Page 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

Meredith led their caravan to the church at seven Saturday morning. There were so many plants in her 4Runner, it was like driving a mobile greenhouse up the mountain.

Gray followed her in his Explorer. He had all the bridal party flowers. Lydia’s bouquet was much like the young woman herself. Classic and mostly traditional, but with unique touches that set them apart. Her flowers were white, nestled in lush greenery, with one rose so red it leaned toward black. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were similar to the bride’s but on a smaller scale. The boutonnieres were all the deepest red, and they were going to pop against the gray tuxes.

Everything was tucked into boxes designed to protect it from being squished in transit, but today, the need for the boxes was even more crucial.

Meredith’s windshield wipers whipped back and forth. The rain hadn’t stopped for four days. Papa said if it didn’t quit soon, the Appalachians might float off somewhere new.

Lydia had made the tough call to cancel her river reception. The wedding guests would be invited to the church’s fellowship hall for a smaller gathering, and then the bride and groom would hit the road.

Meredith had worked nonstop to make a few arrangements that would spruce up the fellowship hall. Thankfully, she’d been inside it enough that she didn’t need to make a trip to Neeson.

A landslide had blocked a road in Gossamer County last night. Gray should have been handling the scene, but when she hesitantly suggested that Mo come with her instead of him, he refused to consider it. “I have faith in my men, Meredith. They can handle the town for a few hours.”

“But you’re exhausted and cold.”

“It’s nothing coffee and a shower can’t fix.”

He’d been outside most of the night, wearing one of those head-to-toe rain slickers, boots, and a huge hat. It had helped him stay dry but hadn’t helped him stay warm. The temperature had insisted on hanging out in the upper thirties all week, making for miserable outdoor conditions.

But there’d been no point in arguing. The only redeeming factor about this wedding was that it was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. The ceremony would be over by 11:30, and when it was over and the pictures had been taken, she and Gray would pack up all the live greenery from the church and hightail it back to Gossamer Falls.

The new reception plan would be a simple affair with cake and punch only. The bride and groom planned to spend their wedding night in Asheville, then fly to Jamaica for their honeymoon. With everyone crammed into the small space, Meredith had no qualms whatsoever about leaving early.

Meredith’s tires hit standing water and lost traction for a moment. She gripped the steering wheel tighter and focused on the road. Ten more minutes to the church and then she could trade her “driving in the rain” anxiety for the fancier “hope I don’t get kidnapped at the wedding” anxiety.

Mo had been in her living room when she woke up, sipping his expensive coffee and pecking away at his computer. He’d made her breakfast and hugged her hard before she left.

Her dad had called and prayed for her over the phone, then he told her he loved her and he’d see her and Gray for supper that night.

Her mom had joined in on the conversation and there’d been no hint of fear in her voice when she said, “I’m so proud of you, Merry-girl.”

Meredith had to go fix her makeup after that.

Landry let it slip that Cal and Mo intended to drive toward the county line so they could react faster should there be a need.

And Cassie let it slip that the patrol route for today had been modified and included a heavy Gossamer Falls police presence in the area bordering Neeson County.

Of course, that had been before the mudslide.

But still. Gray was with her.

The church was one of the first buildings you came to as you drove into Neeson from Gossamer Falls, and Meredith unclenched her jaw when she saw it. She parked as close as she could to the side door, and before she could gather her phone and keys, Gray was at her door, huge umbrella overhead, ready to assist.

They didn’t talk as they raced to the door and found it, as promised, unlocked. “You stay right here where I can see you,” Gray shouted above the rain. “I’ll unload the cars.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she shouted back. “I can—”

“Meredith!”

“What?”

He kissed her. Hard. Fast. Then said, “Please let me do this.”

She stood to the side while he went out into the storm.

“This could be a problem,” she said out loud. She’d been prepared to stand her ground, and that kiss had short-circuited her arguments.

When he brought in the first load of flowers, she stepped closer to him. “Just so you know, you can’t get your way by kissing me.”

He put one hand on her chin and pressed his lips to hers again. This kiss was slow and a little bit teasing. “You sure about that?” He winked and went back outside.

“Is it hot in here? It can’t be hot in here.” She spoke aloud again. Great. Not only did she have a spine that was about as stiff as cake batter, but now she was asking herself questions and answering them ... out loud.

This time, when he came back in, she stayed several steps back and waited for him to set his burdens down.

“Why are you standing way back there?” Gray’s expression was entirely too smug for his health. “Scared?”

“No.”

He laughed so hard she could hear him over the rain.

He would be insufferable now. And if he clued in to how his kisses made her dizzy? She’d never hear the end of it.

She waited until he put everything down and then she made her move. She grabbed the sides of his rain slicker and leaned into him. She claimed a kiss of her own and was gratified when he made no move to take over. In fact, when she finally turned him loose, he seemed to be a bit unsteady as he returned for another trip to the car.

And it hit her. It was okay if his kisses left her confused and discombobulated because hers did the same to him. They were on even ground.

And it was fun.

And helped settle her nerves.

She had a goofy grin on her face as she organized the flowers Gray brought inside. After he made his final trip, he parked both of their vehicles and stripped off his rain slicker at the door before coming all the way in.

He’d brought his own change of clothes, as well as hers. They’d talked about it last night and each packed a dry set of clothes that they could change into so they wouldn’t have to work while soaking wet. Then they’d change into their finery for the wedding itself.

He insisted on checking the bathroom to be sure it was empty before she went inside to change, then waited in the small sitting area around the corner. They switched places so he could change, and then they went to work.

Gray quickly caught her vision for the space and turned out to have an excellent eye for where the arrangements would work best. “You’re a much better helper than Mo or Cal,” she told him.

He brushed imaginary lint from his shoulders. “I’m a man of many talents.”

With his help, everything was arranged in record time. “I may have to hire you for future events.”

He took a photo of the space and said, “As long as I can hang out with you, I’ll do anything you want.”

“What I want for today is to go back to your place, put on our comfiest clothes, get a fire roaring in your fireplace, curl up in that ginormous chair you have, and take a nap.”

“You really are the perfect woman.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the bridal party. And from that moment on, chaos reigned.

An hour before the ceremony, Gray stood with Meredith at the back of the sanctuary and watched as a frantic bridesmaid ran down the center aisle and disappeared through the doors to the right of the platform, only to emerge thirty seconds later through the doors at the left of the platform holding a hair dryer like she’d been in a shootout. She ran back down the center aisle, and when she reached the doors to the foyer, she called out, “I got it.”

Beside him Meredith sniggered, then leaned close to whisper, “There are no words for me to express to you how relieved I am that I only agreed to coordinate the flowers.”

“Why is everything so disorganized?” Gray hadn’t been to many weddings, but Cal and Landry’s wedding hadn’t been like this.

Meredith lifted her hands up. “Who knows? They’re young and they’re winging it. I’m not sure if anyone is in charge.”

“This scenario makes a strong case for elopement.” Gray hadn’t given much thought to having a wedding of his own until quite recently. But was this level of drama worth it?

Meredith cleared her throat. “Connor and Carla did that over twenty years ago, and Aunt Carol still gets a pained look on her face anytime it comes up. I might be jumping the gun here, but if you have any thoughts of marrying into the Quinn family, you should know that elopements are frowned upon.”

Gray turned so he was facing Meredith. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t have thoughts about marrying into the Quinn family. I have detailed plans. Step one was getting you to go out with me. Step two was getting you to kiss me.”

“You’re two for two.” There was a husky quality to her voice that Gray couldn’t dwell on. “What’s step three?”

“Winning over the family.”

“Three for three.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do. Papa stopped by on Monday to pick up Aunt Minnie to take her to one of the boys’ basketball games. He said, ‘You’ve got a good one, Meredith. I like him.’ Coming from Papa? That’s high praise.”

“What about your dad?”

“He’s always going to be protective. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t approve.”

“Mo?”

Before Meredith could answer, Gray’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me.” He accepted the call. “Ward.”

“Chief, we got the road cleared, but Glenda got three calls within five minutes of each other. All three are up near the Neeson County line. All three called to report a loud noise. One said it sounded like an explosion. One said it sounded like a sonic boom from a military aircraft. And one said he thought it was another landslide. Given what we just saw, my vote is door number three.”

“I agree.”

“Want me to check it out?”

“Not alone.”

“Brick can come with. Glenda is staying at the office to field any calls.”

“She doesn’t typically work on Saturday. Why is she staying?”

Donovan’s voice dropped in volume. “I got the feeling she didn’t want to discuss it, but she broke up with that guy she’s been seeing in Boone.”

Gray bumped his head on the wall. “She only dated him for a few months.”

“I guess she thought it was serious.”

“And he didn’t.”

“Not serious enough. Cassie says he cheated on her.”

All Gray’s protective instincts kicked in. His men would be feeling the same way. “Make sure it’s clear that no one is to take matters into their own hands.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, you and Brick check it out. Let me know. The ceremony starts in forty-five minutes. Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency.”

“Got it.”

Gray slid the phone into his pocket. “You heard all that?”

Meredith nodded. “I feel bad for Glenda, but she needs to make better choices. I wish she and Brick would get together.”

Gray shook his head. “No. Nope. Bad idea. Office romances are complicated at best, and nuclear-level explosive at worst. Maybe we can find her someone local.”

“Yeah, like Brick.”

“I like Brick.” Gray tried to picture the officer with the young woman who kept them all organized and was surprised when the image worked. “Huh.”

“Told you.” Meredith was smug. “I have matchmaking skills. I know things.”

“If they didn’t work together, I’d be all for it. As it is? Please, no.”

Meredith laughed as she walked away from him to change. Lydia had invited her to join her and her bridesmaids in the room they’d converted into their dressing chamber. He didn’t like having Meredith out of sight, but she should be safe with the bride.

He changed his own clothes in record time and returned to his self-appointed station outside the bridal area. Ten minutes later, Meredith put him out of his misery.

She breezed out of the room in a navy dress. The long-sleeved top was some kind of squishy material. Velvet maybe? And it fit tight to her body from the neck to her waist. The skirt material was something shimmery and hit her at mid-calf. On her feet were two barely-there high heels that matched the color of her skin. She was glorious. “I know you can’t help it, but it’s bad form to upstage the bride.” He brushed a lock of hair from her shoulder.

Meredith’s smile was warm and inviting. “Trust me. No one can upstage her. Not today. She’s radiant.”

“You like her.”

“I do. I want her to make it. She and the groom have a tough road ahead. They know they need to break some generational curses, and I believe they can do it.”

Thirty minutes later, as Gray sat beside Meredith and watched the couple marry, he hoped she was right.

He also hoped that whatever was happening that had someone blowing up his phone wouldn’t mar the beauty of this day.