Page 48 of About Last Night

"He loaned me a few things."

"He being Derek?"

"Yes."

"You're wearing the man's clothes?"

"Marie, for God's sake, am I talking to myself here?"

"Is this guy on the up-and-up?"

At least once today, she thought wryly. But she recognized concern in her sister's voice when she heard it, and right now, Marie needed some peace of mind. "He's a decent guy, sis. A little uptight, but decent." She cleared her throat. "In fact, he's nice."

A knock on the sliding glass door spun her around. Derek slid the door open, his expression unreadable as he jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "You might want to see this."

She covered the mouth of the phone. "What?"

"It's Steve. He's on television."

Chapter 13

"WE HADto postpone our wedding that was scheduled to take place here at the resort," Steve was saying, looking grim, but perfectly groomed in his country-club casual pants and golf shirt. He stood at a slight angle, the Green Stations Resort sign visible just over his left shoulder.

"So your fiancée is trapped inside the resort?" an off-camera male voice asked.

Steve crossed his arms and nodded gravely. "That's correct."

"And do you know if she's ill, Dr. Larsen?"

"The last time I spoke with her, she was feeling fine, but she's a physician's assistant and could be exposing herself to infected guests even as we speak." He was incredibly photogenic, she acknowledged, his blond hair cropped fashionably short on the sides, longer on top. He was lean and tanned and fit—he would make a gorgeous groom.

"Are other members of your wedding party confined at the resort?"

Steve hesitated for a split second. "My Best Man."

"Your bride and your Best Man are locked up together?" The reporter chuckled.

Clearly distressed, Steve held up a hand, as if to stop the man's train of thought. "Nottogethertogether, as in the same room." He laughed, a soft little snort. "That would be crazy."

Guilt plowed through her, leaving a wide, raw furrow. She glanced at Derek and he was looking at her, one eyebrow raised.

"I understand you actually had a room here, sir. How didyouescape the quarantine?"

He sighed heavily. "I left the property for a medical emergency unrelated to the resort, and when I returned, the quarantine was already underway."

Janine frowned. She'd never known Steve to blatantly lie, although she understood his unwillingness to say he'd been out all night partying.

Of course, she'd been lying like a rug herself lately.

The reporter made a sympathetic sound. "I assume you're going to reschedule the wedding as soon as possible."

"Absolutely," Steve said, then looked directly into the camera. "This is for the future Mrs. Steven Larsen. Sweetheart, if you're watching, remember how much I love you." He winked, and her heart scooted sideways.

The camera switched to the reporter. "So, a cruel twist of fate is keeping the fiancée of Dr. Steven Larsen confined with the doctor's Best Man. As a result, the vice-mayor's son's wedding has been canceled."

"Postponed," Janine muttered.

"Meanwhile, there seems to be no end in sight to the quarantine now in effect at the Green Stations Resort. Now back to you in the studio."

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