Debra Burroughs - Paradise Valley 06 - The Harbor of Lies (27 page)

As Emily entered, they all quieted and turned, smiling at her and moving apart to make a straight shot down the middle, right to Colin.

On either side of his bed stood white wicker stands filled with the flowers she and Susan had chosen at the florist’s shop a couple of days before. Colin had a boutonniere pinned to the chest of his hospital gown.

Propped up by several pillows, he flashed her a wide grin. “Morning, Babe.”

Emily moved slowly to him, her gaze floating from face to face, awareness starting to dawn on her. She leaned down and kissed him softly. “What’s all this?”

“What do you think it is?” Susan gestured toward the wedding dress hanging on a hook beside the bathroom door, an ankle-length sheath with long, fitted sleeves and a deep, square neckline, in the softest shade of winter white.

Emily sucked in a quick breath and her hand flew up to her chest. She looked at the dress, then back at Colin. “Really?”

He took her hand and kissed it. “Emily, will you marry me, today?”

“Today? But how?” Her vision blurred with happy tears.

“Easy-peasy.” Susan laughed.

“What?” Emily blinked a few times, trying to hold the tears back.

“Mayor McCormack has agreed to perform the ceremony.” Susan motioned toward Ella. “She’s also a justice of the peace.”

“She is?” Emily squeaked, her voice constricting with emotion.

“Now, I know she’s not a minister, like you requested, but—”

“She’s perfect,” Emily cried, no longer able to contain the tears of joy. “But we forgot to get the marriage license.”

“No worries, young lady. I brought the application with me.” The mayor waved a paper in the air. “And I’ll be happy to walk it through the process on Monday, personally. After all, what’s family for?”

“Family?” Colin questioned with a slight frown.

“Remember?” Brian said, “The mayor is my aunt.”

“Funny how things work out.” Emily drew a deep breath and tried her best to gain control over her tears. She turned back to Colin and squeezed his hand lightly. “I promised myself we would get married today, come hell or high water, but I never dreamed it would be like this.”

Colin chuckled, then winced in pain and groaned. “We certainly got some of each.”

Emily glanced around at all her friends, moving from face to face. “I don’t know what to say. This is all so, so…”

“Wonderful?” Camille asked.

“Surprisin’?” Maggie chimed in.

Emily wiped a couple of stray tears from her cheeks, searching for the right word. “Overwhelming.”

“Oh, now stop that,” Colin’s mother said, her eyes misting, “before you have us all blubbering.”

“Everyone is invited down to the hospital chapel.” Susan pulled the wedding gown off the hook. “As soon as we get the bride into her dress, the ceremony can begin.”

“What about my shoes?”

“Got ’em,” Susan assured her. “I snuck them out of your closet this morning when you weren’t looking.”

Isabel clapped her hands together a few times. “Come on people, let’s get moving. We’ve got a wedding to put on. Can someone grab those flower arrangements?” She moved next to Emily. “I know now’s not a good time, but when you get back from your honeymoon, I hope you’ll let me explain myself.”

Emily wasn’t sure how to feel. Isabel was her best friend, yet she had lied to her for years, had kept Evan’s charade a secret, and who knew what else. But she did love Isabel—they were closer than sisters. Could she ever trust her again? Maybe Isabel had truly done it to protect her.

Emily nodded. “When we get home.”

Isabel gave her a little smile before going off to help get the chapel set up for the wedding.

“It’s really happening, isn’t it?” Emily glanced down at Colin, still holding his hand.

“It certainly looks that way, Babe.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it? Going to the chapel, I mean.”

“I think so.”

“You think so? So the doctor hasn’t cleared you to do this?” Emily pitched him a stern look.

“With help, I can get into a wheelchair and have someone push me down the aisle just as well as I can laying here.”

Emily turned and looked at Brian, lying helpless in the other bed, one leg still in traction. He would have to miss the wedding because of his broken legs. “How about we have it right here?” she said. “Then Brian can be a part. He is family after all.”

Susan beamed.

Colin nodded with a smile. “Great idea.”

“It’s settled then.” Emily looked pleased with the new arrangement. “Now if someone can grab the mayor and get the fellas to bring the flowers back, I’ll get into my dress and we can get this party started.”

“Now, Emily,” Camille stepped in, “do you have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?”

“Well, no,” Emily replied. “I actually hadn’t even thought of it. But those things—”

“Oh, we certainly can’t have that,” Colin’s mother said, joining the group. “Here, Emily.” She handed her a small black felt box. “I brought these for you. I thought you might like to wear them.”

Emily slowly opened it and saw a beautiful pair of teardrop pearl earrings with diamond-crusted studs. “Oh, Carolyn! They’re gorgeous.” She hugged her in appreciation.

“They were my mother’s and I wore them when I married Colin’s father. So, there—something old.”

“Can I get some help?” Colin moaned, trying to reach the drawer in his side table.

Maggie rushed to his aid.

“Pull out the drawer and hand me the black box in there.”

Maggie gave it to him and he held it out to Emily. “This was going to be my wedding gift to you, Babe. Isabel was kind enough to get it from my room.”

Emily opened it to find a strand of luscious pearls. “I love them!” She leaned down and kissed him. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she uttered, looking deeply into his smiling eyes.

“And that takes care of somethin’ new,” Maggie said. “Now for somethin’ borrowed.” She handed Emily a white linen handkerchief with delicate hand-crocheted lace on the edges. “My granny made this for me when I got married. So all you have left is to find somethin’ blue.”

“Emily!” Whitley pressed her way through the small crowd until she reached the bride. She lifted a silver chain up and over her head and handed Emily the pendant with the blue rhinestones that Ben had given her. “You told me on several occasions how much you liked this necklace and, well, after finding out who Ben really was, I can’t keep it. So there’s your something blue.”

Caught off guard by the gesture, Emily looked down at the pendant in her hand and then to Colin, meeting his gaze. “Thank you, Whitley.” She turned back to the young woman and hugged her neck. “This is wonderful. You don’t know what this means. I don’t think it will go with my wedding gown, but I’ll be sure to wear it under my dress.”

The girl grinned and seemed happy with herself as she stepped away.

Emily fumbled with the pendant and slid the thumb drive connector out, confirming it was exactly as she had suspected. “I think we’re set.”

The men brought the flowers back as Emily and Susan went into the bathroom with her gown. By the time they came back out, everyone was in the room waiting for the bride, making a center aisle for her. Mayor McCormack stood on the right, beside Colin.

Emily slowly marched down the middle of the crowd, holding a single white rose. Suddenly, the wedding march began to softly play. Emily looked in the direction of the music. It was coming from Molly’s iPod, and Emily flashed the girl a grateful smile.

She continued down the aisle, her eyes locked on her groom, and his on her. She glided to her place on the left of Colin, facing her guests, and took his hand.

“Wow,” he whispered, his eyes lighting up. “You look so beautiful.”

She smiled down at him and a happy warmth filled her, confident she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with.

Mayor McCormack led Colin and Emily in reciting their vows. Maggie’s borrowed hanky came in handy as a few joyful tears fell on Emily’s cheeks, but she wasn’t the only one in the room shedding them.

“Something must have gotten in my eye,” Brian murmured to his wife.

“Me too,” Colin’s dad admitted.

“I promise you, Babe,” Colin smiled up at his bride, his eyes moist as well, “’til death do us part, as long as we both shall live.”

“Yes, as long as we both shall live.” Emily leaned down close to him and whispered, “This couldn’t be any more perfect.”

“Now, who has the rings?” the mayor asked as her gaze danced around the room.

Colin’s and Emily’s eyes flew wide and they each shot an expectant look toward the other.

“The rings!”

THE END

Afterword

I hope you were as excited and entertained reading
The Harbor of Lies
as I was when writing it. If you did enjoy the romance and mystery of
The Harbor of Lies
, I would like to ask you a favor to go back to Amazon and leave a review. We indie authors live and die by our reviews.

Want more romance/suspense/mystery? Just check out the next section!

~*~

Other Works by Debra Burroughs

The Scent of Lies

a Paradise Valley Mystery

Book One

An engaging, fast-paced murder mystery with a sensual, but sweet and satisfying romance. Full of friendships, romance, mystery, and intrigue. Think “Sex and the City” meets “Nancy Drew.”

Praise for
The Scent of Lies
…

“The Scent of Lies caught my attention on the first page and kept me engaged until the last. Main character, Emily Parker, is a likable, vulnerable, sassy, hotheaded, smart woman surrounded by loving friends. This cleverly crafted story takes the reader on an engaging romp through hidden clues, romance, crime and murder.”

~ Janis McNutt

Amazon Reviewer

“Debra Burroughs has once again had me addicted to my kindle. I love the characters in this book. They are so real and so likable you want them for your own. Each time I thought I knew who the killer was, there would be some kind of twist to make me question myself. I was rooting for Emily from the beginning. Can she solve this murder and really become the private investigator that she truly wants to be? She proves herself to all of those who doubt her.”

~ Yvonne Havens

Amazon Reviewer

Amazon Reviewer

To purchase or sample
The Scent of Lies
, simply click
here
.

~*~

The Heart of Lies

a Paradise Valley Mystery

Book Two

Online dating can be murder.
The Heart of Lies
is a captivating and suspenseful mystery with a healthy dose of real romance and the close bonds of friendship.

What people are saying about
The Heart of Lies…

“I enjoyed every page of this book, The mystery draws you in but the relationship between Emily and Colin keeps you wanting more…I can’t wait to continue reading about these characters, and digging deeper into the mystery in Paradise Valley!!”

~ J Douglas

Amazon Reviewer

“This book has proven to be a five-star sequel to The Scent of Lies. Don’t let the author’s clean writing fool you, the passion and sexual tension between Private Investigator Emily and Detective Colin is delicious.”

~ jne2003

Amazon Reviewer

“I loved the characters and the intense story line. I am currently reading book 3. So far I love this author and will be reading more of her books. I can’t wait to find out the outcome of the mystery of Evan.”

~ Natalie Hardie

Amazon Reviewer

To purchase or sample
The Heart of Lies
, simply click
here
.

~*~

The Chain of Lies

a Paradise Valley Mystery

Book Three

A sensual and gripping story with murder, romance, mystery, and intrigue—think “Sex and the City” meets “Women’s Murder Club”. Female private eye Emily Parker is hunting down a suspected sex slave ring with the help of her girlfriends and the town’s sexy police detective.