The Wedding Audition

by Catherine Mann

  No. No. No.

  She could not lose the man she loved this way. She was setting everything to right in her life, not screwing up anymore. Leaving Boone had hurt him and her family. But what if leaving Wynn had cost him his life?

  She saw the motorcycle parked in the bushes close to the farmhouse, but all the rest of the farm remained eerily silent. Terrifyingly so. Jamming the Beetle into park, she prayed the cops would come soon. Or a fleet of paparazzi who would document every moment of this showdown.

  Assuming she wasn’t too late…

  Gut cramping, she sprinted out of the car and filched the pruning shears off the back of the motorcycle as she sprinted past toward Wynn’s house.

  Should she be running in a zig zag? That’s what you did if someone was shooting at you. She knew that from TV, but that was all she knew about bad guys.

  That and that they drove ninja motorcycles in the daytime.

  Yes, she was hysterical. She had to bite her lip to swallow a crazed laugh as she crept into the house and listened…

  Grunts and snarled breathing sounded somewhere in the back of the house.

  She fast-walked over broken glass as silently as she could. A cat meowed at her as she passed the kitchen and stepped into the living room.

  Wynn was grappling with the intruder on the floor, their hands locked on each other’s throats. Their faces red from lack of air and smeared blood—she couldn’t tell whose.

  Fear and doubt vanished. Certainty gave her strength. Purpose. Clarity.

  She hauled back the pruning shears and landed a blow to the biker guy’s back. Collapsing him into a heap on the carpet beside Wynn.

  “Are you okay?” She tossed aside the garden tool. Shoved at the biker dude’s black leather jacket to free Wynn. “Please say you’re okay.”

  His eyes tracked her as she moved. That had to be a good thing. But he didn’t sit up yet.

  “Better than okay.” His voice was hoarse. “I’m one hundred percent good because you’re here. Except why are you here?”

  Relief flooded through her. Her fingers shook as she touched his face and realized the blood was from a small cut near his eye. Her gaze couldn’t roam over him fast enough, checking for damage. Praying he really was safe.

  “It’s the guy I saw that first day. I saw him driving down the road and later it hit me, I just knew he was heading here. I don’t know why today and not earlier … but I knew.”

  Sirens sounded close by. Very close by.

  Jitters were returning now, her brain fuzzy and her nerves buzzing like a low-grade shock. Hell, maybe she was in shock.

  “You did great, Red. He was probably going to make his move that first day you arrived but you showed up and things got complicated. More witnesses – or bodies. And once you and your family left, he made his move.”

  She shivered at how close he’d been to danger and couldn’t stop from kissing him. “Thank God you’re okay.”

  “Yeah, about that.” He angled his arm behind him and used it to lever himself to a sitting position.

  Only then did she notice he was bleeding profusely from one arm.

  “Oh!” Her hand moved toward the wound, but she didn’t touch. She’d seen a gun on the floor, but since he’d seemed okay. “You’ve been shot.”

  “Just grazed.” He turned to keep her from getting too close to the man who’d tried to kill him. “EMTs will fix that right up.”

  He stroked her hair, his good arm wrapping heavily around her shoulders as she knelt beside him.

  “I called the press though.” She could hear a helicopter in the distance too, the whoop, whoop of rotors usually the sign of an incoming camera crew from the bigger budget tabloids. “The media are going to be all over this.”

  “Nice job.” His dark eyes locked on hers, a crooked grin preceding a kiss on her cheek. “I like it when you use your powers for good.”

  “I just wanted anyone here—fast. I thought the press might be quicker than the police.”

  “No doubt the tabloids have bigger budgets. But I can’t meet your fans on my ass. You think you can do me one more favor and help a wounded officer to his feet?”

  That hysterical laugh finally did break free. She fought the urge to cover his face with kisses and cry all over him.

  “That sounds like the dumbest idea ever for a gunshot victim, but since I’d rather have you lean on me than have you fall while trying on your own… yes.”

  He leaned heavily on her, but he seemed steady enough as they rose as one.

  “Image is everything in this business.” His words were a warm caress against her ear as the sirens outside grew louder.

  “We were not cut out for this business though, Wynn Rafferty.” She spared a glance for the crumpled biker who’d been sent to kill him, but the guy was down for the count.

  “That’s why we’re going to come up with a new plan after we face the music and move on.” He turned to face her, toe to toe, his forehead coming to rest on hers.

  She breathed in the warmth of him, more grateful than she’d ever felt in her life for a second chance with him.

  “I hope that’s not an insult.” She peered up at him through her lashes.

  “That’s my way of saying you were right. About everything.” He kissed her forehead. “I was hiding here when it was time to move on. Once you left, I knew I wouldn’t be staying. I had already called my contact to bring me back to Miami when this guy—”

  He shook his head.

  “What?”

  “The timing seems too perfect close to the trial and just when you left. My contact must have sold me out.”

  “The press will sniff it out.” She felt sure of that much. “It sucks to have them breathing down my neck, but they can be relentless.”

  “That’s a good thing then.” He nodded, his weight a bit heavier against her. “They’re going to figure something else out.”

  She glanced up at him. “What would that be?”

  He met her gaze, his eyes intense, serious. “That I love you, Annamae.”

  She held him tighter and soaked up the sincerity in his voice. She couldn’t believe she’d almost settled for less than the real thing.

  “I love you, too. You’re the right one for me,” she said with a surety she didn’t second guess for even an instant. No doubts. She knew. Even Grandma said so. “I’m not going to run away from this.”

  “And I’m never going to let you get too far,” he promised.

  When the police came through the door she called out for an EMT as two officers ran over to secure the biker dude. Wynn found his second wind—or at least enough to fake it through a conversation with a local detective—and he got some medical attention at his kitchen table.

  Annamae answered questions, hardly taking her eyes off him the whole time. And even with the house full of cops and emergency responders courtesy of Gus Fields, Annamae could already see her future with Wynn sprawling in front of her. She’d get through the next few weeks back in Atlanta, making things right with her family. Apologizing to a lot of people.

  She would miss Lindsey’s wedding now, and she regretted that, but she’d do something to make it up to her best friend. She’d saved the man she loved, the man who meant more to her than anyone on earth, and that was the most important thing.

  She didn’t know for sure what she’d do in Beulah, Alabama with him once he’d put Serge Dimitri behind bars forever, but she could feel her future was right here. In this house where she’d staked everything on love.

  The right love.

  The once-in-a-lifetime love.

  Her grandmother had let that kind of relationship slip away from her. Her mother had chosen a different path. But for Annamae, this was the happiness she’d dreamed about. She’d found someone who made her feel like the center of his universe. With Wynn, she was the smart one. The pretty one. The One.

  And together, they were going to build a rock solid future right here among the cats and apple trees.
No more hiding.

  “I can hear you thinking over there, Annamae.” Wynn said from across the kitchen table as the EMT finished wrapping up his arm.

  Threading her fingers with his on the scarred wooden surface, she took strength from that connection before she faced the cameras she knew were waiting outside.

  “I’m thinking about how we’ve got a chance to start over here. To build any kind of life we want.” She didn’t care if the EMT could hear.

  The awkward sound bite had no power to scare her now that she knew who she was and what she wanted.

  “I’ve got an idea, actually.”

  “Already?” She grinned at him, grateful she could see his eye better now that the blood on his face had been cleaned up, a neat butterfly bandage in place.

  “It’s kind of unusual. And crazy.”

  “Sounds like I’m sure to love it.” Her heart ached with happiness. A deep, certain joy that was only going to grow.

  And not worrying about the audience, Wynn leaned over the table and kissed her. Once. Twice.

  “That’s what I love about you. Full of surprises.”

  By the time the third kiss came, the EMT had declared Wynn well enough and left them alone. Or at least Annamae thought that’s what happened. She was too busy falling deeper in love to notice.

  Epilogue

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  One Year Later

  There hadn’t been any television cameras pointed at her in the apple orchard today. She hadn’t needed to consult a radio personality to know if she was making the right decision.

  The only person she had needed to consult was herself. And Wynn felt like home.

  They had said their vows in the clearing in the orchard, family members circling them. Wynn and Annamae promised to love each other forever right there among the heavy-boughed apple trees. They had decided to write their own vows, a symbol of their commitment to creating a future together.

  She smiled as they stepped out onto the dance floor, simple planks brought in and placed outside by the barn. She hadn’t wanted a big production. Everything about this day was handpicked from their everyday life. It was real, theirs. The first few notes of their song melted into the air, mixing with the sweet scent of the apple blossoms. Wynn leaned in, placing one hand between her shoulder blades, and took her hand with the other. He traced the lace that formed a v down her back as they danced for the first time as husband and wife.

  “You look beautiful, Red,” he breathed into her ear as they danced together.

  “You clean up pretty nicely too,” she teased him, a laugh escaping her lips.

  Annamae rested her head against his chest, surveying the gathering of her friends and family.

  So much had changed in the past year.

  After testifying against Serge, Wynn had decided to honor Antony’s legacy. He left the force and established a center for at-risk teens at the farm. While he didn’t have much of a green thumb, he did have a knack for nurturing people.

  And Annamae’s hospitality degree was hard at work. She catered for the center. And for town events as well. Her desserts where near-famous in the surrounding area. That was an accomplishment that was hers alone.

  Her eyes fell to her mother and stepfather. They were still the best dressed pair for miles around, but the reality show days were a thing of the past. Spencer had turned his attention back to the sportswear business full time rather than forcing his family back into another season of Acting Up. The change suited him, suited them all for that matter, her sisters included.

  Hazel Mae’s head bopped back and forth to the slow chords. They had grown so close over the past year. Hazel Mae spent every weekend with Wynn and Annamae, taking up residence in the carriage house. The teens appreciated her spunk and she enjoyed their energy.

  Annamae smiled at them, thankful for all that had occurred. And thankful for the chance to meet her biological father. Hazel Mae had arranged their correspondence, and he showered Annamae in postcards from exotic locations.

  Her bio-dad stood behind Hazel, dressed in a charcoal suit, hair cut close to his scalp. But he had the look of a wanderer in his eyes, even now. He would be leaving after the reception, still she was glad of his presence all the same. The Smith spirit lived in her, had given her the courage to break away from the mold of expectations. But that decision and capability was always Annamae’s for the taking. She realized that now.

  When Annamae had walked down the grassy aisle towards Wynn, she’d known that this was the path she was meant to travel. This man and this place were her world. Her joy.

  This was their story. No script necessary.

  If you enjoyed The Wedding Audition, you’ll love the next Runaway Bride stories!

  The Runaway Bride Series

  How to Lose a Groom in 10 days

  Buy now!

  Book 1: The Wedding Audition

  Book 2: There Goes the Bride

  Coming soon – May 2015

  Book 3: Bride on the Run

  Coming soon – June 2015

  About the Authors

  USA Today bestseller and RITA Award winner, Catherine Mann writes contemporary romance for Berkley, Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Tule. With over sixty books in released in more than twenty countries, she has also celebrated six RITA finals, an RT Reviewer’s Award finalist, three Maggie Award of Excellence finals and a Bookseller’s Best win. A former theater school director and university instructor, she holds a Master’s degree in Theater from UNC-Greensboro and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts: Theater (with minors in both English and Education) from the College of Charleston. Catherine and her flyboy husband live on the Florida coast where they brought up their 4 children – and still have 5 four-legged, furry “children” (aka pets). Visit Catherine’s website at www.CatherineMann.com

  Joanne Rock writes romance of all shapes and sizes from sexy contemporary to medieval historical and an occasional Young Adult story. She’s penned over seventy books, appearing most often in the Harlequin Blaze series. Joanne taught English at the college level before becoming a full-time writer, and she returns to the classroom as often as possible to share her love of stories. A quiet and unassuming Virgo, Joanne married a fiery and boisterous Aries man in true opposites-attract fashion. Visit her website at www.JoanneRock.com

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