious and far too young to handle their emotions. As a result, they’d argued, broken up and made up so many times that he lost count. And in between one of those times, Laurel slept with another guy.

But that wasn’t the worst of it.

She’d tried to trap Drew into marriage by claiming the child she was expecting was his—instead of Jared Carlisle’s. She’d died tragically young and left her twin sister, Rachel, to raise Dylan. Drew winced at the memory. Laurel had done more than damage his ego. The hell of it was, he might have given in to impulse and married her if she hadn’t lied. In the end, his father paid her off. She’d wanted the Pierce money, not Drew.

At least he didn’t have to worry about that anymore. For too long, he’d relied on his family’s wealth and position. With it, he was nothing—a spoiled, arrogant young man. Without it, he didn’t know who he was.

Fifteen minutes later, the repair truck pulled up to the curb. A mechanic called out, “You the guy with a breakdown?”

Drew smiled. He was close. “Yeah, that’s me. I checked the car battery. It won’t hold a charge.”

“Well, let’s go have a look. You coming?” he added when Drew didn’t make a move toward the truck.

Drew wasn’t sure of his next move. In all honesty, he was tempted to give the guy directions and be on his way, but the memory of a woman’s resigned smile stopped him. Olivia had rightly guessed he was a loner; she probably thought he was a loser, as well. Under the circumstances, he couldn’t argue either label, which should free him from obligation.

She obviously didn’t expect him back. He didn’t know why she didn’t expect more from men, or from life. But for some reason, he wanted to prove her wrong, at least in this instance.

The mechanic said curtly, “You coming? I don’t have all night.” The man’s impatience did it.

With a resigned sigh, Drew climbed into the truck. He didn’t like the thought of Olivia dealing with the situation on her own. Face it, he felt protective. He frowned at the admission, not liking that at all. After today, he was never going to see her again. Until then, what was a few more hours of inconvenience?

“You’re Drew Pierce,” the mechanic said after they’d been driving awhile. His gaze remained fixed on the two-lane highway.

“Yes.” Drew braced himself for the rest.

“I remember seeing your picture in the newspapers.”

That wasn’t surprising. The trial had been a three-ring circus. Instead of reacting to the man’s open challenge, Drew raised a casual eyebrow. “That so?”

When Drew failed to react, the man backed down. “Yeah, well…guess it was long ago. Most folks have forgotten.”

Drew doubted that very much. Small towns had long memories and even longer grudges. He had vivid memories of faces filled with hatred and contempt. The judge had thrown the book at Drew, giving him the maximum sentence. Well, he’d served his time. He wasn’t about to defend himself all over again.

“That’s the car.” Drew spotted the small blue car, relieved to cut the subject short.

It didn’t take long to install a new battery.

Drew turned the key in the ignition. Nothing.

With a shake of his head, the mechanic pronounced, “The car’s in rough shape. It needs some other new parts.” He listed just a few. “I can order them. Could take some time, though.”

“It’s not my car.” Drew frowned as the awkwardness of the situation began to sink in. He didn’t have money for repairs. In addition, he wasn’t going anywhere that night. Neither was Olivia. They were stranded. “You can ask the owner.”

The man frowned in confusion. “Fine with me. Where?”

“Back there.” Drew nodded toward the rough logging road.

Fortunately, the tow truck had four-wheel drive. When they reached the camp, Drew was surprised to see the place softly lit. Smoke came from the chimney, and Olivia stood in the door.

Waiting.

“Hi.” She smiled a warm greeting, all flushed-faced and sleepy-eyed, and Drew could feel himself falling, tumbling—

The mechanic broke the spell. “Looks like you got a cozy setup here.” He was leering at Olivia.

Drew shoved his hands in his pockets. He wanted to hit the guy. Instead, he took a deep breath, admitting that the man’s reaction was only natural. Olivia was a sight to behold. He couldn’t deny his own gut response. Since the first moment he set eyes on her, he’d wanted to punch every man who looked at Olivia—which was pure insanity. Or something else. Whatever it was, he’d get over it.