“Definitely. He’s trouble.”
“That he is. Speaking of trouble, guess we’re about to find out how much when we try to get him into the back of your patrol car. Give me your stun gun.”
Turned out with the stun gun pointed at him and my threat to use it, Jansen was as manageable as a puppy.
7
~ Jenny ~
“We should have goneto Asheville,” Autumn said, shaking her head at the sundress I held up.
“You’re being too picky. I’m going to start calling you Bridezilla.” We’d made the two-hour drive to Knoxville because Autumn had gotten it in her head that she’d find exactly what she needed in Tennessee. The shop we were in had some adorable women’s clothing, but apparently Autumn didn’t think so. Shopping wasn’t my favorite thing in the world to do, but she was my bestie, so sacrifices were called for.
She stuck her tongue out at me. “You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m just getting started on my bride bitch.”
“Heaven help me then.” I held up another dress. She wrinkled her nose. “Jeez, Autumn. You’ll be on your honeymoon. You probably won’t have any clothes on half the time.” I grinned when she giggled. “Besides, you’re going to Hawaii. All you really need are bathing suits.”
“I just want everything to be perfect, and that includes my clothes.”
“And it will be. You wouldn’t allow it to be any other way.” Her interior designer eye extended to her wardrobe. I often wished I could put outfits together the way she did. Give her a plain, shapeless dress, a scarf or two, a funky belt, a few accessories, and she’d turn them into something that looked right out of a fashion magazine.
“Am I really turning into a Bridezilla? I’m trying not to.”
A little. “No, you’re being entirely sane about your wedding and honeymoon.”
She elbowed my arm. “Liar.”
“Let’s wrap this up for the day. We’ll get back to the valley just in time for dinner.” Truthfully, what I wanted to do was warn her again about Brian’s roving eye, but I kept my mouth shut. I’d tried to tell her a few times, but she didn’t want to hear it.
“Jenn?”
“Mmm?”
“I’m so glad we’re friends.”
“Me, too.” I hugged her. “Now, let’s go feed me. I’ve worked up an appetite helping you spend money.”
Natalie and Savannah should be here. Like most teenaged girls, the four of us had spent hours planning our weddings, describing our wedding gowns, and dreaming of the exotic locales we’d go on our honeymoons. At one point we’d pinkie swore that no matter where we might be in the world, we’d come back when one of us was getting married.
When Autumn got engaged, Savannah had said she’d arrange her schedule to be here three weeks before the wedding, so she could spend that time with Autumn and me, doing things like helping Autumn shop. Now she was flying in the day of the rehearsal and leaving the morning after the wedding. As for Natalie, she would never come home again.
“Why are you so quiet?” Autumn asked as we drove back to Blue Ridge Valley.
“You wore me out, I’m hungry, and my feet hurt.” I didn’t tell her that Natalie and Savannah were on my mind. The time leading up to her wedding was supposed to be happy and fun, and I didn’t want her to be sad, too.
We ended the day by having dinner at Fusions, the second-best restaurant in the valley, Vincennes being the best. But the last thing I wanted to do was hang out where I worked. We’d finished eating and had relocated to the restaurant’s lounge a few minutes before Brian joined us for a drink, after which he’d take Autumn home.
“Hey, babe,” he said, giving Autumn a kiss. “Jenn, how’re they hanging?”
“Same as always.” Brian claimed I had balls. He’d come to that conclusion not long after I met him when I’d threatened his if he ever made my friend cry. So far, he still had his balls, but if he kept staring at my butt whenever he thought no one was paying attention, he wasn’t going to have them for long.
We’d just ordered our drinks when Dylan Conrad walked into the lounge. He paused in the entryway, his gaze scanning the room. The man was so freaking hot. At seeing me, he smiled, making my heart thump in my chest.
“Mind if I join you?” he said, coming to a stop behind the empty chair at our table for four. “Unless you’re expecting someone.”
That was said to me. “Nope. Have a seat, Chief.” I had a sudden fantasy of playing cop and criminal with him, me being the bad guy and him having to frisk me. I hoped my cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. He sat next to me, and I caught a whiff of man and something spicy. I also hoped I didn’t start drooling.
His eyes danced with amusement. “Introduce me to your friends, Red.”
