WHITELAW'S WEDDING

by Beverly Barton

  "No, ma'am. Thank you."

  Wolfe walked to the back door and looked through the glass, out into the dark night. As Hunter watched the intense way Wolfe stared into nothingness, he couldn't help wondering what the man saw. Something far beyond the obvious. If Hunter didn't know better, he would believe Wolfe possessed an innate sixth sense of some kind.

  "I think I'll go outside," Wolfe said. "Maybe take a walk and check—"

  Manda whirled around, her gaze nervously darting back and forth from Hunter to Wolfe. "Did you hear something? Do you think someone is outside?"

  "No, ma'am, I didn't hear anything." Wolfe punched in the security code Hunter had shared with him earlier, then grasped the doorknob. Before he opened the door, he looked at Manda. "I'll probably stay outside for a while, so just leave the coffee and I'll pour myself a cup when I get back." He went out onto the porch, then quickly disappeared into the night.

  "He's a strange man," Manda said. "What do you know about him? He seems so sad."

  "Sad?" Hunter had never actually thought of Wolfe as sad, but then men didn't usually think in deeply emotional terms. Sadness was definitely a deep-gut emotion. Guys got pissed. They got rowdy. They got drunk. And they got laid. Men understood those kinds of things, but few would ever own up to being sad.

  "He's been terribly hurt," Manda said. "You can see it in his eyes. They're so cold and filled with so much pain. Did he lose someone he desperately loved?"

  "Hell, if I know. The guy's not exactly talkative, in case you haven't noticed."

  "I thought all you macho men shared your exploits, about your dangerous assignments and about the women in your lives." Manda removed three mugs from an overhead cupboard and set them on the counter to the left of the coffee machine.

  "Wolfe doesn't share anything with anybody," Hunter said. "Besides, a man doesn't share stories with other guys about a woman who's really important to him. By the way, you certainly seem interested in Wolfe. Does this mean that, here less than forty-eight hours before our wedding, I have competition for your affections."

  Manda skewered him with a that's-not-very-funny glare.

  Hunter shrugged. "Sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood a bit. You seem awfully jumpy." He scooted back the chair and stood. "Wolfe is making sure everything is okay outside and I'm right here, safe and sound."

  "I know. It's just I keep expecting the unexpected. I'm nervous and I'm going to stay nervous until this is all over." Manda removed a container of cream from the refrigerator and set it on the table beside the sugar bowl. "Do you know how Wolfe takes his coffee?"

  "I'm not sure, but my bet would be black."

  Manda poured the freshly brewed French roast coffee into two mugs, then brought the mugs to the table. "What's taking them so long to trace that call?"

  "It hasn't been that long." He came up behind Manda and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  Sighing, she closed her eyes, savoring the comfort and safety she felt in Hunter's arms. "I'm almost afraid to find out who he is," she admitted. "What if he really is someone I know?"

  "We'll deal with that when it happens," Hunter said. His gut instincts told him that her harasser was someone she knew, someone she cared about and trusted. He only wished he knew which one of the suspects was the person determined to keep Manda unmarried for the rest of her life.

  Just as Manda pulled away from Hunter and started to sit, the telephone rang. She froze to the spot.

  "I'll get it," he told her, then headed for the wall phone. He lifted the receiver. "Whitelaw here."

  "Mr. Whitelaw, this is Chief Burgess. We got a trace on Perry Munroe's cell phone."

  "And?"

  "We found the telephone. Someone had deliberately left it on. I can only assume they did this so it could be easily traced," the chief said. "Our man is playing games with us. We went straight to the phone, but he was long gone."

  "Where did he leave it?" Hunter asked.

  "In Perry Munroe's mailbox."

  "Son of a bitch!" Hunter groaned. "Mighty nice of him to return the phone."

  "We're checking it for prints, but my guess is it'll be clean." Burgess paused, then said, "I didn't see any point in waking up the Munroe household this time of night, but come morning I'll send someone over to ask a few questions. I doubt anyone there heard or saw a thing. I suppose you suspect what I do, don't you, Mr. Whitelaw?"

  "That we're dealing with someone who has done this sort of thing before. A hired killer."

  * * *

  Chapter 12

  « ^ »

  Manda had smiled so much that her jaws ached and she felt as if a nasty little gremlin was beating a drum inside her head. The rehearsal was supposed to have taken fifteen minutes—tops. But after thirty minutes Gwen still wasn't satisfied and requested that they go through the entire rigmarole again. If she had to make a grand entrance down the staircase one more time, Manda thought she would scream. The guests for the party were already arriving and Grams kept having to venture into the vestibule to greet them as Bobbie Rue answered the door. The last thing she wanted tonight was this ridiculous combination rehearsal dinner and engagement party. But Hunter and Perry had pointed out that if she put up a fuss about the gala celebration, Grams, Gwen and Claire might become suspicious that everything wasn't on the up-and-up.

  Reverend Titus had been infinitely patient with Gwen's nitpicky attitude and had once, when she'd all but thrown a temper tantrum, taken her aside and spoken quietly to her. Manda suspected that the tense smile Gwen kept in place was for the minister's benefit.

  "Enough already," Perry said. "Gwen, they're having a ten-minute ceremony, repeating traditional vows and ending with the customary you may now kiss your bride. You will precede Manda down the stairs, then Grams will be waiting at the foot of the stairs for Manda and she will walk her up the aisle to Hunter. I'll be at Hunter's side and you and I will provide the rings. We've gone through this three times. Everybody knows what they're supposed to do."

  "Well, excuse me if I'm trying my best to make your sister's third attempt at matrimony come off without a hitch!" Gwen yelled.

  "Your choice of words leave a great deal to be desired." Perry glared at his wife.

  "I appreciate everything you've done," Manda told Gwen. "I know tomorrow will be perfect, in great part, thanks to you." She glanced at her brother. "And, Perry, I'm sure Gwen didn't mean anything unkind by what she said."

  Gwen glowered at Manda and for the first time in years, Manda saw the anger and hurt that her sister-in-law usually kept hidden. "No, of course I didn't mean to be unkind. Everyone knows how terribly Manda has suffered. Few women have one fiancé killed right before their wedding, let alone two. I'm sure we'd all like to see Manda happily married at long last."

  Grams scurried into the living room. "What's taking so long? People are arriving and I've had to steer them into the den. Finish up in here, so we can get on to the engagement party."

  Grams to the rescue, Manda thought. Another couple of minutes and Gwen might have told me what she really thinks of me.

  "We're through with the rehearsal," Perry said. "Have the string quartet move out to the patio and start playing some mood music, then let everyone come on in and we'll start the party." He grabbed Gwen's arm and draped it over his. "Let's greet our guests, darling. And try to remember that you love Manda and are thrilled for her."

  While Perry led his wife toward the wide pocket doors that opened to the foyer, Hunter came up beside Manda.

  "Gwen despises you," Hunter said.

  "Yes, she does. I don't think she's ever forgiven me for taking Rodney away from her."

  Manda turned and glanced up at Hunter, who looked devastatingly handsome in his navy-blue suit, pale blue shirt and striped tie. She had watched him tugging on his collar and fidgeting with his tie all during the rehearsal and thought his nervousness made him seem all the more like a real bridegroom. And anyone seeing them together would never suspect them of subterfuge. Hunter
had been attentive … almost to the extreme. But after she'd whispered what the others had assumed were sweet-nothings into his ear, he had toned down the adoration a bit. She had warned him that if he didn't stop touching her every two minutes, she was going to find a way to make him suffer. Didn't the man realize the effect he had on her, that it was difficult enough for her to act the part of the blushing bride without him keeping her in a perpetual state of arousal?

  "Gwen really doesn't want to see you happy," Hunter said.

  "Are you trying to imply that Gwen might be my stalker?" Manda asked.

  "It's possible. Maybe she thinks you don't have a right to be happy, since she's so miserable." Hunter shook his head. "I don't see how Perry stands being married to a woman who so obviously doesn't love him. Your brother deserves better."

  "They seem content, if not happy. Gwen is the perfect wife for a man with political aspirations and you must know that Perry has big plans to run for congress."

  "I think Perry has settled for less than he wants," Hunter said. "And regardless of his political aspirations, I'll bet he'd give up everything if the right woman ever came along."

  "My, my, Mr. Whitelaw, I had no idea you were such a romantic."

  He cleared his throat, then chuckled. "It's all this June, moon and spoon business associated with the wedding. I'm getting sentimental and—" he caressed her butt through the silk of her dress "—horny."

  Manda laughed, then slapped his hand away from her derriere. "Behave yourself. We aren't alone in the house, you know. I swear, Hunter Whitelaw, you seem to have a one-track mind."

  "Just contemplating our honeymoon."

  "You should be contemplating keeping yourself alive," she told him, then wished the words back. If she hadn't spoken her thoughts out loud, then the danger wouldn't seem as real. "I've tried not to think about it, but how do you ignore a truth that's the size of an elephant?"

  "I'm not ignoring anything." He draped his arm around her shoulders and pivoted her slowly. "Look over there at the waiter removing the lids from the heated chafing dishes. That's Matt O'Brien, a Dundee agent." He turned her to face the pocket doors. "See that photographer in the foyer snapping shots of your guests? Don't you recognize him?"

  "It's Wolfe."

  "Hmm. And outside posing as a valet is another Dundee agent, Jack Parker. All three men are armed and prepared for whatever might come down this evening."

  "You say that so calmly, when we both know that what's going to come down this evening is an attempt on your life."

  "Stop frowning," Hunter said. "Our guests are coming in and they'll wonder why the bride-to-be isn't smiling."

  "God help me! I have a feeling that after tonight, I'll have a permanent smile on my face because my muscles will be stuck in grinning-like-an-idiot mode."

  "Brace yourself, brat, here come your admirers."

  "What?" She glanced across the room just as Grady. Boyd and Chris formed a charging trio. "I guess the least I can do is be nice and dance with each of them tonight."

  "How gracious of you," Hunter teased. "A dance as a consolation prize. Believe me, if that's what you were offering me, I'd be damn disappointed."

  "Shut up," she mouthed the words, then turned and held out her hand when Boyd approached first. "Thank you for coming tonight."

  Boyd shook her hand and held it. She tugged. He tightened his hold. "I wish you every happiness." He abruptly released her and held out his hand to Hunter. "Congratulations. You're a very lucky man."

  "Yes, I know."

  Hunter shook hands with Boyd, who then walked away and immediately began talking to Gwen and Perry. Before she had a chance to catch her breath, Chris and Grady appeared in front of her.

  "You look gorgeous, as always," Chris said.

  "Manda, you're positively beaming," Grady told her.

  She kept her forced smile in place. "Thank you."

  Chris held out his hand to Hunter, who accepted it.

  "You're a brave man, Whitelaw," Chris said. "Or is it that you simply aren't afraid of the Manda Munroe Curse?"

  Manda glared at Chris, not quite able to believe that he'd actually made such an unkind comment, tonight of all nights.

  "Ignore him," Grady said. "The man's an idiot."

  Hunter's gaze narrowed on Chris. His jaw tightened; his nostrils flared. She quickly draped her arm through Hunter's in an effort to calm his temper.

  "I'm a man in love," Hunter said. "I'd risk anything to marry Manda. Wouldn't you?"

  "Yes, I would," Chris replied, his tone quite serious. "But she's never wanted me, so I've never been in any danger of succumbing to the curse."

  "All this business of a curse is ridiculous," Grady said. "It's hardly Manda's fault that some man is hopelessly in love with her and can't bear the thought of her marrying someone else." Grady looked point-blank at Chris. "If I were the police, I'd be investigating you, Austin. You seem to have more motive than anyone else."

  "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse us," Hunter said, "Manda has other guests whom I hope will have the good manners not to bring up any unpleasant topics."

  "I'm so sorry," Grady said.

  "I'm sorry, too," Chris added. "You must forgive me, but you know what a sore loser I am."

  Hunter led her through the room and around the patio, pausing here and there to talk to their guests and accept congratulations and good wishes. As the evening wore on, Manda's nerves became stretched almost to the breaking point. She had been waiting for an attack, expecting something to happen at any moment. Each loud noise unnerved her. When a waiter had dropped a tray on the patio, she barely managed to stifle a scream. She danced with several guests, but Hunter was never far away and no one thought it odd that he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Several of the ladies remarked about how Hunter seemed to simply worship her.

  As Manda was forcing down a few bites of food, Claire came up to her and patted her on the arm. "Do you have a few minutes, dear girl? I'd like to speak to you alone."

  Hunter was not going to approve of the idea of Manda being out of his sight, but he could hardly object to her sharing a few private moments with Claire, could he?

  "Of course," Manda said. "Why don't we go into the den? Just let me just tell Hunter where I'll be."

  When she told him, he shook his head. "You aren't going anywhere without me."

  "Lower your voice. Claire might hear you and think you don't trust her. Besides, I thought you were the target tonight, not me."

  "Give Claire any reason you like, but wherever you go, I go."

  Manda huffed. "Very well."

  When she and Hunter approached Claire, Manda said, "Do you mind terribly if Hunter goes with us? I'm afraid he's very protective and simply refuses to let me out of his sight."

  Claire smiled faintly. "I don't mind at all if Hunter goes with us. I'm happy that you've found someone who cares so deeply for you. I'm sure Rodney would be pleased."

  A sense of sadness wrapped itself around Manda as memories of another engagement party flashed through her mind. She had tried so hard not to think about Rodney or Mike, tried not to remember and compare her engagements to either man to her fake relationship with Hunter.

  "That's very kind of you to say, Mrs. Austin," Hunter said.

  "Please, let me steal y'all away for a few minutes." Claire took Manda's hand in hers, then whispered to Manda, "I have a little gift for you."

  Once Manda and Claire entered the den, Hunter stood in the doorway, his back to them. "I'll stay here," he said. "That way y'all can have a little privacy."

  "Thank you," Claire said, then reached inside the pocket of her beaded jacket and pulled out a small velvet box. "Manda, I love you as if you were my daughter and have since the day you and Rodney announced your engagement. More than anything I wanted you to be my daughter-in-law." Tears welled up in Claire's eyes.

  "I wanted that, too. Very much." She glanced at Hunter's broad back and wondered if he cared at all that a part of her still loved Rodney Aust
in. Of course he doesn't care, an inner voice said.

  "I bought a gift for you when you were engaged to Rodney. I had planned to give it to you at the rehearsal dinner the night before your wedding."

  "Oh, Claire, you can't mean that this is—"

  "Yes, dear girl, this is that gift." Claire lifted the lid to reveal a pair of diamond earrings. "Would you consider accepting these and wearing them tomorrow? It would mean so much to me."

  "Yes, of course, I'll accept them and I'd love to wear them tomorrow." Manda wrapped her arms around Claire, who reciprocated. After they hugged, Manda took the box from Claire. "I will treasure these always."

  Tears trickled down Claire's softly rouged cheeks. She whispered to Manda, "I must admit that it won't be easy to watch you marry someone else, but…" She swallowed her tears.

  "You will always be a part of my life," Manda assured Claire. "In my heart, you've always been my mother-in-law. That won't ever change."

  Claire gave Manda another hug, kissed her cheek and then walked to the door, leaving Manda alone in the den.

  Hunter stepped aside and as Claire passed him, she laid her hand on his arm and patted him gently, then walked on until she disappeared down the hall.

  "Are you all right?" Hunter asked as he came up behind Manda.

  Tears lodged in her throat, so she simply nodded her head.

  "That couldn't have been easy for you," he said.

  Manda took a deep, calming breath. "It was much more difficult for Claire. Even though she wants me to be happy and wishes me well, I know it must make her very sad to know that I'm getting married tomorrow."

  Hunter grasped her shoulders and pulled her back up against his chest. "When this is all over and you're free from your crazed admirer and free from your marriage to me, do you think you'll ever be able to love another man or will you spend the rest of your life in mourning for Rodney Austin?"

  If Hunter hadn't been holding her so securely, she would have swung around and slapped him. How dare he say such a thing to her!

  "You have no right to—"