Page 2

Six months later

U nable to stop smiling, Celia stood beside her sister Anne. On Anne’s other side was Noah, and beside Noah was Hiram, his best man. Hiram owned The Trailhead, which was closed for the day to host Anne and Noah’s wedding.

Instead of a traditional wedding dress, Anne wore a white suit and a red silk blouse. When Celia’d asked her why red, Anne had grinned. “You really don’t want to know,” she murmured.

Seeing the sexy half-smile on Anne’s face, Celia agreed -- she really didn’t want Anne to explain the red blouse to her. But she had a few ideas.

Noah’s former employer, Mel Melbourne, stood in front of them, looking from Noah to Anne. Back to Noah. “You both ready for this?” Mel murmured.

“Past ready,” Noah said, and Celia saw him tighten his grip on her sister’s hand. “Let’s get this party going.”

Smiling, Mel rubbed her hand over her hugely pregnant belly. She’d done that several times, and Celia wondered if she was in labor. All the more reason to get the ceremony started. Although Celia had overheard Mel tell Anne that she’d get through the ceremony, even if she went into labor.

Watching Mel now, wincing slightly, Celia hoped Mel and Dev’s first child wasn’t born at The Trailhead during the wedding. Although it would be a hell of a story for Mel and Dev and the kid.

After Anne and Noah repeated the vows they’d written, Mel said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Noah, you may kiss your bride.”

Celia’s new brother-in-law drew Anne into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers. Their kiss was clearly a promise, a vow and a celebration of being joined together. When they finally broke apart, Mel smiled and said, “Time to celebrate!”

Their friends erupted in a roar of approval, and Celia smiled widely. She was thrilled for her sister and happy for Noah. Anne’s smile radiated complete happiness as she wrapped an arm around Noah’s waist and leaned against him. Noah dropped a kiss on Anne’s head as he drew her closer.

Celia’s smile fell away. Anne and Noah’s happiness reminded Celia of how close she’d come to not being here. How close she’d come to dying and being buried in a shallow grave in the desert.

Since that night, she’d tried to embrace life. To celebrate her narrow escape from death every single day. And seeing Anne and Noah so happy, now married, thrilled her. But it also made her feel lost. She and Anne weren’t a team anymore. Anne and Noah were a team, and she was the third wheel.

When Anne twined her hand with Noah’s, Celia swallowed. She was so happy for Anne. So thrilled that she’d found the love of her life. But a dark part of her was a little sad. It wasn’t her and Anne against the world anymore. Now it was Anne and Noah.

Which made her think of Nick Doyle. The son of her former employer. The son of the man who’d sent her off to be killed. The man who’d done nothing to stop her execution.

She’d had a stupid crush on Nick from the first day she worked for Bobby Doyle. A crush that couldn’t amount to anything more than a fantasy. Bobby thought she was dead. Nick would’ve been told that she’d died, too. His father would have made sure of it. And if Bobby Doyle found out Celia was alive, they’d come after Celia, then go after Anne. That was the rule Bobby lived by, she’d found out. If you kill someone, you kill everyone in their family. Send a message.

As Noah and Anne moved away to talk to their guests, Celia headed for the kitchen. Instead of daydreaming about Nick and something she could never have, she needed to get to work. Put out the food. Serve it with a smile and words of welcome to all these friends of Anne and Noah.

She’d moon about Nick in private until she could dislodge him from the real estate he’d claimed in her head.

Before they walked away, Noah edged closer to Celia. “Did I thank you for fixing all the food for our wedding?” he asked.

Celia resisted rolling her eyes. “Many times, Noah. Trust me.”

“Can you give me a signal when I can grab some of it? Anne hasn’t eaten anything today.”

“Will do.” Celia leaned around him to grab Anne’s hand. “You want something to eat now? Before you talk to everyone and their best friend?”

“I’m fine, Cece,” Anne said. She pressed a fist to her stomach. “Didn’t eat breakfast because I was so nervous.”

Celia rolled her eyes. “And what was your husband-to-be doing when you weren’t eating anything?”

Anne laughed. “Taking deep breaths -- the same thing I was doing. He was just as nervous as I was. Maybe more.”

Celia turned to Noah. Gave him the stink-eye. “Way to look out for my sister, Noah.”

Noah smiled. “You know damn well I’d do anything for Anne.” He nudged Celia’s shoulder. “And you, too,” he said. “I love that you’re my sister now.”

Celia’s heart melted. “Same goes, SEAL man. Same goes.”

As Celia hurried toward the kitchen, a cool breeze washed over her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the front door opening. She frowned. Pretty much everyone in Helena knew The Trailhead was closed today. So who was trying to get in? Must be someone who’d stepped outside for a smoke.

By the time Celia had the food set up on the bar, Anne and Noah had made the rounds and talked to all the guests. Noah tugged Anne toward an empty table in the corner of the room. He pressed a kiss on her mouth, then headed for Celia and the food.

“Hiram’s going to start pouring Champagne pretty soon, and I don’t want Anne to drink any before she eats,” he said to Celia. “Can you give me a plate for her?”

Celia narrowed her eyes at him. “Listen to you. Already in bossy husband mode.”

Noah grinned. “Nope. Just want her to eat something so she doesn’t pass out before we make it to the bedroom.”

Celia rolled her eyes at him. “That wasn’t self-serving at all, Noah.”

Noah winked at her, unintimidated by her growled words. “It damn well was. But you know how Anne gets the hangrys. It saves everyone if we get her some food ASAP.”

“You’re right about that,” Celia said. She grabbed a plate and put all of Anne’s favorites on it. “Here you go, Noah.”

Before he could take the plate, Anne came up behind him and wrapped an arm around his waist. “You gonna get me a glass of wine, husband?”

“Absolutely, wife,” he said. “What do you want?”

Anne grinned. “How could I drink anything but the Costco red wine?” she said. “Hiram would be very disappointed if I asked for something else.”

“This is our wedding,” Noah said. “You should have a glass of Champagne.”

Anne ran her hand down his arm and pressed her lips to his palm. “I got to know you over that red wine,” she said. “Can’t imagine drinking anything else on the day we got married.”

Noah smiled at Anne, his eyes suspiciously wet. “Guess that means I’ll have to have a Guiness.”

Anne’s eyes filled, as well. “Guess you will.”

Celia’s heart melted. She hoped she had a husband some day she loved as much as Anne loved Noah.

Nick Doyle’s face sprang into her head again, and she immediately banished it. Nick Doyle was d efinitely not that man. Nick thought she was dead, and he had to keep thinking that.

Celia looked behind her sister and Noah and spotted Mel and Dev heading toward them. Mel walked slowly, and Dev held her hand. Mel embraced both Anne and Noah, then she took Noah’s hands.

“There’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” she said. “Can we talk after you get back from your honeymoon?”

Noah smiled. “Sure. I’ll give you a call and we’ll set something up.”

“Sounds good,” Mel said, rubbing her hand over her belly. She reached out and hugged first Noah, then Anne. “You both deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“Thanks, Mel,” Noah said. He nodded at her belly. “Can’t wait to meet the newest member of the Blackhawk Security family.”

“Won’t be long,” Dev said, wrapping his arm around Mel.

Mel leaned against him and put a hand on her belly. “You’re right. It’ll be sooner than you think. We need to get going,” she said to her husband.”

He looked down at her, panic in his eyes. “Really? Right now?”

“Yeah, babe. Right now.”

Dev paled, then straightened his shoulders. “Okay, baby mama. Let’s boogie.”

Mel and Dev walked slowly toward the door, then disappeared as it closed behind them.

Anne watched them slip out the door, then she turned to Noah. “Was she in labor ?”

“Sounds like it.” He curled his arm around Anne’s shoulders. “Nice of her to wait until the ceremony was over before she gave birth.”

“God, yes,” Anne said.

Celia went back to dinner prep, setting out plates and silverware that The Trailhead servers had prepared the day before. When Celia announced that dinner was ready, all the guests lined up.

Anne and Noah stood near Celia, watching their guests. After a moment, Celia nudged Anne, then Noah. “Look at Hiram,” she whispered. “He’s talking to Mary Webster from the homeless shelter.”

Both of them turned to stare at Hiram, who was smiling at Mary. Noah sighed. “Good. I want Hiram to be as happy as I am.”

“Don’t say a word to him,” Anne said, grabbing his hand. “No teasing! Let him handle things on his own schedule.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Noah said, swiping his hand down her arm and twining their fingers. “I know how it works. He didn’t needle me about you, so I’m not gonna tease him about Mary.”

“Thank goodness,” Anne said, nibbling at the maple-glazed salmon.

But as Celia refilled the food pans and smiled at their guests, Nick Doyle’s face stubbornly remained in her head. Then, as if she’d conjured Nick with her thoughts, the front door of The Trailhead opened and Nick walked in.

Dressed in dark jeans and a light blue dress shirt, he frowned as he looked around the room. Her heart thundering in her chest, her breath tight in her throat, Celia turned away from Nick and fussed with the pans, stacking the empty ones so she could carry them into the kitchen. She didn’t think Nick had spotted her, but she wasn’t taking any chances. What the hell was Nick doing here? How had he known where she was? Had someone told him? If so, she had to leave. Right now.

She glanced behind her and saw Nick square his shoulders. Head toward Noah. He stopped, frowning, when he noticed Noah’s and Anne’s suits.

Celia didn’t wait to see any more. She pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen, and the panels closed behind her. The clatter of a metal serving spoon hitting the floor jolted her. She bent to pick up the spoon, then curled her fingers around it, holding it tightly. From behind the swinging door, Celia heard Noah say, “Son of a bitch. What the hell is he doing here?”

Knowing she needed to run, Celia dumped the empty pans into the sink and turned to the swinging door between the kitchen and the restaurant. Pressing her eye to the small crack between the panels, she saw Nick talking to Noah. As if he knew her now-brother-in-law.

What the hell was going on?