Love on the Run - Signed Paperback

Anna Harris needs a getaway car after her wedding day ends in disaster. She may be a hopeless romantic, but she knows there's no Prince Charming coming to her rescue. There's only Beau, and right now, he's her only chance at freedom.

Beau Lawrence planned to sit through the ceremony and slip out before the reception. Helping the bride disappear wasn't on his to-do list. But now here he is, walking her to his motorcycle, trying to ignore the way her trust in him stirs something long buried.

Beau avoids relationships, and he is the last person Anna expected to give her hope as her life falls apart. And yet, what started as a desperate escape plan has quickly turned into the adventure of a lifetime—and maybe, just maybe, the answer to prayers she never knew to pray.

But when they return to the real world after a life-changing week completing her honeymoon bucket list, will their differences destroy their happily ever after?

“I got the goods!” Olivia held a can of soda over her head as she closed the door behind her.

Anna reached for the drink and popped the top. “You’re a lifesaver.” Her stomach had been rolling all morning. Too bad bubbly drinks weren’t an actual cure for wedding jitters.

Olivia brushed her hands down the sides of her navy dress. The torso was fitted, and the flowy skirt fanned out from the waist. It flattered Olivia’s figure perfectly. “Are you ready to get into the dress? I saw your mom on a warpath, so I sent her to the reception hall to handle a fake catering emergency.”

The mere thought of her mother sent Anna’s stomach into another riot. Her mom had been shouting and seething since the rehearsal dinner.

Anna set the soda on the vanity. “Let’s get it over with.”

“Don’t sound too excited to get into your wedding gown,” Olivia whispered.

She was right. Anna should be giddy to slip into the custom gown. It was gorgeous and everything she’d ever hoped to wear on her wedding day.

Except, the nerves were eating her on the inside. Getting married was one of the biggest decisions of her life. Less than an hour before the ceremony wasn’t the time to get cold feet.

She was marrying Dean Simmons. He was successful, handsome, wealthy, and socially connected—everything her husband was supposed to be.

Well, he was everything her mother said he was supposed to be. He claimed to be a Christian too, but he rarely went to church with her or prayed. They spent so much time apart, it was tough to find time to talk about anything. For the last few months, Anna and Dean had done little except argue and plan the wedding.

“I’m sorry,” Anna whispered. “I really am excited to wear it.”

It was half the truth, and Olivia knew it. The dress fit Anna perfectly. It was the groom that might not be the best fit.

Maybe it was Anna’s fault their relationship had been rocky lately. Maybe she was the problem like her mother believed. According to Catherine Harris, Anna should support her husband and care for him no matter what. It was the epitome of selfishness that Anna wanted Dean’s devotion and attention.

Olivia turned to Anna and rubbed a hand up and down her arm. “Are you sure about this?”

Anna gave her friend the standard “I’m okay” smile—the one she used to hide behind when she wanted everyone to think she was fine. “Of course.”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed. She knew the truth. Now, Anna was lying to her best friend.

Without arguing, Olivia reached for the dress. “Then let’s do this.”

Anna slipped off her robe and draped it over the vanity chair. Olivia carefully opened the top of the dress for Anna to step in.

As the dress rose around her, so did the invisible trap. It was easy to imagine one of those coil spring traps closing around her like a predator’s teeth. She sucked in deep breaths as if she could fight off the panic coming to claim her.

Good grief. This was her wedding day, not a prison. Thinking of being confined had her adrenaline rushing through her system in heavy pulses.

“Anna–”

“I can’t talk,” Anna whispered. “Let’s just do it.”

Olivia’s chin quivered, and Anna’s throat tightened. She had the best friend a woman could ever ask for, but no one could save her now.

“I love you,” Olivia said, blinking back tears. “I love you so much, and I’ll always be here for you.”

Anna nodded, unable to speak around the knot in her throat.

Staring at the wall as Olivia secured the buttons, Anna blocked out all the doubts and said a silent prayer. Lord, help me. Please, help me. I’m drowning. I don’t know if I can do this. Why do I feel this way?

There was a knock at the door, and Olivia’s hands stilled on the buttons. “Should I let them in?” she whispered.

“Yeah. It’s fine.”

There was one thing Anna knew for sure—whoever was on the other side of the door wasn’t her mother. Catherine Harris would have barged right in.

Olivia opened the door but not enough that Anna could see the visitor. “Can I help you?”

“Can I see the bride?” a woman asked.

Olivia glanced at Anna who pasted on her signature smile. “It’s okay.”

Olivia moved to the side, and a beautiful woman with dark hair stepped into the room. Her cream sweater and jeans complimented her dark hair and skin. The mystery woman was beautiful, but she wasn’t dressed to attend a wedding.

Twisting her fingers, she raked her gaze over Anna’s dress before tucking her chin again. “I know you don’t know me, but I’m Misty.”

When Misty paused, Anna lifted the skirt of her dress and stepped forward to extend a hand. “I’m Anna. It’s nice to meet you, Misty.”

Instead of taking Anna’s hand, Misty shook her head. “I’m here because I couldn’t let you marry Dean without knowing about us.” She lifted her chin, channeling a resolve that had her shoulders shaking. “We’ve been seeing each other for months, and I’m sorry for that. But… I’m not really.”

All of the air in Anna’s lungs was sucked away. Her chest ached as she tried to breathe through the kick she’d just taken.

Of course. Dean would be interested in Misty. She was gorgeous. But that wasn’t where things ended. He’d been seeing another woman for months. It wasn’t a fling or something that happened once.

“You what?” Olivia shouted.

Misty jerked away from Olivia. Her hand shook as she wiped her cheek. “I–I–”

Olivia took a step toward Misty. “Get out.”

“No.” Anna lifted a hand. After a shaking breath that tore her insides, she managed to speak. “I want to know more.”

“Anna, you don’t have to listen to this,” Olivia reminded her.

“I need to hear it.” The pain was already spreading. Why not let it consume her?

Misty held her hands out as if pleading. “I love him, and he says he loves me. I just know that if you marry him today, he’ll never be mine.”

“Oh, you can have him,” Olivia spat. “He’s a lying jerk, and you deserve each other.”

Misty ignored Olivia and stared into Anna’s eyes. “Please. I can’t live without him. I love him.”

Olivia turned and threw her hands in the air. “He’s not going to be around to love you back because I’m going to tear his limbs off and feed him to my chickens.”

“Wait!” Anna stopped Olivia on her way to the door. “Just wait a minute.”

“You’d better hurry,” Olivia said, crossing her arms with a huff. “I have friends to round up. They’ll want to take their shot at Dean too.”

Anna looked back to Misty. “How long have you been together?”

Misty sniffed, clearly upset at the thought of losing her one true love. “Nine months.”

The pulling in her chest deepened. He’d been seeing another woman when he asked Anna to be his wife.

Flipping through her moments with Dean, she filtered them through the new information. A carousel of memories flashed, and she wanted nothing more than to jump off the ride.

Everything had been innocent until now. Now she was on the verge of sickness as the memories turned to internal screams.

“Are we done here?” Olivia asked. The sass in her tone meant she was ready to claw Misty’s skin off if she hung around much longer.

Anna raised her chin and channeled the smile that protected her heart. “Don’t worry. I won’t be marrying Dean. Now or ever.”

Misty covered her face with her hands and sobbed. If only Anna could taste just a little bit of that relief.

“Okay, time to go.” Olivia opened the door and stepped to the side. “Have a nice life. Don’t let my foot hit you on the way out.”

Misty took a step closer to Anna. “Thank you.”

Anna held her smile in place and nodded for the woman to leave.

As soon as Misty was out the door, Olivia slammed and locked it.

“Can you believe the nerve of that woman?”

Anna dropped the act and clawed at the neckline of her dress. “Get me out of this.”

Olivia was behind her in a second, ripping the line of buttons apart. When the dress pooled around her legs, Anna fought to breathe.

“Slow that breathing down, babe. I don’t want you to pass out.” Olivia grabbed the cute, white dress Anna had planned to wear for the last part of the reception. “Here. Put this on.”

Anna slipped the silky fabric around her and lifted her hair so Olivia could zip the back.

She led Anna to the chair in front of the vanity. “Sit.” Her friend grabbed the soda and shoved it at Anna. “Drink.”

Olivia was getting a friend promotion. She was the perfect woman to have by Anna’s side at a time like this. “Thanks.”

The electricity coursing through her eased when Olivia wrapped her arms around Anna’s shoulders. Maybe she’d needed a hug instead of a soda all along.

“Don’t worry,” Olivia said, releasing the hug to morph into business mode. “I’m going to handle all of this. Here’s my plan.” She ticked off items on her fingers. “First, I’m going to have Dawson and Travis tie up your mom and hide her in a closet until everything is over. Or forever. Second, I’m going to make sure Dean gets at least one good punch from all of the guys. Third, I’m going to slip you out of here unnoticed.”

Anna shook her head. “All of that sounds good, but I want out of here now.”

“Okay. Okay.” Olivia patted the sides of her dress. “Dawson has my keys. I’ll be right back. You’ll be okay for a few minutes? I’ll send one of the girls in here as soon as I find them.”

“I’m okay,” Anna said. Oddly enough, the sickness that had been bubbling in her middle all day was starting to ease.

Olivia turned at the door and flashed Anna a tense smile. “I love you, and we’re going to get through this.”

“I know.” Anna nodded. “You’re the best.”

With a wink, Olivia disappeared, leaving Anna alone in a quiet room. Chairs were stacked in the corner of the Sunday School classroom, and a dark-purple stain slashed across the worn carpet. 

She couldn’t just sit here. She wasn’t getting married, and she wasn’t a bride.

Shooting to her feet, she paced the small room in the church building where she worshiped every chance she got. She’d welcomed Dean into her life. She’d trusted him. She’d planned a future with him. She’d been prepared to give him everything!

He’d played with her heart and hadn’t cared about the fallout.

Anna stopped pacing and looked in the mirror. She was all done up for her wedding day, but her life was crumbling around her.

She’d been living under other people's thumbs for years, and she was finally free. Dean wouldn’t tell her what to do. Her mom wouldn’t make her feel like she was a bad girlfriend.

No. She was going to live her life for herself. Well, not completely for herself. She would live her life for God first and foremost. All of the joy in her life was because of Him, and she couldn’t forget that.

Maybe this was even a part of His plan. Maybe she was supposed to reinvent herself and become the woman He wanted her to be.

In the mirror, the woman staring at her was fierce and confident. Her hair was styled, her dress fit perfectly, and she was beautiful without a stitch of makeup on her face. Yes, she could do this. She could do anything. She had a group of friends who loved her. They would help her through this.

And she would never make the same mistake twice.

Slipping her feet into the white tennis shoes she’d worn to the church, she grabbed the small clutch that matched her dress and walked out the door.