Bride Interrupted (11 page)

“Really.” She advanced on him then. Her brisk stride took her around the desk until she stood in front of him. She pointed a finger into his chest. “Then tell me how you had the last line already written. Words that were just delivered to me with Mags’ ring. How did you know the ending of the rhyme?”

As much as he wanted to tell her the truth, he couldn’t. His research turned up the full poem where the words came from. She wouldn’t believe him. She was too distraught to hear and comprehend anything he said. He pinned her with a stare that he only used on hardened criminals. He didn’t know any other way to get through to her. She actually flinched and took a step back from him. “I can’t say anything except that I am working undercover. Ask Sergeant.”

“If that’s true, then why are you still here? Seems to me they would not have arrested you. Or would’ve at least let you go by now.”

“It’s part of the plan. I need to be out of the picture for now. Did you call my attorney? He should’ve explained everything to you.”

She shook her head. “I didn’t call him. I really don’t see that it matters.”

He eyes held her gaze as he advanced on her. He did not stop until they were toe-to-toe, face-to-face. The microphone that was recording everything they said could not detect his whispered words. “Stop pulling on your ear, and for God’s sake, stop biting your damn lip. You’re driving me crazy.”

Kayla turned and walked out of the room.

Colton slammed his hands against the hard concrete walls. “Dammit!”

Kayla was giddy with excitement for Maggie and Alec. It had been a rough week, but they were there at Gracie’s Place, joined as husband and wife. With all of the drama going on, Kayla was thankful for Maggie’s and Christi’s help in transforming the deli bar into a wedding chapel and reception hall. It took a little more makeup to cover the bruises on Maggie’s face than the young girl cared for, but the outcome was beautiful.

Guests filled the inside and helped themselves to the buffet-style reception dinner. Music played softly in the background. The evening ocean breeze flowed through the open windows, tangy salt clinging to everything it touched. The red and orange sunset cast a warm glow over the beige linen-covered tables. Maggie and Alec mingled as the newly wed couple. Most of the people there were family and friends of the couple, but Maggie insisted on keeping the bar open for business. Several customers stopped by to show their support and party while they were there.

Kayla leaned back against the bar, taking it all in. This was her dream. Uniting two people who loved each other beyond comprehension. Making their first day as a team a reality. Her heart twisted at the thought that she would never experience that kind of bliss of her own. She thought she had found that connection with Colton, but …

The back door opened. Grandpa Earl entered in his wheelchair. Pushing him was the woman he had come to care for in the last weeks. Kayla knew she would never take the place of Grandma Gracie, but Maw Bea, as she was known, was certainly doing her best to take care of Grandpa. That’s all that mattered.

“Grandpa, you're looking good.” Kayla hugged him and kissed his cheek.

“Feeling good too. Fine job here, Gracie. Grandma would be proud.” He squeezed her hand, then headed straight for the happy couple on the dance floor.

The door swished open. Kayla tensed, sensing another presence. The door clicked shut. She looked over to see Colton standing in the doorway. Her heart stopped beating. She leaned against the bar to stop from falling. Her knees were too weak to hold her up.

She didn’t need to depend on her body, Colton’s strong arms were there to catch her and tug her to him.

Kayla shook her head and pulled away from him. “What are you doing here?” Her voice couldn’t hide her anger. She hadn’t seen or heard from him all week. She didn’t know if he was still in jail, or if he was just avoiding her. When she spoke to the sergeant, he would not confirm or deny anything because the investigation was still open.

“Earl and Bea wanted to come.” He stroked her cheek, but withdrew his hand when she shook her head. “Dammit, Kayla. Do not be scared of me. You have to let me explain.”

She backed away, not trusting her own emotions. The door opened again. This time Detective Sawyer sauntered in, his eyes pinned on Colton. Next to him was Officer Banks.

“Oh God,” Kayla moaned. This was not going to be good.

Sawyer stepped around the two of them and strode onto the dance floor. Banks followed. The officers handcuffed a couple and pulled them to the side. Kayla recognized Beth and Randy from the first time she sat at the bar.

Colton nodded at Sawyer and opened the door for them. What the hell was going on?

“Man, I didn’t do this. You have to believe me.” Randy’s eyes pleaded with Colton as Sawyer hauled him outside. Banks had Beth by both arms. As she was walking out, she turned back and pinned Colton with a hard stare. Her eyes were wild. After a few moments of confusion, the crowd went about celebrating Maggie and Alec, barely giving any attention to the brief ruckus that interrupted their party.

Kayla strode out of the bar, down to the water’s edge. She needed to be alone to think. She needed some fresh air to clear her head. Sandals in hand, she let the water flow over her bare feet. Sand squished between her toes. She turned her face up to the moonlight, letting it soak into her skin. Refreshing. Where things would go from there, she had no idea. For now, she was going to relish the open air of the night.

Standing at the edge of the water, she closed her eyes. The night was silent, other than the waves crashing ashore. She never heard his approach, but he was there. Behind her. He didn’t speak. His warm breath tingled on her neck. His head rubbed against hers, like a primitive animal with his mate. His arms cradled her against his hard body.

Kayla started to pull away, but resisted when he whispered, “No more running, fireball.”

She was defeated. In a good way. Whatever the explanation was, she knew in her heart that it was the truth. She trusted Colton. Without looking at him, she said, “Explain.”

He hugged her tighter. Her head rested against his chest, his heart beating a steady rhythm. “Sawyer will always be an ass. Don’t trust him. But he is a damn good detective and when things started happening with those women, Sergeant threw us together. Almost pitted us against each other because of our history. Yes, Andrea and I were engaged when I caught her and Sawyer together. That ended our relationship. I didn’t kill her. Her death was a suicide, but Sawyer won’t believe it.”

Kayla sucked in a heavy breath. “Why would she kill herself?”

“She had issues that went pretty deep. Family problems all around. Then we found out she was pregnant, but lost the baby early. When I left her, because of her infidelity, she went off the deep end. Overdosed.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Especially about the baby.” Colton groaned, and Kayla felt his grief deep inside. She wanted to console him, but before she could fully give herself over, she had to know the rest of the story. “Sawyer seems really bitter about the situation.”

“Yeah, I think he really loved her. More than I did. Anyway, we can discuss that some other time.”

“Tell me about Randy and Beth. Why did they get arrested?” Kayla wanted to know more about Andrea, but there would be time for that another day.

“Right after Andrea’s death, I resigned from the force and went undercover. That’s when Beth and Randy entered the picture. Randy was under surveillance by the Feds for drug and rape charges. He and Beth were engaged at the time. It took several months, but we finally had enough evidence to put him away. Sometime during his stay, he and Beth got married. He was released from prison a few months ago and apparently, they decided it was payback time.”

“Payback for what? I don’t know those people.”

“No. But remember they were engaged?”

Kayla nodded.

“Well, Randy went to prison a week before their wedding. Beth took it hard. She got herself arrested on various misdemeanor charges and ended up with some hefty fines. It wasn’t long before she disappeared from this area.”

“Oh, wow. Didn’t you recognize them? They sat with me that first day at the bar.” If she had known this at the time, she would not have associated herself with them.

“I did, but didn’t think anything of it. Then when these cases started, Sergeant called for a full investigation. Sawyer worked it on the force, me undercover. Someone tipped Sergeant off, and he was able to gather some hard evidence against them. Well, mostly against Beth. But we couldn’t make a move until it was confirmed.”

“That day in the bar, you had words with him.”

“Yeah. He came to me for a job. As if.” His jaw clenched.

“Why would they do this? Why involve me and my career?” Kayla turned in his arms so they were facing each other. The moonlight lit his chiseled features. They were hard, but his eyes were soft.

“It really had nothing to do with you. When Beth disappeared from here, she moved to her hometown in Alabama and went on a spree of hurting brides-to-be. She felt slighted when Randy was arrested, and she went a little crazy. From what we have found, Marcy was the first person she murdered.”

“What about Randy? Is he involved also?”

Colton shook his head. “He’s claiming he had nothing to do with this. Swears that he is a changed person since his incarceration. Said that when he got out of prison, Beth wasn’t the same.” He shrugged. “Whether or not that’s true, it will come out in the investigation.”

“Wow. I don’t know what to say.”

Colton kissed her lips. The spray from the ocean made his taste salty. “Just say you believe me. That’s all that matters. You have to know I would never hurt you.”

Kayla touched his face, kissed him deeply, then hugged him. “It’s all been so crazy. There were times I didn’t know what to think.”

“Kayla, I--”

She placed her fingers over his lips. “Stop. My turn. I was confused and hurt. When I saw you with all that blood on you… Then I found that rhyme in your desk.” She shivered.

“Oh, baby. When I got to the bar, Mags wasn’t in there, but the doors were all unlocked. I went to the store room and found her.”

“Shh. I know that. She said that it wasn’t you. I believe her. And I believe you. It was just so much to process. I was scared.”

He sighed and looked out over the water. He bit his bottom lip, then released it. Pulling her to him, he whispered, “Process it later.” They stayed in each other’s embrace for minutes, not speaking. Colton broke the silence. “Hey, you did a great job up there with Mags’ wedding.”

She took a step back. She wrapped her arms around her middle and looked at him. “Thanks. I've acquired several new clients, and some of them want a beach wedding. Tell me, why have you been so against my idea of holding weddings here?”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not totally against it. Seeing how happy Maggie is, I know it's a good idea. My first wife was hell bent on making her boutique successful. She fought me constantly to grow and add to her business. I watched her run it in the ground. I can't let that happen to Earl.”

“I understand. I would never jeopardize his place.” She could've eased his mind a long time ago if she had known these things.

“Just take it slow. One step at a time.” His hand brushed her hair away from her face.

“Promise.” She would prove to him this could be done. Colton stared out over the dark waters. Something else was on his mind. “Talk to me,” she whispered.

“Your grandfather helped me out when I left the force. It took a while for me to establish myself as a private undercover agent, and Earl was so supportive. I don't know that I can ever repay him.”

“You already have by being there for him.” Kayla placed a hand on his shoulder. She wanted to know everything about this man. “You said your first wife. You and Andrea were engaged, but was there a second wife?”

Colton faced her. His hands caressed her bare upper arms. Just his touch stirred her. He cupped her chin with one hand and held her captive with his gaze. “There's only been one marriage. And there will only be one more.”

He fished something out of his pocket. Kayla’s heart skipped a beat, and she held her breath. She tried to speak. “Wha…”

“Shh.” His finger rested over her lips. His crooked smile melted her. When he opened his hand, a single solitaire diamond sparkled under the moonlight. “Kayla, will you marry me? Be my wife.”