Page 31 of Wedding Cake Carnage
“What?” I recognize that sullen look. He’s thinking about something, or more to the point, overthinking it. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you thrilled Everett is back? Please don’t tell me that silly rivalry is rearing its ugly head again.”
“Not that.” He scoots in close. “Lottie, Everett is home and that’s great, but the danger is still out there.”
A mean shiver rides through me. “I’m secretly hoping once she sees he’s gone, she’ll pack up her things and hightail it to the Mexican Rivera for life.”
“I wouldn’t mind that either, but as evidenced, she’s not well. She’s obsessed. I’ve seen these things play out before. It’s not always pretty.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying”—he bows his head a moment as if he were defeated—“we need to act twice as vigilant as we did before. This is either going to frighten her or embolden her to proceed with her plan.”
“You can’t be serious. There’s no way she’d come after him again. He’s not falling for whatever trick she used to get him in the car.”
“I agree. And sometimes when you have a person who’s unnaturally obsessed with someone else—and they realize they no longer have access to them—their only solution is to ensure that no one else has them.”
An icy chill runs through my veins. “Noah.” I shake my head, begging—forbiddinghim from going any farther with it. “We’ll protect him. We’ll hire the best security team out there.”
“It won’t change the fact that, until that woman is apprehended, he’s vulnerable.” Noah’s features contort as if he were in pain. “And I’m afraid you are, too.”
“You think she’s going to come after me.” I can hardly get the words out. “Of course, she is. She’ll be watching us. Lurking in the shadows once again. She’ll see how happy we are and she’ll resent it. I’ll be a target right along with Everett.” Lainey pops through my mind. My sweet sister and her quickly approaching nuptials are in peril. “My sister’s wedding. I can’t go. I can’t ruin Lainey’s special day.” Tears burn my eyes once again as I blink them back.
“Hey”—Noah wraps an arm around me—“I’m going to be there for you—for the both of you. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let anyone hurt either of you.”
I pull back, my lips quivering as I try my best to hold it together. “You really have the biggest heart of anyone I know. Thank you, Noah. I appreciate that.”
A doctor emerges, and both Noah and I rise to meet him.
He’s tall with curly dark hair and intense brown eyes. He does a double take Noah’s way and inches back.
“You don’t recognize me, do you?”
Noah’s face opens with the slight look of surprise, and I can tell he’s running a mental Rolodex as to who this might be.
“Morgan?” He inches back in disbelief. “Dawson? Morgan Dawson!” Noah laughs as he slaps the guy on the shoulder.
“Dr. Dawson to you, buddy.” He socks him playfully on the arm. “I just heard from Alex. He says he’s coming out here in a couple of weeks.”
“We have to get together.”
“Darn right, we will.” He looks my way and offers an affable smile. “Dr. Dawson. Nice to meet you.”
“Lottie Lemon,” I say. “Nice to meet you, too. Can we see Everett? Is he okay? Has he come to?”
“Yes, yes, and yes. Whatever drug they gave him is quickly wearing off. He’s in good health. His right ankle might be a little sore for the next few weeks. He’s down that hall and to the right. It’s good to see him. It’s been a long time.”
I bullet past him and Noah is right by my side as we storm Everett’s room.
We find him seated upright, his eyes are glassy, but as soon as he spots us, his entire face lights up. There’s a fortress of starry-eyed nurses tending to his every need, and I blow right past them as I lunge on top of him.
“Lemon,” he whispers hot into my ear as I collapse my arms around him. “I love you.” He presses a heated kiss to my temple, and I pull back with tears in my eyes. “How I’ve missed your beautiful face.” He winces as he sits up a bit more.
The nurses stray out of the room, and Noah steps forward and slaps his hand to Everett’s before going in for a hug himself.
“It’s good to see you, man.”
Everett’s chest bounces, but there’s a disbelieving look on his face.
“Come on. You loved it,” Everett chides. “You had Lemon all to yourself.”