Free Stealing the Groom by Sonya Weiss Page A

and the blood pounded in Amelia’s ears with each step they took. On the way to the formal-wear shop, they passed a small wedding chapel tucked away on a parcel of land that bore witness to the recent storm. The tops of colorful pink and white geraniums littered the sidewalk and one of the flowerpots was overturned with soil spilling out onto the street.
    Deep breath.
    Amelia stumbled over a dip on the sidewalk and bumped against Chad. “Easy,” he whispered.
    “While you two are getting dressed, we’ll make sure you get some breakfast dropped off at the shop. We’re going to the courthouse to see about the marriage license. Henry said he knew the judge…hopefully he can push this through.” Noah patted her hand and said in a firm whisper, “Everything will be okay.”
    Nothing would be okay. Amelia swallowed, a whirlwind of emotions raging inside her heart.
    “Well,” Chad said as they walked away from her beaming grandfather. “We’re not married yet. You still trying to come up with an escape route?”
    “I’m wondering if maybe the store has a back exit we can slip out of,” Amelia replied.
    “You could buy some time to adjust to the idea of getting married if you fainted at the altar.”
    “My grandfather would wait until I came to, prop me up, and keep right on going,” Amelia grumbled.
    Chad sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. Noah’s always wanted to hurry up and marry you off.”
    “He worries about me,” Amelia said in defense of her grandfather.
    “For good reason, considering the last scrape you got into.”
    “From a distance, that alligator looked like a statue. I thought it was a great photo opportunity.”
    “You’ll never hear a cautious person say they had their purse taken by an alligator.”
    “Things happen,” she quipped as she stopped in front of the door.
    “Especially to you.”
    Amelia ignored that and touched the sign on the door. “MJ Formal Wear,” she read aloud.
    “This is it.” He took a breath and pushed on the door of the shop.
    A group of tiny silver bells chimed. Once they crossed the welcome mat, two saleswomen walked forward to greet them.
    Amelia caught one last glimpse of Chad before she was led away by one of the women. “We have a restroom in the back if you want to freshen up.”
    “Yes, thank you.” Amelia touched her hair. She probably looked as though she’d just been voted off an island. She hadn’t thought to even run a brush through it.
    A few moments later, looking at her flushed face in the restroom mirror, Amelia slowly removed the brush from her purse and went to work on her tangled hair.
    Setting the brush down on the side of the sink, she made a face at herself and said out loud, “Congratulations, Amelia. You’ve managed to screw up two lives with a single escapade.”
    She quickly pulled her hair back in a band she found in her purse and applied some makeup.
    As soon as she stepped out into the main area, the saleswoman greeted her. “I believe we have some lovely dresses in your size at the rear of the store,” she said with a smile. Amelia followed her across the carpet to the area.
    After trying on several dresses, Amelia finally found a knee-length white sheath dress with an open back, covered by lace
    If the straitjacket fit…
    Turning first one way and then another to look at herself in the mirror, she hoped that if there was a million-to-one chance she’d get married someday for real, she wouldn’t have the same hollow feeling in her stomach. But she doubted it. Marriage tied a woman down.
    Leaving the dress on, she found a pair of white shoes that were only slightly too small. She hoped Chad was faring better. She knew he was quietly accepting their fate on the outside because of what was at stake with his company. Inside, he was probably as upset as she was. All that was left for her now was to wait.
    She was seated on an upholstered bench, fanning her face, contemplating her next move when Chad approached.
    Wearing a