Page 9 of After We Fall

Stupid thundering wind.

How did I miss the SUV? But its presence doesn’t mean I was in any danger either.

The gum pops between his teeth, causing my hackles to rise. Is there anything more obnoxious? As if to answer me, my mind recalls the toothpick from earlier today, and I sigh. The sooner we solve this, the sooner I can rid myself of this man.

I step back, placing weight on my good foot. With a swift yank, I smooth out the front of my coat. “Can you please give me the rundown of what just happened?”

After a beat, he offers a curt nod. “From my viewpoint, the wedding went as planned. Hank and I were in constant contact.” He shifts his head and points to some kind of earpiece. “After the ceremony, I tracked everyone from the chapel to the main house and kept eyes on the grounds during the meal. Meredith and Harlan left the property, and my guy has since reported they made it to the Broadmoor and checked in without incident. Nothing suspect happened the rest of the day. Until a few minutes ago, when that black Suburban showed up, parked, but left the engine running.”

My gaze travels to the empty driveway. “Do you think it’s the intruder from last night?”

“Can’t say. We’ll know more when we run the plates.”

“It could be the press.” I hug my arm into my chest, massaging the pain in my wrist with gentle motions. “If someone heard a rumor about Harlan’s wedding, his agent would have been contacted. We’ve heard nothing from her. But if someone in town found out, it could be local media. You probably made a big production over nothing.”

“Like I said, we’ll know more when we run the plates.” Luke narrows his gaze on my wrist. He runs his knuckles over my forearm. “You okay?”

My entire body jerks away from the contact. “I’m fine.”

He widens his stance and splays his hands on his hips. “I know the last few minutes weren’t ideal, but today went well, Penelope.”

“It did. Everything went well,” I say, thinking of all the details that fell into place rather nicely over the course of the day. “I think the most stressful thing happened right before the wedding. Thankfully, we avoided a gum disaster with Meredith’s dress.” I glance at his gum-chewing mouth. An eerie sensation crawls over my scalp, and I straighten my spine. “You gave Meredith the gum. You have no idea what you caused. She was so nervous, she accidentally spit out that gum, and it stuck to her gown.”

He scratches the stubble on his cheek, unsuccessfully trying to hide a sheepish smile.

“What were you thinking? You can’t give a bride a stick of gum right before she walks down the aisle.” I throw my arms out, vaguely aware of how ridiculous my argument sounds. “How does that play out, Luke? Does she hand someone the wad of chewed gum right before she says her vows? Or later before she kisses the groom?”

He chuckles and opens his mouth to answer, but I hold up my hand. “Wait. Why did you even see her before the wedding? You were supposed to stay out of sight.”

“Hank and I accidentally ran into her, and I had to improvise.” He shrugs. “I’ve never met her, but I didn’t want her focusing on me. The gum bought me a short distraction, and then we hightailed it away from her. How was I supposed to know she couldn’t chew gum and be a bride at the same time?”

“Because she’s Meredith.” She’s lovable from head to toe. Something in the deepest part of me envies her ability to be imperfect and yet completely endearing.

“I set up surveillance in the chapel this morning so I had eyes and ears on the service. It was a nice ceremony.” He grins. “My favorite part was when she pledged her eternal love to Hercules.”

In spite of the pain radiating down my arm, I smile. “Yes. That is classic Meredith.”

Only lovestruck, awe-inspired, winsome Meredith would say her vows using the name Harlan was known by on the big screen and YouTube.

I press some weight into my ankle to test its strength. Our conversation gave the sting some time to dissipate, and when I distribute more weight to it, only a minor protest from my foot remains.

“Tomorrow I’ll get to the bottom of who owns the SUV,” Luke says. He nods to my wrist. “In the meantime, you need some ice on that.”

A strand of my hair blows in the wind and I pull it into submission, tucking it behind my ear. What I need is for Luke to leave.

Forget the questionable vehicle. I am in real trouble if a man can make me feel better with one simple gesture of attention and care.

Notwithstanding the toothpicks and sticks of gum.

3

Not today.

Please, I beg my body, not today.

Hunched over the kitchen counter at the main house on Twelve Bluebells Ranch, I rub my forehead, willing the headache that woke me in the dark of predawn to go away. Think, Penelope. What is the minimum you have to accomplish today? Prioritize. Then you can go hide.

“Good morning, sunshine.”