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thought I’d been kidnapped and wanted the police to issue an Amber Alert.”
    “Wait. Isn’t that for—”
    “Yeah. For kids. Megan says she was irritated when they wouldn’t do it.”
    Noah chuckled. “Sounds like Blair.” He paused. “What did Megan say about you running off?”
    She scowled. “Nothing good.”
    “I gathered that from the fact that you suggested a complete stranger tell your best friend to go to hell.”
    She grinned up at him, a new playfulness in her eyes. Relief spread warmth through his veins. She had every reason to be upset, but it killed him to see her that way. He’d do anything to keep her happy.
    He gave her a cocky grin. “Since you were supposed to get married, I take it you’ve got a few days off for your honeymoon.”
    “Well . . . yeah. I postponed all my photo shoots for the next couple of weeks.”
    “Where were you going for a honeymoon?”
    “We were supposed to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico, but then Mitch’s high school football team made it into a playoff game. So we canceled the trip.”
    “But you still have time off?”
    “Yeah. Why?”
    “Let’s go on a road trip.”
    Her eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”
    “No. We’re already in Junction City. Why not just keep going?”
    “How about the fact that I don’t have any clothes on me besides this wedding dress?”
    “So we’ll buy you more clothes.”
    “Noah, I don’t have any money. Or a cell phone. Or a form of ID for that matter.”
    “Then I’ll pay for the trip.” When she started to protest, he held up a hand. “Consider it a non-wedding present. Or if you’d like, consider it your kidnapper providing for your basic needs.”
    “And you can take off work just like that? I thought you guys were in the middle of a merger that was sucking away all your free time.”
    He considered telling her the truth—in fact, he was dying to tell her the truth. She was the one person who would understand how he felt. She knew how hard he’d been trying with the family business. But this was about Libby right now, not him. His problems weren’t going anywhere. He could wait. “Lucky for you, I took time off.”
    She ate several more bites before looking up at him. “So where would we go?”
    He grinned. “Wherever we want. In fact, I declare tomorrow Libby St. Clair Day.”
    “Does that mean I get to pick where we go?”
    His eyes narrowed. “Where do you want to go?”
    She laughed. “I don’t know. I’m just trying to learn the rules.”
    “The rules are we don’t do anything responsible. We just have fun.”
    Her lips pursed as she considered it, then she grinned and held out her hand. “Deal.”
    “Deal.” He shook her hand, holding it a few seconds longer than necessary before releasing it.
    She leaned toward him. “So where are we going?”
    Then he knew how to make it really fun for her. He’d never met anyone who loved surprises more than Libby. “I’ve decided not to tell you. You’ll find out tomorrow.”
    “You have no idea.”
    “I guess you’ll find out.” She was right, but he’d never admit it. But as long as she continued to look this happy, he’d figure out how to get her to the moon if she wanted to go there.
     
     

Chapter Six

     
    Over the course of their dinner, Libby relaxed and tried to forget the wedding gone wrong. Several of the customers—and even the staff—grew bold enough to ask for photos with her. Some, like the woman who’d cat-called him, wanted a photo with Noah. By the time they finally left, Libby had taken a photo with almost everyone in the restaurant. The restaurant manager even offered to comp their bill if Libby would let him hang his photo with her by the entrance.
    When Noah held the door to the parking lot open for her, she felt happier—and freer—than she had in months, even if she was freezing. “Now what?” she asked.
    “I think we should find a hotel and stay in Junction City tonight. Your photo session took over forty-five