Free Chasing the Runaway Bride by Susan Meier

his brother he’d called for information about Piper. Particularly since he wanted the information so he could use it to talk himself out of sleeping with her. He’d make his curiosity about her look like it pertained to the store.
    “You know how we have to keep O’Riley’s open to steer Dad off the scent of the size of the estate? Well, that might be harder than it sounds. We didn’t have any customers on my shift today.”
    “Oh.”
    “Plus, two of the employees called and quit the day we opened.”
    “Because you left Lonnie at the altar and refused to support her child?”
    “No. Those were the people fighting over the lettuce. The people who quit didn’t want to work with Piper.”
    “People fought over lettuce?”
    “That’s not the big deal. Something’s wrong with Piper. Today’s the second time she’s mentioned having made a mistake. Because she won’t tell me, I know there’s a story.”
    Devon sighed with disgust. “Of course there’s a story.”
    Cade waited a beat then said, “If something she did is going to ruin our plan to keep the store open, I need to know. Think of yourself as having gathered recon intel, Marine, and spill.”
    “All right. Fine.” Devon blew out a breath. “Your gal Piper’s been engaged twice.”
    Cade sat back on the sofa. “So? Have you seen her recently? She’s hot. Truly hot. Ridiculously hot.” He stopped himself before he worked his hormones into a frenzy. “It’s not big news that two guys wanted to marry her.”
    “It is when you hear that she left both guys at the altar.”
    He laughed. “She left two guys at the altar?”
    “Got to the church the first time but turned and ran out about two steps into ‘Here Comes the Bride.’ Got halfway down the aisle the second time, but Mom said she sort of gasped, pivoted, and bolted.” He took a long, noisy breath. “And—this is the bad part—the reigning theory is that you’re to blame.”
    He bounced up on the sofa. “Me?”
    “Most people think she runs because she’s afraid of being hurt like Lonnie.”
    “That’s ridiculous. Piper knew we were only getting married because of Hunter. She had to realize that when I figured out he wasn’t mine, there was no reason to marry Lonnie.”
    “Not if she didn’t know you weren’t Hunter’s father.”
    “Right. That would mean Lonnie had lied to Piper.”
    “Why not? If Lonnie was telling everybody else you were Hunter’s father, why not lie to Piper, too?”
    “Her best friend?”
    “The easiest way to keep a secret is not to let anybody in on the truth.”
    This time his face out-and-out scrunched in confusion. “So you think Piper doesn’t know I’m not Hunter’s father?”
    “ You didn’t know until Doc smuggled those DNA results to you.”
    “Yeah, but I was the guy Lonnie was using to cover up Hunter’s real father. It was important I be duped. Piper was her friend.”
    “Which makes her the perfect person for Lonnie to use to make her story look real.”
    “I don’t buy it.”
    “Hey, whatever, bro. I’m just warning you that your partner is bat shit crazy. What you do with the information is up to you.”
    Cade ran his hand down his face. No wonder she didn’t want him anywhere near her. She actually believed he could desert his own child. “This is just great.” Of course, if he took himself out of the equation, her running from weddings could actually mean that she didn’t want to make a commitment.
    Just like he didn’t want to make a commitment.
    And wouldn’t that make them perfect for a fling?
    “Come on, Cade. You’re working with Piper for a good cause. Not only does Pap want you to find that evidence, but you’re also the smoke screen that gives me time to get Dad to sign an agreement so Mom’s divorce can be final. After that, you can leave. We have enough money we don’t need to care what happens to the store. Personally, I don’t want to see it go to an O’Riley, but if that’s what happens,