Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Tucker
After I left Kate’s, I went back to the Errant Heart and spent the entire morning on the phone with my father. He was combatant to my idea, at first, but he slowly came around when he heard how passionate I was about the choices I’ve made.
Once we hammered out a viable plan, I went in search of Kate. It seems like everywhere I went, I’d barely missed her. For being such a tiny island, she managed to stay amazingly out of reach. As the hour grew later, I finally had to concede to defeat. I needed to get to the venue to get ready for the wedding with Logan and Sam.
As I walk up the steps to the event center, I realize it’s perfect for the occasion. It’s an amazing place––a dedicated space with two indoor halls and a huge deck for outdoor events when the weather is nice. The ceremony will be held in one of the large rooms, and the reception will be out on the deck since it’s supposed to be a warm, clear evening.
When I walk into the groom’s room, Sam is laughing as he verbally jabs Logan for being nervous when he’s known and loved Penny for most of his life. Logan chuckles, but the sound cuts off when he looks up and sees me in the doorway.
“Speaking of nervous,” he says, nodding in my direction, “J.T. looks worse off than I feel.”
“You do look a little green around the gills,” Sam says before I can respond. “Lose the rings already?”
I pat the bulge in my pocket created by the ring box and shake my head. “Nope. Got them right here.”
“Heard you spent all afternoon searching the island for Kate,” Logan says, jarringly changing the subject.
“How’d you hear that?” I ask, hedging.
Logan rolls his eyes. “Small town. Big mouths. Why don’t you just tell us what that was all about?”
I shake my head, lifting my palms into the air. “Not until I talk to her, first.”
Logan opens his mouth, no doubt to insist, but is interrupted by a knock on the door. The door swings open, and Blaine walks in without waiting for a response.
“Come on, sis. We could’ve been naked in here,” Logan gripes.
“If you’re all hanging out naked together, you’ve got bigger problems than me seeing your junk,” she snaps back with a wicked smile.
“Is something wrong?” I ask, thinking of Kate and her avoidance of me today.
She wouldn’t skip the wedding just to continue avoiding me, right? Shit. Logan and Penny would never forgive me.
“Everything is fine,” Blaine says before I can spin out any harder. “Better than fine, actually. Guess who got arrested?”
“Who?” Logan asks, and my mind reels.
It couldn’t be Kate, right? No. That’s stupid. What would she even be arrested for?
“Kaylee Harper.” My eyes flash up to Blaine’s face, and her smile widens. “She’s the one who broke into the bridal shop and destroyed Penny’s dress. In fact, Penny and Kate helped the chief solve the case.”
“What? How?” I ask.
“Video footage shows someone using a hidden spare key to get into the shop. And Peggy’s assistant is Kaylee’s roommate. Kate and Penny told the chief about the ice cream incident and how hard Kaylee has pined over Logan. The roommate folded the instant the sheriff took her in for questioning, pointing the finger at Kaylee and begging for leniency since she’s cooperating.”
The three of them discuss it further as my mind spins, then Blaine hugs Logan. She turns to me, and I accept her hug, freezing when her hand slips into mine. But before I can jerk away, I feel the scratch of paper in my palm. She pulls back and gives me a nod before hugging Sam and leaving the room.
I step aside and unfold the paper, finding a note from Kate. My brow furrows as I read it.
It’s been a perfect week, and I just wanted to thank you for everything. You’re an amazing man, Tucker Gibbs. I’ll never forget you. Love, Kate .
Is this goodbye? Is she really trying to end this thing between us? With a note?
Oh, hell no.
I tear out of there, ignoring the shouts from Logan and Sam as I slam the door closed behind me. Running, I catch up with Blaine as she reaches for the knob of a closed door. She spins toward me, surprise etched across her features, and I point toward the door.
“Is she in there?”
“Yes, but––”
I lunge forward before she can finish, twisting the nob and flinging the door open while slapping a hand over my eyes and calling out, “Everyone decent?”
“J.T.? You can open your eyes. I’m not naked.”
I drop my hand and see Penny standing in the middle of the room, a glass of bubbly in her hand as she fiddles with the collar of her white satin robe. My gaze darts around the space, searching for the one I seek, but Penny appears to be alone.
Meeting her eyes once more, I ask, “Where is she?”
“She went to check the arrangements and to make sure everything is in order, but––”
Just like with Blaine, I jump into action before she finishes, spinning and stalking out of the room. I check both ballrooms––one is empty while the other buzzes with energy as the staff finishes all of the last-minute preparations.
No Kate.
Quickening my steps, I head for the kitchen and question the staff. Much like earlier today, I seem to have just missed her. Before I lose it and start shouting her name like a madman, I decide to check the deck. Rushing through the doors that lead out to it, I skid to a stop. There she is.
She’s by the railing, staring out at the ocean with her back to me. Her body is framed by the glow of the setting sun, and I have to press a fist to my chest as my heart starts to thump in an irregular rhythm.
“Kate,” I say when I finally start moving again, and she spins around, the long skirt of her dark plum dress flowing out around her.
I stop once more, completely struck dumb by her beauty. She looks amazing in her bridesmaid’s gown, a literal angel sent down from heaven to take my breath away. Her long hair is pinned up in an intricate hairstyle that’s left little wispy strands to dance around her face in the salty breeze. Her eyes are painted with a smoky hue, and her lips are glossed in shiny pink.
Fuck, I want to kiss her so badly. To see if those shimmering lips taste as good as they look.
“Tucker?” she breathes, and the word snaps me back to the present.
Anger fills me as I stalk toward her, waving her note in the air. Her eyes widen when she sees it, and her chest is heaving by the time I stop directly in front of her.
“Mind telling me what the hell this is?”