Rocky Mountain Hitched: Contemporary Western Romance (To Love Again Book 6) (6 page)

“We’re thinking after brunch we’ll all drive out to the hotel at Lake Louise. We may get married there …”

“Really?” Jenny’s mouth dropped.

“What? Too kitschy?”

“I just didn’t take you for a traditional wedding in a tourist location type.”

She shifted in her chair and took a sip of wine. “I’d be happy to get married at city hall. But it’s Tray’s first wedding and he’s a bit of a softie. Not to mention that every single person in his family seems to have an opinion about the wedding.”

“You think Lake Louise will have something this late? I mean, you’re probably going to have to look at alternate venues.”

“I think we might get lucky and be able to book one of the smaller banquet rooms. We haven’t set the date yet. Let’s see what they have available.”

Jenny googled the number and dialed. Isabel poured more wine and pulled the laptop to her side of the table. She’d always wanted to be married outside, in someone’s back garden, or beside a river, or on top of a mountain - anywhere less stuffy than a church. Tray was an outdoor guy. All those stories about camping with his parents growing up … why couldn’t they just find a nice outdoor venue and have a simple reception afterward?

What about the A-frame in Canmore, where they’d had their first magical weekend at Thanksgiving? She hadn’t paid attention to the back yard - really, she hadn’t paid attention to much except for Tray - but she had a vague memory of a large space with big trees and a wide deck that ran the width of the house. She started searching for catering in Canmore. Maybe they couldn’t have their wedding at the cabin, but there was a beautiful park beside the river.

“We have a meeting with the manager on Easter Sunday at two o’clock. He didn’t sound optimistic, but I told him you’re very flexible.”

“Great,” Isabel said, jotting down numbers on the notepad. “I was thinking we could even get married in Canmore. I’d love to have the service outside.”

“He said they have some outdoor spaces, but warned the weather can be unreliable in the mountains. We’ll need a Plan B.”

Isabel leaned back. “Let me talk to Tray again. At least we have the brunch sorted for Easter weekend.”

“Will we go out early to ski?”

“Absolutely, if there’s enough snow. I figure we can ski Saturday at least. What’s the news from Kip?” She put the pen down and slid the notebook back into the center of the table.

“Not certain yet, but it looks like he has something in Vancouver the week after Easter. If that works out, he’ll fly here first for the weekend.” Jenny’s cheeks flushed and she fairly bristled with excitement.

“Maybe we should plan a double wedding,” teased Isabel.

Leaving the table, Jenny laughed. “I barely know the man. Or, I should say ‘Aye, I barely ken the lad’.” She poured a couple of inches of water in a pot and placed it on the stove to boil.

Isabel laughed and started to clear the table. “A few months ago, I didn’t know Tray at all.”

“There’s that.” Jenny poured the couscous grains into the rolling water and turned to her. “I’m so happy for you, Issy. Shocked, but thrilled.”

“I know.” She shrugged. “It seems out of character.”

“Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. I think your life was so … tight … with Chet, plus you married so young, that you’ve never had a chance to know your true character. Maybe this is it. Isabel in love - Isabel taking chances?”

“I’d like to think so,” she said, digging utensils out of the drawer next to the sink. “You saw the interview, right?”

“Yes, you told me. Big deal. I mean, who cares? People forget fast and, the truth is, the more your publisher and editor put you in the public eye, the more you need to be prepared for that type of question.”

She lowered her head and toed at the tile. “I just hate knowing that I’m somehow still connected to that man. Even if it’s just words in an interview.”

Jenny leaned against the counter beside her, and put her arm around her shoulder. “You’ll always be connected to him, if only because of the girls. Focus on the good that came out of that marriage and try to forget the rest. By the way, how did they take the news of the engagement?”

“They were thrilled,” she said, still surprised at their reaction. “It was such a relief. And they both want to stand up with me.”

“Great. If you need me to step down—”

“Not a chance. I couldn’t do it without you as my maid of honor. The girls will be bridesmaids.”

“That’s awesome.” She turned back to the stove. “Can you grab some plates? When should we go shopping for dresses?”

Reaching into the cupboard, Isabel paused. “Let’s wait until after Easter. Once we have the location down, we’ll have a better idea what we’ll want to wear.”

“Makes sense,” Jenny agreed, as she moved the clay pot with the tagine to the table. “Just don’t make me wear emerald green or peach.”

“Agreed,” Isabel laughed. “No green, no peach. In fact, no pastels of any sort.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Tray shifted his chair to make room for Isabel and Jenny. The women had insisted on skiing the back run one last time, while he, Kip and Barry were holding down a table on the patio and halfway through their first pitcher of beer. Val made her way through the bar, fighting her way to the patio. It was one of the last days on the hill - several of the lifts and runs were already closed - and the bar had been packed all day. People danced, shouted out to friends and made new friends with strangers sitting nearby. He loved spring skiing.

“Babe, how was your last run?” He snaked his arm around Isabel’s shoulder. Eyes sparkling, cheeks slightly sunburned, she leaned in for a kiss.

“Excellent. Next year, I’m coming out here every second weekend.”

“Cheers to that,” he said, raising his glass. “Pass me that glass, I’ll pour you a beer.”

She pushed three empty mugs toward him, and he filled them, holding the empty pitcher up and calling out “Another” to the waiter rushing by. The waiter nodded and disappeared through the crowd.

“How did you get this table?” Val, perched on Barry’s knee, took in the crowded patio. Skiers were shoulder-to-shoulder, leaning against the railing, telling tales and lamenting the end of the season.

“Good timing,” said Barry.

“Aye,” Kip agreed. “We walked in just as the others were leaving. We’re still getting the stink-eye from a few people that had their eye on it.”

Jenny laughed. “We’ll blame it on the Scots, shall we? I’m starving; let’s order something. Wings, potato skins?”

“Get a few orders,” Isabel said. “Skiing makes me hungry.” She turned to Kip. “I really haven’t seen you much all day. Welcome back.” She raised her beer to clink his glass, and everyone joined in.

“Pure luck is all,” Kip said. “I have business in Vancouver next week, and I couldn’t resist seeing my Canadian filly.”

“Your Canadian what?” Jenny punched his arm. “We can have you back on a plane before midnight.”

“Ah, girl, I ken ye don’t mean that,” Kip said, emphasizing his brogue and drawing her near. He kissed her and she beamed.

Tray dropped his voice and whispered in Isabel’s ear. “She sure looks happy.”

“They both do.”

Shifting, he tried to signal Barry but Val had his complete attention. Instead, he stood and tried to spot the waiter. He was already on his way back to them, balancing a tray full of pitchers. When he reached them, Tray ordered food and another pitcher.

Isabel played with her phone, scrolling through the screen.

“Looking for something in particular?” He leaned toward her. She shifted back from him and put the phone in her pocket.

“Just checking for texts from the girls. I don’t want them having a big party while they’re home this weekend.”

“Is that a possibility?”

“They’re in college. Parties are always a possibility.” She laughed but quickly put her head down again, lost in thought.

“Hey,” he said, reaching over and lifting her chin so he could look into her face. “Penny for your thoughts.”

She glanced around the room, tapping her fingers against her glass. “I thought I saw Chet earlier.”

“Here?” Tray looked around the room. “Are you sure?”

“No, I saw someone turn away in the hall downstairs and walk away. It just reminded me of him.”

“That would be weird. For him to just turn up, after all this time.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. He hated seeing the tightness around her eyes, the set of her jaw.

“I know, right? Out of sight, out of mind, but ever since that damn interview, I keep thinking I see him. At the grocery store, in the parking lot at work. It’s unnerving.”

He brought her closer. “He can’t hurt you now. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.” Except he wasn’t sure. He looked around the room again. Futile, of course, because he had no idea what the man even looked like. “Has he tried to contact you?”

She shook her head.

“The girls? Have they heard from him? Email or calls?”

“No,” she said. “I’m sure it’s nothing. It’s probably just on my mind because of that stupid TV interview.”

“I know it’s nothing,” he said. “Let’s focus on today. We’re here with our friends, we’ve had a great day skiing, let’s get drunk and eat wings.” He squeezed her tight and her shoulders dropped as she laughed. He kissed her and excused himself.

Striding across the room, he kept a sharp eye on the crowd around him. Why, he couldn’t say, because he hadn’t even seen a picture of her ex-husband. She’d removed all trace of him from her townhouse. If he was a betting man, he’d say she’d photoshopped him out of all the family photos. He’d never considered it until just now, but the photos all seemed unbalanced somehow. In almost every one, there was a tree or other object that seemed out of place.

He took the stairs to the landing, dug out his phone and sent a text to Barry. “Meet me downstairs. Say nothing.” He tucked himself into a corner and waited.

Barry took the stairs two at a time and raised his eyebrows. “What’s up?”

“Let’s go downstairs.” He led the way to the main floor and over to an open space near one of the side windows. “Isabel thinks her husband is stalking her.”

“Is he dangerous?”

“I don’t know. From what little she’s told me, he’s an ass. But I don’t think he was abusive.” He shifted his weight. “It could all be nothing. When she did the TV interview, the host asked about her ex-husband. She just told me that since then, she keeps seeing him. She says he’s probably just on her mind.”

Barry glanced around the room. “You know what he looks like?”

“Not a clue,” Tray said. “But he’s a real estate agent, so we could probably find him online. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before.”

“No reason to,” Barry said. “Look, it’s probably nothing —”

“Except, I keep getting these phone calls.” He dug for his phone again and started scrolling through incoming calls.

“What kind of calls?”

“Twice it was a man asking for me. When I asked who it was, he hung up.”

“When was that?”

“A week or so ago, and one before that … the day of the interview. Isabel had just called to tell me about the interview, and right after we hung up he called for the first time.” Why hadn’t he connected that before? “The number is always blocked. I tried to call back once. Sometimes he doesn’t say anything, just waits a few seconds and hangs up.”

“Anything else?” Barry crossed his arms over his chest, eyes narrowed.

“Like what?”

“Like anything out of the ordinary.”

Tray thought back over the last few weeks. “Nothing comes to mind. I might be overreacting.”

“How so?”

He rubbed his forehead. “Isabel said she
thinks
she’s seen him a couple of times. Once earlier today and several times near her office, for example. Also at the grocery store.”

“You want me to check it out? See what I can find?” Barry shuffled his feet. “I can’t look into his police report from here, but I can find out quite a bit just by doing some digging online.”

“From what she’s told me, he’s not dangerous. He cheated on her and he’s definitely an ass, but ….”

“Still,” Barry said, “it won’t hurt to be sure. When I get back to the hotel, I’ll see what I can find. It’s Chet, right? You know which real estate company he works for?”

Tray shook his head. “No. Same last name though, she kept her married name.”

“I’ll look into it,” he said. “Keep your eyes open but try not to worry. Let’s go celebrate your engagement.”

“Thanks, man,” Tray said.

“We won’t let anything happen to your lady,” Barry said. “If he’s around, we’ll suss him out.”

Tray nodded and they headed back up the stairs.

CHAPTER NINE

Isabel threw her jacket on a chair and collapsed onto the bed. Tray did the same, snuggling in beside her. “That was a blast, but I’m exhausted.”

“All the fresh air,” he said. “Our bodies aren’t used to it after winter.”