Faye Bishop strutted up to the bar on the arm of an older gentleman. Autumn had introduced me to him earlier, as Dr. Hal Meyer. He was Autumn’s boss at the university and Faye Bishop’s—boyfriend. I suppose would be the most accurate thing to call him. I didn’t want to think of him as her lover.
“I believe the bride has a few questions for you, Magnolia. That is…” she glanced meaningfully at the shot glass. “If you can find any spare time while you’re working.”
I swiveled on the bar stool and met the woman’s glare head-on. The rehearsal was all but over. She knew it and so did I. “Why thank you, darlin’,” I said in my most exaggerated drawl. “I’ll just mosey over yonder and see what she needs.”
I moved directly to the bride and groom and, of course, they didn’t need a thing. In fact, they both thanked me for all the hard work, and told me to relax and enjoy the rest of the party.
That old bitch, I thought as Faye sashayed across the room as if she owned the place. She might have been the most elegant older woman I’d ever met, but on the inside she was mean as a snake. I caught my negative thoughts and decided to take a break and step outside for a few moments so I could rein my temper back in.
I went to Thomas, asked him to keep an eye on Willow, and told him I’d be back in a few. Using Nina’s kitchen for my escape, I ducked out the back door, pulled out the one emergency cigarette I had in my purse, and lit up. Huddling in the dark outside the kitchen, I indulged my frayed nerves. I probably should have felt guilty for skipping out on a family function, but that first drag and slow exhale released some of the tension I’d been carrying around for the past twenty-four hours.
No one would look for me here. The party had been a smashing success as far as I could see. The engaged couple were blissfully in love, and pretty much everyone else seemed happy… and for some reason that made me feel like an outsider, more than ever before.
I heard the padding of feet and a large black dog appeared in the courtyard of the Drake’s property. To my knowledge Thomas didn’t own guard dogs. The dog was a distance away and while I could see he was a powerful breed, I couldn’t have said what sort of dog it was. The dog gave a small woof and trotted off.
I heard the kitchen door handle turn. Quickly, I eased a bit further around the corner of the house, leaning into the lush ivy that grew along the stone walls. I didn’t move quite fast enough, though. I’d been seen. It was a man who’d stepped outside, and my hiss of impatience from having my solitude interrupted, caught his attention.
“Hello?” The husky voice identified the owner as Wyatt Hastings.
Resigned, I leaned forward slightly and into his line of sight. “Mr. Hastings.” I nodded.
“Magnolia?” He frowned, stepping a bit closer.
“The one and only,” I said and lifted the cigarette to my lips.
“I didn’t know you smoked.”
“Just took it up,” I shot back, and blew a stream of smoke towards the sky.
His lips twitched. “I see.” He tucked his hands in his pockets and appeared content to simply stand there.
I could feel his silent disapproval, which for some reason annoyed me, even though I told myself that I didn’t give two figs for his opinion. After a few moments of silence there was a definite hitch between my shoulder blades. I wanted him gone so I could brood in private.
“I suppose you’d prefer to be left alone,” he said, “to enjoy your emergency cigarette.”
I scowled at him. There was no point in wondering how he’d known that…the man was too clever, and far too observant for his own good. “Why thank you, sugar,” I drawled. “Now go run along and leave me be.”
His lips quirked into a wry smile. “I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with some company, Magnolia. You’re not the only person looking for a quick place to hide.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Why on earth would you need to hide?”
“I have a problem with a fan…A local woman. She’s been hounding me, texting me at all hours, she even followed me tonight.”
“A big, strong man like you can’t defend yourself from a fan?” I rolled my eyes.
“She’s damn near becoming a stalker,” he said, and swiped his shaggy hair out of his eyes.
“Well then, get a restraining order.”
“I’m in the process of it, but she showed up here tonight anyway. I almost called the police, but didn’t want to do anything to spoil the night for the bride and groom.”
“On that point we agree,” I said. “If it makes you feel any better we do have security at the wedding and reception tomorrow.”
“I sincerely hope it won’t come to that.”
“Well, if she does try and crash the wedding, you point her out to me.” I smiled. “I’d be delighted to remove her.”
Wyatt grinned at that, crossed his arms against his chest, and leaned against the stone of the house.
Since he showed no signs of leaving, I decided to go back inside. Dropping the cigarette on the pavers, I tamped it out. I scooped it up immediately—I couldn’t stand it when folks left those lying on the ground. I carried the cigarette butt to a nearby trashcan and dropped it in.
A movement in the dark, had me spinning in surprise.
“There you are.” An unknown woman rushed across the pavers of the courtyard, and straight to Wyatt’s side. “I wondered where you’d run off to.” She immediately latched onto him.
“Miss Darbyshire.” Wyatt straightened, and removed her hand from his arm. “This is private property. You shouldn’t be here.”
“Awww,” she said reaching for him again. “You’re shy. I love that about you.”
Wyatt held up a hand to
