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“It might be a mistake?” Jenna said vaguely. “Like he forgot he still had it.”
“How couldhe forget a picture?”
“Maybe it was stuffed behind the credit card, and he’d forgotten about it?”
“He acted so strange about the whole thing. As soon as I picked it up and Marcus realized I’d seen the woman in the photograph, he quickly stuffed it into his pocket, followed by his wallet. A bit of red crept over his face. And then he pretended nothing weird had happened at all.”
“Hmm,” Jenna murmured, musing on the topic.
“If a photo dropped from my wallet or purse, I might have joked and said it was my brother or an old friend. Or somebody robbed me and swapped out my wallet.”
That brought a smile to Jenna’s lips.
“Okay, spill the rest of the story before I shake it out of you. I don’t know why I’m so curious, but it would help to know Marcus better. I don’t know whether to keep my distance because I don’t trust him or worry he trulydoesstalk women. I could wake up dead,” she added with a self-deprecating laugh. “Okay, you know that last part is a joke.”
Jenna turned to face Caitey. “Once more, I can honestly and unequivocally state that Marcus Stirling is not a stalker. Like I told you yesterday, Logan has known him most of his life. He knows his family. I’ve hung out with Marcus numerous times. He’s a reallygoodman. The best. I think, yesterday, you took him by surprise. We weren’t expecting you for another couple of hours. And . . . Marcus actually didn’t know you were coming. Logan and I hoped to surprise him with a proper introduction to my dearest, darling cousin. But, you know, flat tire and all.”
“Okaaay,” Caitey said, blinking her eyes at Jenna to give her cousin a hard time. “So, you wanted to set us up?”
“Of course not, but we figured we’d be here before you arrived. The best-laid plans didn’t exactly work out.”
“Prove you’re not match-making. Tell me who that womanreallyis. I won’t rest until I know the truth. Mr. Stirling has to prove he’s normal.”
“Okay, I will. You deserve it after the scare yesterday. But first, you tell me the truth—my sweet, shy cousin is wildly attracted to him.”
It was Caitey’s turn to laugh out loud. She bit her lips, glancing behind her, but all the men—and the moms—had returned to the house. “Okay, you win, brat. Yes, I find him incredibly good-looking. And sexy. And funny. And sometimes, I can hardly breathe when I watch him work.”
“Now you’re talkin’, honey!” Jenna exclaimed. After their laughter slowed, she continued in a serious tone, a sad look on her face.
Caitey felt her stomach drop. “Now you’re making me nervous.”
“Don’t be. But it’s a sad story that affected Marcus horribly. I spoke with Logan last night and he said that it was perfectly fine if I shared the basics with you. Especially when I told him you’d seen the photograph in Marcus’s wallet yesterday.”
“Thanks. I certainly don’t want anyone sharing confidences or secrets.”
Jenna shook her head. “It’snot. So. Here goes. Marcus was dating that woman. Her name is Shelley Woods. They met on a helicopter trip over volcanoes in Kawai, Hawaii. They were together for three years, madly in love. He retired from the Navy—because she wouldn’t marry him if he were overseas most of the time. She said she’d worry about him so much she’d be sick. He finally relented and retired so they could get married and start a family.”
Caity gulped and her throat tightened.
Marcus had beenmarriedbefore. “Is he still married?” she asked in a low voice. “Is that why he acts a little uncomfortable with me? Or recently divorced and worried I’ll come on to him?”
“Neither,” Jenna stated firmly. “Turns out Miss Shelley Woods was working a con on an innocent military member.”
“A con—what?! How?”
“She pretended to be a lonely, young widow who was destitute. She poured on the charm, the seduction, and a big, detailed sob story. She lied and said she was widowed so Marcus couldn’t look up a potential ex-husband.”
“Records are pretty easy to find, though.”
“She told him she’d been living in Turkey with her pretend husband, who was also in the military, and the records were impossible to track down. She had the military spouse lingo down pat. Turns out she had a best friend whowasa military spouse and worked as the Ombudsman on a naval ship.”
Caitey couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her stomach felt sick.
“The wedding was all planned. A honeymoon to Bali all paid for. Marcus had booked a house on a private beach. Their own staff, a chef, housekeepers. He got her a giant 3-carat diamond, which she drooled over like a teenager. They joined bank accounts and were about to purchase a home together . . .”
Jenna trailed off, and Caitey blurted, “Don’t stop now!What happened? You have me on the edge of my seat!”
“On the day of the wedding—at the church Marcus grew up in—with all of his family and friends and neighbors, the organ playing . . . Marcus looking incredibly delicious waiting near the minister for Shelley’s big entrance . . . and nothing.”
