Page 114 of Love Overboard
Althea released the squirming man. “I frisked him, officer. He’s hiding drugs under his clothes. Cuff him.”
Collins’s gaze darted to the advancing policeman. He hesitated a split second, then dashed between the cars. As he passed the cruiser, Emily stuck out her cane. It tangled in his feet. He went sprawling across the asphalt. Her Shipper companions cheered, and the officer rushed to restrain him.
Jon turned to Lacey, his square jaw sagging. “Did I miss something?”
“Most definitely.” She slipped her arm around his. “I’ll explain it to you on the way to the ship. I hope your jet has enough seat belts for all of us.”
CHAPTER 50
Two Months Later
TALL ARRANGEMENTS OF LAVENDER ORCHIDSlined the walkway leading to the deck of the MSBuckingham. The bright-green helipad at the bow of the ship had been covered with special wooden flooring for the event. White folding chairs sat on each side of the aisle. Gauzy, transparent drapes stretched above the seating to form a cloudlike tent.
Emily joined her friends near the back and smoothed the sleeve of her gold jacket.
“Where’s your cane?” Gerry asked.
She clicked her tongue. “I don’t need that thing. It gets in the way.”
“This is lovely.” Daisy pulled out her disposable camera to take a picture of the flowers.
Emily shrugged. “I’d prefer a twenty-one-gun salute after everything we went through to make this wedding happen.”
Gerry nodded. “I’m thankful we still live here. We might have been rotting in a Mexican prison if you hadn’t convinced airport security about Collins.”
“Whatever happened to him?” Althea asked around a mouthful of chalky pastel breath mints.
Emily smirked. “Jon told me the man sang like a bird after cutting a deal with the authorities. He discovered Ricardo smuggling the drugs but saw a chance to sweeten his retirement and kept quiet for a piece of the action. Would you believe the man wasn’t as stupid as he appeared? He learned enough about the higher-ups in the ring to wrangle himself a plea bargain.”
Daisy withdrew a fan from her purse and unfolded it. “Can we please refrain from discussing such tawdry subjects at a wedding? I’m glad Lacey chose the simple tulle. So much more timeless than satin. Don’t you think?”
“I think I should’ve tried on this dress as soon as it came in the mail.” Althea tugged at the tight fabric of her own outfit, which was doing its valiant best to contain her hips. “I hope I don’t pass out during the ceremony.”
“That’s what you get for ordering online.” Gerry dusted off the front of her regular dinner dress with the hand not holding a book. “It doesn’t matter what we wear. Everyone will be staring at the bride.”
“I beg to differ, my dearie.” An Irish accent intruded from behind.
The four Shippers found Seamus O’Riley standing nearby with an appreciative gleam in his eye.
“Gerry, you’re a stunner, and no doubt about it.”
She leaned away, her paperback novel held against her like a shield. “Don’t tell me this wedding includes a magic show.”
“Sadly, no.” He bent his head. “I came to sneak a glimpse of the finery, and here you were—the finest of them all.”
“Thank you.” She squeezed the words from lips pressed in a prim line.
“Would you be busy later this evening?” He sidled close to her. “I’d love to escort you to supper.”
Gerry shoved her book in her purse and glowered down at the man. “I don’t mean to be rude, Mr. O’Riley, but I value being honest. I prefer to date someone who can look me in the eye.”
“Gerry.” Daisy pinched her sleeve but received a swat for her trouble.
“No worries, my darlin’.” Seamus waved away Daisy’s concern with an impish twinkle. “What I lack in height, I make up for in confidence.” He took Gerry’s long-fingered hand and bowed over it. “Another time, then.”
He walked away, and Althea locked her arm with Gerry’s. “That kind of gumption is hard to resist.”
“Somehow I managed.”
