this.” He pulled a business card from his pocket and pressed it into her hand. “Call me anytime. I’ll come running.”
“What, running and not riding up on a white steed? Where’s your festival spirit?”
“The steed can be arranged.”
“It sounds incredibly tempting,” she admitted, “but we‘re only here until tomorrow afternoon, and the wedding activities will take most of our time.” She slipped the card in her pocket without looking at it.
“If I can help with anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“I won’t.” Nor could she imagine a situation in which she’d need the services of a cowboy. Well, there was one, but that involved the romantic entanglement that she had zero time for. She started to gather the trash.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said. “Go enjoy the festival, but don’t lose that card.” He stood and then in a suavely, smooth move touched his lips to hers.
Heat shot through her in waves, and it was all she could do not to melt into his arms. Fortunately, his lips didn’t remain on hers long enough to give her the chance. She walked away while she still could, much too aware of the card and phone number that lay buried in the pocket of her new designer jeans.
Once she’d put a few yards between them, she glanced back and found Marcus still standing in the exact same spot as she’d left him. Their eyes locked, and he smiled and tipped his hat. Her heart flipped in response.
“Dani!”
The squeal jolted her out of her momentary sensual relapse. To her rear might be a gorgeous cowboy, but in front of her was Bethany Sue. Not the same Bethany Sue she remembered, however.
The pudgy ally she’d known for years was absolutely svelte now. And radiant. She positively glowed.
The two collided in a genuine hug. “You look great,” Dani said when they separated from each other and stepped back.
“Thanks.” Bethany Sue did a catwalk turn for her to get the full effect. “I owe it all to Arnie. He persuaded me to quit smoking, start working out and to eat healthy.”
Dani was sure she owed part of the new her to a plastic surgeon, but she let that ride. More power to her for taking control of her body and her life.
“I can’t wait to meet the lucky groom.”
“You’ll love him. He’s a body builder and personal trainer. A real hunk! But not all muscle. He’s got brains, too.”
“He sounds fascinating.”
“He is. And he’s dying to meet you. I’ve told him all about you, my friend. The winner of the state math competition and karaoke queen.”
“Oh, God, that was so long ago. Can we just go with mother and buyer for Duran Muton?”
“You look far more like a model than a buyer. But speaking of motherhood, where is Celeste? She did come, didn’t she?”
“She and a friend. They’re over there, absorbed in a juggling act.” Dani nodded toward the crowd seated on concrete benches shaded by a web of net and intertwined branches.
“Great. I’ll catch up with both of you at the dinner tonight. I’m rushing off right now to reconfirm the setup for the tables and to make sure they have plenty of champagne . Everything will be outdoors.”
“Perfect weather for that. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, just enjoy yourself, unless…” She hesitated.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with the guy you wanted me to meet, does it?”
“No,” Bethany assured her. “But you’ll probably be begging me to fix you up once you see him.”
“Don’t count on it. So, how can I help?”
“Arnie’s sister is supposed to sing at the ceremony, but she woke up this morning with a terrible headache and a fever. She thinks she may be coming down with the flu.”
The one thing worse than a blind date. “I haven’t sung in front of an audience in years.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No, and it’s not that shocking, Bethany. I was never that good.”
“Yes, you were. If there had been an American Idol back then, you’d have won in a landslide.” Bethany glanced at her watch. “I have to go, but consider singing for me at the ceremony, please. It’s just two songs. We’ll talk more tonight. Gotta run.” She gave Dani a parting hug.
“I’m seriously out of practice,” Dani called after her.
Bethany either didn’t hear or chose to ignore her. Dani imagined it was the latter. She’d protest again tonight, but it would be a wasted effort. Bethany was not one to take no for a final answer, and it would be pretty crummy to refuse a bride in distress.
The good thing was that other than Celeste and Katie, she would neither know the guests nor have to face them again after she murdered the music.
Murdered. Even thinking the word gave her chills after this morning’s hallucinations. They’d been so intense that Dani had actually felt the thrust of the blade as it punctured the walls of the chest and sliced into the victim’s heart—as if it were happening to her.
In broad daylight. Eyes wide open, at least they had been until she’d passed out.
“You should have seen the jugglers, Mom. They were funny and really good.”
Startled, Dani jumped and then spun around to face the girls.
“Are you okay?” Katie asked. “You look kind of pale.”
“Eeks, you do,” Celeste agreed. “You’re not going to faint again, are you?”
“I’m not pale. I just haven’t gotten enough sun lately. Today’s the day for it.”
“Where’d the cute cowboy go?” Katie asked.
“Who needs a cute cowboy when I have you two? Now tell me about the jugglers.” She forced the disturbing memories to the back of her mind. She had to get a hold of her emotions and regain her stability before she turned this whole weekend into a fiasco.
“The jugglers were really cool,” Katie said, thankfully changing the topic of conversation. “They even juggled fiery batons.”
“And they threw a knife and chopped the end off a carrot a woman was holding in her mouth.” Celeste used her hand to show how close the knife had come to the woman’s nose. “I never would have trusted them to try that with me.”
“Good for you,” Dani said. “Any ideas what we should do next, or should we just walk and take in the sights?”
“A boy sitting next to us said we should be sure and go to the jousting exhibition,” Katie said.
