“No doubt.” Cole shuddered visibly. “I wouldn’t want to be you. But keeping her safe is more important than keeping her happy.”
“I agree one hundred percent. And that’s why I want you to know, if she catches me…” Mack paused to clap his boss on the shoulder, “I’m going to throw you under the bus.”
Chapter 2
Clutching her coat against the cold, Mariah Miller tucked her chin down and ran across the dimly-lit parking lot, aiming for the front steps of the small country church. Maybe she wasn’t exactly running, but she was moving as fast as she could with three-inch heels. Yes, Pewter always complained when she wore them, but she had no intention of changing the way she dressed in order to please a man. In her opinion, he needed to accept the fact she was an inch taller than him, and get over it. When they’d first met, he had complimented her five-feet-eleven inches saying she looked like a model. But a few months into the relationship, she could tell it gave him an inferiority complex.
She’d been tempted to break up with him months ago, but he always wheedled his way back into her good graces. Mostly, she put up with his antics because of Allie’s upcoming wedding. After years of being the only single person out of her quartet of friends—the Fab Four, as they called themselves—Mariah was finally going to show up at an event with a significant other. And Pewter could be charming when he put on a show, which he was certain to do.
She supposed she could’ve worn flats, since he was doing her a favor, going to the rehearsal dinner and wedding. He had plenty of enthusiasm for big events where he could see and be seen, but a small wedding in a country town didn’t qualify. Sometimes Pewter acted like a real snob, and she suspected her possession of a rich and famous brother might be the only reason he’d given her the time of day.
But then she would catch a glimpse of something deeper, something he covered up with bravado. She believed in that hidden potential. Pewter could change, if his eyes were opened… maybe during the wedding weekend. Hopefully, hanging around her friends and hearing the pastor speak during the ceremony would help him realize how shallow his values were.
The chill wind blew and prickly goosebumps rose on Mariah’s bare legs as her heels clicked on the concrete. She wouldn’t complain about the frigid temperature. At least they weren’t dealing with snow and ice, which could easily have been the case. December twenty-second was a risky wedding date, as far as weather was concerned.
Though she would’ve normally taken the steps two at a time, her dress—the special one she’d bought for her brother’s wedding—was too tight to allow it. With one hand on the cold iron railing and the other hiking up her skirt, she climbed to the landing. She made it to the entrance and pushed her way inside with a final gust of wind, almost knocking someone down as she stepped through the door.
“Mariah! You made it!” Cora caught her by the elbow and pointed a thumb over her shoulder. “Everyone else is in the sanctuary, right down that hallway. I came out to watch for you. But I was hoping you’d be a little late so I could grab a quick smoke.”
Mariah grinned, bending down to give Cora a hug. She’d always loved Allie’s irreverent younger sister. “Go ahead. I’ll take my time going in there, so no one will know you snuck a cigarette. I need to go to the bathroom and fix my hair, anyway.”
“Thanks, Mariah. You’ve always been my favorite of Allie’s friends. Emma and Josie are way too uptight.” Sporting a stud in her eyebrow and a spaghetti-strap dress that showed off a tattooed shoulder, Cora dug inside her purse. “I thought you were bringing your secret boyfriend.”
“He’s not a secret.”
“No one’s met him. We don’t know anything about him. Seems like you’re hiding something. Let me guess! Is he a bad boy?”
Mariah snorted at the thought of applying that description to Pewter. “He’s an investment banker, and you’ll meet him soon enough. He’s supposed to meet me here, but I’m sure he’ll be late. He’s not excited about going to a wedding rehearsal.”
“Neither am I.” Cora gave a hoarse laugh as she continued to rummage through her bag. “And I’m not particularly thrilled about squeezing into that green taffeta dress tomorrow night, either. I look like a giant pickle. Allie has the worst taste.”
“It could’ve been worse,” Mariah said. “I talked her out of the red one with ruffles around the neck.”
“Ughh! I guess you’re right.” At last, Cora’s hand emerged from her purse with a small silver lighter. She reached for the door handle. “See you in a minute.”
“You’re going out like that?” Mariah put a hand on her arm. “It’s freezing outside. Do you want to borrow my coat?”
“No. I’m trying to quit smoking.” Cora grinned, flicking an unlit cigarette between her fingers. “This way, I’ll turn into a popsicle if I smoke more than half.”
“Or die of pneumonia.”
“Or that.”
The icy wind blew inside as Cora opened the door to slip outside. Mariah found an empty coat hook on the wall and added hers to the collection, rubbing the chill bumps on her bare arms. The strapless dress wasn’t particularly practical for a December wedding, but she’d yet to find a cocktail dress with long sleeves. And if one existed, the sleeves would probably end somewhere between her wrist and her elbow, anyway, a consequence of what she called her “ape arms.”
As she slung her purse strap over her shoulder, her phone vibrated inside. Afraid Pewter had gotten lost, she hurriedly retrieved it from the outside pocket and answered it. Pewter’s handsome face greeted her on the video call.
“Hey, gorgeous! Are you at the church?”
She warmed at his words, remembering why she’d been attracted to him in the first place. He always made her feel beautiful.
“I just got here. What’s your ETA?”
His mouth twisted to one side. “About that… turns out I won’t be able to make it.”
Her heart dropped, but she kept a smile on her face. She could handle being alone at the rehearsal dinner, as long as she had a date for the wedding.
“It’ll probably be an hour or so before we eat. Are you sure you can’t just come late?”
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to come at all. Not even tomorrow. Something’s come up.”
“You aren’t coming to the wedding?” Blood pounded in her ears. If he’d been within reach, she might’ve put his boxing skills to the test.
“You’ll be busy with your girlfriends. You won’t even miss me.”
“What happened? Why can’t you come?”
“My old frat buddies scheduled a last-minute ski weekend. Vail just got twelve inches of fresh powder. You get it, don’t you? All five of them are going. I can’t be the only one who misses it.” His lips spread in the smile she used to think was charming. At the moment, it reminded her of a snake-oil salesman.
“As a matter of fact, I do get it.” Her tone was as frosty as the air. “It’s a matter of commitment and priorities. I understand exactly where I stand on your list.”