Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Francesca,” I say, my voice softening. “I get it. But I’m doing this for you. You don’t need to worry about the details. I promise it will be perfect.”
Her eyes flash with anger, and I can see the hurt behind them. “You’re not even listening to me.”
“I am listening,” I insist, forcing a calmness into my tone. “You need to relax and enjoy this. I don’t want to fight with you about something that should be beautiful. Let me take care of things. You’re going to love what I’ve planned.”
She sighs, her shoulders slumping slightly, but her voice remains resolute. “Fine. But I still want to be involved. This is important to me.”
“Of course,” I say, pulling her close again. “You are involved. It’s your wedding. You just need to show up and be happy. That’s all I want for you. For us.”
For a second, she studies my face, searching for something, and I hold her gaze, willing her to see the truth in my words. Slowly her body eases, just slightly. “I know. Me too.”
“Good,” I say and tap her butt cheek. “Now, let’s get your pretty ass into bed. I need to get to the office.”
CHAPTER NINE
Frankie
“Oh my God, Frankie, this better be an emergency,” Amelia groans into the phone. “And I’m talking about a friend emergency, not a cop emergency.”
I stifle a laugh and sigh. “It’s not an emergency, but this is a friend call.” It’s Saturday morning and after a late Friday staring at the white board full of victims’ faces, I need some time to myself. “I can tell you right now or you can meet me at Beans & Things in forty-five minutes.”
Amelia grunts and I can almost see her rolling her eyes. “Forty-five minutes,” she shrieks. “You think I can get ready to be seen out in the world in forty-five minutes?”
“I think you’d better try or else I won’t tell you the big news and ask you something really important.” I shouldn’t tease her first thing in the morning, but she makes it so easy, and also this is my only day to get this task done.
“Fine, but I expect a triple espresso and a chocolate peanut butter croissant waiting for me when I get there. Both of them better be hot.” She laughs before the call ends.
I shower and dress quickly in jeans and a silky blouse before leaving the house. Damien left early to take care of some conference call somewhere across the globe, so this is the perfect time to prepare for a shotgun wedding, minus the shotgun.
Walking inside Beans & Things reminds me of the first time I met Damien and my misconceptions about him. He’s not an arrogant prick who thinks only about himself. He’s cocky as hell, to be sure, but he’s also the most attentive and caring man I’ve ever met. He actually replaced my shirt with one that was at least five times more expensive than the one I’d got on sale at Target. So much in my life has changed since that day and there’s no going back.
Sure, we still haven’t found the Butcher of Beverly Hills, but we’re close, I’m sure of it, but everything else is so different. I’m here at my favorite coffee shop waiting for Amelia because I want to share one of the most special days of my life with her, my closest—okay, only—female friend.
“Coffee,” she growls the moment she drops down on the seat across from me. I watch with amusement as she takes a giant gulp of the hot drink, winces at the pain, and does it again.
“Shouldn’t you be immune to these ridiculous mistakes as a head shrinker?”
She glares at me. “It’s early and I need coffee. Hot, black bean juice. Don’t judge.”
“Not judging. In fact, it’s amusing watching you burn your mouth and go back for more.” I laugh and she glares at me over the rim of her triple espresso.
After several more sips, Amelia lets out a sigh with her gaze fixed on me. “Okay, I’m human, now. So, what’s up? You never call in favors, so what do you need help with? Hiding a body? An alibi? Girlfriend therapy session?”
“What is wrong with you?”
She shrugs, a crooked grin tilting her lips up. “So many things, which I’ll tell you about after you tell me why we’re up so early on a Saturday.” She takes a bite of the croissant, letting out an erotic groan while her eyes cross. “Well?”
“Well,” I sigh and lick my lips. “Remember how Damien and I are engaged?” I hold up my left hand, wiggling my ring finger. “Well, he wants to get married right away, as in next weekend.” I let the words hang in the air between us, mostly because I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about having the wedding so soon. Not that I want a long engagement, I don’t, but my plan isn’t to kill myself by planning a wedding in seven days. Less than seven, actually.