Like you need something else to make you panic right now?
“You don’t want to stay and…talk to someone? I’m sure your groom might appreciate a heads-up.”
Elias’s voice was irritatingly calm and controlled, his expression and chin-lifting nod toward the door making it clear he’d prefer that she do as he suggested and oust herself from the limo immediately.
When she didn’t move and even went so far as to lift her chin to a stubborn,I’m-not-budgingangle, he muttered something under his breath that she couldn’t make out. But he still didn’t get them moving either. No, he shifted on the bench seat and draped his muscular and veined wrist casually over the steering wheel, the overall impression making for aGQ-like pose that left her heart skipping erratically for an entirely different reason.
Yeah, so not what you should be noticing now,her mind argued, horrified.“I left a note. I-I left a note.”
She heard a shout echo off the sides of the tall buildings and twisted on the seat to look behind them. Security guards rushed down the alley toward them, her personal bodyguards not far behind. “Please, I’ll pay you. Just get meoutof here,” she begged in a breathless, desperate rush as she searched for the button to lock the doors. “They’re coming! You can judge me all you want later, but for now just drive. Go, go, GO!”
ChapterTwo
Elias Blackwell had known the wedding of a billionaire’s son and heir to a Carolina Cove local would prove to be interesting, but he had no idea that agreeing to help out his brothers by driving for them would lead him to…this.
“What are you waiting for?” the runaway bride demanded, panic searing her tone and making her bright green eyes flare wide.
It was her panic that cut through his anger that Quinley Anders was the type of woman to leave her groom looking like a fool.
Elias glanced into the rearview mirror and spotted three hotel security guards plus two tuxedoed goons who were undoubtedly bodyguards quickly closing in on them, their faces dark and more than a little menacing. More black-clad guards emerged from the hotel and followed the others, quickly closing the distance between them and the ones in front.
And as he watched, he also noted that none of them looked to be the type to let the bride leave on her own if their boss said otherwise. Andthatmade the decision for him.
He swore softly and followed her frantic orders to put the vehicle in gear. The shouts rose in volume when the security guards realized the limo was in motion, but the two in tuxedos picked up speed and shoved by the hotel security, looking like jocks passing the couch potatoes in gym class as they sprinted.
Elias gunned the powerful engine and shot out of the otherwise quiet street beside the massive new hotel. A horn blared from an oncoming vehicle, and he quickly swung the limo into the proper lane and ignored the yellow traffic light that would’ve left them a sitting duck in front of the rear lobby entrance facing the Atlantic.
Their rapid exit and the men chasing after them drew attention from everyone nearby, including some reporters camped out there as well as tourists and locals waiting behind barricades just to glimpse the goings-on. Phones and cameras turned in their direction.
He ignored his passenger hyperventilating on the seat next to him and focused on driving to make sure he didn’t take out a bystander during their escape. He’d be in enough hot water when his brothers heard about this. The last thing he wanted to do was add to the mess by hitting someone.
He’d heard Cole and his fiancée, Ana, talking about the wedding of Ana’s best friend in passing numerous times, but he’d paid the conversations little attention.
“Thank you,” she said, panting as she twisted in the seat to fasten her belt, moving in such a way it appeared she wore a full-body cast and was unable to bend.
The twists and shifts left her panting harder and red-faced, growling out a noise that made him think of other things before he clamped downthatthought immediately.
Her squirming left her leaning sideways on the bench seat toward him, and her tight wedding dress boosted her chest upward in admirable ways he tried and failed not to notice.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel, tension riding his shoulder blades until the base of his neck ached. “Any chance your intended’s security went back to get a car to chase us?”
“Maybe? I…probably? But maybe if we’re far enough away…” She bit into her full lower lip and slid a glance toward him from across the front of the limo before trying to twist around again to look behind them. A muffled shriek emerged. “Whatwas I thinking? I can’t see anything, but then I can’t really get a good look. Is someone back there?”
“I don’t see anyone yet. Just wondering what I’ve gotten myself into.” He took a quick glance at her and saw her lean heavily against the seat and scrunch up her face, her arms twisted behind her like a pretzel as she squirmed one way and then the other on the seat. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to—undo… I can’t breathe. I can’t… I can’tbreathe,” she said again, her expression looking more than a little woozy, white-lipped and panicked.
“Hey, no panic attacks. Just take a slow deep breath.”
“What part of not…not being able to breathe…do you not understand,” she gasped out. “I never should’ve listened to the mothers. They said it was the perfect dress, but it’snot. It’s a lung-squeezing torture device ofdeaththat won’t let mebreathe.”
“Maybe if you stop talking for a second and try to relax, you can. Take a second, then tell me where we’re going. Where can I drop you off?”
She stayed silent for several panting breaths before she shook her head and shot him another wide-eyed and panicked stare.
“I don’t know. I didn’t exactly plan this!”
“Where’s home?”
