The Best Bride

by Susan Mallery

  Travis killed the engine about a hundred yards from the last building. They coasted to a stop, then got out and headed around to the trunk. Travis opened it and passed them bulletproof vests. Travis and Craig had pulled out shotguns from the front. There were two more in the trunk, along with a couple of handguns. Hannah reached for a shotgun.

  Travis looked at her.

  She grimaced. “I know how to use it.”

  He nodded. “Ready?” he asked, then started for the building.

  Hannah felt as if she had a bit part in a Clint Eastwood movie. They walked in a line, moving quickly but quietly. There were no windows in the rear of the building, so they couldn’t be seen. As they approached the corner of the industrial structure, Travis went first, then motioned them around. She saw two cars parked in front. One of them was Nick’s Mercedes.

  Her heart thundered in her chest. Her mouth was dry and her legs trembled. Still, she forced herself to go on. She refused to stay behind and wait. Thank goodness she hadn’t had to fight her brothers on that.

  The glass door was closed but not locked. Once inside, they heard voices coming from the back. Travis led the way, motioning for them to stay well behind and go single file. Hannah was second to last; Craig brought up the rear.

  The offices in front were empty and dark. Light spilled into a corridor leading to the warehouse. As they got closer, the voices became distinct.

  “I’ll tell you when we get back to Southport Beach,” Nick said.

  “You’ll tell me now.” The order was followed by a crack.

  Hannah bit her lower lip to keep from screaming. The voices lowered, then there was another crack and a low moan.

  Travis paused at the mouth of the corridor. The warehouse lights were on. Boxes of office supplies stretched up to the ceiling in disorganized rows. The area in front was clear. Hannah could see someone’s back.

  Travis inched closer and looked around the corner. He ducked back, motioned for them to get ready to jump out, then lunged into the main warehouse.

  “Freeze,” he yelled. “You’re under arrest.”

  Three armed men spun toward them. Hannah barely noticed as she searched for, then found Nick. He’d been tied to a chair. His face and torso were battered. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were so swollen, he could barely get them open.

  “What the hell,” he said, the words thick. “Someone sent the cavalry.”

  The tallest of the men, maybe five-ten with broad football shoulders, grimaced. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Glenwood Sheriff’s Department, gentlemen. Put down your guns and kneel on the floor, hands behind your head.”

  The three men glanced at each other. Hannah tore her attention from Nick and raised the shotgun. “Please try to run,” she said, so angry she was shaking. “One of you run. I want nothing better than to blow off your damn head.”

  One of the men took a step back. “Who the hell is she?”

  “My wife,” Nick said.

  They stared at her. In the distance, they heard the sound of police sirens. Three pistols hit the concrete floor of the warehouse. The trio dropped to their knees and placed their hands behind their heads. Only when they were safely cuffed did Hannah lower her shotgun. She handed it to Jordan, then ran sobbing to Nick.

  * * *

  “You two going to be all right?” Louise asked. “I could stay.”

  Hannah liked the idea of someone acting as a buffer between her and Nick, but doubted he would agree. She walked her mother to the door of the gatehouse. “We’ll be fine. The doctor at the hospital said he has some bruises, but nothing was broken. It’s just going to take a few days for him to heal.” They hugged, then Louise started toward Kyle’s house.

  Hannah closed the door behind her. The gatehouse was small. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. She simply had to turn around and face Nick.

  She forced herself to smile and cleared her throat. “That’s the last of them,” she said cheerfully. “Now you can get some rest.” She started for the bedroom. “You’ll probably be uncomfortable during the night. I’ll let you have the bed and I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

  “Hannah, wait.”

  His words were difficult to understand. She paused in the doorway, then returned to the living room and sat on the edge of the easy chair. Not wanting to look, yet knowing there was no way to avoid it, she raised her gaze to the sofa and the battered man lying there.

  His eyes were puffy slits, his cheeks a mass of bruises. His bottom lip was split and there was a cut at the corner of his mouth. He dropped the ice bag onto the coffee table.

  “We have to talk,” he said and tried to straighten.

  She was at his side in a second. “Don’t sit up.”

  “I can’t see you if I don’t.”

  She sank onto the edge of the sofa and pressed against his hip. “Is this better?”

  “Yeah.” He touched her knee. She hadn’t changed out of her dress yet. The black stockings offered little protection. It felt as if he were touching bare skin. Heat skittered through her. She ignored it.

  “You’re angry,” he said.

  “No. I’m confused.”

  His gaze locked with hers. “Because I’m a cop?”

  The information hadn’t sunk in yet. The whole evening felt like a strange dream. She was starting to come out of it and feel again. The first emotion she experienced was anger.

  “I can’t believe it,” she said, throwing up her hands. “Dammit, Nick. A cop? Do you know how I agonized over you? I worried about what to tell my family. My brothers found out everything. I felt awful about that. I can’t believe all the lies, all the pain. For nothing.” She threw her hands in the air again. “My God, you must have had a great laugh at my expense. Did you like watching me squirm? Did it make you feel like a man? Nick, you nearly destroyed me. I was torn apart because I thought you were a crook. You made me go against everything I believe in. How could you do that?”

  She fought against the urge to spring up and start pacing around the room. But she knew that he would try to sit up, and however much she hated him right now, she didn’t want him to be in more pain because of her.

  She sucked in a breath. “You made me betray my family.”

  He squeezed her fingers. “No, Hannah. You did that all by yourself. You did it when you decided to hire yourself a husband for a few days. I just came along for the ride.”

  She turned away. Her throat tightened. “I know,” she whispered. “Everything started out so well. But it was all built on a lie. I suppose that’s what makes it so difficult. I never meant to…”

  She couldn’t finish the sentence. She’d never meant to hurt anyone. She’d never meant to fall in love.

  “I wasn’t lying,” he said.

  She didn’t have the courage to look at him. Instead, she stared at their joined fingers. “About what?”

  “About loving you. I love you, Hannah. I’m probably not very good at it. This is my first time. But if you’ll be patient with me, I promise to make it worth your while.”

  Love. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to think it was going to work out, but her life had never been that easy.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” he said.

  She glanced at him. “What?”

  Despite the bruises and the swelling, his eyes twinkled. “You’re afraid. You think I’m playing a game, or that I’m going to reject you like everyone else you’ve ever cared about. You’ve been lonely for so long, you’ve forgotten how to belong. You’ve closed yourself off from the world. I know because I did the same thing.”

  She looked doubtful. “That’s hard to believe. You seem to find it easy to charm everyone you meet.”

  “On the surface, maybe. But no one gets inside. No one sees the real Nick Anderson.”

  “Anderson? Is that your last name?”

  He nodded. “Nicholas Edward Anderson. Sounds like an accounting firm, huh?” He didn’t wait for a reply
. “Your family taught me a lot. I’ve seen how they care about each other and that’s made me want to try again. Your brothers have shown me that with the right person at your side, anything is possible.” The hold on her fingers tightened. “I love you, Hannah. I want to make this marriage real and I want to spend the rest of my life waking up next to you.”

  Her lips parted, but she couldn’t think of a single thing to say. He didn’t mean it. He couldn’t. If Nick really loved her, really loved her, she was going to have to admit to loving him back. She was going to have to take a leap of faith and commit to him. She was going to have to risk feeling the fear. She was going to have to trust.

  She stared at him, at his blond hair and blue eyes. Memories flashed through her mind. Teasing conversations at her desk when she was at the station. How he’d helped her fit in with her family. His smile, his touch, how he’d taken the time to tell her he loved her even thinking he might be going to his death.

  “I love you,” she said and swooped down to kiss him. At the last second, she remembered his injuries and barely brushed his lips with hers. “I refuse to let you go. I know you live in Santa Barbara, but we’ll make it work.”

  He tucked her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek. “I’m not going back there. I’m done with police work. I want to try something different.”

  “Like what?”

  He started to smile, then grimaced and touched the corner of his mouth. “I’m not sure. I’ll find something. So are you going to marry me or what?”

  She kissed his palm. “I want a small wedding. Just family.”

  “Just family isn’t a small wedding. Was that a yes?”

  Pure joy filled her. “Yes. Always yes, Nick. I’ll never say no to you again.”

  He raised one eyebrow. “That sounds like a good deal. Gives a man ideas.”

  She snuggled up to him. “Cheap talk for a man in your condition.”

  “I might surprise you.”

  “You already did. In the most wonderful way possible.”

  Epilogue

  Two years later

  Hannah turned the car into the long circular driveway in front of the Victorian house she and Nick were restoring.

  “How are you feeling?” Travis asked for the fourth time that day.

  She glared at him. “I’m fine. I’ve been fine. I’m going to be fine. It’s just a baby, Travis.” She stopped behind Kyle and Sandy’s new minivan and turned off the engine.

  Travis leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I know, but you’re my sister and I worry about you.”

  “I handle communications. It’s not as if I’m out on the streets catching criminals.”

  Travis winked. “No, you do that at home.”

  They got out of the car and headed for the house. Nick stood at the open front door, one-year-old Laura in his arms.

  Hannah kissed him, then took her daughter. “How’s my best girl? Are you excited about your party?”

  Nick shook hands with Travis, then looped his arm around his wife. “I don’t think she really understands what all the fuss is, but she’s very excited about the birthday cake.”

  They walked inside. The sound of conversation and laughter filled the house. Most of the family was already there. Louise came over and touched her arm. “Hi, sweetie. How are you feeling?”

  Hannah sighed. Telling everyone about her second pregnancy had obviously been a mistake. “I’m fine. Really.”

  Travis grinned. “Hey, I could have told you that. She’s just pregnant, Louise. It’s not some strange disease no one has ever heard of.” He tickled little Laura and made her squeal. “It’s not as if she hasn’t done it before, either.”

  “I know, but I worry.” Louise held out her arms and took the baby. “I’ll take my granddaughter while you get changed.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Hannah said.

  Nick followed Hannah up the stairs. “I’ll come along to see if you need any help.”

  “More likely to watch,” she flung over her shoulder.

  He fondly swatted her behind. “That, too.”

  Once in their bedroom, she stripped off her khaki uniform and walked toward the closet. “How was your day?”

  Nick sat on the edge of the bed. “Word is getting out. We’re booked solid from Memorial Day through the middle of August.”

  “Great.” She slipped on a loose cotton dress. Four months pregnant, she was starting to have trouble with her fitted clothes. The elastic waists would last another five or six weeks and then she was going to be back in maternity clothes.

  She stepped into the bedroom. Nick smiled at her. Even after two years together, she was constantly surprised by how handsome he was. His blond good looks were a contrast to the dark-haired men in her family.

  His gaze met hers. The love shining in his eyes warmed her to her toes. Two and a half years ago, if someone had told her how her life was going to turn out, she would have thought that person was crazy. She’d never expected to find a loving husband and a family. Yet here they were.

  She walked to the bed and slipped onto his lap. “I love you, Nick.”

  He smoothed her long hair. “I love you more.”

  She kissed his nose. “Good. I like it that way.”

  They laughed as they started down the stairs.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you,” he said. “Your mother is thinking of keeping the restaurant open for lunch now.”

  Nick and Louise had bought the Victorian house they’d admired two years ago, remodeled it and opened an inn. It had been successful from the beginning. Nick joked that the visiting in-laws were enough to keep it nearly fifty percent full all the time. Louise’s restaurant was an integral part of the business. She offered breakfast and high tea.

  “I think she would do well serving lunch. If it isn’t too much for her.”

  He placed his hand on the small of her back. “She loves the work.”

  At the bottom of the stairs, they turned toward the living room. The entire family had turned out for Laura’s first birthday party. Hannah took in the scene before her. Austin and Rebecca had their three boys nearby. Jill and Craig were with their three boys and two-year-old daughter. Travis held Elizabeth close. Mandy, their oldest, played with her younger sister. Holly and Jordan cuddled their eighteen-month-old, while Richard, Louise’s husband, cradled Holly’s newborn. Louise held Laura.

  The little girl glanced up. “Mama!”

  Hannah took her and held her. Nick settled his arm over Hannah’s shoulders, completing the circle.

  Hannah looked around the room, at this warm, wonderful Haynes family that had taken them in and made them their own. Together, they’d forged a miracle. A legacy of love strong enough to last through time.

  * * * * *

  Read on for an exciting excerpt of Susan Mallery’s #1 New York Times bestseller, THRILL ME!

  Maya Farlow learned the hard way to depend only on herself, so when she fell too deeply for the bad-boy charms of Del Mitchell, she did the only thing she could—she ran. Stunned, Del left Fool’s Gold to make his name and fortune in extreme sports. Now, ten years later, Maya’s been hired to promote her hometown’s new slogan, The Destination for Romance, but the campaign’s celebrity spokesman is none other than Del, the man she left but never forgot…

  MAYA HAD HOPED that hanging out with her friend would be enough to chase all the Del from her mind. But she’d been wrong. The night had been an uncomfortable experience of being awake more than asleep. And when she finally did doze, it was only to dream of Del. Not current, sexy, stubbly Del, but the twenty-year-old who had stolen her heart.

  She woke exhausted and with memory hangover. Funny how, until she’d seen him, she’d been able to forget him. But now that he was back, she was trapped in a past-present rip in the space-time continuum.

  Or she was simply dealing with some unfinished business, she thought as she stepped into the shower. Because as much as she might like to think the universe revolved around her, truth was
, it didn’t.

  Thirty minutes later she was reasonably presentable. She knew the only thing that would make her day livable was lots and lots of coffee. So she left her tiny rental house, pausing to give her newly planted flowers a quick watering before heading to Brew-haha.

  Fool’s Gold had grown in the ten years she’d been away. Giving walking tours of the city as a part-time job in high school meant she was familiar with the history and layout. She had a feeling the schedule of festivals she’d once memorized still existed in her brain. Probably stored next to all the words to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.”

  The thought made her smile and, humming the song, she walked into Brew-haha.

  The coffee place had been decorated simply, with bright colors and lots of places to sit. There was a long counter up front, a display of tempting, high-calorie pastries and a tall, broad-shouldered man at the front of a six-person line.

  Maya froze, half in, half out of the store. Now what? She was going to have to face Del at some point. Thanks to Mayor Marsha, they would be working together. But she hadn’t thought she would have to deal with him precoffee.

  The downside to an otherwise perfectly lovely town, she thought, sucking up her doubts and joining the line.

  As Del finished placing his order, whatever he’d said had the cashier laughing. He moved over to wait for his order and immediately started talking to the barista.

  Had he always been so friendly, Maya wondered, watching him, while trying to appear as if she wasn’t paying attention at all. A trick that had her still-slightly sleepy self struggling to keep up.

  The line moved forward. Several other customers stopped to talk to Del, greeting him and then pausing to chat. No doubt catching up, she thought. Del had grown up here. He would know a lot of people.

  A few words of the conversations drifted to her. She caught bits about his skysurfing and the business he’d sold. Because when Del had left town, he’d not only gotten involved in a new and highly risky sport, he’d designed a board, founded a company, and then sold it for a lot of money. Which was impressive. And the tiniest bit annoying.