Undercover Pursuit (17 page)

S
omeone should probably wake her up, because this kind of dreaming could get her into trouble. Too many hopes wrapped up in seeing herself standing at the top of the aisle, Luke resplendent in his tuxedo as he stood at the altar. And next to him, his well-attired pals from Stryker International, the ones who had swooped in for the rescue in Cancun. Scarlett recognized, even in her sleep, Chet, with his dark, short-cropped hair. His beautiful wife, Mae, with her red mane tied back, was sitting on the groom's side, her hands on her rounded belly. Beside Chet stood his pal Vicktor, his angular Russian features a contrast to his pretty blonde wife, Gracie, who rocked their little boy, now almost a year old. Brody, tall and stern, had his gaze on his extravagant—and famous—wife, Ronie, who had just released another blues album, now climbing the charts. The pop-turned-blues star was sitting beside Gracie, and cooing at little VJ—Vicktor Junior, as she called him.

On the bride's side sat Duncan, his arm across the pew, smiling at Bridgett, standing at the end of the aisle, grinning up at the bride.

At Scarlett.

She loved this moment in the dream when she might
convince herself it was real. When the sultry fragrance of the tropical breeze wove into the cabana, lifting her veil. When the music stirred the audience to turn, to look at her. When her bare feet tunneled into the soft, cool sand. When Luke looked up at her, nothing of the fear she'd remembered in his eyes.

Calm. Sure. Trusting. He had amazing eyes—she always remembered them, the kind that could find her fears, pull out a smile.

Make her trust him back.

No, she didn't want to wake up. Because waking up meant more phone calls, emails and the ache of knowing he lived on the other side of the world. The ache of having given him her heart so he could take it with him to Prague. Into his sometimes clandestine life.

Into the fear of not knowing where he might be. If he might be hurt. Or worse.

“I hate you doing this without me,” she'd said on the phone. And in her dream. “I hate you leaving, and me not having a clue where you are.”

“I know. This isn't forever. Like I said, this isn't a part-time gig for me.”

But it felt like forever. Six months of online dating? And meanwhile, she'd returned to her temporary life. Only, well, it wasn't so temporary anymore, was it? Not with her quitting her temp jobs and hiring on full-time at the animal shelter. Okay, yes, she also worked one day a week at the bookstore, but that was only for the free books.

Which she had better start reading soon. Her to-be-read pile towered beside her bed, a casualty of her late-night chats with Luke.

From wherever he checked in from around the world.

Having adventures without her.

She saw herself again at the top of the aisle, the music swelling around her.

“Scarlett?”

She felt the heat of breath on her face, the scratch against her cheek. Put her hand up even as she saw him in her dream, a slow grin sliding up his face.

“Scarlett, it's time to wake up.”

No. Please. “No.”

She rolled over, trying to recapture the dream. To recapture herself walking down the aisle, into his arms. Into his life.

“Honey, really. We have to go.”

Go… She drew in a quick breath. Opened her eyes.

Luke sat beside her, brushing her hair from her face. “Sorry to wake you, but the honeymoon is over. We have to catch a flight back to Prague in three hours.”

Honeymoon.

She caught his hand on her face. “It wasn't a dream.”

“Huh?” He appeared bronzed by the sun, his eyes shining, his burnished brown hair tousled by sleep. “What wasn't a dream?”

“The wedding. Our life together. We really did get married.”

He ran his thumb over his lips. “Yes, we did. But as for the dream?” He stretched out beside her, touching his lips to hers. “I think it is just the beginning.”

Dear Reader,

The first time I went to Isla Mujeres, I knew I had to write a book set there. If you're looking for a quaint and quiet place to vacation, this is a fun spot off the coast of Cancun. Just don't go when Luke and Scarlett are there! I was captured with the idea of the wrong bridesmaid at a destination wedding—and what would happen if she found herself in her own “action-adventure” novel. I also loved the idea of what Luke might do—caught between needing her help and wanting to keep her safe. I couldn't escape the idea that, indeed, she might save him, too. A great relationship is about trust. We can't live our lives in fear that we will be betrayed. Doesn't it feel good when someone we love comes through for us? Here's hoping you have people you trust in your life.

Susan May Warren

1. Scarlett is asked to fill in last minute at her sister's wedding. How many weddings have you been in, and what is your worst/best memory?
   
2. Have you ever been set up, either at a wedding or otherwise? Describe your experience.
   
3. The wedding is a destination wedding in Mexico. Have you ever been to a foreign wedding? Was it frightening or did you feel safe?
   
4. Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?
   
5. Scarlett regrets saying no to helping Lucia. Why? Have you ever wanted to do something out of the ordinary, even dangerous?
   
6. Luke doesn't want to involve Scarlett, but he has to because of Lucia's safety. Have you ever had to ask someone to do something difficult, something you didn't want them to do?
   
7. Lucia really loves Benito, but she planned to betray him. Have you ever had to betray someone you loved for a greater good? What would you have done in Lucia's place?
   
8. Scarlett is accused of something she didn't do, in order to get her away from the Sanchez family. Although it is for her good, it still hurts her. Have
   you ever been accused of something you didn't do? Did you defend yourself?
   
9. Scarlett discovers that, indeed, Duncan did love her. Have you ever discovered, after the fact, that someone cared for you but didn't ever tell you? Have you ever loved someone but never told them? Do you regret it?
   
10. Luke has a dark secret that keeps him from trusting anyone. What is it? What happens that allows him to trust again? Do you have any mistakes in your past that you find difficult to move forward from? Have you succeeded?
    
11. What does Scarlett realize about her role in her wedding? Have you held back from celebrating with someone you love because of personal frustrations?
    
12. Bridgett and Scarlett struggled in their different roles in the family. Do you have a sibling, maybe one who has succeeded in an area where you might have struggled? Do you feel as though you live in the shadows of your siblings? Or are you the “famous” one? How does that feel?