Page 103 of The Backup Groom

I glared at her. “Save it. You could scare off the other guys, but it won’t happen this time. This is the real deal. We’re in love, and nothing you can do or say is going to talk him out of marrying me.”

“She’s right,” Scotty said. “You’re wasting your time. I’m not going to change my mind for the world.”

Maggoty Mercedes slid off the hood and took a step toward us, ready to get in our business. “Oh, I’m not going to try to talk you out of marrying her.”

I blinked twice, not expecting that from her.

What was she up to now?

Maggoty Mercedes shook her head adamantly. “No, no, no, I’ve got somethingmuchbigger up my sleeve, and you’ll just have to wait to see what it is. My next move is going to be a doozy!”

What was she talking about?

The woman had gone completely mad.

Proving my point, Maggoty Mercedes let out a psychotic shriek and pranced back to her Miata, getting in and slamming the door shut. After she started the car, she revved the engine, louder and louder each time, her eyes glued to mine.

“Don’t tell me she’s going to try to peel out in that thing,” Dean said.

“It certainly looks like it,” Stella answered.

The engine sounded like it was crying for help.

Maggoty Mercedes leaned out the window. “So long, suckers!” She revved the engine several more times, then popped the clutch.

The thunderous bang was so loud we all jumped.

Smoke began streaming out from underneath the hood of the car.

She banged on the steering wheel, let out a murderous scream, then got out and slammed the car door on her skirt.

It was a shame what happened next wasn’t caught on video.

Trying to swipe away the billowing smoke from her face, she lost her balance, her forward momentum ripping the skirt right in half, exposing her very generous, polka dot, granny panties.

“My eyes,” Dean said. “I’m going to have nightmares.”

Maggoty Mercedes did her best to cover herself up, then got back in the car, and leaned out the window again, shaking her fist at me. “This is not over! You just wait and see!”

Scotty turned to me. “How can you two even be related?”

I sighed. “I ask myself that question every single day.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

Scotty

One Week Later . . .

I stood on the bluff in front of the Pacific Ocean at Cuvier Park, watching the crashing waves below. I inhaled a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling like the luckiest man on the planet.

“What a gorgeous day.” Dean clapped me on the back, then squeezed my shoulder. “I can’t believe we’re the first ones here. They’d better not expect us to be early all the time. That’s way too much pressure for a man. Should we leave and come back?”

I chuckled and flipped around, glancing around at the empty park. “I guess I’m a little anxious and excited about the rehearsal.”

“That’s an understatement,” Dean said. “I’m surprised you didn’t spend the night here.”

The idea didn’t seem so farfetched.