Page 3 of The Murder Club

Bailey’s gaze never wavered from Dom’s face. It was stunningly familiar despite the fact that it’d been several months since she’d last seen him. As if she’d spent the short time they were together memorizing each feature.

The thought was oddly disturbing.

“We met at the wedding,” she explained.

“You mean the super-secret wedding no one was invited to?”

It had been a source of unending annoyance to the citizens of Pike that Lia and Kaden had chosen a small, private ceremony on the land they’d recently purchased outside of town. They’d been expecting a lavish Hollywood blowout that would bring in celebrities rushing to the area.

Instead there were less than twenty people invited. Including Bailey as the maid of honor and Dom Lucier as the best man. The only outsiders were a cluster of paparazzi who had obnoxiously jam-packed the road leading to Kaden’s property.

“That’s the one.”

Kari clicked her tongue. “No wonder Lia didn’t want to share.”

“Lia wouldn’t notice another man besides Kaden if he stripped naked in front of her.”

“Darling, if that man stripped in front of me, I’d not only notice, I’d go up in flames,” Kari admitted.

“What about Martin?” Bailey teased, reminding Kari of her husband, who was currently at home with their kids.

“Martin who? Oh, heavens.” Kari released a nervous giggle. “He’s coming this way. Be still my heart.”

Bailey wasn’t worried about her skidding, crashing heart as she met the midnight gaze that locked onto her from across the crowded room. She was far more concerned she might faint as the air was ruthlessly squeezed from her lungs. Kari was right. He was weaving his way through the tables.

Directly toward her.

* * *

Dom Lucier barely noticed the throng of people who were stuffed in the narrow space. Not even when they stopped in unison to watch him walk toward the woman who’d lured him into the bar.

He’d been leaning against the building across the street, impatiently waiting for his dinner, when his gaze was captured by the sign painted on the front window. THE BAIT AND TACKLE. He assumed it was some sort of store to buy fishing equipment until he realized the place was filled with customers who were waving around beer bottles. He’d been about to turn away when he caught sight of a familiar face.

Bailey Evans.

Without hesitation, Dom had shoved himself away from the building and hurried across the street. He’d had every intention of looking up Bailey when he arrived in Pike. Not only because she was one of the few people he knew in town but because he hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts since returning to Vegas.

He’d spent the weekend of Kaden’s wedding performing all the traditional best man duties. Thankfully, that included spending time with the maid of honor. First there’d been the combined bachelor and bachelorette party that had been a casual BBQ at Kaden’s home. The fact that the sprawling house was still in the process of being built hadn’t detracted from the fun of playing yard games and toasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the bonfire.

Then there’d been the wedding rehearsal and dinner, and the actual ceremony, followed by a reception. And through it all Bailey had been at his side.

Warm and charming and completely at ease with herself.

When she was nearby Dom hadn’t felt like an outsider. She’d been so welcoming that he’d instantly felt like he was home.

And even after he’d returned to Vegas to run Money Makers, the pawnshop and restoration garage he owned with Kaden, she’d stayed on his mind. Which was only one of many reasons he’d agreed to come to Pike.

At last battling his way through the crowd, Dom managed to reach the small round table. He smiled, barely resisting the urge to push back the stray curl that brushed against her cheek.

They were virtually strangers, but the sensation that he’d known her all his life crashed through him.

“Bailey, this is a nice surprise.” He pitched his tone so it would carry over the noise of the bar, but not so loud the gawkers could overhear his words.

Bailey tilted back her head, her wide brown eyes glowing with a velvet softness. Was she pleased to see him? Damn. He hoped so. She was just as beautiful as he remembered.

Maybe not beautiful in the traditional sense. Her features were delicate, almost fragile, but her mouth was too wide for her thin face, and there were several freckles sprinkled over her cheeks. Still, it all somehow combined to create a vision that had haunted him for months.

“Hello, Dom.” She blinked as the woman across the table loudly cleared her throat. “Oh. This is my friend, Kari Wentz. We work together at the nursing home.”

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