The Best Man to Trust - By Kerry Connor Page 0,4

think about...all of that,” Scott admitted. “The only thing I care about is marrying Rachel. This is what she wants, and as long as I can do it for her, I will.”

Tom wasn’t surprised. Rachel had always been someone who wanted her own way, and Scott had always been willing to go along with whatever she wanted. Scott also hadn’t grown up with much money, and Tom knew the fact that he could afford to give Rachel this wedding had to be a point of pride for him.

No, the surprising part was that the wedding was taking place at all. “I still sort of can’t believe you guys are really getting married after all this time.”

Scott laughed. “Honestly, sometimes I can’t believe it, either. What can I say? I guess it was just meant to be.”

Maybe it was, Tom agreed silently. Scott and Rachel had been a couple for more than two years in college before breaking up senior year for reasons that had never entirely clear to Tom. Last year they’d run into each other again, discovering they were both still single and the connection was still there between them. Whatever had happened in the past, they appeared to have put it behind them and were now stronger than ever. And now here they were, ready to get married. It was a reassuring example that maybe things did work out sometimes in this crazy world after all.

Of course, first the wedding had to go off without a hitch. Judging by some of the comments from the rest of the wedding party since they’d met up at the airport, he wasn’t the only one wondering if Scott and Rachel weren’t tempting fate by deciding to come here for their nuptials.

It wasn’t only the wedding party that was slightly on edge. Tom hadn’t missed the tension on Meredith Sutton’s face beneath her carefully constructed good cheer. Her smile had never wavered, but it was there in the tightness of that smile, the way her expression was so thoroughly locked into place, as though she refused to let anyone see anything other than what she wanted them to.

She was nervous, and was doing everything she could not to show it.

He doubted the others would notice it. Too bad he was just a little too good at reading faces. And he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease in the pit of his gut in response.

Considering what had happened here before, Meredith Sutton probably had good reason to be nervous. He just had to wonder if that was the only reason.

He watched her start up the stairs at the other end of the space, leading the group that trailed behind her. She was thin—maybe too much so—her posture ramrod straight, her shoulder-length brown hair floating behind her slightly as she walked. She made a strangely vulnerable picture, dwarfed by the size of the space around her.

The lights suddenly flickered again, drawing his attention back to the chandelier.

“Come on,” Scott said, clapping him on the back. “We don’t want to get left behind.”

“Especially if the lights do go out,” he agreed. Picking up his bags, he gave one more glance around the lush hall. He had to admit, this would be an amazing place for a wedding. His professional instincts kicking in, he could easily envision it, picturing the shots, the perfect angles to capture it all. Everyone might be a little uneasy now, but if everything went well, it would all be worth it.

When everything went well, he corrected himself, moving to follow Scott to the stairs. They were all being ridiculous. Nothing was going to happen this weekend. Nothing but the wedding of Scott and Rachel’s dreams.

* * *

SUTTON HALL CERTAINLY lived up to its reputation. It was beautiful, classical, extravagant.

And creepy.

It was partly due to the weather, as the lights flickered again, each flash seeming to indicate the power could go out at any moment, plunging them into darkness.

But it was more than that. No matter how stunning the surroundings were, it was impossible to forget that someone had died here only six months ago, that a murderer had once walked these halls.

Just as another one did now.

Cool eyes watched as a few members of the group shuddered while they made their way up the stairs. They were nervous.

They should be. They just didn’t know how true that was.

But they would. Soon.

A place like this, which had so recently served as the backdrop for death, was the perfect setting for