My Best Friend's Bride (17 page)

“We can talk more about Hunter Delaney,” he said, clearly trying to tempt her. “I can tell you what I know and vice versa.”

Now that was an invitation hard to resist.

Chapter Sixteen

Jill woke up in her hotel room, at first unsure of where she was. Albuquerque? San Francisco? No… Niagara Falls! She sat up suddenly and the bed sheets rumpled around her. Heavy curtains were drawn, but a piercingly bright light shone through the miniscule crack between them. Jill’s eyes flitted to the nightstand and hotel-issued digital clock. Goodness, it was way past noon! Nearly one o’clock!

She scrambled to her feet, getting her bearings. Yesterday had been such a long day, she must have slept like a ton of bricks. First, there’d been the airport delay in landing due to fog. Their plane had circled around and around the runway until their full split of champagne was empty and Hunter had fallen asleep against her shoulder. When they’d finally landed, the hold-up at the rental car agency had been even worse. They’d lost Hunter’s reservation and only finally provided a car after Hunter demanded to talk to a supervisor. Then there was a line to cross the border. By the time Jill and Hunter got to their hotel in Canada, it was well past nine and she was beat. Hunter had appeared fatigued too. He’d tried to insist they grab something to eat, but Jill couldn’t even think of it. All she wanted was a hot shower and a soft mattress. Now that she was awake and rested, Jill realized how famished she was.

She decided to dress quickly and try to find Hunter. But when she knocked on his door across the hall a few minutes later she got no response. She pulled her cell from her purse and tried calling.

“Where are you?” she asked when he answered.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. You rested well, I take it?”

“I slept like a log, an entire felled forest really.”

Hunter laughed warmly. “I’m sure you needed it.”

“What about you?”

“I got some shut-eye, after ordering room service pizza. You didn’t eat anything, though, did you?”

“No,” Jill admitted, hearing her stomach rumble.

“Then why don’t you meet me down here, and we’ll have some lunch before touring the town?”

“Where’s
here
?” Jill asked him.

“I’m in the lobby,” Hunter replied pleasantly before clicking off.

Jill found Hunter sitting in a roomy chair beside a high wooden table that held his drink. He appeared to be having a cocktail already. He lowered the newspaper he was reading when he saw her approaching. Jill almost missed a step when his eyes settled on hers, and they crinkled at the corners. “You look nice this morning.” He rose and gave her a very formal peck on the cheek. When his mouth was close to her ear he whispered, “Darling…” A tingle raced down Jill’s spine and heat rose in her cheeks.

“You don’t need to call me that,” she said. “Cassandra’s not around with her camera.”

Hunter nonchalantly folded his paper. “I didn’t even realize I’d said it,” he lied. “I guess it’s becoming a habit.”

“Have you spoken to Brad?” she asked him. “To see how the move went?”

“Not yet,” Hunter answered. “Now that you mention it, maybe we should call.”

“I’ll call Morgan,” Jill offered, extracting her cell. But when Morgan answered, there was such a commotion in the background, Jill could barely hear her.

“You’ll have to talk louder!” Morgan instructed. “I can’t hear you over the mariachi band!”

Mariachi band?
“Where are you?” Jill shouted into the mouthpiece.
 

When Hunter shot her a curious look, Jill said, “She’s with Brad, Susan, and somebody at Maria’s Cantina.”

Hunter nodded. “I’ve heard that’s very good.”

“You what?” Jill spouted loudly. “Did what?” She covered the mouthpiece, then spoke to Hunter. “She said something about margaritas.”

“They must be celebrating a successful move.”

“I suppose,” Jill replied, peering up at him. He looked really good this morning. Very attractive in a polo shirt and jeans. Jill noticed he hadn’t bothered to shave, but the light smattering of stubble only made him look… What? Oh, no. Not that. Was she about to think
sexy
? “Sounds like I better call you back!” Jill said to Morgan.

“Good plan!” Morgan answered before chirping brightly, “Olé! Olé!”

“Oh, dear,” Jill told Hunter. “Sounds like Morgan’s maybe had one too many margarita.”

Back at Maria’s Cantina, Cassandra and Mauve slowly lowered their menus to peer across the room. “It
is
them,” Cassandra said. “And look, Brad’s with Susan.”

“Who’s Susan?”

“Only the girl Brad dated in high school,” Cassandra responded. “And the one that he works with.
And…
” She turned to Mauve with a telling look. “The one everyone always thought Brad was going to marry.”

“Then along came Jill,” Mauve said.

“Yes…” Cassandra drummed the tabletop with her manicured fingernails. “Then along came Jill.”

“Now that Jill has thrown Brad over for Hunter, Brad is back with Susan?”

“It would appear so,” Cassandra said, watching Brad wrap an arm around Susan’s shoulders.

“Who’s that man with Jill’s friend Morgan?” Mauve asked her.

“I have no idea, but they seem to be having quite a bit of fun.” She and Mauve observed the others in silence while Morgan guffawed loudly, caressing his shoulder. “Oh, Owen! You’re just too much!”

“Owen,” Mauve whispered. “His name is Owen.”

“Hmm, yes,” Cassandra whispered back. “I caught that part. I wonder if he’s one of Susan’s brothers? She’s got two, but they grew up with their dad in New York.”

“Are we interested in Owen?”

“I don’t think so. All I want to know is if Jill and Hunter’s marriage is for real, or whether it’s an elaborate setup.”

“I’m interested in knowing that too.”

Their margaritas arrived and they each took a sip. After their server departed, Cassandra turned to Mauve. “Why do you want to know that, really?”

“Well, if you must know… I’ll tell you.” He lowered his voice and leaned toward her. “Fred Forester is very keen on making partner at Abrams Advertising.”

“He was passed over for Hunter?” Cassandra asked, guessing.

“Only because Hunter’s sudden marriage came about.”

“Uh-huh,” Cassandra said. “Um-hum, um-hum, um-hum.”

“You know what I’m thinking?” Mauve asked her. “I’m thinking if we put our heads together, we can crack this thing.”

Cassandra stared across the room at Morgan. “It would sure help to know about that new book Jill is writing. Somehow I’ve got a feeling that’s got something to do with this.”

“How about you and I work together on that?”

“I thought you were only interested in Hunter?”

“No, I think you’re right. This is bigger than Hunter and his ambition. Something else seems to be going on.”

Cassandra tapped her fingers against the side of her glass. “Yeah, but what?”

Mauve playfully nudged her shoulder with his. “Isn’t that what we’re going to find out?”

Cassandra shot him an appreciative glance, then narrowed her eyes. “Yes,” she said slowly. Cassandra raised her glass to Mauve’s with a wicked smile. “It is.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jill could hear the cacophony of the falls even before they reached them. It was the first official day of summer and the weather was spectacular. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and birds were singing merrily as she and Hunter traversed the large green park that led to the water. They’d enjoyed club sandwiches and iced tea in the hotel restaurant and taken a brief walk down one of the town’s main streets, which was replete with kitschy shops selling souvenirs and “Believe It or Not” museums stocked with wax figures holding court in their dark doorways. When she’d seen that, Jill had questioned the wisdom of anyone—much less honeymooners—wanting to vacation in Niagara Falls.

But the moment she and Hunter approached the walkway hemming the falls with its high metal railing, Jill completely changed her mind. She stood stock-still as winds ripped off the waters, dotting her nose, cheeks, and forehead with their fine spray. And the view was absolutely outstanding. One set of falls was shaped like a horseshoe, glorious rapids cascading over its edges, while the other across the way was a tumultuous band of raucous waves taking a steep downward dive.

“Fabulous, aren’t they?” Hunter reached out and took her hand and she let him. This was one of those breathtaking moments that was meant to be shared.

Jill tightened her grip on Hunter’s hand. “I didn’t realize there were two falls.”

Hunter nodded in front of them with his chin. “Those over there are on the New York side of the Niagara River. The Horseshoe Falls are in Canada.”

“It’s beautiful, Hunter.” She swallowed hard and met his eyes. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

He perused her warmly. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”

Hunter’s heart beat double-time as he stared down at the gorgeous woman who’d become his bride. While his head urged caution, stating none of this was real, he couldn’t help the way his throat swelled slightly when he beheld her. What a picture she made. That gave him an idea. Hunter pulled out his phone and selected the camera feature. “Would you mind? I mean, would it be all right if I took your picture?”

Jill’s face was damp and her hair looked wind-whipped, but she was probably prettier than Hunter had ever seen her. “No,” she said shyly. “That would be fine. Might even give us ammo for Cassandra.”

“Cassandra?”

“We’ll have a way to prove we were really here.”

“Don’t you think she’ll let it drop now?” he asked her. “Her whole pursuit of you?”

“Cassandra’s not the kind to let things drop. She’ll probably be dogging us for the whole year.”

Hunter sighed and shook his head. “Good old Cassandra. Maybe what she needs is a boyfriend. You know, someone to occupy her time?”

Jill laughed, her expression sunny. “You thinking of fixing her up?”

“I wouldn’t dare do that to a friend of mine.” He stepped back from the railing to frame Jill in the viewfinder with the Horseshoe Falls behind her.

“Would you like me to fit in the two of you?”

Hunter turned to find a kindly Australian gentleman standing beside him. He was dressed like a tourist and his wife was with him. Both wore T-shirts from the Niagara Falls Hard Rock Café.

“That would be really nice, thanks!” He handed over his phone and went to stand beside Jill, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “This will be a good one for the papers,” he told her.

“A lot better than the last one,” she said with a blush.

The next few days flew by in a swirl of activity. They got a better feel for the town, toured some funny museums, and took in an IMAX theater presentation on Niagara. As hard as it was to believe, Jill and Hunter were actually having fun together. Plus, he’d played the perfect gentleman. Apart from taking her hand at the falls that first day, he hadn’t touched her again. A few times when they’d parted for their separate rooms and said good night, Jill had wondered if Hunter might try to kiss her, but he never had. She was probably being silly about it anyway. Isn’t this exactly what she wanted? The bargain she’d struck?

On the final full day of their trip, Hunter surprised Jill at breakfast. “I hope you don’t mind,” he told her over coffee and scones, “but I went ahead and made some arrangements. It’s our last day here and there are still some landmark things we haven’t done.”

She beamed at him, thinking what a nice guy he was, and about how different he was from how she’d imagined him. “That sounds great, Hunter. Thank you. What are our plans?”

He took a sip of coffee before detailing their itinerary. “I thought we might take some time to do some souvenir shopping this morning, in case there’s anything you’d like to bring back for your grandfather and Morgan. Then, after lunch, I have us booked on the
Maid of the Mist
.”

“Maid of the Mist?”
Jill echoed, thinking that sounded vaguely familiar. Then she recalled Morgan saying something about it. “That’s not a boat, is it?”

His eyes danced. “A great big ferry boat, goes right under the—”

Jill’s stomach filled with lead and her head felt light. “Hunter, I can’t… I’m sorry, but—”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Jill. If you’re worried about getting wet, they provide raincoats.”

Jill felt herself blanch. “Super.”

Hunter leaned toward her with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Hunter,” she admitted sheepishly. “I get seasick.”

He stunned her by bellowing a laugh. “Is that all?” For the second time in Niagara Falls, he reached out and took her hand. “There’s no need to worry. I’ll be right there with you.”

Later that afternoon, Jill sucked in a breath as tourists were herded onto the ferry boat like hapless animals. She could see another boat on the water far away, already approaching the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Good gracious! What if there was a tidal wave, or a sudden swell? A whirlpool, even, that would spin the ferry around and around like a tiny toy boat, then swallow it deep into the Niagara River? Jill suddenly felt dizzy and leaned against Hunter. He propped her up by the elbow and gave her arm a reassuring pat. “You’re going to be so glad you did this.”

“Yeah,” she said. “When it’s over.”

People crowded onto the bow of the boat, all of them wearing the disposable plastic raincoats the ferry boat service had provided. Jill shot Hunter a sideways glance as a family of four scooted by them to get a closer position near the railing. “Are you sure about this?”

He smiled down at her and his smile warmed her through and through. “Extra sure.”

Jill steeled her nerves, determined she could do this. Hey, perhaps she could even incorporate the experience in her book? A vague idea began to form in her brain, something about couples taking shared adventures. Before she could think things out further, the big boat began to move and Jill’s stomach roiled. “Oooh, oh Hunter!” She latched onto his arm with a death grip.