Goody Two Shoes (Invertary 2)

Mitch gave a tight nod. His disgust was clear. “Half of this is slander. I’ll throw the book at them. While I’m at it, I’ll pull strings, get the name of the person who fed them the story and the photos.”

Josh nodded, feeling slightly relieved. He could always depend on Mitch.

The cop gathered up the box. “I’ll follow up on the box and keep an eye on the mail. I’ll have the domino boys run interference in case anything else turns up. It would probably be for the best if Caroline didn’t open any more packages.” He ran a hand over his face. “We all know she thinks she can handle anything, but that girl doesn’t have a clue about her own limitations. We need to save her from herself.”

Josh couldn’t agree more. “I’ll talk to the domino boys about keeping the centre closed until after the wedding. That will make it harder to get anywhere near Caroline.”

“Good idea.” The cop pointed at Josh and Lake. “Keep her safe. I don’t know what this means—it could just be someone screwing around, but we don’t take any chances.” They nodded. “Josh, I’ll need a list of anyone who’s been overfamiliar, issued threats, that sort of thing. They could be targeting Caroline to get to you.”

“I’ll get it to you,” Mitch said.

The men stood grimly silent for a moment.

“Right, we’re done here. This used to be a nice, quiet job,” Donaldson grumbled. “Then all you foreigners started coming to town and now I’m dealing with crazy ex-boyfriends, buildings burning down, voodoo dolls and sheep hearts, crazed reporters and road blockades. I need a vacation.”

“What’s he talking about?” Mitch asked Lake.

“Kirsty’s ex burned down her shop. He’s making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Yeah, right,” the cop said.

“It’s not us,” Lake told him. “It’s the women. Wait until you get one of your own, then you’ll see.”

Donaldson’s grey eyes went wide. “This commitment thing isn’t for me. I have plans.”

“Yeah.” Lake’s grin was wide. “That’s what we all say.”

Josh left the men to their argument and went in search of the domino boys. The sooner they shut down the centre, the better. In fact, if he could have locked Caroline away to keep her safe, he would have done exactly that. He snorted. He could just imagine how well that would go over with his little control freak.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“I love, love, love your dress,” Kirsty cooed.

“I know. You said.”

Caroline stood still on a stool while the dressmaker pinned and marked the gown. They were in Helen’s bedroom, which had the only full-length mirror in the castle. It was also one of the few rooms where the dress wouldn’t get covered in restoration debris. She turned to see the dress from the back. It was gorgeous.

“Champagne.” Helen waved the bottle as she entered the room. Her eyes went misty at the sight of Caroline. “Oh, darling, you look wonderful.” She held Caroline’s hand in hers. “If your parents were here, they would think that they’d never seen anyone more beautiful.”

Caroline saw Kirsty suddenly turn towards the window as she wiped her cheek.

“Thank you,” Caroline told Helen.

Helen’s eyes softened before she took a deep breath. “Now, champagne for everyone. Including you,” she told the woman at Caroline’s hem.

“Not for me.” Caroline smiled at Helen’s enthusiasm. She could see where Josh got his. “I don’t drink.”

“With everything that’s going on in your life, now’s a great time to start.” Helen put a glass in her hand.

Caroline gave Kirsty a stunned look, and Kirsty laughed.

Helen held her glass high in the air. “To Caroline, the perfect daughter-in-law. I couldn’t have picked better if I’d done it myself.”

As everyone sipped, Caroline blinked back tears. She dared a sip too. It didn’t taste anything like the terrible wines she’d tried over the years. It was sweet, bubbly and delicious. She took another sip and decided she did drink after all—but only champagne.

Josh was in the mood for a fight. Unfortunately, seeing as none of the people he wanted to hit were available—namely, all of the UK tabloid press, every paparazzi photographer he’d ever met and whoever was behind Caroline’s sick gift—he’d have to settle with the only thing he did have access to that was driving him nuts. He went back to Caroline’s place to deal with his dad.

He found his father sitting in his underpants, surrounded by the debris of constant snacking. He was watching the trashiest talk show Josh had ever seen. Some guy was undergoing a polygraph because his girlfriend didn’t believe he hadn’t slept with her two sisters. Josh shuddered and snatched the remote up from beside his father. He clicked off the TV.