There Goes the Groom Read online

  THERE GOES

  THE

  GROOM

  RITA HERRON

  Copyright Information

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Copyright © 2012 Rita Herron

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  Table of Contents

  There Goes the Groom

  Copyright Information

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Other Books by Rita Herron

  About the Author

  CHAPTER ONE

  Marci Turner had always been a screw-up.

  But not anymore.

  Not after today.

  Today she was marrying Paul Pendergrass of the Pendergrass family of Charleston, South Carolina, and she was going to become a respectable woman.

  No more bar hopping.

  Waitressing.

  Or mini-skirts.

  Well…maybe she’d keep a mini-skirt or two in her closet. After all, a girl had to show off her assets to keep her husband happy. And she did have good legs, even if she did say so herself.

  Something her sweet but boring sister Kim neglected to accentuate.

  Not that it had kept Kim from finding true love. Except truth be known, she might never have found her hunky husband if she hadn’t convinced Kim to pull a twin switch one weekend and pretend to be engaged to Austin McDane.

  Marci fluffed the tendrils of wild red hair falling around her cheeks with a grin, then applied the ruby red lipstick that matched the red roses in her bouquet -- and the see-through teddy she had packed for her honeymoon. Not that she would need lingerie but it was always fun to take it off…

  Kim might poo-poo her stark red lips, but her fiancé hadn’t complained when she’d planted those red lips on his mouth.

  Or around his …length.

  For a second she wondered if Kimmie and her husband had wild monkey sex, but then again, her sister had never been very daring.

  Still, Kimmie had a great husband.

  Even though he could be a little too focused on business.

  Although they obviously had found their way around the bedroom since Kim was eight months pregnant.

  Austin’s devotion to Kim had sparked her own desire to have a man look at her with those gooey eyes and fall at her feet and promise to love her for all eternity.

  Tears blurred her vision. Good gracious, she had never been the sappy twin. That was Kimberly.

  She was the spontaneous, fun-loving one.

  But Kimberly’s nuptials had done something to her. Made her take a long look at her days of one-night flings and waking up next to a guy who had looked hot as all-get-out the night before, but who looked like a two-bagger in the morning.

  And Paul Pendergrass was easy on the eyes.

  He had totally swept her off her feet with his lavish gifts and attention.

  Even better, he was the first male she’d ever met who understood a girl’s need for retail therapy.

  Definitely her soul mate.

  Kim poked her head into the bridal dressing room at the country club, her elegant black dress molding to her pregnant figure. “How’s it going, sis?”

  Marci nodded. “Can you help me with those pearl buttons in the back?”

  “Sure.” Kim stepped up behind her and began the laborious task of fastening all twenty-five of the little jeweled buttons that started midway down her back and went to her butt. “You look beautiful, Marci.”

  “I bet you were surprised I picked this dress,” Marci said. Hell, she’d been surprised at herself. She had first wanted the short mid-thigh sundress with the bold fuchsia sash, but had decided if she was going to be respectable, she should start on her wedding day with a respectable dress.

  After all Paul had insisted on a country club wedding with champagne and a sit-down dinner and dancing instead of the barefoot ceremony on the beach she had suggested. He wanted the best for his baby, he’d told her.

  How could she to argue with that?

  Kim finally finished with the buttons, then spun her around for a wardrobe inspection. “You look perfect, Marci.” Kim’s voice cracked with emotion. “Are you sure he’s the one?”

  Marci frowned. “Of course I am.” Wasn’t she?

  Suddenly she started to itch, and she cursed a blue streak. “Dammit, Kim, now you got me rattled I’m going to break out in hives.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” Kim squeezed her hands.

  A seed of worry sprouted in Marci’s stomach. “Don’t you like Paul?”

  Kim shifted on the toes of her heels. “I …uh… just want you to be happy, that’s all.”

  “Paul is a wonderful man,” Marci said. “I realize you don’t know him very well, but you didn’t know Austin that well when you fell in love. And you should see Paul at the restaurant. He’s so sweet to all the little blue-haired ladies that come in. They just adore him. And when I finish my cosmetology classes, they’re all going to be my customers.”

  Voices echoed outside the room, the guests arriving, the harpist starting to play. Marci’s heart tripped into double-time.

  “Of course, you’re right.” Kim poked her head through the door, then turned back to her and adjusted her veil. “It’s almost time.”

  Marci licked her suddenly dry lips. “Did Mom show, Kim?”

  Kim’s gaze met hers, a tense heartbeat passing between them. Their parents had divorced when they were little, and they hadn’t seen their father since. Their bohemian mother had remarried a couple of times but none of the marriages took.

  Apparently CeCe Turner wasn’t the settle down type.

  Marci fidgeted. Was she really going to tie herself down to one man for the rest of her life? Or was she like her mother?

  “I’m sorry, Marci,” Kim said softly. “Mom sent a text that she couldn’t make it.”Marci blinked back tears of disappointment. For some stupid reason, she’d imagined her mother and father showing up on her special day.

  She’d always dreamed of walking down the aisle on her dad’s arm…

  Stupid, childish dreams.

  No tears, Marci. Your parents are not going to ruin your big day.

  Nothing was.

  She fluffed her veil.

  Yes. Her wedding was going to be perfect -- it would be a day she’d remember the rest of her life.

  *~*~*~*

  Detective Cade Muller was going to nail Paul Pendergrass and his sweet little bride-to-be to the wall today.

  And nothing was going to stop him.

  No, sirree, the con man had escaped arrest before. Had assumed an alias more than once. And he’d cheated hundreds of people in his various scams.

  He wouldn’t get away this time. Cade had been hunting him for months and today was the big pay-off.

  He smoothed
his suit jacket over his service revolver and stepped inside the country club ballroom, scanning the room for trouble. For any signs that Pendergrass had been tipped off that he was onto him.

  Yards and yards of that lacy tulle stuff draped chairs and white linen tables that had been erected on the opposite side of the room for the man’s wedding reception. An aisle decorated with rose petals led to an altar made of more roses and satin. Bows and ribbons dangled from the ceiling like strings of pearls, crystal vases filled with fresh flowers adorned the tables, and an ice statue in the shape of a swan welcomed guests. As if that wasn’t ornate enough, a chocolate fountain offered extra desserts in addition to the gigantic wedding cake, and the catering staff was working to set up the bar.

  He gave the set-up a once-over. Hmm, the good stuff. Name brand scotch and bourbon, expensive wine and champagne.

  In fact, everything looked lavish and pricey as if Pendergrass was expecting the social elite of Atlanta to attend.

  By the door, tiny little bottles of champagne-shaped bubbles filled a white basket for the bride and groom’s send-off.

  A shame it would all go to waste because the only send-off was going to be in his squad car.

  Did the guests know the drinks and food they would be consuming had been paid for with stolen money?

  Their stolen money.

  He glanced across the room at his partner, Georgia Strait. She tapped her earphone to make sure it was working. “Operation is on.”

  He gave a clipped nod.

  At first Georgia had protested arresting Pendergrass at his wedding, but Cade had assured her the timing would be perfect. With so many witnesses around, the man would hardly put up a fight. After all, he’d never been a violent man, and as far as Cade knew, didn’t carry a weapon.

  Except for the charm he wielded on unsuspecting women when he weaseled them out of their life’s savings.

  Another reason this country club wedding was the ideal place to expose Pendergrass. His victims needed to see what kind of underhanded man he really was.

  No sense letting all that good booze and food go to waste either.

  Once he had the man in handcuffs, the guests could commiserate their losses together while eating Pendergrass’s filet mignon and drinking his Dom Perignon.

  Guests began to fill the seats, low murmurs and laughter echoing through the ballroom. Several rows of white-haired ladies tittered as they brushed past him, reminding him of his sweet little grandmother Nana Muller who’d raised him after his parents had kicked the bucket.

  “Look, isn’t it beautiful?” one of the women whispered in awe.

  “A Cinderella wedding for a romantic couple,” another lady commented.

  Cade bit his tongue to keep from dampening their excitement with a sarcastic remark. He couldn’t tip his hand or one of the poor fools might warn Pendergrass and he’d run.

  A side door at the front of the room opened, and three men entered. One he assumed was the reverend or whoever the couple had chosen to marry them – probably a con artist as well. The second man Cade recognized as Vinny Baretti, the man who’d played the real estate broker in the phony deals Pendergrass had been making and probably earned a hefty chunk for his service.

  Then Pendergrass himself. Tall, thin, hair cut to precision, manicured hands. Polished.

  All to disguise the slime beneath.

  He wore his tux and smile like he belonged in this elite crowd.

  Another façade.

  Pendergrass had grown up on the streets, had lied and cheated his way into the world he wanted as his own, and fooled countless people along the way, stealing their fortunes to build his own private empire.

  The crooked three-man team took their places, the piano music replaced the harp, and the guests shifted to watch the center aisle. A striking redhead in a black satin dress started down the aisle holding a bouquet of white roses.

  Kimberly, Marci’s twin sister.

  He’d done his homework. She ran a children’s center for needy kids and was married to a promising architect named Austin McDane. Judging from her rounded belly, she was obviously very pregnant pregnant.

  At this point, he didn’t think she and her husband were involved in Pendergrass’s scheme, but the other twin – Marci—she was in it up to her pretty little eyeballs.

  Kim smiled at her husband as she made it to the altar, but she turned to watch the door for her sister. Hmmm. She looked more worried than happy.

  Questions ticked through his head. What did she think about her sister’s choice in husbands? Did she know about Pendergrass’s illegal activities?

  The music shifted as the bridal march began, and hushed whispers of excitement floated through the room as everyone stood for the bride’s entrance.

  Cade glanced at Pendergrass and noted that he was beaming as if he was totally smitten with his fiancé. Hell, maybe he was.

  Maybe they were soul mates. Criminals born of the same mind.

  But they wouldn’t be celebrating their honeymoon in Tahiti like they thought or making love in the moonlight and running naked on the beach.

  In fact, they wouldn’t be sharing a bed at all.

  Not even a prison cot or a cell.

  Satisfied Pendergrass didn’t plan on leaving his beloved intended at the altar, Cade turned his gaze toward Marci.

  His breath caught in his chest as she stepped into the limelight. Criminal or not, she was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  Her striking red hair tumbled around her beautiful heart-shaped face, her eyes glimmered with the kind of erotic playfulness that made a man fantasize about all the naughty things he wanted to do to her, and those ruby red lips were enough to make a man sink to his knees from wanting her.

  She was wasting her talents on the little blue-haired ladies.

  Pendergrass had that covered. If they were smart, Marci would be seducing men out of their money.

  Then again, maybe Pendergrass was the jealous type.

  Hell, if he had a knockout like Marci Turner, he wouldn’t want another man looking at her, much less touching her either.

  Forcing his mind off of sex and the primal urges his suspect stirred, he focused on the case instead and reminded himself that no matter how sweet and innocent she appeared to be, or how outrageously sexy and wanton her voluptuous body was, she was a cheater and a liar.

  She fiddled with her veil, slid her hand beneath it and scratched at her neck as if she had a sudden itch, then a panicked look crossed her face.

  Was Marci Tuner having second thoughts? Was she about to bolt and leave her fiancé stranded at the altar?

  A smile stretched his face. Seeing Pendergrass get jilted after all he’d done to deceive others would be sweet justice.

  But Marci took a deep breath, then licked those amazing lips and started down the aisle. Normally she wore mini-skirts and form fitting low-cut tops at the restaurant, so the simple, almost conservative wedding dress surprised him.

  Obviously Pendergrass had convinced her he was her ticket to society.

  He patted his weapon beneath his jacket, anxious to put an end to that little fantasy.

  As Marci approached Pendergrass, he gave her an adoring look and cradled her hand in his. Cade inched up the room on the opposite side from where Georgia stood, remaining in the shadows of the white curtains as if he were one of the serving staff.

  Adrenaline pumped through him as the man in charge of the nuptials began the ceremony, and he waited for his cue to stop the wedding.

  He couldn’t wait to see the looks on the couple’s faces when he exposed them as frauds, and they realized their little con game was over.

  *~*~*~*

  He stood at the back of the church eyeing the fancy smancy decorations, and all these people dressed to the hilt in their designer suits, tuxes and flowing gowns. Pendergrass had outdone himself this time.

  But he had crossed the line.

  His hand slid to the inside pocket of his own tux jacket and
he smiled. One clean shot was all it would take.

  Pendergrass deserved it.

  And his bride?

  Hmm…he had no idea if she was his latest eye candy or if she had been part of his scheme.

  Not that he cared.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Marci’s legs were pinging like rubber bands making her feel drunk already. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck, and she felt the telltale signs of the rash exploding on her chest.

  Heck, maybe she was allergic to the roses.

  Yes, that was it. She had never been around so many flowers in her life. The overpowering smell was giving her a headache, and the petals must be causing a physical reaction.

  She was not nervous about marrying Paul. Paul was perfect.

  He squeezed her hands in his, and her heart sputtered. They had planned a wonderful life together. Paul had made a mint off the resort properties he’d been selling and had already bought them a mansion in Buckhead complete with a pool and outdoor kitchen. Not that she would actually cook out there during the muggy mosquito-laden summer nights, but he insisted they’d need it for entertaining. Or heck, maybe Buckhead didn’t have mosquitos like the burbs.

  Of course, Paul had other properties all over the world so they would be traveling a lot. She’d always wanted to see other cities like Venice and Paris and London.

  The shopping would be amazing.

  Then she glanced at Kim and saw the tiny frown line knitted between her eyes and realized that Kim had lied.

  She did have reservations about Paul.

  Holy moly. Her sister might be practical and boring, but she always seemed to sense when Marci was in trouble.

  Was she in trouble now?

  Her mother’s outlook on marriage echoed in her head. Marriage is not for girls like us, Marci.

  Girls like us? Fun-loving, carefree, lively spirits with whimsical tastes and a love for sex and passion.

  Sex and passion died once the honeymoon was over.

  Another bit of her mother’s sage advice.