Fetched

by Zoe Dawson

  “That’s not the point. He’s the walking wounded. He’s not the right guy for Harper,” Poe said, taking off the shoes, wrapping them carefully in tissue, and setting them back in the box.

  “Oh, I see. You think they might hook up?” Callie cast Harper another look.

  “I’m worried they may,” Poe said.

  “No, that won’t happen, Brooke said. “She’s smart enough to realize that he’s in love with someone else.”

  “I would hate to see her get hurt,” Poe said. “I know how torn up Nate is about Pru.”

  “Poor guy,” Brooke said with sympathy.

  Poe nodded. “Well, let’s keep an eye on her.”

  Brooke and Callie nodded, loving determination in their eyes.

  Chapter Four

  After a very busy, solid week of planning, including shopping, fittings, and other arrangements, the day of Poe’s wedding dawned warm and sunny. Harper, still in her robe, showed up at Poe’s door. Jared had bunked in with Nate last night. There was still that silly superstition that a groom couldn’t see the bride the night before the wedding.

  Poe answered the door beaming. “I could hardly sleep.”

  “I’ve ordered room service, and the girls will be here in a few minutes.”

  “It’s a surprise breakfast?”

  “Yes, surprise.”

  “Well, all I got to say is there better be some bacon with this surprise breakfast.”

  “You doubt me?”

  “What was I thinking? Of course not.”

  “So,” Poe said, patting the bed next to her. “How are you doing?”

  Harper gave her a suspicious look. “What’s this all about?”

  “What? I can’t ask you how you are feeling.” Poe tried to look totally innocent, but she wasn’t very good at being subtle. She was a nerd with impulse control.

  “I just don’t want you to make any rash decisions. Look before you leap is a saying for a reason.”

  Harper narrowed her eyes. “You do realize that I never make rash decisions, Poe. Everything I do is thought out ad nauseam. So, stop worrying.”

  “I just noticed how sad you looked at the pool the other day and I don’t want you to be unhappy.”

  Harper smiled. “This time. Right now. Isn’t about me, sweetheart. It’s about you and Jared, so let’s focus on that. Okay?”

  Poe hugged her. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  There was a knock on the door and Harper opened it to Callie and Brooke.

  “Food isn’t here yet? I’m starved,” Callie said, plopping down in one of the chairs.

  Brooke stretched out on Poe’s bed. “I swear Drew is going to wear me out.”

  “He’s probably glad to have you all to himself without all the stuff you have to do every day. Maybe you should give up the grooming spa.”

  “No. I can do it all. I’m juggling things pretty well, I think. I so love Bone Appétit.”

  Bone Appétit was Brooke’s second business, an outgrowth of the inventive doggie treats she’d made to tempt her old Bulldog who’d died a few months ago, and she’d hired a manager to run the dog grooming spa.

  “If you had less business, you could get more down to business with your man,” Poe said.

  “Right. Then Drew can get your attention off your dog bones and onto his…um…bone,” Callie said with a giggle.

  Brooke threw a pillow at Callie, who caught it, laughing.

  “Laugh it up, Dog Whisperer. When it comes time to serve cake at your wedding in two weeks, will it be one I baked…or nothing?”

  “I decided on a cake,” Callie said with a smile.

  “Finally,” Brooke heaved a sigh of relief.

  “I’m going with the white one.”

  Brooke threw another pillow, but Callie was ready for her and tossed it back.

  “I’m going with a devil’s food cake with white frosting and the word ‘love’ on it in red with red hearts. Very romantic. It was just a matter of letting the bakery I booked know what I’d decided. So you can stop worrying about me.”

  “What a relief,” Brooke puffed.

  “You are set, and so are we. Well, except for Harper. It’s her turn now,” Poe said grinning naughtily.

  “That expression reminds me of your mischievous Jack Russell terriers,” she said, throwing a pillow at Poe. “I’d settle for some hot, sweaty sex. I have frequently been thrown together with Nate this week since we’re both unattached. I’ve had lunch with him, and he told me he was still in love with his ex-girlfriend. I feel sorry for him—unrequited love is the worst.”

  Shoot, Poe thought. She had to wonder if it had also made Harper’s thoughts about having hot and sweaty sex with him intensify.

  “Really? Harper Sinclair cannot get laid? In New York City with millions of men there? Man, I’m glad I’m engaged.”

  “It’s not funny. It’s serious and it’s been a long time. I have absolutely no prospects.”

  “What about the guys that run in your circle? Surely there’s a hunky polo player or steel magnate.”

  “Yeah, Harper, if you ask nicely, I’m sure that you could easily get that magnate to show you his steel.”

  “Ha ha. Give me ammunition, Callie,” she said and when Callie flipped a pillow to her, she threw it at Brooke.

  Poe watched Harper closely. The woman was so hard to read. Harper would never say what was really bothering her. Not now. Maybe later, after all this fanfare was over. She would want Poe to have a completely joyous occasion, and whining about her love life or lack thereof wasn’t something a good friend would do at a time like this. Besides, Poe knew from experience, Harper was used to sucking it up and soldiering on, taking care of her own problems and handling her own issues. It was only since they had met that she had even remotely felt the desire to unburden herself.

  “Well, I’m very happy to be having regular, hot, sweaty sex,” Brooke said.

  “Yeah, but look at Poe, Harper. She’s pregnant, so maybe sex is overrated,” Callie piped up.

  All of them looked at each other and burst into giggles.

  Brooke looked down at Poe’s hand. “Oh, ho. What is this! It’s gorgeous!” She reached for Poe’s hand and all of her friends gathered around.

  “It’s been such a whirlwind. He hadn’t had time to get me an engagement ring. It had to be sized and he only got it back just before we left.”

  Brooke sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “Wow, a black diamond. That is stunning.”

  “It’s not as gorgeous as the man who gave it to me.” Poe’s voice hitched. “I love him so much.”

  “Awww, water works, come here,” Brooke enveloped Poe in a hug. “You deserve that kind of happiness, Poe.”

  “Well, I sure got my wish for a Vegas wedding,” she said, leaning her head against Brooke’s.

  “I’m surprised you’re going so sedate,” Brooke said.

  Poe turned to look at her. “What do you mean? Lime green wedding dress, top hats, bats on my cake. You call that sedate?”

  “A gazebo in a garden? When you could have had a zombie wedding?”

  “Actually, with all her talk about zombies, it was surprising that Poe hadn’t chosen to go that route. Poe’s theory that men fit into two categories, zombie killer and zombie food, still cracks me up,” Callie said.

  “Oh, no, my zombie killer might have been called into battle, and I don’t want a scratch on him, thank you.”

  “No, you’ll handle that yourself.”

  Poe hit Brooke with a pillow. “You are so darn bad.”

  “I was kinda looking forward to a pirate one, myself. I can hear the vows now.” Callie said, then adopted a growly pirate voice. “Dearly beloved, rascals, scoundrels, roustabouts, swashbucklers, pirates, and even ragamuffins, we have come together tonight to witness the uniting of Captain Jared Taylor and Miz Poe Madigan, zombie slayer...and, because we’re good-for-nothing pirates, for free rations and grog.”

  Harpe
r laughed. “Oh, my God, that’s priceless! Let me have a stab at it.” She thought for a moment and then giggled. “Captain Taylor, Miz Madigan, you are entering into something as sacred as the Pirate Code—a commitment born of abiding love. Before this crew you are pledging a union that contains both happiness and duty. You must enter into the accord free of any skullduggery or debt on either of your ships. Do you both swear on this cutlass that there is no reason why your union cannot proceed?”

  “Okay, we’re going a little crazy here,” Poe said, “so I guess it’s time for me to have a crack at it.” She was interrupted by a knock and a busboy wheeled the food in. The spread was magnificent.

  He uncovered each plate full of eggs, bacon and a fluffy croissant along with blueberries, strawberries, and mango slices.

  Poe crunched into her bacon. “Jared would say, ‘I, Captain Jared Taylor take ye, Poe Madigan as me heart, me soul, me fiery wench with an attitude, to be with ye from the dawning of each day to the dark of each night. I promise to love ye and honor ye; to make ye giggle like a schoolgirl when ye are sad and act like I’m listenin’ to ye when ye prattle on and on about nothin' in particular. I will protect ye with me dyin’ breath. I shall love thee through scurvy and dry rot, in wealth or poverty. And I will know that ye are my truest treasure. This will all continue until there are no horizons left to chase and the rum is gone.’”

  “That is hilarious,” Callie howled, holding her stomach. “But what about your vows?”

  Poe thought for a few minutes, “Okay, here are mine. ‘I, Poe Madigan, yer fiery wench with an attitude, take ye, Captain Jared Taylor as me heart, me soul, me pirate king with a rogue of a smile, the promise of each new day full of pillaging and plunderin’ and a roll in the captain’s bunk each night. I promise to love ye and honor ye; to make ye laugh so hard the rum comes out yer nose, and act like I’m listenin’ to ye when ye blather on and on about nothin' in particular. I will sail with thee to the ends of the earth. I will love thee through scurvy and through dry rot, in wealth or poverty, whether ye be near or far. And I will know that I am yer most precious treasure. This will all continue until there are no horizons left to chase and the rum is gone.’”

  Brooke fell back on the bed and all of them erupted into laughter. “Poe, you are worth your weight in gold.”

  “Doubloons?”

  More laughter. “How would we wrap it up, Brooke?”

  “Let’s see.” She popped a blueberry in her mouth. “May yer partnership be blessed, and may it be spoken of with awe and solemnity wherever the Jolly Roger flies. I now pronounce ye pirate king and fiery wench. Ye may both kiss. Briefly. This crew has some pillagin’ and thievin’ to do. I am honored to present Captain and Lady Taylor.” Brooke held up her mimosa and said, “Three cheers! Hip hip—hooray! Hip hip—hooray! Hip hip—hooray! Yo-ho-ho, me hearties! Drink up!”

  Everyone held up her glass and shouted out hoorays, laughing like loons.

  Softly Harper added, “And long live yer crew, as we all sail away into the sunset in pursuit of that elusive horizon, together.”

  #

  “You are not going to make one of those Terrible Two a ring bearer,” Harper said with a hard look at Poe. “Blue would have behaved like a perfect lady, but not those rascals. I should have brought Blue along to head The Two off at the pass.”

  Poe plumped out her bottom lip. “It’s a short trip down the aisle.”

  “It’s a short trip into chaos! They’re a menace and will surely run off with the rings. Look at them. They are just waiting for you to do it.” Harper eyed the two monsters disguised as little dogs. Allan returned her look, appearing innocent as a newborn babe, but Harper had his number and her look said, Nice try, mister.

  “But it’s my wedding.”

  “That’s true, it is,” Harper agreed. “But if one of those animals runs away with the rings, there won’t be a wedding.”

  Poe nodded. “Okay. I don’t really trust them, either. How about we put them on Daisy?”

  “Okay. Now that should work well. Daisy is sedate.”

  Brooke tied the rings onto the pillow and then strapped it to Daisy’s collar. The music began, and Poe watched her bridesmaids head down the aisle. Harper was last. She looked so stunning in her black dress, like a ballerina about to step out on the stage, her blond hair swept up into an elegant chignon. Poe got ready to follow the wedding party down the aisle, beaming at Jared’s father, who was looking very handsome in his tux. She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm.

  “You look beautiful, little gal,” he whispered and tears gathered in her eyes. “That boy knew what he was doing when he asked you to marry him.”

  “Thank you,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

  When she was only halfway down the aisle, Poe heard trouble. A soft meow, and she turned to see a woman wandering by the gazebo, petting and baby-talking to the pure white Persian cat in her arms.

  Thank God they didn’t put the rings on my rapscallions, Poe thought. But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, Daisy let out long, earsplitting bay, a hunting noise that spooked that cat right out of the woman’s arms. Before anyone could even move, Daisy took off after the fleeing feline like…well, like a hound after a cat.

  “The rings,” Brooke shrieked, and the whole wedding party, stiletto heels and all, took off after the dog. Daisy darted through another wedding and startled the bride so badly she flew backwards right into the quaint fish pond. Poe didn’t pause, but she saw Nate stop and help the woman up, since the groom was just standing there in shocked surprise.

  Next Daisy streaked across the lawn and right through another wedding in another gazebo, her leash catching the trellised edge and dragging the whole thing down until it was nothing but a heap of white wood and yellow and pink blooms.

  Jared catapulted over it and flung himself forward, grabbing Daisy, but she wriggled out of his grasp and streaked after the cat again. They ran through two Elvis weddings, a biker wedding and ended up inside a chapel. Galloping down the aisle, Daisy shot past an inebriated bride and groom trying to focus bleary eyes while Jared yelled, “Stop that dog!”

  But their reactions were too slow, and Daisy barreled past to corner the cat in the back of the chapel. But after one hiss and swipe at her nose, Daisy turned tail and bolted, baying at the top of her lungs, out the front door and back across the lawn. In a last-ditch effort, Jared leapt for Daisy just as the cat streaked past her and up a tree. The slippery feline then looked down with smug, purring laughter at the mess the silly dog had made.

  Jared hefted Daisy up under his arm, and, as they picked their way back through the havoc, Harper followed, promising each group to make full restitution while shooting wry looks at Poe.

  Poe bit her cheek to keep from laughing. Now…now their wedding was quite perfect. Most people were pretty laid back about it, but the bride who had been dunked in the pond came stomping across the lawn looking bedraggled and very, very angry.

  Chapter Five

  Harper cut her off at the pass and offered her a full, high-fashion wardrobe to keep her from haranguing the lot of them. The woman pulled up short and then, eyes gleaming, calmed right down.

  After that, the wedding went very smoothly, especially since Brooke had wrapped Daisy’s leash around her arm twice.

  When the moment came for their vows, Poe turned to him and took his hands in hers. And, there it was again, that tangible something passing to her and curling inside her. He looked so handsome in his tux, his dark brown hair mussed from chasing Daisy, and she just fell in love with him all over again.

  “Jared, you are the love of my life. I, Poe, am proud to take you as my husband. For all the time we have been together, there has always been the kind of mutual understanding which is only shared when there is true love. You have helped me triumph over challenges. Encouraged my personal growth and boosted my self-esteem. You have helped me become the person I am today. And with your help, I will be a better person to
morrow than I was yesterday. I vow to trust and value your opinions, and stand by your actions. I pledge to always treat you as my best friend and equal. I will ask for help when I need it, and offer help to you always. Let us be friends and lovers, and grow old disgracefully together.”

  She heard the soft laughter from the crowd, but she was locked onto Jared’s gaze like a homing beacon. A grin broke across his face and his hands tightened on hers, then released so she could slip the ring on his finger. As she pushed it home, tears flooded her eyes.

  When he saw her tears, he closed his eyes and when he opened them, they were moist, his voice a bit choked. “My beautiful Poe. I, Jared, take you, to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the woman and mother you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through The Terrible Two, our children, the Zombie Apocalypse and whatever else life may bring us.”

  More soft laughter, and Poe smiled at him through her tears as his grin went just a tad wicked.

  It was her turn to squeeze his hands, and then he slipped the ring on her finger, his touch telling her how much he loved her. The promise in his eyes like a vow imprinted on her heart, where he would stay for her lifetime.

  But, she had to admit, she also felt that fear rise up in her. Married and pregnant. So fast. How was she supposed to assimilate all this in such a short time? There was her job, a constant worry. She’d worked so hard, sacrificed so much to become a vet, and she loved it. She felt that small twinge of resentment again. Jared didn’t seem to be worried about any of it. At all. And sometimes she wished she could just bring it up. But she didn’t want him to think she wasn’t overjoyed. She was. That wasn’t it. Having his child…she looked at him, and the intense love she felt for him bubbled up out of that seemly endless well.

  She pushed the worry and the fear and the panic to the back of her mind. This was her wedding day, and she was going to give Jared all that he deserved. She’d worry about those other things later.