"My mom's dead. Don't know my dad. I've lived with my mom's friend since I was twelve." She studied his expression. "Say, you work as a bounty hunter, right? I'm good with numbers and I can run your business for you, you know, behind the scenes. I'm a fast learner and I can figure out how to cut your overhead to make your bottom line more profitable. I used to work in an accounting department at an insurance office after I graduated from high school. My GPA was four point O."
"That's impressive. How come you didn't go to college? With grades like that you could easily get scholarships."
"Yeah, that." She dipped her head in lamentation. "I was raised to marry the sheriff's son. He doesn't need a wife with a college degree. He just needs someone to clean the house and warm his bed."
"Is that so? What if I want you more than just running my books?" Rovik crumpled the used napkin and tossed it on his plate. "Sometimes a guy is tempted to have some pretty young thing warm his bed."
She eyed him critically.
Was she being naïve? Rovik wondered. Surely she knew how appealing she looked to men? That beautiful face. The voluptuous body. Especially breathtaking smile. Rovik was a sucker for a woman with a pretty smile.
"Then, I'll just convince you I'm worth more than a cheap fuck." She smiled rather mischievously. "You know, I didn't have a plan to run away until this morning. I had this insane urge to get out of the church and walk into this diner. For the first time in my life, I followed my instinct. My guts tell me to ditch the wedding, then I did. Do you believe in fate, Mr. Stromheim?"
Rovik slowly acknowledged her with a faint nod. "That I do, Ms. Anderson."
"So." Emily flashed her smile again. "Do I get the job?"
What could he say? Perhaps this was what fate had in store for them. He was meant to meet her and she was destined to be with him, not the man she was supposed to marry today. He offered his hand. "Welcome to Whitewater Bond Agency. Glad to have you onboard."
Her face brightened as she shook his hand eagerly. "Does this mean we can leave now?"
"Naturally. I have no more business to conduct in this town. There's no reason for me to linger." Rovik got up from his stool and peeled out two twenties from his wallet for the tab. "Keep the change," he said to the waitress.
People in the diner watched them leave, some with clear disapproval on their faces. Not that he cared. He knew he courted trouble, hitting on a runaway bride. And now he was about to spirit her away. Fuck it. This woman was his mate. No one else could have her.
She's mine.