So he stared out the big window to the lake—angry and frothing on shore—the sounds of the coffee grinders whirring, the people in conversation, and…
Lord, remember me, the guy whose mom bit the dust on Your watch? I know I screwed up, but I need Your help. I’d be grateful if You could lead us to that Mustang. And the ring. And maybe help get me through this whole wedding without ruining it. Boone doesn’t deserve that.
A pretty girl laughed at the next table, her hair pulled back into a messy bun, and he thought of Zuri and her perfect hair…
And God, I suppose Zuri needs her makeup box thing too.
He sat down and listened to the conversation hub in the shop. Nothing about a found Mustang.
Bob lifted his coffee to him as Duke left and headed back to the resort. He’d promised Zuri he would check with her in the morning, but when he knocked on her door, she didn’t answer.
He couldn’t wait around to start canvasing, so when he spotted a young couple wearing matching puffy coats and walking a big curly-haired dog out on the trail to the lake, he stopped them.
Duke slapped on what he hoped was a friendly smile and introduced himself as a fellow guest. “Say, did you see someone driving a classic red Mustang yesterday afternoon? I heard there was one around, and I’m a bit of a gearhead. I was hoping to talk to the guy who owns that beaut.”
The woman’s face lit. “You know, I did see an older gentleman yesterday driving a red car. I don’t know what kind it was though. I remember thinking how sweet it was that it had a Christmas wreath on the front of it.”
That had to be the Mustang. Duke schooled his features to show only a mild interest. “An older guy? Have you seen him before? Do you think he’s staying here?”
“I don’t know. But I did hear someone calling ‘Grandpa’ around the cabins last night when I took Penny out. That would probably be an older guy, right?”
The man next to her nodded. “I heard that too. Down by the cabins that way.” He pointed deeper into the woods. Cabins closer to the shed.
Finally, something helpful. It was the first promising lead in the whole case. Maybe praying wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
THURSDAY, 9:41 A.M.
Zuri bit into a World’s Best glazed cake donut as she sat in a bright red booth in the little donut shop and listened to Vivien explain her adventures of yesterday in tracking down her runaway gown. The last thing this bride needed after all she’d been through looking for that dress was to worry about the missing Mustang. And since there wasn’t really a good way to explain where her makeup and hair tools were without divulging that, Zuri suggested pushing off their hair and makeup run-through another day.
But this time would not be wasted. Zuri needed more ammo.
Duke had let down that steel guard a tiny bit yesterday. In fact, it was really sweet how he’d gone out of his way to find her hot cocoa. But there was still a lot of hidden scar tissue around the man’s heart.
Before, she’d wanted to make sure Vivie’s Christmas wedding went without any bah-humbugs from the best man. Now she wanted more. Because somehow, in a little over twenty-four hours, her own guard had slipped. She wanted Duke to find healing for his wounded heart. She wanted him to enjoy the Christmas season again like his mother used to.
“Vivie, what is the deal with Duke Lowry? And don’t deny it, but you were totally trying to set us up, weren’t you?”
“Whatever do you mean?” Her mock innocent expression didn’t fool Zuri for a second.
“Oh, come on now. Why in the world would you think Duke and I would hit it off? He’s handsome, no doubt. But he couldn’t be more rigid and dry if he tried.”
“So he’s more like a hearty pasta, and you are a bold marinara. It’s a match made in heaven.”
Zuri set down her coffee mug. “He hates Christmas.”
“But he didn’t always. I think it has something to do with his ex.”
“Ex…wife?” He had an ex?
“No, ex-girlfriend. Boone said she was a model or something. Apparently Duke was head over heels for her.”
“What happened?”
“She really wanted to go to a fancy ski resort out in Colorado. Duke took her over the holidays and was going to propose, but she met up with her ex-boyfriend and left with him instead.”
“That’s horrible. Poor Duke.” But it explained a lot.
“It gets worse. Soon after he got back, his mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was gone within a matter of weeks.”
The donut Zuri swallowed hit her gut hard. No wonder he hated Christmas. Duke’s heart was broken, and he was all alone. And here she was shoving pictures of her big family on him, sharing all about their Christmas traditions, trying to warm him up.
All she’d done was rub in his face what he had lost.
“I’ve only met him a few times, but Boone was his partner for years. We both hate seeing him so caught up in work. He has no life. No family and few friends. This is the one time since the guys’ summer canoe trip we’ve been able to get him to take a day off work. I was just hoping you could show him a good time—make him laugh, maybe get him to smile. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt you to spend some time with a hot guy and remember what dating is all about.”
“What are you implying?”
“Zuri, you haven’t gone out with anyone since Damien. It’s been years. You’re gonna have to get back out there at some point.”
It was all hitting too close. Zuri cleared her throat. “It’s sweet you wanna help, Viv, but look. Duke and I are as different as night and day, and we live, like, a thousand miles apart. Besides, I’m here for you. This is your wedding. Don’t worry about me.”
“Well, I do. But speaking of my wedding, I do have a big favor to ask.”
“Shoot.”
“Amelia, one of my matrons of honor, called. The entire family is stuck in the Keys. There’s no way they’ll make it by Saturday. I need you to fill in as a bridesmaid.”
A bridesmaid?
But a bridesmaid wore a bridesmaid’s dress.
A sleeveless bridesmaid’s dress. Zuri would be standing in front of a crowd with all her scars completely exposed. The stares. The pitying looks. The grimaces. And pictures would capture it all. The images in her head made her lungs squeeze tight.
“Oh, uh, I don’t know, Vivie. I mean, I’m honored, of course. But isn’t there anyone else who could do it? You know everyone around here.”
“But I want you. You brought me into your family back when I was in New York and couldn’t get home for holidays.”
And Zuri wanted to help. That was her sole motivation for coming. She just wasn’t sure she could do it without passing out in front of the church and ruining the whole wedding.
“But I’ve seen pictures of Amelia. No way I’d fit into her dress.”
“All the dresses ran too big. I’d bet we’ll have to take it in for you. I got good at adjusting my costumes, so I know I can make this dress work for you. The color will look amazing with your eyes.”
Yeah, but what about her scars?
She opened her mouth to decline, but Vivien cut her off. “Don’t decide now. Just promise me you’ll consider it. Although, don’t wait too long—I need time to alter the dress.”