4
“W ho do you think it was?” Brian asked Fisher as they munched tacos from a vendor just outside Encanto Park.
“I have no idea,” Fisher answered. “Since he managed to lose me.”
“He had a car waiting,” Brian said. “Which means he’s not working alone.”
“It could be a question of who is he working for?”
“Have you managed to get a look at her books yet?” Brian asked.
“No, I’m not sure they’d tell me much,” Fisher said. “Annie doesn’t strike me as someone with a real head for business. Doing all she does at the shop can’t leave her much time to crunch numbers.”
“So find out who’s crunching for her. I got a line on a few of her larger deposits. They were cashier’s checks from a casino in Vegas.”
Fisher stopped in his tracks. “Get the dates of the deposits.”
“Why?”
“So I can verify Annie’s whereabouts at the time.”
“You’re not on this case to prove her innocence,” Brian said.
“I know,” Fisher snapped. “But we have the wedding tonight. I plan to canvas the entire guest list until I find some hard and useful facts about who has access to The Coffee Break’s accounts.”
“Just so long as you’re using your skill to find out about her business and not her personal life.”
Fisher wadded up his taco wrapper and tossed it into a nearby garbage can. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that you get a peculiar gleam in your eye every time you say her name,” Brian said. “I know you know better than to fall for a suspect.”
The softly spoken censure made Fisher’s teeth clench. “I don’t think she’s a suspect.”
“What you think and what’s reality are two different things. Until we find some hard evidence that she’s not involved with the laundering, she’s a suspect. Don’t you forget it.”
“Shove your lecture, Bri,” he said. “I’ve been in this business just as long as you have. I know what I’m doing.”
“Don’t get cocky, Fish,” Brian snapped. They were walking the path along the canal when he stopped and grabbed Fisher’s arm. “Remember Mulrooney.”
Fisher shrugged Brian’s hand off of his arm. Mulrooney. Good guy, but ultimately a schmuck. He’d gotten involved with a mobster’s girlfriend and the next thing they knew they were fishing him out of this very canal...headless.
“Is that we’re meeting here? So, you can remind me what happens to guys who cross the line?”
“I figured you could use the reminder,” his partner confessed.
“Don’t worry about me,” he said. “I have no intention of ending up decapitated in a canal.”
“Good.” Brian breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t think you’d be half as good looking without your head.”
“You’re a pal, Bri. A real pal.”
Annie stepped into the eight layer, purple taffeta dress feeling like a cupcake topper for a Disney princess birthday party. Glancing at the other bridesmaids, she was relieved to see that she wasn’t the only one who looked like one of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters. Of course, she was the only one with fire-red hair, but that couldn’t be helped.
Eve had them looking like seven Cupie dolls. They all wore the same dress, shoes, hairdo, jewelry, even makeup. Annie felt as if she were going to a costume party. No such luck, at least then she’d get to wear a mask.
As for Eve, she looked beautiful. Despite the frequent tears, cold hands and secret vaping – a habit she’d given up years ago – she was still a radiant bride.
“Eve, it’s time for you to get dressed.” Eve’s mother strode into the room, looking the epitome of the Scottsdale lady. As usual, she had not a hair out of place and her dress was suitably chic for a wedding of which she didn’t approve.
“All right.” Eve took one last drag off her vape pen before rising.
“You don’t have to go through with this if you don’t want to, dear,” her mother said.
“I love him, Mother,” Eve said. “I’m going to marry him.”
“Fine.” Eve’s mother let loose a long-suffering sigh.
“Eve,” Annie interrupted, holding back the urge to kick Eve’s mother. “Let me help you into your gown.”
“Thanks, Annie.” Eve smiled, her eyes moist. “You understand, don’t you?”
“That you love him?” Annie asked as she helped Eve step into her voluminous gown. “That he’s made you happier than I’ve ever seen you? Yes, I understand that.”
“Love?” Eve’s mother rolled her eyes in disapproval. “You could have married Geoffrey from Grosse Point. But no. Who did you choose? An olive oil salesman from New Jersey. I just don’t understand it.”
“He imports olive oil, Mother,” Eve said. “And he makes a fortune at it.”
“But he’s so...so...Italian,” her mother wailed.
“Yes, he’s Italian, Mother, and I’m going to marry him. Do you want to know why?” Eve straightened her spine while Annie fastened the hundreds of buttons that led up the back of her gown.
“Why?” her mother asked.
“Because on our very first date, he looked at me and said, ‘Eve doll, you know what you are? You’re the salt in my stew.’ He’s the first man who has ever loved me for me and not my pedigree. And I have fallen more in love with him every day ever since. I’m marrying Tony Iannocci. Get over it!”
“Good girl,” Annie whispered in her friend’s ear.
“Humph,” Eve’s mother sniffed in Annie’s direction and strode out of the room.
The next two hours passed in a haze of photographs,mimosas, and a cramped limo ride to the church. The wedding was to start at five o’clock and the eager bride arrived at the stroke of five. In a parade of people, the bridesmaids led the way into Trinity Cathedral. Eve’s father stood waiting for them at the front door and they all filed into an antechamber while they waited for their cue to begin the march down the aisle.
Clutching her bouquet of white peonies, Eve stood beside her father, looking pale and shaken. Annie tried to cheer her up with small talk, but Eve just gazed through her. She was the ninth bride Annie had watched get green around the gills before the ceremony. She was beginning to think that bouquets should come with emergency barf bags built into them.
A knock at the antechamber door sounded and they all hushed. Taking their positions, they waited for the signal to start walking. But instead of the wedding hostess, it was Fisher who appeared.
“Annie?” His eyes popped wide, leaving her no doubt about his opinion of her dress. She felt her lip curl. It wasn’t as if she’d picked it out!
“Fisher?” She approached the door. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you sitting down?”
“There’s a little problem,” he whispered, but the six bridesmaids straining to hear him all began to whisper and a shriek sounded from the back of the room.
“Problem? What problem?” Eve pushed her way through a sea of purple hoops.
“Tony’s been delayed,” he said.
“Delayed?” Her voice was shrill. “How?”
“Well.” Fisher glanced at Annie as if for support. “We’re not sure, but he’s not here.”
“You’re not sure? He’s not here?” Eve echoed. Letting loose a wail, she threw herself into her father’s arms and began to bawl.
“Eve!” Annie grabbed her friend by the shoulders and shook her. “Eve, get a grip! Tony will be here. Something must have come up, but he’ll be here. You know that man would walk through fire for you.”
“You think?” Eve hiccupped, looking desperate.
“I know so. Now pull yourself together,” Annie ordered. “Someone fix her makeup.”
“Uh,” Fisher cleared his throat. “We could use some crowd control out here. You’ve got three hundred people getting mighty restless.”
“Oh no!” Eve sobbed. “They’re going to think I’ve been dumped at the altar. Oh, I’m just going to die.”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Annie ordered. “Fisher and I will keep them entertained until Tony gets here. Come on, Fisher.”
It wasn’t as if she gave him a choice, Fisher reasoned as he found himself being dragged down the aisle in her bouncing purple wake. Not even pausing for breath, she strode up to the altar and picked up the microphone that would be used to magnify the couple’s vows.
A murmur that grew to a dull roar swept the crowd.
“Is this on?” Annie asked a nearby photographer and blasted the assembly with her question. The answer was obvious.
“Okay then,” she said and it echoed through the cathedral. The crowd gaped at her and Fisher shifted on his feet, unaccustomed to the scrutiny of so many. Annie wasn’t phased in the least. “Good evening, everyone. On behalf of the bride and the groom, I want to welcome you to their wedding. Now, we were talking in the antechamber about weddings and receptions and how people never have much fun at the wedding, but they always have a great time at the reception. Weren’t we, Fisher?”
Annie thrust the microphone in his face and Fisher grunted in agreement. What was she up to? Apparently, he wasn’t the only one concerned. Eve’s mother was doubled over in her pew, whispering Annie’s name. Annie paid her no mind.
“So, we decided to get everyone warmed up for the reception in advance. If I could just have some assistance from the organist?”
A bespectacled man blinked at Annie from the balcony. Annie began to hum into the microphone. “Could you just play this beat?” she asked.
The organist began to work the pedals, mimicking Annie. The low beat from the massive pipe organ filled the room.
“Good. Now if everyone would stand up, Fisher and I are going to teach you the macarena.”
“Annie!” he growled through gritted teeth. “I’m not doing this.”
“Shh,” she hushed him. “Just follow me and you’ll be fine. Don’t worry it’s easy.”
“Annie,” he hissed, but she ignored him.
Turning back toward the crowd, she motioned for everyone to stand up. Most appeared reluctant so she hopped off of the dais and began to grab people’s hands and pull them to their feet.
“Come on, everyone, follow me,” she ordered. Bouncing her hips, she began to sing into the mike.
Her enormous purple skirt began to bob up and down, showing off her legs and when she lifted her arms over her head, she looked as if she’d pop right out of her gown. Fisher sighed. He had no choice but to protect Annie from herself. Moving to stand in front of her, he began to mimic her moves.
“That’s right,” she encouraged him with a saucy smile. “But swing your hips a little more.”
Fisher glared at her, but as her hands went from her elbows to her head, he stepped closer, trying to keep the entire assemblage from catching the glimpse of her right nipple he was getting. He could feel the sweat bead up on his forehead. Was it hot in here or was it just him? How had he gotten himself into this mess? If his mother could see him now she’d be so pleased.
“What the hell?” A roar sounded from the back door of the church and the organist stumbled to a halt, as did the entire roomful of dancers.
“Tony?” Annie dropped the mike and dashed up the aisle with Fisher hot on her heels. “What happened to you?”
“Stupid car broke down and my phone was dead and he forgot his phone.” Tony pointed to his best man with his thumb. Tony’s cheek was streaked with grease and his tux looked as if it had walked to the church under its own power. His best man stood beside him, looking equally grubby. “Where’s Eve? What’s going on?”
“Fisher and I were just keeping everyone entertained until you got here,” Annie said. “Go get cleaned up. I’ll tell Eve that you’re here. She’ll be so relieved.”
“Come on.” Fisher led the bewildered groom and best man away. “You’ve got a wedding to get ready for.”
“What were you and Annie doing?” Tony asked.
“I believe she called it the macarena,” Fisher answered.
“No kidding?” Tony laughed. “That Annie. She’s a card.”
“Yes, she is,” Fisher answered. His gaze met Annie’s and when she shrugged at him, he was unable to hold back his grin. “Yes, she certainly is.”
“Nice ceremony. Don’t you think?” Fisher asked.
“Lovely,” Annie sighed, scraping the remnants of her mascara off of her chin with her handkerchief.
“Are you going to be all right?” Fisher asked.
“Oh, yeah.” She waved her hankie at him. “I’ll be fine. I always cry at weddings.”
“I thought you didn’t like weddings,” he said.
“Oh no, I love weddings. It’s marriage I don’t trust,” she said. “But weddings are wonderful. They’re so...optimistic.”
“Annie.” Fisher shook his head at her. “So Stew was a jerk. That doesn’t mean you won’t find someone worth marrying.”
“Oh, no,” she said. “I’ve been in nine weddings half of which have already ended in divorce. You’re not going to see me walking the aisle any day soon.”
“Nine?” He gaped.
“Three for Mom. Two for Dad. One sister. Three friends.” Annie ticked off the list on her fingers. “Nine. I have the hideous gown collection to prove it. I keep thinking I should put a rack in The Coffee Break and sell some of these gems.”
Lifting her skirt, she twirled in front of him. “What do you think?”
“Unless Little Bo Peep stops by for a caffeine fix, you’ll never unload it,” he said. “Come on, let’s see if we can stuff you into the Jeep.”
“Too bad you don’t have a pickup truck,” she joked as she took his arm and let him lead her to the car. “I could sit in the bed.”
“Tie you to the gun rack?” he joked.
“Oh, wouldn’t that be a pretty picture?” She laughed. “Me at your mercy?”
Fisher studied at her with a considered gaze. His eyes grew dark and his voice low. “Actually, yeah, that’d be a hell of a pretty picture.”
Annie felt as if he’d drawn the breath out of her lungs with that look. How did he do that? She’d never known a man who could bowl her over with just the tilt of an eyebrow. As Fisher opened the door, she studied his hands. They were large and square and utterly masculine. Oh dear.
He turned and placed his hands on her hips. Lifting her with a groan – okay, she did weigh a ton in this concrete getup – he placed her on the passenger seat. Rattled by the feel of his hands upon her waist, Annie didn’t think to adjust her hoops before she sat. As her bottom touched the seat, her skirt shot up in the air, catching Fisher on the chin and knocking him sideways.
“Oh! Fisher? Are you all right?” she cried, batting at the skirt that blocked her view. “Fisher?”
When she succeeded in mashing down the purple monstrosity, she saw him holding his chin and laughing.
“Are you all right?” she asked again.
“Nice legs,” he said between chuckles.
She felt her face grow hot and she straightened her back, striving for dignity. “Thank you,” she said stiffly.
“No, thank you,” he roared.
Annie reached out and grabbed the door, slamming it in his face. Men! Couldn’t live with ?em, couldn’t shoot ?em.
“This is absolutely my last wedding,” she grumbled as Fisher got beside her.
“Until you get married yourself,” he said, starting the car and heading toward the Desert Country Club where the reception was to be held.
“Ha!” She snorted. “No way. Not me.”
“Don’t you plan to have kids?” he asked.
“You don’t have to be married to have kids,” she argued. “People do it all the time.”
“It’s not right,” he said, turning into the resort’s drive.
“Why?” she asked, forgetting her annoyance. She sensed this issue went deep with Fisher and she couldn’t deny her curiosity.
“It just isn’t.” He shrugged.
“But...” she began to protest.
“Look, we’re here,” he interrupted as he parked.
Annie frowned. The man was dodging the issue like a bullet and it was becoming a very annoying habit of his. Perhaps some champagne would loosen his tongue, she hoped.
Annie and Fisher found themselves seated at the head table beside another bridesmaid and her husband. When the new Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Iannocci were announced to the crowd, they all stood up and cheered.
The newlyweds looked radiant. Halfway across the room, Tony swept his bride into his arms and began to waltz around the room with her.
“Oh, aren’t they perfect together?” another bridesmaid asked at Annie.
“Yeah, perfect.” Annie sniffed and Fisher handed her his handkerchief. “Don’t laugh at me.”
“I wouldn’t think of it,” he whispered in her ear and she felt the hair at the nape of her neck prickle. She glanced at him and saw the twitch of his lips that belied his words, but she didn’t call him on it.
“Softy,” he teased.
“I’ve been called worse,” she retorted, pulling her gaze away from his. Those chocolate-brown eyes of his were as lethal to her presence of mind as Godiva chocolates were to her thighs.
“I doubt it,” he said, leaning close. “You’re too nice to inspire any derogatory comments.”
“You don’t know me very well,” she said.
“I know you better than you think,” he returned.
Something in his tone caused Annie to turn away from the waltzing couple and study him. When he turned to meet her glance he wasn’t smiling. Annie felt her heart skip a beat. It was as if he were looking into her very soul. He did know her.
“No, you don’t,” she argued, refusing to believe it. To prove her point, she said, “After all, you think I want to marry and I’m telling you I don’t.”
“No, I think you should marry,” he argued. “I also think you will marry when you meet the right guy.”
“If I were to judge by my parents, it would be right guys,” she said.
“Your parents are idiots,” he said and added, “But don’t worry so are mine.”
“Why are you so adamant about marriage?” she asked. “If your parents are happy then what’s wrong with never marrying?”
Fisher opened his mouth to speak, but the first waltz ended and the crowd broke into applause. Tony and Eve smiled at their guests and started to make their way around the room.
“Well?” Annie prodded, but the band broke into “In the Mood” by Benny Goodman.
“Come on. Let’s jitterbug,” Fisher said and grabbed her hand to lead her toward the floor.
“I don’t know how,” she protested.
“How can you have been in nine weddings and not know how to jitterbug?”
“I don’t dance much,” she said.
“Oh, no, just the macarena.” He rolled his eyes. “This is real dancing, honey.”
She shrieked as he twirled her across the floor.
Several older couples were already cutting up, and Annie dodged one matron who was flashing her knee-high stockings as she kicked in time with her partner.
“Don’t look at your feet, just follow me,” Fisher ordered. “Step toe to heel, toe to heel, step back, step forward.”
Annie mirrored his steps and when they completed the routine a couple of times, she laughed.
“See? You’re getting it. Now keep those basics in mind and you’ll be fine.”
“Basics?” she asked.
“Oh yeah, ‘cause now we’re going to get fancy,” he said and reeled her in like a yo-yo until her back was pressed to his front. “Same steps,” he said, but Annie’s brain shut off. She couldn’t think with his warm body pressed against hers and she stumbled.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered. “Follow me.”
“All right,” she agreed, forcing herself to breathe.
“Good girl,” he said and spun her back out.
She shrieked again as he hauled her across the floor in a pattern of spins and dips that left her dizzy and breathless. Her hoops banged against his shins, but he didn’t seem to mind. It certainly didn’t slow him down any.
“Big finish now,” he said. “This is called the pretzel.”
In a flurry of twists and turns, Annie found herself spun into him, around him and under him. How they didn’t end up in a knot of limbs she would never know, but she was laughing with sheer exhilaration. And when he dipped her, it was all she could do not to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him within an inch of his life.
Applause erupted about them and Annie glanced up from her reclined position in his arms to see that the entire crowd of three hundred guests was cheering them on. As he helped her up, she felt her already warm skin burn hot with embarrassment.
“Curtsey,” Fisher coaxed her with a grin. Mortified past reason, Annie obeyed. Why performing the macarena in a church was less embarrassing than being seen lying in a man’s arms while thinking about kissing him, she didn’t know. But it was and it was all his fault!
Striving for nonchalance, she slunk off the floor, fanning herself with one hand. “It’s warm in here, isn’t it?”
“Want some champagne?” he asked.
“That’d be lovely.”
“Why don’t I meet you on the terrace?” he said. “It should be cooler out there now that the sun has set.”
“Good idea. I swear this dress is as heavy as an ape suit.”
Fisher blinked at her and burst into laughter. It rumbled up from his chest and burst forth in a contagious bark of sound. His mouth split into a wide grin and several heads, mostly female, spun to watch him. Annie felt ridiculously pleased to have made him laugh.
Grateful to escape the scrutiny of the crowd, she made for the door. A cool breeze stirred the orange trees surrounding the balcony. Annie strolled to the far end and gazed out at the gardens.
The only sound to be heard was the muted thump of a bass drum beating in time with the rustle of leaves in the breeze. Glancing up, she saw the few stars bright enough to shine over the blaze of city lights.
An image of warm brown eyes and a captivating grin filled her mind. What was it about Fisher McCoy that took her breath away? It was as if they had some connection. It wasn’t just sexual tension, although there was a healthy dose of that. No, he managed to touch her in a much more intimate place. Her soul perhaps? Oh brother, she was beginning to sound like a sap. She bit her lip. Was she in over her head already?
Fisher saw her ridiculous skirt first. It wafted in the breeze like a hot air balloon on the rise. She was right. That dress was an ape suit, he thought with a grin. But she was still stunning. Then he noticed the joker standing beside her. Her ex, Dudley Do-Right.
The night air carried the sound of their voices in his direction.
“But Anne, you and I belong together. You know we do.”
“No, Stewart, I don’t. That’s why I broke up with you,” she said, sounding exasperated. Then she softened her tone, “I’m sorry, Stewart.”
“Well, you can’t be serious about him ,” Stewart protested. “I saw you two dancing. It was a most undignified display, not to mention that bit at the church. What possessed you?”
“It was fun,” she said. “And that bit at the church was necessary.”
“You need someone with a calming influence on you, Anne,” Stewart lectured. “Not someone who indulges your silly, little whims.”
“Silly, little whims?” she repeated, obviously clinging to her temper by a fine, red hair. “I don’t suppose you consider The Coffee Break one of my silly, little whims?”
“No,” he said, looking nervous. “But you have to admit, you don’t have a strong head for business.”
“No, but I have a mighty strong fist,” she retorted, looking ready to punch Dudley Do-Right in the nose.
“Here you are, Annie.” Fisher stepped forward and handed Annie her glass, of which she immediately took a healthy swig. What had possessed him to save Stew’s neck he didn’t know. He should have let Annie clean his clock, but he knew she would never forgive herself. And he couldn’t stand to watch that.
“Do you mind? Anne and I were having a very important discussion.” Stew glared at him.
“I don’t mind at all,” Fisher said. “I only came out to give Annie her champagne.” He turned as if to leave, but then turned back to Annie. “Oh, and this.”
With his free hand, he cupped her face and stepped toward her. He heard the breath puff out from between her lips as she was caught by surprise. He would have smiled, but the minute his mouth touched hers, he was no longer amused.
Her lips were cold and tart from the champagne and he wondered if he could get drunk from them. Lord knew, the sweet scent of her made his head spin.
It was supposed to be a kiss designed to humiliate Stew, to let him know that Annie was no longer available, but it turned into a quest to know Annie. To know the taste of her, the feel of her mouth against his and the warmth of her body as it melted into his.
The spark that had surprised him last night was still there, but today it was even more intense, shocking him with the force of his own desire. He buried his hand in her hair, mussing her elaborate do. He angled her mouth to give himself better access. It wasn’t enough. He wanted more. It stunned him, this primal need to drown in the taste of her.
The sound of running water caught his attention and he reluctantly released her. He glanced down. Her glass was dangling limply from her fingers. She seemed completely unaware that she’d spilled her champagne all over his shoes.
She slumped against the balcony rail as if her legs had given out. She pushed the curls from her face while she fought for breath. She looked rumpled, disheveled and thoroughly nonplussed. Fisher decided she was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
He retrieved the glass from her hand and glanced about. There was no sign of good old Stew. He grinned. “I guess we lost our audience.”
“Audience?” she asked between pants.
“Stew.”
“Who?” she asked.
“Your ex,” he reminded her. “Remember? The reason you invited me?”
“Oh, Stewart.” She nodded. “I forgot...I mean...uh...should we go back in?”
“Sure,” he agreed. Because she was irresistible in her confusion, he tipped her chin up and placed his lips on hers. Just a brief kiss to let her know that he wasn’t just kissing her because of Stew.
He pulled her hand into the crook of his elbow and led her toward the door. “It certainly is a fine evening for a wedding,” he said.
“Annie? Fisher?” One of the bridesmaids ducked her head through the balcony doors. “Come on. They’re about to cut the cake.”
“Your shining moment,” he said.
“I have to admit this cake is one of my best,” she said. Five tiers of smooth, ivory butter-cream frosting decorated from top to bottom with a waterfall of white peonies and purple roses. It was by far one of Annie’s most inspired creations. She’d spent an hour photographing it that afternoon for her album at the shop. “It’s going to be painful to watch them cut it up.”
“Yes, but they probably need you for the singing,” he said. “A bridesmaid’s work is never done.”
“Don’t I know it,” she agreed. “I don’t know why they just don’t give bridesmaids pom-poms. I mean we’re really just cheerleaders in fancy dresses.”
“Purple pom-poms?” He laughed. “It couldn’t be any worse than that parasol she had you carrying as you walked into the reception.”
“I know, a parasol at an evening wedding. What was she thinking?” Annie shook her head. “Too bad I didn’t have it with me when Stewart was here. I could have hit him over the head with it.”
“That’s one option,” he agreed as he led her back into the banquet hall.
“Oh, you are bad,” she said, trying to ignore the feel of his fingers around her elbow.
“Good bad or bad bad?” he asked. Annie glanced at his face and the intensity in his regard left her no doubt that he was referring to their kiss. She felt her insides clench in response. Oh dear!
They entered the reception hall to hear the wedding guests cheering as Eve cut a slice of cake and fed it to Tony.
Tony took the cake from Eve’s fingers, licking the frosting from her fingertips as he went. One glance at Eve’s mother, and Annie could see the lines of disapproval etched in her face.
“Wow! Do all couples feed each other like that?” Fisher asked, a surprised look on his face.
Annie watched as Eve ate the cake from Tony’s fingers. These two were positively hungry for one another. A surge of heat warmed Annie from the inside out. She felt like a voyeur watching the obvious passion between Tony and Eve. Was it like that between herself and Fisher?
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He clapped with the rest of the crowd when the bride and groom kissed. She studied his profile. His brown hair hung over his forehead, defying any attempt at order. His prominent nose looked as if it had been broken once or twice, and his lips were wide and full, as if they were made for kissing.
Annie felt a trickle of perspiration run down her back and she jerked her gaze away. She would not fall for her tenant. She would not fall for her tenant. She would not...
“What are you thinking?” he whispered in her ear.
Stepping away from him, she said, “Nothing.”
He smiled and his teeth were a slash of white against those lips. “Liar,” he accused.
Annie met his dark brown gaze and felt suddenly legless. His glance held humor with a glint of understanding. As if he knew very well what she’d been thinking and that she was fighting to deny it.
“Will all of the single ladies in the crowd please come to the center of the dance floor?” The DJ’s voice boomed through the hall and a squeal went up among several of the women. “That’s right. It’s time for the bride to toss the bouquet.”
“Well, that’s my cue to go hide in the ladies’ room,” Annie said and stepped away from Fisher with a grimace.
“Coward,” he teased.
“You betcha,” she said.
”Annie, there you are,” Eve cried as she rushed through the crush of guests to grab her arm.
“Help me,” Annie whispered to Fisher through clenched teeth.
“Oh, you don’t need me,” he said and nudged her forward. “I’m sure you’ll be able to catch that bouquet all by yourself.”
“Rat fink,” she hissed as Eve dragged her toward the dance floor.
He winked at her and Annie felt herself go weak in the knees.