Shot in the Dark

by Jennifer Conner

  Devan sat down heavily in the chair next to her, downed the remainder of his glass, and placed it back on the table. “That speech was hard,” he said, blowing out a breath, before turning to face her. Leaning forward, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. “I thought I was going to lose it.”

  Luci returned the kiss. “It’s okay to be sappy. You’re at a wedding reception. What you said…” her throat closed again, and she wasn’t able to finish her sentence.

  “I thought about what I was going to say for the past few weeks,” he said, pulling at his already slack tie. “I didn’t want it to be too serious. I was just going to tell the locked car story, but I wanted to say something from the heart.”

  “It was completely from the heart.” Pulling his hand off the table, Luci kissed his knuckles. “You should have sold stock in Kleenex before you started. You’d be rich.”

  Devan shrugged. “I thought I was going to be fine, but when I looked out and saw my mom at the front table crying… man.” He sniffed again, trying to man-up.

  Mac came behind him and pulled him roughly out of his chair, giving him a bear hug. “I can’t believe you told that car story. I haven’t even told Michelle about that night.” He rumbled out a laugh.

  “Well, you’re married now,” Devan said shaking his finger at him. “No more secrets between the two of you. Michelle needs to know all the stupid things you’ve done.”

  Michelle joined them. The white silk wedding dress she wore was simple and perfect with the dark coloring of her skin and hair. Drawing back, she playfully punched Devan in the arm. “You’re not supposed to make the bride cry on her wedding day. Do you know how long it took me to put on my make-up?” She wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

  Luci stood, pushing in her chair. Devan wound his arm tightly around her shoulders and pulled her close, as they both faced Mac and Michelle.

  “None of what I just said was true, you know,” Devan said, grinning from ear to ear. “I figured that I had to say something nice, since you guys rented me the tux and all.” Reaching for his newly filled glass, he took another deep drink.

  “Thanks for being my best man,” Mac said, sincerely. “It means a lot.”

  “You needed someone who wasn’t afraid to tackle your ass if you made a run for it out of the church,” Devan said.

  “I wouldn’t have needed your help Dev.” Michelle pulled the hem of her dress up to expose her feet. “I wore flat shoes today. I was ready to tackle Mac all by myself.” She tipped her glass towards Luci and Devan. “So when can we expect to be the best man and woman at your wedding?”

  Luci felt her stomach flutter and her cheeks flush. “We haven’t talked about it. I’ve been trying to get used to my new job at the naturopathic clinic. Right now, I’m just doing odds and ends for them, but when I graduate, maybe I’ll be able to get my foot in the door to work for them.”

  “And Dev’s happy because he doesn’t have to worry about you being at the espresso bar,” Mac added. “Michelle and I have already received two espresso machines as wedding presents. We’ll pass one along.”

  “I don’t make coffee,” Devan said, as friends called Mac’s and Michelle’s names.

  Mac patted Devan once on the arm before they turned and moved through the crowd to meet their wedding guests.

  Devan cracked his neck to one side. “I need some air. There’s a balcony through the curtains over there. Care to join me?”

  Releasing the latch on the French doors, he opened them and stepped through, then clicked them closed behind Luci.

  Linking her fingers with his, she followed him to the far side of the balcony and leaned against the cement ledge.

  “It was such a beautiful ceremony,” Luci said, grinning up at him. “Except maybe for the part where Mac asked you for the ring, and you handed him a giant candy jewel ring… what kind of best man are you?”

  “I had to do something. Mac drove me crazy all week talking about the ring: ‘don’t forget it,’, ‘where is it?, and ‘don’t drop it.’” Devan shrugged and slipped another button free at the neck of his shirt.

  “I know you were worried about giving the toast, but it was perfect.” Luci eyed him, trying to read his face. “But, you still look nervous. What’s going on?”

  Devan glanced at her through his long, dark lashes and stopped tapping his finger against the leg of his tuxedo pants.

  Luci pushed herself to her feet and kissed his smooth shaven cheek. Biting her lip, she asked, “Do you have something you want to talk about?”

  He shot her a glance, and pulled out of her reach to pace the small space. Pulling his tie completely off, he shoved it into his pocket. “Wait here,” Devan said gruffly. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Luci sat again on the balcony’s ledge and shivered as the cool night’s breeze touched her arms. Devan was definitely acting strange. At first, she thought it was just the fact that he’d had a case of nerves from being the best man. But now, she wasn’t sure.

  Banging back through the door, Devan’s shoulder bumped the door as he pushed through. Walking slowly, he balanced two cups of coffee, trying not to spill the liquid inside.

  Luci took one of the cups. “What is going on with you tonight?”

  Devan started to take a drink from the white porcelain cup, but then shook his head, and set it back down. “I have a lot on my mind.”

  “Obviously.”

  His gaze rose until their eyes met. “Are you happy Luci?” he asked.

  “I’m happy.” She swallowed. “In these past months I’m happier than I ever thought I would be.” Luci tried to read his face again, but he had on his damn unreadable cop’s face.

  He nodded, and they sat in silence for another long moment before he finally spoke, “Before I was protecting you, but now that Petrova’s locked up… we’ve both been busy with work, and we haven’t talked about what we want for our future.”

  Luci brew a deep breath. “I know both of us struggle to talk about how we feel. I’m sorry if I haven’t said more in these past months.”

  Devan looked surprised. “You? No… I meant me. You’ve had so much pain in your past.”

  “I’ve always been happy with you.”

  “You deserve the best. I’m just not sure…”

  “I love you Devan. I fell in love with you the night you didn’t leave my apartment, and came to rescue me in the shower.” Luci arched her neck and tipped her head to meet his gaze. “We’ve both been through a lot in our lives, but that’s why we’re so good together. I feel like I’m finally whole.”

  “I want to be that man for you, Luci.” Devan trailed his thumb over her cheek. Pulling in an unsteady breath, he dropped to one knee in front of her. “Will you marry me?”

  “Marry you?” Luci knew her mouth dropped open. Happiness filled her. “Yes. Yea, I’ll marry you.” She stopped, and smiled. “But where’s the ring? And don’t think you can give me one of those giant candy ones.”

  Devan rolled his eyes. “I told Mac this was a dumb idea.” Lifting the coffee cup still grasped in her hand, he tugged at the red ribbon tied around the handle of the cup. Light glinted off a diamond.

  “You tied the ring to a coffee cup?” she asked.

  Devan nodded, the tips of his ears pink from embarrassment. “I thought since we met through coffee. I was going to drop the ring in the cup, but I was afraid you might swallow it.” Finally freeing the ring from the ribbon, he held it pinched between his fingers. “Luci Lombart, I can’t imagine a day that I don’t wake up to see your face. You’ve changed my life. You’ve helped me create my life into how I want it… with you. Always with you.”

  Luci sniffed back tears and held out her hand. Devan slipped the ring over her finger, and squeezed her
hand.

  And then he kissed her.

  Luci felt the final part of her heart she’d kept locked up, slip away to him.

  Sliding his fingers through her hair, the warmth of his breath brushed against her face as he whispered, “I love you.” His lips were soft and gentle. His kiss was filled with so much love, it stole her breath away.

  There was a sudden whoosh of air as the French doors opened and people piled out. Mac and Michelle were first, closely followed by Devan’s parents.

  “Did it work? Did she say yes?” Mac asked expectantly, grasping Michelle’s hand as he tugged her forward.

  Devan groaned. “Were you guys in there listening? Good God. You know, once in a while I can do things without help. Luci didn’t see the ring tied on the cup. That was a lame idea, Mac. I knew if there was coffee involved, I’d screw it up.”

  Michelle squealed when she saw the ring on Luci’s hand. Stomping her tiny beaded slippers on the floor of the balcony, she raised her fist and let out a whoop. “The best day of my life just got better!”

  Devan’s mother and father stepped forward, kissing them both on the cheek. His mother’s eyes crinkled at the corners, as she smiled broadly. Devan looked so much like her.

  Grabbing Luci, Michelle pulled her into a giant hug. When she stepped back, Michelle began crying again. “You know, family doesn’t always come from blood. Often it’s those around you who love you. With us, you and Jon will always have a family.”

  “Geeze,” Devan laughed. “Luci’s had enough for one night. She’s agreed to marry me. Don’t make her think she gets all of you in the deal! You’ll scare her away.”

  Devan’s strong arm wrapped solidly around her shoulders. Looking out at the smiling faces of the people standing around them, Luci realized she’d found much more than love. She’d found a home.

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