Chapter 41
Alex and Hope kept silent while Suzy answered using her professional voice. “Hello, Weddings by Suzanne.”
The one-sided conversation was filled with “Yes,” “No problem,” “Halloween?” “Uh, sure,” and “When?” Suzy asked a few follow-up questions while simultaneously glancing at her watch. “I’m at Coconuts. Do you know where that is?” Suzy paused, then asked, “Are you 21 or older?” She waited for a response. “Good. Meet me here in thirty minutes.”
After she hung up, Alex said, “Let me guess. That was a new bride who wants a Halloween wedding this fall?” She made a dusting motion with her hands. “Right?”
“You’re partially correct. That was a new bride who wants a Halloween-themed wedding, although she’s in a rush and wants to get married in about three weeks.”
Alex’s mouth fell open. “That’s unheard of. Can you plan a wedding that fast?”
Suzy gave a pretend hurt look. “How long have we known each other?”
“A spring Halloween wedding,” Hope said. “That’s different.”
“I can’t wait to see the bride-to-be,” Alex said. “I bet she’s dressed goth-like in all black.”
Hope frowned. “You’re stereotyping. Maybe she’ll be wearing ruffles and pink.”
Alex chuckled. “Actually, I hope she does wear girly clothes. That would be hilarious but who wants a Halloween-themed wedding, especially in the spring? What’s the bride’s name?”
“Priscilla,” Suzy said.
Alex shrugged. “Doesn’t help. And her fiancé?”
“Rodney.”
“Definitely doesn’t help,” Alex said.
Suzy sighed. “I don’t know how these brides find me.”
“You probably have a reputation as being patient and kind,” Hope said. “In other words, you’ll put up with their crap.”
“Unlike me.” Alex reached for a chip Gus had placed on the table. She plunked it in salsa. “I couldn’t take it. I have enough problems with my bratty intern at work.”
Hope giggled. “Sorry, Alex, but I’ve had to deal with some challenging students for years and Suzy has had her fill of neurotic brides. It’s your turn, sweetie.”
Alex feigned shock. “Ouch. That really hurts.”
Suzy held up her hand. “I started this conversation, remember? Back to my bride . . .”
Alex simultaneously sipped her coffee while dipping chips in salsa. She winced as the front door opened and bright light streamed inside. After her eyes adjusted, she gasped and pointed with her head.
“There’s the hot limo driver.” She scanned the room. “I wonder if he saw Cheri in the parking lot.” She never took her eyes off the man in black who sported sunglasses as dark as night. He scanned the room and zeroed in when he spotted her.
Alex felt the burn of his stare and peered behind her shoulder.
Hope chuckled. “He’s not looking behind you. He’s looking at you.”
The women gawked as the well-dressed guy with the short, marine-like haircut strode across the room in seemingly two steps.
Alex glanced at her friends. “I’m suddenly at a loss for words.”
The limo driver cleared his throat as he casually rested his hand on the back of Alex’s chair. “Care to dance?”
Alex’s eyebrows shot up. “There’s no music.”
He grinned. “I wanted to get your attention.”
Alex noticed Hope had leaned forward on her elbow and Suzy gawked with her phone in mid-air.
“It worked.” She extended her hand. “Hi. I’m Alex. And this is—”
“Suzy and Hope,” he answered.
All three women looked surprised. Hope found her voice first. “How did you—”
“Part of my job. I need to know who Cheri Van Buren meets with. Her parents wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Suzy set her phone on her lap. “Now that you have everyone’s attention, you should know Alex loves a man in uniform.”
He looked down at his all-black clothes. “This isn’t exactly a uniform.”
“Close enough,” Suzy said.
“Ignore my ridiculous friend.” Alex beamed at the limo driver. “It sounds like you take your job seriously and do your research.”
A loud male voice cut through the casual conversation. “Do you know about me too? Because I know all about you.”
Alex jumped. “I thought you were on duty.”
“I’m full of surprises.” Lt. Tony Montgomery flanked Alex’s other side.
An awkward silence filled the area as Tony and the limo driver eyed one another like two bulls. In an effort to ease the tension, Alex waved Gus over. “Why don’t you guys pull up a chair?”
The two men added a second table while still staring at one another. Gus handed them zebra-striped menus. “Care to hear the specials?”
Tony never took his gaze off Limo Driver. “No, but I’ll take a whiskey.”
The limo driver said, “Same here. Make mine a double.”
Hope and Suzy’s heads swiveled toward Alex, obviously waiting for her next move. Alex swallowed. “Why don’t you bring us a sampling of appetizers, Gus?”
“What kind?”
“Surprise us.” She folded her arms and sat stiffly, weighing the awkward predicament. “And wine. I’d like more wine.”
Suzy nodded. “It’s the weekend. I’ll take one more glass.”
“After my week, I deserve another too,” Hope said.
In a palpable attempt to fill the uncomfortable silence, Hope blathered on and on about a new student with annoying helicopter parents, even though everyone mostly ignored her.
Suzy glanced at her watch. “I wonder where my Halloween couple is.”
Thankfully, Gus appeared with a tray filled with a variety of meat, cheese, crackers, olives, and tapenade. Both Tony and Limo Guy reached for the same piece of meat.
“Carnivores.” Alex laughed. “Figures.” She unfolded her wrapped napkin and removed the knife. “Let’s cut it in half.”
“No need.” Tony put a hunk in his mouth and handed the other half to the limo driver.
“I’m not interested in your saliva.” Instead, Limo Driver reached for a triangle of cheese.
Alex laughed, and Tony glared at her.
“What? That was funny,” she said.
“Time to go, Alex.” Tony gulped his whiskey.
Alex crossed her arms. “The food just arrived.”
“Let’s go.”
Limo Driver scowled at him. “What’s the rush? Seems like the pretty lady doesn’t want to leave.”
Tony’s voice rose a notch “The pretty lady is my girlfriend. Why don’t you go back to New York or wherever you came from?”
Limo Driver put his hand on the back of Alex’s chair. “I rather like it here. Nice scenery. Pretty lakes and even prettier women.”
The two men were clearly both staking a claim. Alex searched Suzy’s eyes as if for help. Happily, the front door opened wide. As sunshine once again filled the darkened room, everyone turned and squinted at the new arrivals.
A young twenty-something girl dressed in a low-cut white tank, a long, black skirt, and flip-flops walked toward the center of Coconuts. Tattoo sleeves covered one of her arms. As she scanned the room, her jet-black hair swished across her shoulders.
“So much for pink and ruffles,” Alex said. “Fifty bucks that’s your Halloween bride.”