Page 15 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

Her partner paused in mid-step and glanced at Fisher as if noticing him for the first time. His light blue gaze was bewildered and he glanced at Annie in confusion. She picked up her pace, practically pulling the poor sap behind her as she hurried down the aisle.

Not wanting to laugh in a house of worship, Fisher tucked his mirth into his cheek and waited for Annie to join him.

“Who’s the chatterbox?” he asked when she sat beside him in the pew.

“Stewart Anderson,” she answered.

“The ex?” he guessed.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“So, why did you break up with him?” he asked. “Did he talk you to death?”

“He does love the sound of his own voice, but no, that wasn’t it,” she said.

“Well?”

“We just wanted different things,” she said.

Fisher admired her diplomacy, but he was more than a little curious as to the real reason for their breakup. “Does he know I’m your date?”

“He does now.” Annie nodded and forced a smile at someone over Fisher’s shoulder.

He glanced around to see Dudley Do-Right making his way toward them with a blond bombshell on his arm.

“Anne,” he said, almost shouting, as if he feared they’d get away from him. “I’d like you to meet Tiffany.”

“Tiffany, this is Anne and her...guest,” Stewart said, glaring at Fisher.

“Date,” Fisher corrected him as he rose from his seat. “My name is Fisher. Nice to meet you.”

“Fisher?” Tiffany repeated, her voice was high with a trace of a lisp. “I dated a man named Fisher once, but he was nothing like you. You’re gorgeous.” Her vacant brown eyes blinked at him, and she giggled as she tossed her hair. Fisher suspected it was a move she’d spent hours perfecting in front of a mirror. He felt Annie stand beside him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tiffany,” Annie said. Fisher glanced at her. She looked as if she meant it. “If you two will excuse me, I want to get to the house and help with the barbecue.”

As she took his arm and led him away, Fisher leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Nice getaway. Very smooth.”

“Was it?” she asked. “I didn’t want to look like I was running, butpuleeze.”

“You don’t like the new girlfriend?”

“Oh, no. She’s not the sharpest pencil in the box, but she’s fine,” Annie said. “It’s him. Ugh!”

“Hmm,” Fisher hummed in total agreement.

They arrived at the groom’s parents’ house just behind the bride and groom. At the end of a cul-de-sac, the house boasted a large yard and an unrestricted view of Camelback Mountain. The house was decorated with luminaries and ristras, and a huge barbecue pit had been dug in the backyard.

Fisher stood back from the group, observing the people around him. The bride and groom, Eve and Tony, rarely left one another’s side. When they gazed at each other, they beamed a wattage matched only by the sun.

Fisher wondered if he would ever know that kind of joy. He’d always planned to get married, but he hadn’t found Ms. Right...yet.

“Something wrong with your spare ribs?” Annie asked, appearing beside him.

“No, why?”

“You’re frowning,” she said.

“Am I?” He drew in a breath and let it out. “I didn’t realize.”