Free The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter Page A

like a baby in her arms. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she set them down on the marble counter, one by one, her hands shaking.
    You’re really losing it, Lucy.
    â€œI found some stuff.” He held up some envelopes. “Mail. Looks like a bank statement and a few bills. A paycheck.”
    â€œA paycheck? From where?”
    â€œSomeplace called Vacasa.”
    She took the check, frowning at the place of employment she’d never even heard of. At the amount of the paycheck. Even if it was only a weekly paycheck, it wasn’t enough to justify a place like this.
    She shook her head. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
    â€œYou probably had a second job. Let’s see if we can find some car keys.”
    She followed him into the living room, through a tiny dining room, and into a kitchen. Maybe Brad had forked out the money for the apartment. She couldn’t imagine living off a man like that, but nothing else made sense.
    â€œBingo,” he said, scooping an unfamiliar leather purse off the counter. He handed it to her.
    â€œWhy would my purse be here? Wouldn’t I have taken it with me?”
    He shrugged.
    But no, she would’ve carried a dainty little white one to go with her dress. And likely a small suitcase or overnight bag. She’d had to change and get ready, after all.
    Runaway Bride.
    She pushed the thought away as she rifled through her bag. “I doubt if my car’s even here.” Her fingers connected with the metal edges of keys. She pulled out the ring containing three keys and a Buick remote fob.
    But she drove a 2010 Mini Cooper, and she’d never had the luxury of remote start. She frowned. “These aren’t mine.”
    â€œI’m betting they are.”
    He walked to the window and peered through the sheers before pulling them back an inch. “They’re still there.”
    She came up behind him, close enough to smell his spicy, woodsy scent. She drew in a deep breath, committing the smell to memory.
    Zac aimed the fob toward the street, pushing a button.
    Lights flashed on a Buick sedan parked just down the street.
    â€œBingo.” He handed the keys back to her.
    Their eyes met and clung, the lamplight washing over his handsome features. Was he really going to leave her here? Had she really lost him forever?
    How can this have happened, God? I love him so much.
    He cleared his throat and palmed the back of his neck. “Um, you should check your purse for your phone. It’ll have your contacts and texts. Maybe it’ll help you remember something.”
    â€œIt wasn’t in there.”
    â€œRight. I guess you would’ve had it on you when you fell. You should call the diner in the morning and see if they found it.”
    She nodded absently. She didn’t even remember the name of the diner or have a clue where it was. She was going to have to call Brad back whether she wanted to or not. Maybe he could point her toward a friend she’d trusted. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so alone. So sad.
    â€œWhat do you think they meant, Lucy?” His deep voice cut straight through her. She met his silvery eyes and gloried in the tenderness she saw there. “About the Runaway Bride thing?”
    She wrenched her eyes away, shifting under his steady gaze. He had a way of making her feel like he could see right through her. Right down to the center of her heart. Somehow he’d loved her anyway.
    â€œHow would I know?”
    â€œRight.” He shifted away, driving his hands into his pockets. His eyes flittered around the sterile apartment, then came back to rest on her. “You’re all settled then. I should get going.”
    Her heart drummed against her ribs as he headed toward the door. Adrenaline emptied into her system, making her pulse race and her limbs tremble.
    â€œCan’t I get you something to drink?”
    â€œIt’s late. I have a long drive.”
    â€œSomething for the road