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“What do you mean, ‘nothing’?”
“The first clue that something was wrong was when it was fifteen minutes past when the ceremony should have started, but everyone assumed it was Shelley still getting all dolled up like the model she was and dressing for a grand entrance. Marcus didn’t think too much of it at the time because his best man—Shelley’s brother—was having trouble with the rented tuxedo in the dressing room of the church—at least that’s what his father said. At first.”
“I’m dying of curiosity and dreading the worst,” Caitey whispered, eyes glued on Jenna’s face.
“Well! Shelley was what they call a no-show bride.”
Caitey blinked, trying to take in what she was saying. “Sheleft him at the altar?!”
“Yep.”
“Was it the best man who came out to tell him the news?”
“Nope. He was gone, too. Both of them disappeared. Literally vanished. Nobody has ever seen either of them since. Logan assumes they changed their names. It was all planned, of course. Multiple passports, multiple bank accounts. Heck, we don’t even know if Shelley Woods is her real name. I’m sure she and her ‘boyfriend’ are off somewhere else, pulling another con on a new, unsuspecting victim.”
“How horrible,” Caitey said, her voice hoarse with sudden emotion.
“Oh, it gets worse,” Jenna said cynically. “She cleaned out all the bank accounts. The brother who was the fake best man was not her brother at all. He was her lover and had been for years.”
“The entire thing was planned from the beginning?”
“Oh, yes. She knew just what to do and say and tell an unsuspectinggoodman to get him to fall in love with her—and then take him for all he was worth.”
“Being military, did he really have that much, though? He wasn’t even thirty years old when this happened. Navy guys don’t make that much to build a nest egg that quickly.”
“True, although Marcus is good at saving . . . No, the most important thing is that his grandparents left him anexceptionalinheritance when he turned twenty-five. She stole it all.”
“Ah,” Caitey said softly, a hitch in her voice. “It all makes sense.”
“It was horrible. A nightmare. What can anyone say about Marcus? He’s skittish, and it’s taking him a while to trust. He hasn’t dated anyone since. But . . . I think that is about to change.”
“Why would you say that? Do you have some other female guests attending tomorrow you want to hook him up with?”
Jenna shook her head, laughing. “No, silly. BUT!” she added, staring straight into Caitey’s eyes. “I feel vibes coming from the two of you. You’re both trying to hide it. In fact, you can’t stop being annoyed at him.”
“I’m not annoyed,” Caitey protested.
“You won’t look at him. You’re pretending he doesn’t exist, but I know you, and you’re lying to yourself. ‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks.’”
“Okay, okay, I’m not protesting too much, and I know he exists! Who couldnotsee the man exists? He’s kind of, you know, nice . . .”
“Nice? Come on, girl.”
“Okay, he’s wow. Wow! With a capital W. Especially when he builds things. And climbs trees. And other things.”
“So, stop avoiding him, sweetie,” Jenna said softly. “He’s trying not to scare you off. He knows you didn’t have a particularly good introduction.”
“Ya think?” Caitey leaned forward, staring at her cousin. “And, by the way, Miss Jenna Thornton, soon to be Mrs. Logan Hearst . . . how do you knowthese things about his feelings? Or my feelings? Have you been talking behind my back?”
“Of course not. Logan mentioned it. He can see it, too, even if you and Mr. Stirling are denying it.”
“Good grief, I’m overwhelmed by that horrible story. Poor Marcus. What a nightmare. She destroyed his trust in anyone else.” Caitey rubbed at the goosebumps rising on her arms. “At the moment, I’m getting cold. Isn’t it time for dinner?”
“Yes, on both counts. Bottom line, dear Caitey. Give the man a chance. At least be friends. Don’t be afraid of him. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. Well, unless you’re the enemy with a hand grenade, then he’ll take you out flat in half a second.”
Caitey smiled, shaking her head at Jenna’s dramatic words. “I promise I won’t avoid him any longer.”
“Thank you. He deserves a nice girl like you. Now. Tomorrow, after the ceremony and dinner, I want to put music on, roll up the carpets, anddance.And then, Logan and I will disappear into the sunset. I’ve dreamed about the bride and groom dance since I saw it on TV as a kid. Some wedding show I can’t even remember now. But that romantic dance stuck in my head.”
