Page 3 of Keeping Guard
“Oops.” Who knew a dress that heavy could travel so far?
Free of the gown, she climbed up to the top of the boulder, giving thanks that it wasn’t winter, when she’d be freezing her bottom off wearing only a sexy white corset that shehadwanted to wear. She’d imagined that Dalton would finally look at her with desire in his eyes when he saw her in it, spicing up their sex life.
Although brewing beer and creating events that brought beer lovers to Elk Antler Brewery was her jam—or had been—she wanted to experience how it felt to be truly wanted by someone.
She was, as far as she’d gathered, the result of a one-night stand between her parents. The mother she only vaguely remembered had dropped her off at her father’s when Peyton was four years old, then had disappeared from her life. Her father had kept her, but she’d never been sure he’d been happy to have her. That uncertainty was the reason she’d spent her life until now trying to please him...so he wouldn’t give her away like her mother had.
All good reasons why the champagne should go straight down her throat. She managed to pop the cork on one of the bottles. The cork shot up before arcing and falling into the pool to join her wedding gown.
“Cheers to me.” She lifted the bottle to her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks for what she’d lost today.
Chapter Two
There was only one other car parked on the dirt-packed lot at the entrance to the falls, a silver Mercedes with “Just Married” scrawled on the rear window. Shrugging off his curiosity, Noah locked the doors of his rental and headed for the trail, hoping Jack was right and a bit of peace that would quiet the ants awaited him at the bottom.
Noah paused at the top of the trail going down, frowning at seeing the white heels, one upright and the other on its side. A pair of white stockings were draped over a nearby bush. He glanced back at the silver Mercedes. Was he going to stumble on a bride and groom, and what the devil were they doing here of all places?
He almost turned around to leave, but curiosity got the better of him. If he discovered them getting it on—a distinct possibility considering the bride was shedding clothing—he’d discreetly disappear. Going down in stealth mode, he reached the bottom of the trail, stopping dead in his tracks when a woman said, “Cheers to me.” He blinked and then blinked again.
A woman wearing nothing but lacey white panties, a white corset, and a veil attached to a tiara was perched on a boulder, a champagne bottle held up to her mouth as she chugged the contents. He scanned the area, searching for the groom. Something white floating in the pool caught his eyes, and after staring at it for a minute, he realized it was a wedding dress. The hell?
His gaze returned to the woman. Had she done away with her groom? Was the man in the pool under her dress? He wasn’t sure what to do, but one thing was for sure. This woman—whoever she was...a murderer?—had him forgetting his own troubles.
She still hadn’t noticed him, and he took the opportunity to observe her. A lacy veil topped the black hair that fell around her shoulders and down her back, and the corset did a mighty fine job of displaying her breasts. Her long, firm legs were splayed over the rock as if she had no modesty.
Of course, she thought she was alone, and realizing he was no better than a Peeping Tom, he debated leaving or making his presence known. But what if she had offed her groom? Was that why she was crying? The last thing he wanted to do was get involved in someone else’s mess, so he decided a dead groom wasn’t going to be his problem. When he got to the top of the trail, he’d call Jack, tell him what was going on, and let him decide what to do.
Besides, he wasn’t fond of brides. He’d almost had one of those once. His had walked out on him the day before their wedding after telling him that he loved his SEAL team more than her. That wasn’t true. He’d loved her as much as his teammates.
Brides couldn’t be trusted, especially a killer bride who chugged champagne to celebrate her groom’s demise.
Time to do a disappearing act. He took a step back, but his movement caught her attention before he could slip away. She lowered the champagne bottle and stared at him. Blue eyes the color of the sky above, he inanely thought.
She tilted her head as she studied him. “Are you going to kidnap me?”
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Oh.” She sounded disappointed.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’ll be going now.”
“You don’t have to. Just ignore me.”
Like it was possible to ignore a beautiful woman wearing nothing but a corset. “That’s okay. Probably best if I go.”
She lifted a foot and stared at it. “My feet are dirty.”
“I see that.” Weirdest conversation ever.
“You want some champagne?” She held up the bottle, showing him the label. “Only the best will do for my father.”
“No, thanks.” If he stuck around and drank with her, his luck, he’d end up arrested as an accomplice to murder.
“I’m a runaway bride.”
He didn’t know what to say to that, but he definitely had thoughts. Like, there you go, just more proof that brides can’t be trusted. Then another one...at least that meant there wasn’t a dead groom under that wedding dress. That one was definitely a relief. And why was she only wearing a corset and veil, and her dress floating in the pool?
“Do you need some help?” he finally said, hoping she said no.
