The Goodbye Bride (21 page)

“I don't care who you are—get your hands off her.” His strides made quick work of the distance.

The man's hand fell as he neared, no doubt gauging Zac's size and realizing Zac had him by a head.

Lucy's face was white and tense. She stepped away, her hands shaking.

For the second time tonight Zac wanted to pummel somebody.

The man threw his shoulders back, trying to act bigger than he was. “Who are you?”

“Zac Callahan, and you're standing on my property. I expect you to rectify that real soon.”

Bozo stepped beside Lucy. “We have some things to settle. This is really none of your business.”

Zac homed in on Lucy. She was pinching her bottom lip. Her pale face glowed in the moonlight.

“Lucy, you want to talk to this guy?”

Lucy's eyes toggled between them, settling on Zac. “No,” she whispered.

“That's it, pal, you're out of here.”

“Come on, Lucy . . . ,” the guy wheedled.

But Zac grabbed the back of his collar and walked him toward the only car in the lot. “You're not welcome back here. If she wants you, she has your number.”

The guy pulled away, and Zac let him go. He walked toward his car, tossing a sneer over his shoulder after he opened the door. “I'll be back.”

“At your own risk, buddy.”

Once he left, Zac guided Lucy back inside. She was shaking, and he didn't think it was from the chill in the air.

He pulled a chair from the table and turned it over. “Sit down. Did he hurt you?”

“No, I'm fine.” Lucy sank into the chair.

He perched his hip on the table. “What'd he have to say?”

She shrugged. Some of her color had returned. “He wants me to come back to Portland. I think he may have alerted the media.”

“To get you to go back with him?”

“Maybe. I don't know.”

“I don't like the guy,” he said, then wished he'd kept his mouth shut. Lucy might think he was jealous. And that wasn't it. At least, he didn't think so.

“He's probably just hurt after—everything that's happened.”

Zac didn't buy it. There was something in the guy's eyes. Something ruthless and hard. If Zac's fiancée had gotten amnesia,

he'd like to think he'd be patient and concerned rather than trying to force his own will down her throat.

And he hadn't liked the look on Brad's face when he'd made that parting threat. Was he capable of danger? He'd grabbed Lucy, and for no apparent reason other than he didn't like her answers.

Between the reporters and Brad, the timing of Lucy's leaving couldn't be worse. He clasped his hands on the back of his neck, closed his eyes in a long blink. He couldn't believe he was about to say this.

“Maybe you should stay here awhile longer.”

Lucy popped to her feet. “No.”

He blinked at the speed of her reply. “You see the look on his face? You might've been engaged to him, but you don't know anything about him, Lucy. Maybe he's got a violent streak. Maybe that's why you didn't go through with the wedding.”

Lucy shook her head.

“He's not going to give up, and if you're alone in an apartment, what protection will you have? Plus you've got a horde of reporters following you around town.”

Lucy crossed her arms, piercing him with those blue eyes. “I'm not staying, Zac.”

“Don't be so stubborn.”

She lifted her set chin. “This isn't working out—for either of us. I'm leaving next week, and that's all there is to it.”

He watched her go, her slender shoulders stiff, and sighed. When Zac wanted her to leave, she insisted on staying, and when he wanted her to stay, she insisted on leaving. That was just the way it had always been with Lucy.

Chapter 24

L
ucy dabbed on pink lipstick and pressed her lips together. After fluffing her hair she stood back and surveyed her image. Subtle makeup enhanced her eyes and colored her cheeks, and tousled waves fell over her shoulders. She looked all put together in her pale blue sundress. But inside she was conflicted. She was going out with an awfully nice fellow, but the man she really wanted was right here.

And he wants nothing to do with you, Lucy Lovett. So just get over it.

She capped her lipstick and left her room. She'd wait for Nick on the front stoop. Maybe Nick was just a friend, but it was still awkward. And if she was honest, she had to admit that Nick was awfully flirty for a friend.

Oomph!
She bounced off Zac's muscular chest as he exited his office.

He steadied her with his hands. “Sorry.”

His fingers burned through the light sweater, heating her arms, and his familiar spicy scent wrapped around her like a warm hug.

He lifted his hands abruptly as if he'd been burned.

“My fault.” She'd been flying down the hall, her mind elsewhere.

His eyes swept her body, a glimmer of male appreciation registering in his eyes. “You look nice.”

Her cheeks heated. She clutched her purse to her stomach. “Thank you.”

He impaled her with those stormy gray eyes. “Got a date tonight?”

She cleared her throat. “I'm going out with Nick. We're taking his boat over to Folly Shoals for supper at the Seafood Shack, then we're going dancing at the Hotel Tourmaline. There's some kind of shindig going on over there. I didn't really pay much mind to what it is exactly, but I wore my dancing shoes.” She kicked up her foot, giving a chuckle that sounded as nervous as she felt.

Hush up, Lucy.

He gave a tight smile. “Well. Sounds like a good time. Have fun.”

“I reckon I will.”

He let her precede him down the hall. Her legs were shaky from the brief encounter.

“Lucy . . . ,” he said.

She turned as she reached the busy dining room. Had she heard something in his voice? Regret? Longing? She looked into his eyes, searching. They held her hostage for a long moment. Her heart beat up into her throat, and her chest tightened with want.

Something flared in his eyes, something warm and hopeful. But just as quickly, it was gone. “Nick's a nice guy. You should give him a chance.”

Heat scorched her cheeks as though he'd just slapped her. She blinked against the burning behind her eyes as something dark pooled in her belly. Nothing like the man you loved pushing you off on someone else.

But even as the thought formed, something else swelled deep in her belly. Something that felt heaps better. Something red and determined and just a little bit peeved.

“You're right, Zac. You're absolutely right.”

Chapter 25

L
ucy sneaked away from the Roadhouse early the next Monday, meeting Eden by the marina for their jog. The reporters had yet to show up, but she'd tucked her hair under a ball cap anyway.

“So . . . ,” Eden said as they ramped up to a brisk walk. “Don't keep me in suspense. How'd your date with Nick go? I noticed he sat with you in church yesterday.”

A salty breeze blew a tendril across Lucy's face, and she swept it back. “It wasn't a date, but it was really nice.” She injected some enthusiasm into her voice. “We had a lot of fun. He's a good dancer, and we never ran out of things to talk about. We have some of the same interests, and he's got a real good sense of humor.”

“And . . .”

“And . . . that was it. He was great. It was nice.”

“Nice.”

“What? There's not a thing wrong with nice.”

Eden spared her a look. “Nice is how it feels to kick off your heels after church on Sundays. It's what your friends say about a bad haircut. It's what—”

“All right, all right. I don't know what you want me to say. Nick's just a friend. I'm in love with Zac. That feeling's not going to go away anytime soon.” She gave a wry grin. “Unless my memory comes back. And then, apparently, it'll disappear faster than a hot knife through butter.”

“Sorry, didn't mean to push. I just hate seeing you like this. There aren't any sparks at all with Nick?”

“Not really. I mean, maybe something could come of it someday. They say the best relationships start as friendships, right?”

She remembered the instantaneous spark she'd had with Zac. She'd wanted to fall into his smoky-gray eyes and drown. She felt a pang of loss.

“Sure.”

Their conversation slowed as their pace picked up. Zac had been nowhere to be found when she arrived home from her date. She'd tried to have a good time. Maybe too hard. Nick had been a little flirtatious, and she didn't want to lead him on. Had she not been clear enough about being friends?

Her eyes caught a flash of blue, and she saw Brittany Conley swinging on her front porch. Lucy lifted a hand and got a wave back in return. She'd run into the girl riding her bike downtown before the media had shown up. They'd talked a few minutes about basketball. Brittany hadn't made the school team, but Lucy encouraged her to keep practicing her skills.

Awhile later, they slowed to a walk as they entered town again, catching their breath. Lucy shelved her hands on her hips, breathing through a hitch in her side. Her endurance was improving. She was only a little more winded than Eden.

“I have about a half hour,” Eden said. “Want to grab breakfast at Joe's?”

“Sure.” The center didn't open until ten, and the longer she stayed away from the Roadhouse the better.

“Beau told me your ex-fiancé paid a visit a few days ago.”

“It was really peculiar. I felt kind of intimidated by him. I was awful glad when Zac came out and shooed him off.”

“Is he still in town?”

“I'm not sure. He hasn't come around anymore. I'm going to mail the engagement ring back to him. Maybe he'll leave me be then.”

“Maybe you should reconsider that new apartment. Just until things settle down. Beau said he threatened to come back.”

“I think that was just his pride talking.” She didn't want to think about that today. “So what about you . . . any wedding plans yet?”

“Oh!” Eden said as they turned toward the diner. “I can't believe I forgot to tell you. We set a date yesterday. August sixth of next year.”

“Isn't that just something! Let me know if I can help with the planning.”

“We're going to keep it pretty simple. I already had the big white wedding, and it didn't work out so well.”

“I'm surprised you're going to wait a whole year. You and Beau seem like you can't get enough of each other.”

“Oh, we can't. And while a part of me can't wait to start our happily-ever-after, the saner part of me knows I need time. My first marriage was so difficult.”

“You've alluded to that. Is it hard to think about getting hitched again?”

“Not in the way you think. Beau's so different from Antonio. He was controlling and emotionally abusive. I still kind of chafe at
restrictions. Even prudent ones. I lost myself for a few years, and I'm still finding my way back.”

“You seem so independent and confident,” Lucy said as they reached Frumpy Joe's. “I'd never guess that you struggle with something like that.”

Eden tossed Lucy a saucy smile as she held open the door. “Fake it till you make it.”

The sound of talking and clinking silverware rose as they entered the diner, and the heavenly aromas of bacon and syrup teased her nostrils. Lucy's stomach let out a hearty growl as they made their way to an empty booth in the back.

Margaret LeFebvre was in the third booth. Lucy hadn't seen the owner of the Primrose Inn since she'd tried to apply for the desk-clerk position. When their eyes met, she gave Lucy a warm smile.

Mildly surprised, Lucy returned the smile. Mrs. Parker and her daughter Millie said hello to them as they passed. Both of them.

Maybe the town really was warming up to her. The thought lifted her mood.

Charlotte Dupree approached as soon as they slid into the corner booth. Her dyed red hair was Southern poufy today, and her charm bracelet tinkled as she set down two glasses of water. “I thought you girls could use a drink. I saw you jogging by. Know what you'd like?” Her eyes warmed as she smiled at Lucy. “Our Belgian blueberry waffles are on special—I know you're partial to those.”

“Oh . . . why, sure, that sounds just divine.” Lucy closed her menu and took a long drink as Eden ordered. Had she stepped back in time? Why was everyone being so cordial?

As soon as Charlotte left, Lucy nailed Eden with a look. “Is it just me, or is something awful strange going on?”

“Now that you mention it . . .” Eden leaned over the table and
lowered her voice. “Mrs. Miller keeps looking back here. We'll ask Charlotte what's going on. If anyone knows, she will. News flies around this place like a pinball through a machine.”

When Charlotte brought their coffee by, Eden snagged her arm. “Hey, Charlotte, is there something going on we don't know about? Everyone's kind of acting funny.”

Her eyes toggled between the women, settling on Lucy with a sympathetic smile. “I guess you haven't heard. There's an article in one of those gossip rags that just hit the stands.”

Lucy's stomach hit the floor. “What kind of article?”

“A stupid one, that's what kind.” She patted Lucy's shoulder. “Don't you worry. I sent Joe to the Shop 'n' Save this morning to buy up every copy, and we pitched them in the Dumpster.” She gave Lucy a final pat before she walked away.

Eden was on her phone. “I'm looking it up now.”

“This can't be good.” Wasn't her life in enough turmoil? Why did anyone even care what was going on with her?

“Okay, I found it.” She winced. “Oh boy.”

“What?”

Eden shifted to Lucy's side of the booth, and they read together.

Audrey Lovett's Niece Seeking Solace from Lovers