by Lorin Grace
“Will we be named in the suit?” asked Dad.
“I doubt it. I am a victim, as is Abbie. Plus, I paid the hotel a huge tip when we checked out early.” Preston looked at his plate. He didn’t remember finishing his eggs.
“I suppose I need to find a different gift for the shower. I bought a peignoir set I saw in Paris, and I’d like to give her something she can keep.”
Preston nearly spit out his punch. His mother had bought a negligee for his fiancée? That was too weird. “Mum!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Many moms buy them for their daughters and leave the more risqué clothing for the bridesmaids to get. I figured since her mother was dead—that isn’t true, is it? Mrs. Hastings isn’t dead, is she?”
“No, and, in fact, she will be playing the role of Gale’s aunt at the shower and at the wedding if necessary. I understand she is still a good shot and a retired bodyguard.”
“She was an excellent shot back in the day. I’m glad you told me. I haven’t seen her for years, but I might have recognized her and ruined everything. You don’t think the stalker will try something there, do you?”
“Only if she’s stupid. Mandy Crawford is hosting, and so Hastings Security is in charge. Not only do they have Mandy and her unborn baby to protect, but her brothers are all very upset Abbie is doing this. So far the stalker hasn’t been willing to physically harm anyone beyond potential food poisoning, and doing anything where Mandy could get hurt will probably keep her at bay.” Preston picked up the ring and put it in his breast pocket.
“The snake in the salad wasn’t an accident?”
“Probably the stalker. Maybe paid someone in the kitchen.” He stood and kissed his mother on the forehead.
“Oh.”
His father caught his arm. “Tell her good luck from us. And when this is all over, she is still invited for a sail and to bring her family.”
Preston walked into the residence. He didn’t often spend time with his parents. He should make it a point to.
nineteen
Mandy lay on a different couch today. “I needed a different view. Candace and Zoe will be here in an hour, and my mother is baby shopping again. I shouldn’t encourage her, but it’s better than her hovering.”
Abbie took a seat on the floor so she could be eye level with her friend. “Have you seen the news?”
“Yes, and for the record, whoever manipulated those photos did an abysmal job. Anyone with half a brain can see they are spoofed.”
Abbie tried to smile. “I guess I’m lucky they didn’t hire you.”
“You know I don’t do that type of work. I see the ring is gone. Is the job over? I was looking forward to the shower tomorrow.”
“You do realize that even if the shower is still on, I am returning all the gifts, right?” Abbie pulled her knees up to her chin. “We met with Preston’s parents this morning.” She bit her lip and blinked. “They are going to decide what to do. This is so stupid. It shouldn’t feel like we are really breaking up, but my ring finger feels naked, and my heart—”
Mandy reached out. “Scoot closer so I can hug you.”
Abbie leaned against the couch, and Mandy gave her a half hug.
“When did you realize you loved him?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t fall in a day. I started out not even respecting him. But if I had to name a moment, it would be the afternoon he tried to convince me I was beautiful. But I knew when I saw the bomb and I needed him safe. He gave me chances to back out since then, but I couldn’t. I can’t leave him to keep going through this until he finds a woman who is desperate enough to have a backbone or who loves him—”
Mandy gave her another hug. “Should I text Candace to bring ice cream back for us?”
“I don’t think ice cream can solve this one. Besides, the fewer people who know, the easier this will be.”
“Ice cream doesn’t solve problems, but it only freezes the pain.”
Abbie leaned against the couch. “I can’t decide if I want to finish this job or not. If we don’t catch her and I have to stand up in front of a fake minister and say I do, I don’t know how I will survive. And the worst part is I can’t let him know because he can’t marry his bodyguard. I’m just the staff.”
“You are not just the staff. You never have been.”
“That is a problem too. You know I can’t be your regular bodyguard after the baby comes. I have lost my objectivity.”
Mandy patted Abbie’s shoulder. “I’ve known for a while. That’s why I offered you two paid months off after she shows up. I’d rather have you as my friend anyway. But I still want you at the hospital. No way are any of your brothers coming into the delivery room.”
Abbie laughed. “You do realize nothing is going to happen in the delivery room, and even if my brothers were there, they would be outside the door, right?”
“I know.” Mandy rubbed her belly. “I guess I finally understand why Daniel goes from normal to overprotective in half a heartbeat.”
Abbie’s phone pinged. “It’s Alex. Preston is at my apartment looking for me.”
“Go in my bathroom and use whatever you need to put your face back on. Also, lose the ponytail. And text me after, okay?”
Abbie nodded and prepared to meet the verdict.
Alex set his phone down. “She is at Mandy’s. Give her fifteen minutes.”
Preston grabbed a water and sat on the couch. “Are you going to sit here and glare at me the entire time?”
“You know she cried most of the night, don’t you? She works in a tough world with even tougher men. Patrick isn’t the only jerk who has made inappropriate remarks or advances. A couple men found Gale’s phone number and texted asking if they could sign up for her side business too.”
“She didn’t tell me.”
“Adam took care of it. Most of those in our line of work know her well enough to know the photo wasn’t her, but I think she is worried about this when the real Abbie comes back.” Alex sat down on the chair opposite Preston. “I hope you are going to do your best to fix this mess for her.”
“Of course I will. Don’t think I liked seeing her red-rimmed eyes any more than you did. I didn’t have the luxury of putting my fist through a wall.”
“Nah, you have the luxury, just not the muscles.” Alex’s smile was no less threatening than his glare.
“Maybe.”
They both drank their waters. Preston wondered who would out-glare the other.
“Adam warned her not to take this job. Told her the stakes were too high. Too easy to blur the lines between personal and professional. Since you’re here, I’m assuming you are going to continue this week. There are going to be a lot of talk-show hosts and others who are going to shout for you to kiss her. I don’t care what she says. Her emotions are involved, and those endorphins from kissing will only mess with her mind. Know that every time you cross that line, I will keep track, and I will get you in a sparring ring somehow, and you will pay a punch per kiss. Break her heart and it’s a full ten minutes.”
“I don’t want to hurt her. Your sister is one of the closest friends I have had in a while. I don’t know if it makes it harder or not knowing that. If I do kiss her, I’ll step into the ring and let you pound away. A punch for every kiss other than the one in front of the minster. I don’t see a way out of that.”
“Deal.”
Preston knew it would be bone crushing, but he stood and shook the man’s hand anyway.
“Looks like I got here in time. No wrestling in the apartment.” Abbie closed the door and took off her sunglasses. “Alex, if you don’t mind going elsewhere? And FYI, I am turning off the cameras and audio. If they are not back on in a half hour, feel free to come back.”
Alex gave his sister a questioning look but le
ft. Abbie punched some buttons on her phone. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted us to be able to speak freely.”
“Thanks. I’m glad. Preston fished the ring out of his front pocket. “As Dad pointed out, the only way to clear your reputation is to catch the stalker, and you’ve done too much work to let this go. Let’s finish this together.”
He slipped the ring on her finger.
“How did your parents take it?”
“Mum went to find a new gift for the shower tomorrow. She wanted something you can keep, and the gift she purchased in Paris was . . . inappropriate.” Preston felt heat rise in his face.
“Are you blushing? Oh my. I’m glad she is not giving me whatever it was.”
Preston drank more water.
“So, what are we supposed to do this afternoon? I need to put my eyes in and get ready.”
“Sailing, but we can do something else.”
Abbie looked out her window. “Have you ever been to the Navy Pier?”
“Not for at least a decade.”
“Let’s get you a T-shirt so you don’t stand out and go have some fun!”
“I’ll go get one while you get ready.” Preston headed for the door.
Abbie followed him. “Try one of the souvenir shops a block over.”
twenty
Abbie reread the text message from the new unknown number.
Miss Purity Ring joined the mile-high club and is upset about my dating prank. Hypocrite.
“Guys, are you listening in?”
“What is it, Abbie?” Alan’s voice came from the stereo speaker.
“She may have talked with Patrick.” She read the text. “Check with Boston PD and see who he’s communicated with. Oh, and she is using a new number again.”
“What’s on your agenda today?”
“Interview for the 11:00 a.m. news broadcast, last fitting, and dinner with the family at the mansion. Oh, and tell Dad I spotted his tails again yesterday. So if they are not his, he needs to fess up.”
Jethro’s voice came over the speaker. “I knew I trained you well. But live with them for the rest of the week.”
“Only for you, Dad.” She bent over to slip on her heels. “Love you.”
A girl shouldn’t have the final fitting for her wedding dress alone, but Abbie couldn’t endure the festive atmosphere her bridesmaids would bring with them.
At the beginning of her junior year of high school, she’d found a copy of a bride magazine in the recycle bin of the library. When Alex hadn’t been looking, she’d stuffed it in her backpack. She’d kept the magazine in the bottom of her feminine-items drawer so none of her brothers would ever find it. Between the ad for silver and the tux add with the redhead, there was a dress she’d fallen in love with. But the magazine was only a memory, and her former dress crush was long out of style. Looking in the mirror, Abbie fell in love with a new dress.
She spoke to her reflection. “It’s beautiful. I look—”
“Gorgeous, just like I knew you would.”
Abbie turned to the doorway where Preston stood. “You are not supposed to be in here. It’s bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding.”
“Only if you believe that sort of thing. But you didn’t bring any of your friends, and I don’t think a bride should be alone at her last fitting.”
The designer came back into the room with the veil. “Mr. Harmon, I didn’t expect you here.”
“Sorry, Mateo. I couldn’t wait to see your creation for her.”
Abbie bent down so the veil could be put into place.
“You should get a new color job before the wedding. You don’t want your roots to show. Also, wear your hair up and lose the extensions.” Mateo adjusted the veil and turned to Preston. “With her hair up, some diamond-drop earrings would complete the look. Not too big—maybe two to three carats total, and platinum, not gold.”
Preston strolled around the pedestal. “Thank you for your recommendations. Will you give us a minute?”
The designer sauntered off.
“You have no idea how picture-perfect you look, do you?”
The mirror confirmed her fears. She was blushing. “Is this your way of turning me into a blushing bride?”
“No, it’s my way of telling the truth.”
Abbie turned away from his appreciative gaze and blinked back the tears that formed. Preston handed her a handkerchief.
“I didn’t think anyone carried these anymore.” She mopped at the tears.
“Tell me why you are crying.”
“Wedding jitters?”
“Pardon me if I don’t believe you.” He walked back into her line of sight and reached for her hand. “Abbie?”
“Any woman would cry seeing herself in a dress like this. It’s one of those woman-hormone things men always complain about.”
“Is that a question or a statement?”
Abbie blinked back the last tear. “Both?”
Preston laughed.
Abbie swiped at his shoulder. “I’d better get out of this dress. We have a TV studio to get to.”
“Let me give you a hand down.”
Abby hurried to the dressing room. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she heard him call her beautiful. The story about not wearing makeup on the bride’s wedding day made more sense.
Green rooms were never green. The fact had bothered Preston since he first stepped into one with his grandmother as a young teen. Abbie was still in makeup when the producer came in.
“Mr. Harmon, thank you for coming. Janet will ask you the standard questions—How did you meet, future, etc.”
“That’s what she told my assistant. Ten-minute session, I believe.” Preston handed the producer the faxed copy of the questions. “My lawyers approved all but question number three. Gale’s parents’ deaths is a no go.”
The producer took the list and turned to leave, then stopped. “Are you willing to kiss on camera?”
“Absolutely not.”
An arm slipped through his. “My fiancée means that as a courtesy to me. He has agreed to no public kissing until the wedding.”
“Miss Henderson, nice to meet you. I’m the producer. I’ll be back with someone to put your mikes on.” The man hurried away.
Preston turned to Abbie. “I didn’t realize you were a diplomat.”
“I’m sure there are several things you don’t know about me.” Abbie smiled at him.
He wished he had a lifetime to find them all out.
The sound technician helped them get in their mikes and tested them. The producer returned. “We are about to go to a commercial break. If you will follow me.”
Preston gave Abbie’s hand a squeeze. “Nervous?”
She rolled her eyes at him.
Iconic hostess Janet conferred with the producer. Preston saw him pass the reviewed copy of the questions to her. The audience consisted of only about sixty people, enough to provide live clapping.
The producer ran off stage, and someone counted them down.
“Welcome back, Chicago. This is the segment you have all been waiting for: Monday Marriages. Let me be the first to introduce you to Chicagoland’s favorite couple, Preston Harmon and Gale Henderson.” The crowd cheered.
The questions followed the approved outline.
“Most of our Monday Marriage couples kiss at the end of the segment. But I understand you two declined to do so. Any reason for this?”
Abbie answered. “Our first kiss ended up all over social media. I felt this cheapened our relationship. I wasn’t used to the attention. Preston promised me there would be no more public kissing until the wedding.”
“I don’t understand how you of all people could feel that way when you pos
ted those revealing photos on the HotDatesNow website. According to Preston’s ex-girlfriend, Yvette, he proposed to you less than 120 hours after he proposed to her. Did you not, in fact, meet Preston through your Gale24 web page?”
Images of the web page filled the screen behind them. Preston tried to jump up, but Abbie held him down. “Preston did not find me through that site. If you had done your due diligence, you would see that the page you are showing was created eight days ago. And any member of your graphics department would tell you the photos are manipulated.”
She let go of Preston’s leg, and he jumped up, bringing Abbie with him. “I believe our interview is over.”
In the green room he ripped off his mike and helped Abbie remove hers. The producer tried to cut them off as they left, but Preston’s bodyguard was faster at getting them out of the room.
“Mr. Harmon! Mr. Harmon!” the producer yelled after them.
As soon as they reached the car, Preston called his lawyer on speed dial. “Gordon, they overstepped. The last question was about the website.”
“I’m already on it.”
“Thanks.”
He turned to Abbie. “Do you want me to cancel the others?”
“Can I just have a hug?”
Preston wished he had thought of that first.
twenty-one
Abbie reached in to turn on the light in her apartment. Odd. The entry light should have turned on when she unlocked the door. She stepped back into the hall and slipped her Glock out of her thigh holster, then reached for her phone, tapping the button that set off her panic notification.
Adam burst out of the stairwell, gun drawn. Abbie stayed in place until he reached her and whispered, “The apartment feed went dark seven minutes ago. We can’t get the electric online.”
The elevator pinged. A building-security member and one of the bodyguards who had been following her for three days got off.
