cell phone rang, startling them both. Charlie groaned as she checked the screen. “It’s Amanda.” She let it ring again. “I guess if we find out it’s over, we can leave.” She crossed her fingers of her left hand and picked up the phone with her right. “Hello?”
“I need you down here. The rehearsal’s been moved up an hour. Greg is so anxious to make this happen he’s making everyone crazy. He says he wants us down here right now. He’s waiting and said to make sure you got word.” Amanda’s laugh indicated that she’d been through a few glasses of wine and that if anything, she was more nervous than before.
Charlie shot a look at Shep. “I’ll be right down.”
“We’ll be right down,” he said as she disconnected. “I’m no longer sure of who I have to keep you safe from.”
She flashed him a smile an instant before tears filled her eyes. “Have I told you how glad I am that you’re here?”
He nodded and pulled her into his arms. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be on this earth than with you,” he said against her hair. He felt a rush of emotion as he drew back to look at her. This love he felt was so strong, it made how he’d felt about her years ago pale in comparison.
With it came fear for Charlie. Lacey was still out there and if he was right, she’d killed Jason. So far, Lacey had just been taunting Charlie. But it felt as if she was no longer fooling around. All his instincts told him she would be coming after Charlie next.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHARLIE DIDN’T KNOW what to expect as she and Shep went to meet Greg and Amanda. Tears and hysteria were definitely high on the possible list though. Greg had wanted both Amanda and her downstairs. Charlie really doubted it was because he’d moved up the rehearsal. She was hoping that by the time she and Shep reached the lower room, the fireworks would be over.
But as she pushed open the door, Shep right behind her, she was shocked to find that Amanda had been right. Greg had moved up the rehearsal by an hour. The preacher was standing at one end of the room holding a large Bible. In front of him were Greg and Amanda. Greg had his arm around her. They were both smiling.
“There you are!” Amanda said, a reprimand tinging her words. She disconnected herself from Greg to rush toward them. “Oh, you brought your...friend. He looks just as good in clothes. Are you ready?”
“Ready as I will ever be,” Charlie said under her breath as she noticed how many chairs had been brought in on both sides of the aisle. Were that many guests really coming?
She must have asked the question aloud.
Mugging a face at her, Amanda grabbed her arm forcefully and said, “Greg has a lot of friends and associates and I have a few friends.”
“Just not one you wanted to ask to be your maid of honor,” Charlie said under her breath as Amanda squeezed her too hard.
They both turned toward where Greg was standing, waiting with the preacher. Charlie did her best not to meet Greg’s eyes as she let Amanda lead her toward the preacher. “Where’s the best man?” she whispered.
“Late. As usual,” Amanda replied just as quietly. They reached Greg, and Amanda let go of her.
“As soon as the best man arrives...” Greg said. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said as Shep started to take a seat in the front row. “Not formally, anyway.”
“Shep, this is my boss, Greg Shafer,” Charlie said. “And this is Westly Shepherd, my—”
“I’m the man who’s going to marry Charlie,” Shep said and smiled at her. “That is if she’ll have me.”
She felt a little light-headed.
“Really?” Greg said. “I didn’t realize it was that...serious.”
“Oh, I’m very serious,” he said, not taking his eyes off her. Charlie felt her cheeks flare.
“Of course she’ll have you!” Amanda cried. “Look at her, she’s practically glowing. I wish I’d known,” she said, hurrying to hug Charlie. “If I’d known, we could have had a double wedding.”
Charlie couldn’t speak. Shep had practically asked her to marry him. And just the thought of a double wedding with Amanda... She mentally slapped herself. Shep was just doing this to keep Greg away from her. It wasn’t like he’d just asked her to marry him. Yet when she met his gaze again...
She flushed as her heart hammered in her chest.
“Well, it’s nice to meet