Page 76 of The First Best Man

“Kate.”

“Hear me out, Chief,” I plead, and he sighs again as he nods. I smile in thanks. “A few nights ago, Penny got really sick after getting ice cream at Kaylee’s shop. Her symptoms pointed toward an allergic reaction, and everyone on this island knows Penny’s allergic to––”

“Soy,” he cuts in.

“Right.” I give him a nod. “So Kaylee would never give Penny soy-based ice cream, now would she?”

He thinks about that for a moment, then tilts his head to study me. “Motive?”

Penny groans as if the truth has slapped her in the face. “It’s all because of Logan. She’s wanted him since middle school, and she’s trying to ruin my wedding because she’s jealous.”

“I’ll check it out,” he says. “I’ll interview the assistant, too.”

“And you’re welcome for the assistance, Chief,” I sing-song as he turns to leave. “Let us know if you need help in any of your other cases.”

Peter rolls his eyes and shakes his head as he leaves, and I can’t suppress a chuckle. My humor dies, though, when I turn to meet Penny’s gaze again.

“That bitch,” she growls.

“She’ll get what’s coming to her,” I say, throwing an arm around her shoulders. “Now, enough of all that. Let’s get back to the important stuff. Your dress is freaking amazing.”

“It really is, isn’t it?” she asks, turning to look at her reflection in the large mirror.

“Perfection,” I say. “You’re beautiful.”

Weoohandahhfor a bit longer, then Penny goes tochange. When I look over at Peggy, it’s obvious she’s fretting.

“I’m going to have to fire her, aren’t I?” she asks when she meets my eyes.

I give her a sympathetic look. “If we’re right––and we’d already considered Kaylee the prime suspect before this, so I think we are––you obviously can’t trust her. And you deal in the most important days of people’s lives here. There has to be trust.”

Penny comes out, then, and Peggy straightens, the image of professionalism. “I’ll go pack up the dress and deliver it to the venue later. And I’ll personally guard it until you arrive. No one will get within ten feet of it, I promise.”

We thank her and gather our things as she disappears into the back. When we step outside, I grab Penny’s forearm and pull her to a stop.

“Want to grab breakfast?”

Penny arches a single brow. “Don’t you want to get back home to lover boy?”

A frown mars my face, and Penny sighs. Linking her fingers through mine, she starts walking, heading in the direction of Miguel’s.

“Okay, let’s go for some breakfast burritos. But if I’m too bloated to fit into my dress tonight, I’ll blame you.”

I tighten my grip on her hand. “Thanks for risking it. I just need some time to accept the fact that he won’t be in my life any more after tonight. And I need to decide what I’m going to say before I see him, again.”

“You’ve got this, but if you don’t, I’ve got you,” she murmurs, her voice filled with sincerity. “Always have. Always will.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Tucker

After I left Kate’s,I went back to the Errant Heart and spent the entire morning on the phone with my father. He was combatant to my idea, at first, but he slowly came around when he heard how passionate I was about the choices I’ve made.

Once we hammered out a viable plan, I went in search of Kate. It seems like everywhere I went, I’d barely missed her. For being such a tiny island, she managed to stay amazingly out of reach. As the hour grew later, I finally had to concede to defeat. I needed to get to the venue to get ready for the wedding with Logan and Sam.

As I walk up the steps to the event center, I realize it’s perfect for the occasion. It’s an amazing place––a dedicated space with two indoor halls and a huge deck for outdoor events when the weather is nice. The ceremony will be held in one of the large rooms, and thereception will be out on the deck since it’s supposed to be a warm, clear evening.

When I walk into the groom’s room, Sam is laughing as he verbally jabs Logan for being nervous when he’s known and loved Penny for most of his life. Logan chuckles, but the sound cuts off when he looks up and sees me in the doorway.

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