Chasing the Runaway Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

that store is like Richard saying I’m returning the store to the O’Rileys where it belongs.”
    “Mom, I only got half, remember?”
    Karen frowned as that sank in.
    “Richard wanted to end the feud, so he gave the grocery store to me and his grandson.”
    Her mom’s frown became a look of total confusion. “The other half goes to…Finn?”
    She winced. “Cade.”
    “But he doesn’t live around here! Isn’t he a cowboy or something?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Karen groaned. “Oh, Piper. No one’s really seen him in twelve years, since he left Lonnie and poor Hunter. He could be as big of a thief as his grandfather.”
    “That’s not my call. Besides, I only have to work with him for one year.”
    “One year?” She walked to the foyer table and picked up her purse and keys.
    “And if Cade backs out, the entire store is mine.”
    Her mother’s happy face returned. “Really?”
    “Yeah. I think his grandfather was trying to strong-arm him into taking the job.”
    “But if he leaves before the year is up, you get the store? Sole owner? Free and clear?”
    She nodded.
    “It almost sounds like Richard knew Cade wouldn’t want to stay in town a whole year, so he baited him with the one thing he couldn’t tolerate. An O’Riley getting the whole shebang.”
    Piper hadn’t really considered that.
    “It would be better if he just walked away.”
    “That’s walking away from a lot of money.”
    Karen patted her hand. “His family doesn’t need it. Especially if they force Jeb to give LuAnn half of what he owns.”
    “I don’t know anything about that.” Fighting the urge to shake her head because she hated the way this town gossiped and speculated and poked their noses in where they didn’t belong, she added, “And maybe it’s best we just focus on the store.”
    Karen nodded. “You’re right.” She peeked at Piper. “But, you know, I used to run O’Riley’s with your dad. And managing a chain pharmacy didn’t really prepare you to run a grocery store. Or deal with somebody like Cade. Maybe it would be a good idea if you hired me?”
    Piper laughed. “You want a job?”
    “I’d like to be part of the store again.”
    Seeing the serious look in her mom’s shiny green eyes, Piper shrugged. “Okay. That’s the big perk of being the owner. I can hire anybody I want. If you want a job, you’ve got a job.”
    “Thanks, Piper.” Karen hugged her. “I can’t wait to tell the Dinner Belles… Oh, and we have a food pantry meeting tonight!” She pulled away from Piper. “I can tell people, right?”
    “No one said anything about keeping it a secret. Besides, I’ll be in the store tomorrow…working as owner.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh, Mom! This is going to be so great.”
    Except for the fact that she had to work with Cade Donovan.
    But surely she could manage that…
    Couldn’t she?

Chapter Four
    The next morning, Piper awakened to the sound of her favorite song blaring from her iPhone. She groaned and rolled over, then, remembering the meeting in Jeff’s office the day before, she bounced up in bed.
    She owned half the grocery store.
    Her family’s store.
    Her dad’s name had been cleared. His shame wiped away.
    And she no longer earned peanuts as manager for a chain pharmacy. She was a business owner!
    Grinning like an idiot, she jumped out of bed, showered, and curled her hair. Even though she was getting ready for work, today was the first day of a new start. If she did a good job with O’Riley’s, maybe she could stop being the town’s runaway bride and go back to being just plain Piper. Or Piper O’Riley, half-owner of O’Riley’s Market.
    Oh, she liked the sound of that.
    Dressed in jeans and a simple blue shirt, she headed out for O’Riley’s. She and Cade hadn’t discussed reopening the store. They hadn’t actually spoken after the meeting in Jeff’s office. But that was okay. She had absolutely no idea how this partnership would work, but she