“Whenever you’re ready,” I reply. This guy has done me a huge favor. I don’t want to rush him, but let’s get the hell going already. He hasn’t finished his beer, and he probably came to relax. Let off some steam. He looks stressed. Or maybe not stressed as much as irritated. That can’t be just down to me. When I first walked in, he wore the same expression, way before he knew I was going to be bothering him for a room for the night.

He slides his beer across the bar, stands, and pulls out his wallet. “Let’s go.”

“Oh, you don’t need to—I mean, I can walk. I just need a key.” I hope this guy doesn’t think he’s getting lucky tonight. He’s hot and everything, but like, I was supposed to marry someone today. One is enough.

“Key’s in my cabin. I’ll give you a ride.” He holds out his jacket. “Put this on. It’s freezing.”

“I’m fine⁠—”

“Put the jacket on. It’s cold outside.”

I tighten my jaw at his command. I didn’t escape Oregon just to be ordered about in Star Falls. But once again, I can’t say no. I need a bed for the night and this guy’s cabin is my only option. I figure I’ll put his jacket on and just be grateful he hasn’t asked about what I’m wearing. If he’s going to murder me, my DNA will be on his clothes. And enough people have seen us leave together that even if I’m dead, at least this guy will go to jail.

I slip on the navy jacket, cuffs falling past my fingers. It feels like a huge blanket. I didn’t realize how cold I’d been until now. I look up at Byron, his hands thrust into the pockets of his dark blue jeans, his eyes narrowed like he’s trying to figure something out. He glances around the bar, and I follow his eyeline. There’s a ripple of heads lifting, checking out what’s going on.

He sighs. “Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. “This town never changes. It’s addicted to gossip. Let’s go.”

He sounds pissed off. At the town? Me? His evening being interrupted? Probably all of the above.

Nothing I can do about his mood. Hopefully it means he won’t quiz me about what I’m doing in town, how long I’ll stay or where I’ve come from. I don’t have any answers at the moment. I certainly don’t want to think about Oregon. Every minute that ticks by makes it more and more impossible to go back. I left wanting to escape a wedding, but the more I think about it, I’ve escaped more than just being Frank’s wife. I escaped my entire life.