by Ken Casper
“That Thorny is right. We ought to get on with our lives.”
He made it sound so easy, so ordinary, but she knew it wasn’t. More unsettling was her awareness that they were at a crossroads. Was he saying they should go their separate ways? That he wanted to spare her the anguish of waiting for him to be formally charged and arrested? That until the real killer was exposed, they couldn’t continue on together, even as lovers? Were “Liebestraum” and pizza his way of saying goodbye?
“And how should we do that?” she asked after a sip of Chianti.
He put aside his glass, rose on his long legs, came over to her and sat beside her. The depth of his blue eyes betrayed the frustration that comes from uncertainty, but there was passion, as well, and an ache they shared. He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them.
“I have so little to offer you, Gwyn,” he said, imploring her understanding.
The sensation of his hands holding hers, possessive yet strangely undemanding, ignited both desire and fear and had her heart pounding. This is his farewell, she thought. He’s sending me away.
The sharp point of anger prodded her. “Let me be the judge of that. What other people think isn’t important, Jed.”
She could see in his glance that he wanted to argue with her. He’d earned wealth and prestige precisely because he wanted to change how people thought of him. And didn’t she camouflage her heritage in part because of what people would think?
“These aren’t the best of times.” He kissed her fingers. “Except that I found you.”
A glimmer of hope played like a minor chord in her head. “They’re not the worst, either, Jed.”
He almost retorted that the worst might be yet to come, but she knew that. He lifted a hand to caress her cheek, a soft, gentle touch that washed warmth through her. “There’s that silver lining again.”
“Sometimes you have to look.”
“I wasn’t looking when I found you.”
She tipped her head against the palm of his hand. “Neither was I,” she whispered. “I never thought I’d find you.”
With a wry grin, he asked, “Why would a woman of your breeding want to be associated with the bastard son of a dead gambler?”
She curled her hand around his wrist and felt the heavy throb of his pulse. “And why would a man of your moral integrity want to be associated with a member of a dissolute and corrupt family?” she countered.
“Because she’s a beautiful person. Because I love her.”
“In spite of her family’s fame, fortune and power?”
“Maybe. After all, it contributed to her education.”
She rewarded him with a tiny laugh. “And you accuse me of seeing a silver lining.”
Their eyes met and held. She brushed back a shock of dark hair from his forehead. How could she tell him what she felt? She couldn’t explain it to herself. She knew only that she loved this man, and that the prospect of living without him was more unbearable than anything she’d ever experienced. She’d given up hope of finding a man who would love her for herself. Now, it seemed, it was too late.
“What are we going to do?” she asked, doubts and fears giving her voice a muted, unhappy sound.
He gathered her hands between his again and rested his arms on her thighs. His soul-searching gaze captured her, suspended her in space, then drew her into his. Her heart fluttered. Her breathing became shallow. He was her world, her life, and she didn’t want to let him go—ever.
“Will you marry me, Gwyneth Miller? Will you be my wife?”
Breathless, she stared. Surely she hadn’t heard his words correctly. It was just her mind playing tricks on her, making her hear what her heart wanted to hear.
“I—” Her heart pounded viciously, painfully, in her chest. “What did you say?”
He smiled uncertainly. “I love you, Gwyn. I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy. Will you marry me?”
Great tears formed in her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks. Through them she saw the confusion and despair on his face. Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing his face to her breasts.
“Oh, Jed,” she cried. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
His head shot up. “You will? I was afraid . . .” He stood, tugged her by the elbows, then pulled her into his arms. “I thought—”
“Shut up and kiss me, Jed.”
He arched back far enough to let her see the wide grin on his face, then his mouth came down on hers with a passion and hunger that left them both panting.
He swept her toward the hallway, flicking out lights as he went.
“What about the mess?”
He laughed. “I think June will understand when we tell her she has a wedding to prepare for.” He swung her around into his arms at the foot of the stairs. “Kiss me, my love.”
“Mmm,” she moaned as he covered her mouth with his before she had a chance to reply. His hands stroked her side, her hips, her buttocks. She held his face as a flood of sensations raced through her.
In one clean sweeping motion he picked her up and carried her up the stairs, their mouths joined. She flipped off the light switch at the top of the landing as he transported her to his bedroom. Inside, he kicked the door closed, only then letting her feet touch the floor.
They stood before each other, grinning like cotton-candy-crazed kids at a carnival. He touched her breasts, felt their warmth and fullness and vowed to possess them more intimately, to taste them in his mouth. She ran her hands across his chest, feeling the hard hot muscle, knowing she was the cause of the heavy thud of his heartbeat.
He made a move to turn out the single bedside lamp he’d left burning earlier, but she stopped him.
“I want to see you as well as feel you,” she murmured, and delighted in the erotic gleam in his eyes as he started to undress her.
They took off each other’s clothes in fits and starts, one moment impatient to remove a barrier, the next savoring the feel of exposed skin. He planted wet kisses along her neck, across her shoulders. She teased the fine sheen of hair on his chest and giggled as he sucked in his breath when she tickled her fingers across his ribs and taut belly.
Naked, aroused, biting his lip against the pressure building inside him, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to his bed—their bed. Suspending himself above her, he kissed her mouth, then brushed his lips down the center of her body, between her breasts, through her belly button.
Dragging in ragged breaths, she placed her trembling hands on the top of his head as he wended his way down her torso. She melted under his lavish tasting.
Little moans of pleasure escaped when his tongue lashed her. She arched against him, sensations assaulting her, throwing her into the delirium of lust when he found her center.
“I want you inside me.” Her voice was a gasping plea.
He retraced his route up her quivering body, pausing this time to suckle her enflamed nipples.
“Please,” she begged, unable to keep from squirming under the intensity of his stimulation.
His smile was wicked when he rose above her. Wicked and loving and filled with erotic desire.
Unable to keep from smiling back, she reached over to the bedside table drawer, extracted a foil packet, removed the rolled latex and sheathed him. She watched his eyes glaze as she guided him, surrounded him. Then began the ancient rhythm, the building crescendo. She cried out at the dramatic climax and surrendered to the explosion of sensations rocketing through her.
His release came a moment later, making him shiver and groan. At last there was silence, peace, contentment and joy. They lay in each other’s arms, spent, fulfilled, complete.
“This is only the beginning,” Gwyn murmured in his ear, his hand stretched across her middle.
He nuzzled he
r closer, savoring the taste and touch and smell of her body close to his. He swallowed the words he dared not speak.
Until they arrest me for murder.
Chapter Thirty-Five
IT SEEMED a little strange to Jed that the first person they would tell of their impending marriage was the housekeeper, but why not? After so many years, June was like family. He’d discussed some of his business dealings with her from time to time, as well as social events. He was fond of her and trusted her discretion, but he’d never seen her more ecstatic.
“We’ve decided on a small wedding in two weeks,” Gwyn confided. “Nothing too elaborate, just a few friends.”
June nodded with seeming approval, then started in on what he was sure would become a litany of questions. “Where is the ceremony going to be?”
“Here at Beaumarais, on the veranda,” Gwyn responded. “A late-afternoon affair. The weather should still be cool.”
“And the reception?” June asked, then ran on without waiting for an answer. “I hope you’re planning on having it here, too. The formal dining room can seat twenty-four comfortably, or we can get more in if we go with a buffet. That way you won’t have to worry about bugs or being rained out.”
“A wonderful idea, June. As soon as I’ve worked out the numbers, we can decide on the menu.”
June beamed and clapped her hands. “Lordy, I can’t remember the last time we gave a dinner party. I’ll have Josiah help me polish the silver, and we’ll need to get in a crew to clean the chandelier.” She looked apologetically at Jed. “If that’s okay, sir.”
He laughed. “Whatever you and Gwyn decide is fine with me.”
“About the food,” Gwyn said tentatively.
“You tell me what you want, miss, and you’ll have it.”
“Well, I was thinking . . .” Gwyn continued as she walked out to the kitchen with the housekeeper.
Jed chortled happily and went in the opposite direction to the library. Giving in to a secret compulsion for proprieties, he’d slipped downstairs while Gwyn was in the shower that morning and removed the remnants of last night’s meal to the kitchen. Now he picked up the phone on his desk.
“How about dinner this evening?” he asked when Riley Gray answered.
“You planning to fill me in on what happened in Marshall yesterday? Thorny was in my office when Gwyn called him, but he didn’t come back, and I have to admit I’m curious about how things went.”
“Sorry,” Jed replied. “I should have called you myself.”
Riley chuckled. “Not to worry. I figured I’d find out eventually.” There was a pause, in which Jed could practically see his friend’s sly grin. “Besides, you probably had other things on your mind. I enjoyed the concert.”
Jed’s smile carried in his voice. “I’ll explain everything when you get here. You can make it, can’t you?”
“I’ll get a sitter for Alanna.”
“Bring her along.”
“Are you sure, Jed? Four-year-olds can be a handful, especially at dinnertime.”
“Bring her,” Jed repeated. “Between the three of us, I bet we can keep her entertained and out of trouble.”
“Famous last words. Okay, what time? We usually eat around six. If it’s going to be much later, I’ll have Mrs. Yates give her a snack this afternoon around five.”
“No need. Six will be fine.”
“You’re sure?”
Jed chuckled happily. “Positive. See you and Alanna at six. Don’t be late.”
GWYN’S DAY was a joyously mad scramble to get things organized. She went to a stationer in Jefferson, not far from Jed’s office, and ordered wedding invitations. Thanks to computers and the payment of a slight inconvenience fee, they were ready that afternoon for him to pick up on his way home.
They had already discussed the list of guests. Their wedding wouldn’t be a sumptuous affair—in numbers, at least. Gwyn would send invitations to her parents, a couple of cousins she still kept in contact with and, of course, her best friend Clarice. Jed, naturally, had a more extensive list. The Jennings, including their daughter, Amanda, though he would have avoided inviting her if he could diplomatically have done so. Several business associates and dignitaries in town with whom he felt comfortable.
“What about Joleen?” Gwyn asked, unsure what his response would be.
“Invite her,” he said.
“Do you think she’ll come?”
“Probably not, though I wish she would. She’s the only person left who was part of my life with Frannie.”
Gwyn felt a tug of sadness. The only family he’d known was gone. Hers likely wouldn’t show up.
“Joleen might not have proper clothes to wear,” Gwyn commented.
“She probably wouldn’t be very comfortable here, anyway.”
“I’ll send her an invitation nonetheless,” she assured him, and decided to deliver it personally.
JED CONCLUDED that Riley already knew what he was about to announce because when he greeted him at the door at precisely six o’clock, his friend was sporting a sly grin.
“My, don’t you look pretty,” Gwyn commented to his daughter as they entered the hallway. Alanna was wearing a bright pink T-shirt and lavender shorts.
“This is my most favorite shirt.” The little girl twirled around to show everyone. “When are we fixing to eat? I’m hungry.”
Gwyn’s laugh bubbled out. “Do you think you can wait five minutes?”
“Is that a long time?”
“Not very long at all,” Gwyn assured her, and reached for her hand. The child gave it willingly and allowed herself to be led back to the morning room.
“Heard any good rumors lately?” Jed asked his friend as they trailed behind.
“This and that.” Riley smirked.
Jed screwed up his mouth. “I hate small towns.”
“They are a treasure, aren’t they?” Riley offered with a laugh.
He gave his friend a bear hug and Gwyn a more gentlemanly embrace when Jed announced that they were getting married.
“Will you be my best man?” Jed asked.
Riley placed his hand on Jed’s shoulder. “It’ll be an honor, my friend. It’s about time the last class-A bachelor in Uncertain bit the dust.”
Gwyn knelt in front of his daughter. “Mr. Jed and I are going to get married in a couple of weeks. Would you like to be my flower girl?”
“Oh, yes. Can I?” the little girl asked, wide-eyed, then paused more seriously. “What’s a flower girl?”
Keeping her amusement to a smile, Gwyn explained, “You get all dressed up in a pretty new dress—”
“Is it going to be on a Sunday?”
Gwyn cocked her head to one side. “It’ll be on a Saturday.”
“Oh,” the little girl responded unhappily. “My daddy only lets me wear a dress on Sundays.”
Gwyn took the child’s hands in hers. “I think he might make an exception in this case.”
“Can I, Daddy?” She looked up adoringly at her father. “Can I?”
“You bet you can, pumpkin. It’s an honor to be asked to be a flower girl at a wedding. Be sure to say thank you.”
Alanna turned to Gwyn. “Thank you, Miss Gwyn.”
Without thinking, Gwyn hugged the child. “You’re welcome. I’m so glad you can do it for me.”
“Do I have to pick flowers? Mrs. Yates doesn’t like it when I take one from the yard.”
“You can help pick them, but your real job is going to be dropping the petals on the floor.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “You won’t get mad?”
Gwyn hugged her again. “No, I won’t get mad. But we’ll practice with you so you’ll know exactly what to do.”
Alanna screwed up her mouth in a
n attitude of superiority. “I don’t think I gots to practice. My daddy says I’m real good at spilling things.”
Gwyn chuckled. “Well, practice will make you even better.”
“Oh, okay. Is it five minutes yet? Can we eat now?”
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Gwyn mailed out the wedding invitations and spent most of the morning in the kitchen with June, planning the menu for the dinner to follow the wedding ceremony.
“Where are you going on your honeymoon?” the housekeeper asked. She was snapping green beans she’d put on to cook with salt pork and onions. The southern-style vegetable would be ready by the evening meal.
Gwyn continued paging through a bride magazine. She hadn’t decided yet whether she wanted a traditional long gown and veil or something more contemporary. As a child and young adult she’d dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding. The gown her mother had selected for her near marriage had been just that—an elaborate confection of silk and lace, with a monstrously long train and flowing veil.
“Or is it a secret?”
Gwyn looked up. “I’m sorry, what did you ask?”
June grinned and broke off the stem of another bean. “Your honeymoon.”
“Oh—” Gwyn felt her face flush “—we thought we might drive to the Ozarks for a couple of days. I understand they have some wonderful spas there. I’ve never been.”
“It’s pretty country,” June agreed.
Jed had suggested Mexico. They’d even considered Victoria, British Columbia, but then they’d decided they didn’t want to venture too far from Uncertain. For one thing, there were the animals to consider. Jed had a local man he routinely called upon to tend to his horses when he was away on business. The neighbor agreed easily to care for her miniatures, as well. But there were also Romeo and Cleopatra. Riley volunteered himself and Alanna to take care of them even before Gwyn had a chance to ask him, but the kittens were beginning to roam, and she hesitated to leave him with the burden of minding them for very long.
So she and Jed agreed this first honeymoon would be for only three days. Neither of them explicitly said they also didn’t want to be too far away in case something new developed in Frannie’s murder investigation. After the unsuccessful attempt by the D.A. to interrogate Jed, word got back to Riley that the sheriff was more convinced than ever that Louis was “guilty as sin, otherwise he wouldn’t need some high-powered lawyer to speak for him.” Fielder was positive Belmonte was a diversion herring, and he was determined to find the evidence that would prove Jed had murdered Frannie Granger.