Page 29 of Rise of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow #17)

VALENTINE’S DAY

Dutton Williams followed his brother Briggs and Brigg’s girlfriend Melissa into the barn at Imogen Thane’s property.

The tables were in the shape of hearts with red bouquets of flowers for centerpieces.

Soft candlelight illuminated the space, giving it the expected romantic feel.

He had to admit that the space was elegant and inviting…

if one were there with a date or significant other.

For a solo like him, it was just depressing.

He was kicking himself for letting Briggs and Melissa talk him into going to this party that Imogen had arranged. They’d promised live music, dancing, and good food. Along with other singles in Keating Hollow who were looking to do something other than spend the night alone.

Maybe that would all be true eventually as the night wore on. But at the moment, it looked like everyone was paired up, and the only thing to drink was champagne.

Dutton did not drink booze with bubbles in it.

Melissa glanced over at him and grimaced slightly. “Sorry. I was told this would be a party and wasn’t just for Valentines.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I should have known.”

Dutton had been in Keating Hollow for a little over three weeks now.

He’d come after a particularly painful breakup.

Though he hadn’t told anyone that. He’d just wanted to settle in and get to know his brother again.

After years of being separated, he was really enjoying his time with Briggs.

It turned out that they got along really well and in just a short time, Dutton had already decided to make Keating Hollow his permanent residence.

Just as soon as he found a place of his own. Which wasn’t proving to be easy. But his brother didn’t seem to mind him staying in his guest room, and for that he was grateful.

Because going back to San Diego was out of the question.

The mess he’d left back there… He didn’t need to revisit that any time soon. Or ever as far as he was concerned.

Walking in on his bride and her supposed best friend while they were going at it in Dutton’s bed the morning of his wedding had really done a number on him.

Now all he wanted was to spend some time hiking in the mountains, find a place to live, and open a classic car restoration shop. Since he’d just sold his house in San Diego, all of those things were feasible. He just needed to make it happen.

Someday soon. Probably.

Once he didn’t feel like he’d just had the crap kicked out of him.

He glanced around at all the happy couples and decided he definitely needed something stronger than champagne.

“I’ll be right back,” he told Briggs and Melissa, who were already half a glass into the bubbly. “I’ve got to find something stronger than this.”

“Good luck, man,” Briggs said. “If you find whiskey, let me know.”

Dutton nodded and left the couples’ party. The barn wasn’t the only place holding an event that night.

Off in the right side of the field, there was a tent set up and guests were already starting to arrive at the wedding being held next door.

A horseless carriage pulled up and parked at the edge of the parking area, no doubt waiting for the bride and groom to come running out after saying their vows.

That just wasn’t anything he needed to see. Not in his state of mind. He turned his back on the scene and worked his way over to a food truck area that was set up around an ice-skating rink.

Jackpot.

Not only was there a cash bar, but there was a dessert truck, too. He first ordered a piece of carrot cake and once he had that in hand, he ordered a whiskey and soda and went off to find a place to enjoy his guilty pleasures in peace.

It didn’t take him long to find a bench that was positioned under a large oak tree. He took a seat and watched as couple after couple arrived to celebrate the holiday.

He finished off his cake and then downed his drink far faster than he intended. It just meant he needed another drink. When he got to the cash bar, he frowned when he spotted a gorgeous woman in her formfitting wedding dress standing at the cart, ordering a vodka and tonic.

“Better make it two,” she said with a hitch in her voice.

Dutton stood behind her, giving her space, but when she turned around, she startled and spilled an entire drink right down the front of her dress.

“Damn,” she said, shaking her head.

“I am so sorry,” he said, completely mortified. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was actually trying to give you space.”

“Space. That’s what I need,” she said with a nod.

“Plenty of space. Like a Grand Canyon-sized space.” She opened her arms wide and spilled the second drink.

“Because no bride wants to hear on the day of her wedding that her groom isn’t sure he wants to get married.

Like, that’s the worst thing that could happen, right? ”

“Maybe not the worst,” Dutton said. “He could have run off with the best man or maid of honor.”

She let out a bark of laughter. “That I could understand. You know? But just not being sure, like he somehow entered into this commitment without a thought in the world? Who does that?”

Dutton didn’t feel qualified for this conversation, but he tried anyway. “Maybe he just has a bad case of nerves?”

“Maybe he’s just a jackass.” She ordered another drink and then walked off toward the wedding venue.

“Thank the gods that’s not me,” he muttered, remembering all too well what it was like to be dressed and ready to say I do only to turn around and tell everyone the ceremony was canceled due to the bride being unable to control herself around other men.

It had been a petty thing to say, but he just didn’t give a damn in the moment.

Dutton got two more whiskey and sodas, one for him and one for his brother, and then started to make his way back to the sock hop, where the lovebirds were probably declaring their love to each other every three minutes when doves were released into the air. Or some crap like that.

He’d just about made it to the barn when he heard hushed arguing.

“I will not marry you,” the woman in the wedding dress said. “Not after you told me you needed space.”

“I just said I was having doubts,” the groom argued. “That I needed to talk to Blossom to make sure I wasn’t making a mistake.”

“Blossom is your ex-girlfriend, you jackass!” She threw her drink in his face and started to run toward the parking area.

“Dahlia, wait!” The groom took off and easily caught up with the bride.

Dutton was going to leave them to their fight and let them work it out, but when he saw the groom grab the bride and shake her as if he were trying to shake some sense into her, he couldn’t leave it alone. He strode over and pulled the man off her.

There were tears in her eyes as she backed away from the groom.

“Are you all right?” he asked her.

She nodded, but her eyes were wide with shock.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with you,” the groom sneered. “Why don’t you mind your own business?”

“I was going to until I saw you hurting this woman. Now it’s too late to act like I didn’t see anything,” Dutton said.

“I did no such thing,” the groom insisted and then reached for her again.

When she flinched, Dutton sprang into action, sweeping the bride up off her feet and striding away from the abusive jackass.

“Where to?” he asked her.

She swallowed hard and said, “Anywhere. Just get me out of here.”

He would have been happy to drive her anywhere she wanted to go, but he didn’t have a vehicle. “Do you have a car here?”

She shook her head. “My sister drove me.”

“Right. The carriage it is then.” He jogged over to the horseless carriage, helped her get in, and then climbed in after her. Out of thin air, a voice asked, “Where to, sir and madam?”

“Anywhere, Jeeves,” Dutton ordered. “Just floor it. We have a runaway bride.”

***

Get the next book in the series: Charm of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow, Book 18).