Page 34 of Champagne & Handcuffs

I smiled and bit my lip. “Well, in that case, give me your phone.” He did, and I dialed my number from his. “There. I have yours too.”

“Perfect. Put my name as Murderer, and I’ll put yours as Woman I Need to Murder.”

“It’s totally a match made in heaven.”

“Maybe,” Dan agreed.

“I knew you two would hit it off,” Hannah stated as she slid from her seat.

“Because we’re dentists?” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah.” She shrugged.

“Did you know dentists have the highest suicide rate?” I asked, trying to point out that two dentists were probably not the perfect match.

“Really?” she asked.

“They did at one point. I don’t know if it’s still true these days.”

“Wait,” Dan said and placed his hand on my arm. “You’re not planning on killing yourself, are you?”

I looked back at him. “Why would I do that when I have you to kill me?” I asked, and showed him that I had, in fact, put him down as Dan the Murderer.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hannah looking from Dan to me and back.

“This is true.”

“Okay, you two are officially perfect for each other.”

“I know,” Dan stated. “We have plans.”

I laughed. “Yeah. He’s going to kill me when we’re married so he can take my millions.”

“Oh—kay.” Hannah bobbed her blonde head slowly as though she was confused. “I don’t want to get murdered, so I think it’s best we go.”

I slid off my stool. “Apparently, she struck out tonight, so we have to go. She’s my ride.”

Dan smiled again, and I knew I’d be thinking about it for many days to come. “That’s fine. My calendar is booked with multiple root canals tomorrow. I should head home.”

“Great. Now I’m going to have to hear you two talk dental when we all hang out.”

“Seems like we all like to jump the gun.” I shook my head with a smile.

“I’ll call you.” Dan leaned over and kissed my cheek.

“Okay.”

And then he was gone.

“So?” Hannah prompted as we walked out the front doors a few minutes later, giving Dan enough time to get to his car so it wasn’t awkward. Though the whole exchange was on the verge of awkward, but on the good side of things.

“So. I think this just became my lucky dress.”

The momentI made it into the office the next morning, my cell rang. A part of me thought it would be Dan, but the number said it was coming from Las Vegas. I didn’t answer. It was probably a sales call or something. I booted up my computer to bring up my schedule for the day and then my phone dinged with a voicemail message. I pushed the button and listened.

“Hey, Cat, it’s Joss. I know you haven’t heard from me in a few months. I’ve actually been in Vegas working on an undercover case. Anyway, I was calling because I have some news.” She paused. “I’m getting married!” Another pause, and I realized my mouth was hanging open. “I want you here, Cat. I know it’s Thursday morning, and I wish I had given you more notice, but I’m getting married on Saturday. I’ll pay for your ticket or whatever it takes to get you here. Please come. Call me, text me, whatever. I miss you.”

The message stopped, but I couldn’t move a muscle. Joss was getting married, and she wanted me there. Hell, she was getting married in less than three days. I thought about it for what felt like hours until my assistant, Kelly, knocked on my door to let me know my first patient was there. Even though I hadn’t seen Joss in forever, for her to reach out to me was huge.