A Cold Dark Promise (Cold Justice #8.5)(2)
Dermot Gray and Haley Cramer, his business partners, rounded out his side of the wedding party. “I’m going into the office to check in with Haley and Dermot and the guys on the cybercrimes team.” Everyone who worked for him was invited to the wedding. That meant they were setting up an emergency room in the hotel to run any ongoing operations and to be available in case of any new intrusions. A few of them would need to remain sober but no one would miss the party completely. “Pick you up in an hour?”
She shook her head. “Mom invited us to lunch.”
The muscles in his chest tightened.
“I told her you were busy so you can thank me later. I’ll get a cab back to the apartment when we’re done.”
He kissed her forehead. “And that is one of the many reasons I love you.”
She smoothed her palm over his cheek. “One of the reasons.”
They stood on the sidewalk not going anywhere for several long minutes. He never got tired of kissing her.
She pulled away, looking as dazed as he felt. “Is Haley picking up her dress or should I get it delivered with the others?”
“I’ll ask her.”
Mallory eyed him knowingly. “Is she still pissed she isn’t your best man?”
Alex took her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips. “She’ll get over it.”
“Eventually.” Mal already knew his business partner well enough to realize Haley would make him suffer long and hard before she forgave him.
“I invited her to my hen weekend,” Mal said suddenly.
Alex felt the blood drain from his head. “Did she say yes?”
“She hasn’t replied yet.”
Haley and Dermot had been his best friends at MIT. Of the three of them, Haley was the free-spirited wild child. She came from money and had fronted the startup costs for their company. She was razor sharp and partied like the world might end tomorrow. He loved her like a sister, but god help the man who fell in love with her.
“If she gets you into trouble, I’m going to kidnap her and dump her on her Caribbean island for a month. Alone. I might make it two months and arrange a food drop.”
“Then she really will kill you.”
“She’ll have to catch me first.” He sighed. “I need to find her a decent boyfriend.”
Mallory punched his arm. “You don’t need to find her anything. She’s more than capable of finding her own man.”
Alex shook his head. “She’s attracted to douchebags. I’m going to try and find her a nice guy who doesn’t mind a few sharp edges.”
Mallory smoothed her hand down the front of his shirt, her engagement ring shimmering like a small sun in the morning light. “She’ll find someone. The worst thing you can do is try to set her up.”
Alex’s mouth quirked. “Maybe she’ll meet someone at the wedding.”
His only jobs for the big day, aside from turning up, were figuring out the seating arrangements for the reception, and writing two-hundred or so name place cards as per the wedding planner’s orders. Apparently, first-come, first-served, didn’t fly in these social circles. Considering how many politicians were on the guest list that was a damned shame. Maybe he’d surround Haley with every eligible bachelor he knew, but then she really might kill him. He’d wanted to hire someone to write the cards for him, or have them printed, but the wedding planner said the personal touch made everything more authentic.
How could a card telling you where you were sitting at dinner determine the authenticity of someone’s wedding vows?
Whatever. He’d get the damn cards written this week.
He checked his watch and looked at the front door of the little shop full of white froth. “Want me to come in with you?”
“No, thank you. We don’t need any bad luck.”
He grinned and pulled her to him again, kissing the tip of her nose and feeling their child kick against his stomach. He looked down. “Someone’s feisty.”
Mal laughed and placed his hand against her abdomen. “Tell me about it. This kid of ours is either going to be a kick-boxer or a soccer player.”
“You sure you’re okay?” He searched her features for signs of fatigue, but her skin was soft and smooth as peaches and she practically glowed with happiness.
“I am perfect.”
He swallowed the ache in his throat.
“I’ll text you once I finish up with my mother. See you back at the apartment, and we can take Rex for a stroll together.”
Rex was their golden retriever who’d been rescued after his owner was brutally murdered. He stayed with Alex’s neighbor whenever they were away overnight, just until they got into their new home. Fortunately, Rex was used to apartment living.
“Sounds like a plan.” Alex watched Mallory walk away, wondering how he’d ever gotten this lucky.
An hour later, he parked outside the brownstone in Woodley Park that housed Cramer, Parker & Gray, Security Consultants. Five carefully packaged, custom-tailored tuxes were stacked in the trunk. Haley’s gown was being delivered with the bridesmaids’ dresses. His cell phone pinged with a message from an unknown user as he headed up the steps. He stopped and read the text.
He stood for a moment and contemplated ignoring the summons. Then he closed his eyes and swore. Pivoting on his heel, he strode north-west along Connecticut Avenue. At least it was warm out. Scenting coffee, he found a nearby Starbucks and grabbed two cups of dark roast. He crossed the street and entered the National Zoo, mingling with tourists and parents pushing strollers around the large enclosures. A tingle of excitement shot through him. This could be him soon, showing his child the joys of animals and the natural world.