Risky Shot (12 page)

“I’m sorry, you just look so funny with that HUGE magenta bow on your ass.” Paige bit down on her lip to stop from breaking out into laughter again.

“Well, let’s not mention the hoop skirt and layer upon layers of ruffles on your dress.” Dani stopped and made the mistake of looking back at Paige. She pinched her lips together to fight the smile and silently laughed. Her shoulders shook as she took in the pale blue hoop dress with an elastic off-the-shoulder scoop top covered in white ruffles. A small parasol was hanging by a strap off her wrist. It made her magenta, fake satin dress full of bows look good.

Dani put her hand on the door knob and slowly turned it. She held her breath as she pushed open the door and saw that Kenna was still asleep on the couch. They crept into the room and stood before Kenna in their hideous get-ups. A laugh mixed with a little snort escaped from Paige. Dani saw Kenna’s eyes shoot open as she screamed and fell off the couch. Paige and Dani succumbed to fits of laughter as Kenna stared at them in all their horrible glory.

“What’s going...,” Henry slid to a stop at the door and took in Kenna on the floor and Paige and Dani bent over laughing. “Those dresses are ugly as sin. But, I’d still do you.” He turned around and went back to his office. This time all three of them broke out into laughter.

“What are you two doing?” Kenna asked as she pulled herself up.

“Bachelorette party! We even have a dress for you.” Dani pulled out the tacky dress they had bought at the thrift store.

“Do you know how drunk I would have to be to put that on?” Kenna stared at the puffball of crinoline, netting, ruffles, and bows. It was the epitome of tacky in every sense.

“I can help with that!” Paige pulled out the pitcher of Rose Sisters' ice tea and placed it on her desk.

“No way. I will not do it.”

“Come on. We’ll do it with you. It’s late, no one is going to find out.” Dani urged Kenna toward the front door of the office. They had finished off the ice tea hours ago and had now moved on to martinis. After three drinks, Kenna had put on the hideous gown and now resembled the Michelin Tire Man. After the last round of drinks, Paige told them about the high school Seniors' tradition of running naked downtown. None of them wanted to do that. So they came up with the idea to run to the courthouse and back in full wedding gear.

Dani fumbled with the lock and opened the front door. Paige took one arm and Dani took the other as they dragged Kenna out onto the sidewalk. It was well past two in the morning and Dani doubted Kenna could walk a straight line, much less run in one. However, they were having a great time. Dani’s side was aching from laughing so hard. Those muscles hadn’t been used in months and were going to be sore tomorrow. They had laughed, danced, told embarrassing stories, and changed Henry’s desktop from a picture of him with some hot woman to a picture of the three of them in their outfits.

“One, two, three. Go!” Paige took off with Kenna and Dani being dragged behind. The windows of the shops were dark, but the street lights let off a soft yellow glow. The smell of the flowers in the baskets on the light poles floated in the air as they ran down the street.

They made it to the courthouse when Kenna stopped to catch her breath. She leaned against the statue of Lady Justice astride a big horse and looked around. “This place looks so strange in the middle of the night.”

“Girl, we’re past middle of the night and sailing right through early morning.”

Paige stood up, “Okay, last one back has to drink what the other two make. Ready, set, go!”

Dani knew she was the weakest link, but Paige was hampered by a hoop skirt and Kenna was weighed down in ruffles and bows. She took the early lead before being stopped short when she saw red and blue lights flashing from behind them.

“Come on! We were just one block away,” Kenna groaned. “Now everyone is going to know about this and I am going to blame you two.”

The Sheriff’s cruiser pulled up along side of them and the door opened. A young man stepped out and stared momentarily before laughing outright. “Oh, I can’t wait to tell the boys about his one.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone.

“Dinky, don’t you dare. I will tell your Mama about the time you ate her famous blackberry pie right before judging at the county fair, causing her to be disqualified.” Paige placed her hands on her hips and tried to look intimidating in spite of the ridiculous outfit.

“Dinky? You’re name is Dinky? You poor thing.” Dani tried not to laugh at him, but failed.

Blushing the boy stared first at Paige and then Dani. “It was a nickname I got during training because I am not the biggest of people.” Turning to Paige, “I don’t know. This may be worth my Mama’s wrath.

* * *

Dani groaned and pulled out her sunglasses and put them on to block out the early morning sun. “Why do I have to go to court with you?”

Dani pushed open the door to the courtroom and stopped when she found everyone staring at her. When Kenna stepped through the door and stood next to Dani, there were some cheers and some moans. She grabbed her head again at the loud intruding noise.

“What is that all about?” Dani asked.

“They like to place bets on whether I will show up to court with a hangover.” Signaling to a lady who looked to be a drill sergeant, Kenna said, “Martha, this is Danielle De Luca. She’ll help me out today. Since you’re smiling, I am guessing you won some money?”

“I learned from last time. You’ll get to court no matter what. From what we heard from Dinky last night, a lot of people bet against you.”

“Oh! That was me. But, you must tell me why they call him Dinky? He was anything but last night.” She lowered her voice and confided in Martha, “He was as strong as a bear. So sexy when a man can take care of a woman, but to take care of three of them! You know, I used to model and he’s a catch if I’d ever seen one.”

“A bear you say? Dinky, sexy?”

“Sure was. I just love strong men, and that man was such a gentlemen! Mmmm!” Dani gave a little sexy shiver and walked to the chair at the front table. She pushed her sunglasses back up and hoped that was enough to get the rumors started.

* * *

The Ashton farm was lit with oriental lanterns and covered in white and red roses. Over two hundred people were enjoying drinks, food, and the unseasonably comfortable weather in Betsy and William's back yard.

“Okay, I will go send Judge Cooper out and get everything in place. Give me five minutes.” She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss before running back up the stone path leading to the house.

She pushed open the big front door and yelled up the stairs, “Okay, we’re ready to go in five!” She walked down the long hall and into the back living room. Peaking through the drawn curtains, she watched as Mo’s men casually moved people off the stone path leading down to the back garden.

“Okay, I had to get away from Dinky, or should I say Bear. He’s embracing his new rep as a sexy cop a little too much.” Paige sat down on the couch and looked up to Dani, “Are they almost ready?”

“Yes. I see Mo directing Judge Cooper to the gazebo.”

“Good, then all we need is my bride.” Will entered the room looking stunning in a black tux. He was followed by two very large men also in tuxes. “Ladies, this is Demarcus White and Daniel Goins. We played ball together in Washington. Guys, Danielle De Luca and Paige Davies. Ah, and there is my lovely bride.”

Dani looked away from the mountain of men she was paired with to see Kenna come into the room. She looked gorgeous in a simple white silk gown. Will walked towards her and ever so gently kissed her. Realizing she had just sighed out loud, she took another peek out the window. Why was she thinking about wearing a white dress herself and walking down the aisle to meet Mo? For whatever reason, the image wouldn’t leave her mind tonight.

“Okay, I think we’re ready. Mo just stood up with Judge Cooper on the gazebo and he’s making the announcement.” They were all quiet as they waited for Mo to finish talking. They knew the announcement had been made when the crowd went wild with gasps and cheers. The music was cued and she opened the door for Paige and Mountain Man to walk out first.

She quickly went to Kenna, “You look amazing. I am so happy for you!” She kissed Kenna on her cheek and then took her place with the other Mountain Man.

“The wedding was beautiful. I can’t believe we pulled that off!” She slid off her high heeled sandals and wiggled her toes on the soft carpet of Mo’s car.

“You were beautiful.”

She felt her face blush at the compliment and watched as they pulled into Miss Lily’s. She just couldn’t shake the feeling that she was supposed to marry Mo. When she looked at him, she could not help but smile. That, along with the fact that her heart was jumping up and down saying ‘it’s him, it’s him!’, was a dead giveaway to how she truly felt.

Mo opened her door and bent down into her seat. “What are you doing?”

“Carrying a beautiful woman to her room.” He slid an arm under her knees and another one around her back, easily lifting her out of the car. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. Her shoes dangled down his back from her finger tips as he carried her to the porch.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of his cologne. She was just too lucky. Mo was all hers. The visions from a night full of dancing lingered in her mind. They developed quickly into flashes of them married and relaxing out in the country with their kids running around them. Mo was someone who knew the city life, but loved the country. He was also someone that was well traveled, but ready to settle down. He was perfect.

He sat down on the swing and put his lips to hers. She snuggled into him and let the dream come to life.

“About tonight,” he murmured into her hair.

The flood light kicked on and Miss Lily opened the front door and started to sweep. She turned and jumped when she saw them on the swing. “Mohtadi!” she screeched. “I don’t care if you are a prince, I will smack you with this broom so fast if you don’t stop playing hanky panky on my porch and scaring the living daylights out of me!”

It felt like Dani’s world came to a screeching halt. “Prince?”

“Um, well, the thing is,” Mo’s face had lost a lot color. “I am a Sheik of Rahmi. But, I am third in line, so it hardly counts.”

Dani jumped up, “Hardly counts? It hardly counts that you are royalty? That you have a deep obligation to your country? That we talked about raising kids in the country and finally settling down? You’re a freaking prince? A prince to a country halfway around the world?”

“Don’t forget you're the Most Eligible International Bachelor,” Miss Lily put in.

“Oh my God.” Dani shook her head. She looked out into the yard and focused on a big orange tabby cat making his way toward the house. Her visions of marriage, children, and a quiet life in the country all faded to visions of paparazzi, stuffy political dinners, and jet setting. The tabby made its way up the stairs and hid in the dark next to the swing.

“I was going to tell you. I have just never had someone like me for me. I was selfish. I guess I should tell you all of it then. I have less than a year to be married or my father gets to choose my bride. I have five more months to marry the person of my choosing. I should also tell you that tonight I made my decision. I choose you.”

Dani snapped her head around. “Oh, real nice. I dreamed of kids, a quiet life in the country, and a husband that could be my partner in life. What I get is some egotistical prince who tells me he’s chosen me. You expect me to jump up and down because you’re on the top of some list? I'd rather be with that cat than someone who only wants to marry me because he’s running out of time.” She took a couple of steps forward and picked up the big tabby. The cat nuzzled into her hand and she absently started to scratch his head. “The worst part was that I fell in love with you. No, that’s not right, I fell in love with a fantasy.”

“Danielle.”

“No, no more. Go polish your crown.” She turned on her heel and went inside, leaving Miss Lily to close the door behind her.

She ran up the stairs and sat down hard on the end of her bed. Tears fell freely as she realized she might have ruined the best thing to happen to her. But, what was real? Was the real Mo a country living horse racer, or the third in line to the crown of a whole country? She opened her eyes and realized she still had a death grip on the poor cat.

“Sorry bud.” She felt for a collar and didn’t find one. Dani did not want to face Miss Lily, so she opened the widow and placed the cat on the windowsill. “There you go. I can tell you have all your claws. You can just climb down the tree and be on your way.”

She slowly made her way back to bed. Her legs felt as if they were filled with lead. She was suddenly so tired. Maybe he would come back for her? Maybe he would fix this, somehow. She curled up on top of her bed and fluffed her pillow. She felt the mattress dip and then start to vibrate. Turning her head she saw the cat curled up next to her with his eye on the door, as if guarding her. She smiled and laid a hand on the purring cat and closed her eyes. In seconds, she was asleep.