Page 55 of Steers and Stowaways
She moved to the bathroom to fish out the makeup bag she almost never unzipped. It felt weird dabbing on foundation, face powder, and blush. When she finished, she hardly recognized herself in the mirror, but it only seemed right to doll up a little for Tuck on their wedding day.
While she was zipping the bag and tossing it beneath the sink, her doorbell rang. This time, it was Tucker.
She drank in the sight of him in the one suit he’d promised her he owned—solid black with a white dress shirt and silver bolo. No regular dress shoes for her cowboy, though. He had on a new felt Stetson and gleaming black-cherry boots.
“You look incredible!” He gave her dress a low whistle. “Hope you don’t mind your groom driving you to church.” They’d discussed it ahead of time. With all the danger curdling around them, he didn’t trust anyone else to do it.
She reached for her coat. “I don’t believe in bad luck. There’s enough real evil in the world to worry about.”
He took the jacket from her and held it up so she could slide her arms through the sleeves. Then they strolled to his ice-blue Chevy Colorado together. “Chip said his mom paid you a visit. Is everything okay?”
Her concerns from earlier came tumbling back. “I think she knows, Tuck.” She kept her voice down as he opened the passenger door and gave her a lift over the running board.
He waited until they were buckled in before continuing their conversation. “Knows what?”
“I’m not sure, but she knows something.” Mallory wished she could put it into words. “It felt like she was saying goodbye without coming right out and saying it. She said she really appreciates the way you and I have taken Chip under our wing.”
“Hmm.” Tucker made the short drive to the church in frowning contemplation. “I got a call from my regional manager this morning,” he informed her quietly. “Told me we’re approaching go-time for the sting operation we’re planning.”
Mallory couldn’t think of worse timing. “As long as it’s after the wedding.”
He shook his head gravely as they circled Heart Lake. “He didn’t give me any specifics.”
She stared at the sparkling blue lake and the little white church that rested on a pier above the water. Christmas garlands and lights were wrapped around the railings leading out to the pier. Every few feet, a festive red bow had been tied to anchor them down.
“What can we do to get ready?” She’d strapped a pistol to her thigh beneath her dress, but she didn’t relish the thought of using it on their wedding day.
“Keep the faith,” he said firmly. He parked and helped her to the ground, reaching for her hand as they walked into the church together. “I’ll be sticking to you like a cocklebur today.”
“Right back atcha, cowboy.” She squeezed his hand. “According to your best man, I’m not the one with a target on my head.” It bothered her that they still didn’t know who’d ordered the hit on him. Or if it was even true. Up to this point, Chip had proven to be the king of incomplete information. He knew only bits and pieces about the cartel—things he’d stumbled across while poking through his mother’s computer files.
Tucker paused inside the door of the church. “Number one, our lives belong in God’s hands. No one else’s. Number two, you shouldn’t have bothered to wear lipstick.” Hepulled off a glove to run a finger down her cheek. “I’m gonna kiss it off.”
His words took the edge off her fears and warmed her to the toes of her boots. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Any time, darling.” His husky baritone sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.
Tucker wassurprised at the number of locals crammed into the building. He wasn’t sure where they’d come from, since he and Mallory hadn’t sent any wedding invitations. Not only did they prefer a small wedding, there simply hadn’t been time.
The entire Lonestar Security team was there, which came as no surprise. They were technically on duty today. The fact that most of them had their wives presentdidsurprise him. Then again, a few of them had backgrounds in law enforcement, too, so maybe it wasn’t all that surprising after all.
The guy whose dairy farm he’d been working at part-time hurried his way with his wife. Johnny Cuba was a tall, dark, and rugged dairy farmer in jeans and a suit jacket. Ashley Cuba’s berry-red dress had an empire waist to compensate for her blooming belly.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Johnny thrust a hand Mallory’s way. “Somebody’s been working hard to keep you under wraps.” He shot a teasing look at Tucker.
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” She shook the jokester’s hand, blissfully unaware of how nosy and obnoxious the guy could be. He was all nice one minute; in the next minute, he was putting you through the tenth degree,attempting to interrogate your deepest, darkest secrets out of you.
Johnny waggled his eyebrows at Tucker. It was his signature “tell” that he was about to goad a response out of him. “We didn’t even know he was dating anyone.”
“Enough,” his wife interrupted, stepping between them to shake Mallory’s hand. “Not everyone’s life is an open book, and that’s okay, too.” The way her hazel gaze briefly dipped to Mallory’s flat abdomen told Mallory that Johnny’s wife had heard the rumors about her and Tucker’s “shotgun wedding.”
“We don’t have many secrets.” Mallory muffled a chuckle. “I’m bringing a herd of steers into the marriage. He’s bringing a retired K-9. That’s it. No skeletons to speak of.”
Johnny looked so disappointed that it was comical. Tucker gave her a mental high-five.
“Congratulations on the new baby.” Mallory beamed a womanly smile at Ashley’s swollen middle.
“What?” Johnny’s dark-haired bride’s smile vanished. She glanced mournfully down at her blossoming figure. “I know I’ve gained a few pounds lately, but…”
