Bad Guys Don't Win (Janet Maple Series Book 4) (20 page)

“Exactly—in my room, without anyone
looking at me. But now there’ll be hundreds of people, and let’s not forget the
Vanity Fair
photographer. I can see the headline now: Bride trips in
designer shoes. Alexandro Caron may have the eye for beauty, but not for practicality.”

“Ha-ha. Very funny. Maybe you should
consider a career as a reporter,” Lisa chimed in and Katie gave her a critical
look.

“Just remember—the only person who truly
matters is the man waiting for you at the end of the aisle,” her mom reminded
her.

Janet took a deep breath. “I know.”

“Come on, girls, give the bride some
space,” Janet’s mother hustled Katie, Irene, Lisa, and Mila out the door.
“Janet needs a few moments to collect herself.”

“Good luck,” Katie whispered as she
closed the door behind them.

“Finally!” Janet’s mom exclaimed. “Some
peace and quiet.” She had barely finished her sentence when there was another
knock on the door.

“Honey, may I come in?”

“Come in, Dad,” Janet called back.

Her dad walked into the room with Baxter
trotting by his side. Baxter had been fitted with a tuxedo to match the wedding
theme—all men in the wedding party wore black ties and Baxter had a matching
black bow and a black top hat to finish off the look.

“Is it time?” Janet asked, her voice
catching.

“We’ve got all the time in the world,”
her dad said comfortingly.

“Baxter, you minx, you look positively
dapper!” Janet cooed as she scooped Baxter into her arms. “Have you come to see
me off?”

Her mom hovered over Janet. “Now,
Baxter, careful with those paws of yours—that’s very delicate lace—”

“Baxter is the reason I have a groom
waiting for me at the end of the aisle today,” Janet reminded her mom. “Who
knows how all of this could’ve ended had it not been for him?”

“Speaking of waiting, Dennis looks
pretty lonely up there, so I wouldn’t make the poor bugger wait too long. You
know I’m only kidding, right? I couldn’t have wished for a better son-in-law,”
her dad added. “That reminds me. Dennis said Baxter had a message for you in
his jacket pocket.”

“He did?” Janet smiled. It reminded her
of the way Dennis had proposed—by attaching the engagement ring to Baxter’s
collar. She reached for the pocket in Baxter’s tiny tuxedo and found a folded
note. Her heart racing, she opened it:

“Janet, my love, I know it’s bad luck
for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day, so I won’t break the
tradition. But I did want to tell you these very important words before meeting
you at the end of aisle, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate messenger
than Baxter. After all, this story could’ve had a very different ending had it
not been for our dear four-pawed friend. I may be pig-headed and stubborn at
times, but I will promise you this—I’ve never loved anyone as much I love you
and I never will. I will love you and cherish you always. Now I’m not saying
there won’t be some bumps and pitfalls along the way, but I promise you to
always be there to carry you over them. You are the love of my life and the
song in my heart. I can only hope to be a good enough husband to deserve you.

Love always, Dennis.”

Janet folded the note and tucked it into
the bodice of her dress, right next to her heart. Her nervousness had vanished
completely. How silly of her to have doubts. Dennis Walker, the man she loved
waking up next to and spending each waking day with, was waiting for her to
join him and begin their journey as husband and wife. That was all that
mattered.

“Come on, Dad.” Janet sprang up to her
feet.

“Careful, honey! Watch those heels,” her
mom warned her.

“I’m fine, Mom,” Janet replied. “I’m
floating on wings of love, remember?” She hooked her arm through her dad’s.
“Let’s not keep Dennis waiting.”

As Janet leaned on her dad’s arm and
walked down the aisle flanked with flowers and trees, she was hardly aware of
the high heels she was wearing or the numerous guests who had come to see her
and Dennis tie the knot. Her eyes were focused on the only person who
mattered—the man waiting for her by the altar—and she truly felt as though she
were floating on air.

“I know you’ll take good care of her.”
Janet’s dad winked at Dennis as he left her by the altar and took his seat next
to Janet’s mom.

Dennis moved in closer and Janet felt
her breath catch. You’d think after living with the man and seeing him wake up
with messed up hair, hungover after a long night out, she’d lose the ability to
be wowed by him, but that wasn’t true. His hair slicked back with not a strand
out of place, Dennis looked stunning in his tailored tuxedo, which accentuated
his cinched waist and broad shoulders. She felt a shiver running down her
spine, almost wishing the justice of the peace would hurry up with the vows
already, so that she and Dennis could be alone in their bridal suite.

“Dearly Beloved, Dennis and Janet have
invited us here today to share in the celebration of their marriage—their
wedding,” the justice of the peace began in a low and deep voice.

As the justice of the peace proceeded on
with the ceremony and spoke about the importance of marriage, Janet had never
felt surer of herself or her decision to marry Dennis. When the time came for
Dennis to read his vows, Janet locked her eyes on his.

Dennis said his vows in a deep and
certain voice. “I, Dennis Walker, take you, Janet Maple, to be my wife, to have
and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day
forward until death do us part.”

Whatever was left of her nervousness
evaporated instantly, as Janet looked into Dennis’s eyes—they were the eyes of
a man in love—a man who was prepared to do anything for the woman he loved.

Then it was her turn. “Please repeat
after me—,” the justice of the peace asked Janet.

Janet had been worried her voice might
crack, but as she said her vows, her voice was as clear and certain as her love
for Dennis. “I, Janet Maple, take you, Dennis Walker, to be my husband, to have
and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day
forward until death do us part,” Janet said and exhaled.

“May I have the rings, please?” the
justice of the peace asked.

Released by Janet’s dad, Baxter trotted
down the aisle right on cue and stopped by the best man.

“Good job, Baxter,” Laskin whispered, as
he bent down and untied the pouch with the wedding rings from Baxter’s collar.
He then handed the rings to the justice of the peace.

As Janet repeated the rest of her
wedding vows and exchanged rings with Dennis, she had no doubts that Dennis was
going to keep all the promises he’d made her in his letter.

“You may now kiss the bride.” The
justice of the peace smiled at them.

As Janet stepped toward Dennis, her heel
caught on her skirt, but his arm was right there to steady her. “Got you,” he
murmured and swept her into a deep kiss. “How do you like being Mrs. Walker so
far?” he asked with a wink after he pulled away.

“I love it,” she whispered.

Dennis and Janet turned to face their
family and friends as husband and wife. Janet felt all eyes focused on her and
Dennis, but instead of unease, it brought her joy. She spotted the
Vanity
Fair
photographer lurking in the background, but instead of shrinking away,
she smiled proudly for the picture. Sure, she was no model, but she was
confident the photographer would be hard-pressed to find a bride and groom as
much in love as she and Dennis were.

As they continued their walk down the
aisle, now as husband and wife, Janet saw Mila and Philip and waved at them.
Philip smiled and Mila waved back, looking radiant and happy next to Philip.
Knowing Philip, theirs would be a short engagement, and pretty soon Mila too
would be walking down the aisle or eloping. Although Janet doubted Irene would
let the latter happen.

Janet leaned on Dennis’s arm. “Isn’t it
magical?” she asked. The entire garden belonged to them and their guests. The
garden was closed to public visitors after six p.m., and Philip had made sure
that Janet and Dennis’s wedding was the only celebration on the garden’s
calendar for that day.

“Ouch!” Dennis exclaimed. “Did you just
pinch my arm?”

She nodded. “I had to make sure I’m not
dreaming.”

“I think you’re supposed to pinch
yourself, not your husband,” he clarified. “But I’m happy to take the pinch,
Mrs. Walker. Anything to make you happy. Are you happy, Janet?” he asked, his
voice turning serious.

“More than I could ever imagine.” She
smiled at him. “That’s why I had to pinch you—to make sure it wasn’t a dream.”

“It’s real all right. But I think a kiss
is a better way to prove it,” he added, locking his lips on hers. “Does it feel
real now?” he asked, pulling away.

“Oh, yes,” she whispered. A few months
ago, Janet thought she and Dennis were never going to have the wedding she’d
dreamed of. But in a wonderful and unbelievable turn of events, she’d gotten
everything she’d ever wanted.

The territory of the Bronx Botanical
Gardens was huge and the wedding reception—a charming old stone mill that had
been transformed into a banquet hall—was a good distance away from the ceremony
site. The garden had provided transportation for all the guests, but Dennis and
Janet had a separate car. Irene was there to see them off.

“All the guests are waiting for you at
the reception hall. Baxter is there too—Janet, your dad has him, as agreed,”
Irene informed them. “Your chariot awaits you.”

“Is this our car?” Janet gasped at the
sight of a white convertible vintage Cadillac. It was decorated with ribbons
and balloons and said ‘Just Married,’ on the back.

“It is tonight.” Dennis opened the door
for her. “I thought we’d arrive in style.”

Janet was about to get inside, when Ham
Kirk caught up with them. Irene blocked his path, acting as a human shield.
“Excuse me sir, but the bride and groom are expected at the reception hall.”

“It’s all right, Irene,” Janet
explained. “Ham is an old friend.”

“Fine,” Irene said grudgingly. “But
don’t be late to your own reception,” she warned them.

“I promise not to detain them for long,”
Ham promised. “Janet, you’re the most radiant bride I’ve ever seen. I wish you
much happiness.” Ham kissed Janet on both cheeks. “Dennis, congratulations!”
Ham shook Dennis’s hand. “You’re a very lucky man.”

“Thank you, Ham.” Dennis smiled. “Now,
why don’t you get down to business already,” he added.

“Am I that transparent?” Ham quipped.

Dennis arched an eyebrow. “Have you
forgotten what I do for a living?”

“Oh, heck, I know you’re going to Paris
for your honeymoon, but I just got in the case of a lifetime. Just wait till
you hear it—”

Janet frowned, but knew better than to
object. After all, she married Dennis Walker who never left a stone unturned.
“I guess we could reschedule our flight. Our tickets have an open date—”

Dennis shook his head. “I’m taking my
wife on a honeymoon. We’ll both be back in two weeks. The case will just have
to wait till then.”

Ham chuckled, slapping Dennis on the
shoulder. “You can’t blame me for trying. Dennis, I think married life agrees
with you. Enjoy yourselves on your honeymoon. The bad guys will be here when
you get back.”

“Shall we, Mrs. Walker?” Dennis opened
the car door for Janet.

Janet slid inside and carefully arranged
her dress. “Full speed ahead, Mr. Walker.”

Janet knew being married to Dennis
Walker wasn’t going to be easy—their job was bound to throw many more crazy
cases their way. But if there was one thing she was sure of, it was that her
life with Dennis was going to be just like their wedding—filled with surprises.

The End

The End

Dear
Reader,

I
hope you enjoyed reading
Bad Guys Don’t Win
as much as I enjoyed writing
it. I would love to hear your thoughts about the story. Please visit me at
www.marieastor.com
or drop me a line at
[email protected]
.

If
you would like to be the first to know when the next book in the Janet Maple
Series comes out, please join my mailing list at
www.marieastor.com
. I never share my email list
with anyone and I only send out updates when I have a new release.

Thank
you for reading my book!

Hope
to hear from you soon.

Happy
reading,

Marie