Tommy and Kim Payton had volunteered for traffic control for Brian and Autumn’s wedding. Personally I thought they saw it as another chance to show off their new uniforms. I sat in my car across the street from the church, observing the comings and goings. Okay, I was actually here to catch one last glimpse of Jenny.

I’d been invited to the wedding but had decided being near her wouldn’t be good for her travel plans. I didn’t trust myself to let her go. If I got anywhere near her, I’d lose my control and do something stupid like carry her home and tie her up until she missed her flight. Not something a cop should do.

Two limos pulled in, stopping in front of the church. Jenny and a tall woman with black hair emerged from the first one, wearing identical green dresses. The black-haired woman was gorgeous, but I only had eyes for Jenny Girl. Although she was lovely in her formal gown, her hair piled in a fancy do on top of her head, I preferred the girl who liked jeans and hats. A few steps before entering the church, she turned and scanned the parking lot. Was she looking for me?

Autumn and her parents got out of the second limo. I smiled at the vision in white daintily walking up the steps, knowing that under all that lace was a woman with an outrageous sense of humor. She and Brian were Jenny’s friends, though, so I doubted I’d be spending time with them in the future. That was too bad. I liked them both.

From the church, the wedding party and guests would travel in a caravan to the Blue Ridge Valley Country Club. Deciding I’d played stalker long enough, I started the engine. There was nothing for me here.

It had been almost two weeks since I’d last had a glimpse of Jenny as she’d walked into a church, looking so beautiful in a green dress that I was sure had matched her eyes. And now Christmas Eve had arrived, a day I dreaded.

Instead of getting drunk to forget Christine as I’d planned, I sat in my living room, void of any decorations, drinking a cup of coffee and thinking of Jenny. Even Daisy missed her, often sitting in front of the door, staring at it around the time Jenny would usually arrive. I knew exactly how she felt.

When I’d crossed paths with Jenny’s father yesterday, he’d told me she was in Greece. I stared at the velvet box I’d set on the coffee table, a necklace I’d bought to give her for Christmas before she’d left me that damn note and then disappeared from my life.

Almost every one of my officers had invited me over for Christmas dinner, but I’d politely declined. This was a time for families, not to have a lovesick man hanging out with them.

Daisy apparently sensed my mood because she sat, staring at me with that worried look I was getting used to seeing on her. I opened the jewelry box. The platinum heart and chain with an emerald on the heart that matched Jenny’s eyes had caught my attention as soon as I saw it. I’d thought of the gift as symbolic. I might have never said the words, but I was going to give her my heart.

Garrett’s words bounced around in my head. Don’t let her slip through your fingers. I snapped the lid closed.

“It’s true, Daisy. I am a fool.” She tilted her head as if not sure whether or not she should agree. “Who’s your favorite cop? Tommy?” At hearing his name, she barked. “Good, then you won’t mind staying with him for a while?” She went to the door, making me laugh. “Ready to be rid of me, are you?”

I got out my laptop and started making a list. When I had everything I needed to do down, I went to bed and slept through the night without any ghosts giving me advice.