The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

“If I didn’t think I’d get caught, I’d kill your father for putting you in this position,” Lacey’s mother griped as her two cousins were helping her into her gown. Lacey had returned to New York at her father’s request last week. She had given up her apartment in Paris since she was going to be married to a billionaire who lived in New York. She had called her mother a day after she agreed to marry Blake Dandridge to tell her about it. Her mother, Roxanne Stevens, had asked too many questions about the quick nuptials. Lacey had no choice but to tell her the truth. “Lawrence knows you’d do anything for him,” her mother continued as she paced. She wore a blue Vera Wang dress.Lacey was surprised at how quick the arrangements had been made. She didn’t think she could have a real wedding on such short notice. But from what she had heard during the past week was when Blake Dandridge wanted something done it got done no matter what. No one wanted to be on

One year later . . . The day of her almost wedding Lacey had gotten on a flight to Atlanta, Georgia. It was tough there. She couldn’t get a job in her major or minor. So, she had to take two part-time jobs working at fast food restaurants. There was no way she was going to call home to ask for money. For one thing, her father didn’t have any. Her mother had plenty being from a wealthy family, but she didn’t want her mother to know where she was. Lacey just wanted to be left alone for a while to make decisions about her own life – not someone doing it for her. She didn’t know what had become of her father’s financial situation. She just needed to get away and stay away. After three months, Lacey was able to get a job with All-Time Language as an interpreter. She minored in French at The American University of Paris. Her professors gave her glowing recommendations. The best thing about the company was the pay was twice more than work

Brian was meeting Lacey downstairs at eight-thirty. She wore a red halter dress. The skirt swung slightly above her knee. It tied in the back around her neck. It could pass for semi-casual. Lacey had no idea where Brian was going to take her. Hopefully, what she had on would pass muster at the restaurant. There was a knock on the door. Surely, Blake hadn’t arrived, yet. It was only eight o’clock. Lacey opened the door to see Rebecca, one of the innkeepers. “He’s not here already is he?” she asked nervously. “Oh, no, dear. I came to see how you were fairing. First dates can be a bit harrowing and you seemed pretty excited about it when you came in to tell me you were expecting someone.” “I could use an ear if you got a minute.” Lacey stood aside to let her in. “Sure,” Rebecca entered the room. As Lacey closed the door, Rebecca said, “Oh, you look nice.” Lacey had curled her blonde hair on th

Blake walked Lacey to her door. She turned to face him. He took the opportunity to take her again in his arms. He kissed her. Lacey didn’t seem to mind because she met him stroke for stroke. Her lips, now poutier from being kissed thoroughly, were so soft. She probably never had a real man kiss her before. But, she had one now. He didn’t stop until she moaned. When he pulled back, her lids were heavy and her breathing a bit shallow. Before he could say what was on his mind she spoke. “I can’t invite you in.” He knew what he wanted and he also knew she wanted the same thing. “Why? We want each other.” It wasn’t a lie. In this moment, he did want her. More than any woman he had ever bedded in his life. “I can’t. I . . . I’m not a woman who leaps in and out of bed with people. I don’t have casual sex,” she whispered. “Who said it would be casual?” He didn’t mean to ask that. Of course, it would be casual. That’s the

Blake and Lacey packed up their mess in the picnic basket and placed it to the side. They laid back on the blanket, looking at the sky, relaxing. Blake put his hands behind his head as he looked at the brilliant blue sky and the whiter than white clouds. He hadn’t stopped to look at the sky since he was thirteen. He remembered how he had an appreciation for nature back then. Once he had reached fifteen, after Tiffany had broken his heart, he no longer cared about nature – or anything other than himself and money. Blake wondered if his mother leaving his father when he was eighteen and Tiffany making him look like a fool at such a young age had anything to do with how he turned into the person he was today. Had all that changed in over a week? Lacey breathed out a relaxing sigh, bringing him out of his thoughts. Blake turned to look at her. She had a lazy smile on her face and her eyes were closed. She was the catalyst that pl