Page 54 of The Mouse and the Maestro

Jane didn’t reply. She leaned over the seat, pressed her lips to his like a benediction, slipped out of the car, and disappeared inside.

Chapter 24

Six months later…

“You look so beautiful,”Emily breathed, staring at Jane in the mirror as she stared at herself.

“Gorgeous,” Nick added absently, the apple he was munching taking up the main part of his focus.

“It’s way too big for me,” Jane said, fluffing helplessly at the wedding gown’s long, white train.

“Of course it is,” Emily agreed. “But you still look good.”

“I’ll say she does,” Nick echoed. “Heartbreakingly so.”

Jane rolled her eyes at him and returned her attention to Emily. “Tell me again why I’m wearing the dress if you’re the one getting married.”

“I needed to see it on someone else to make sure I like it.”

“But you’re way taller and curvier than I am,” Jane said.

“It’s not about that. It’s about the feeling I get when I see it on someone. And I like the feeling. I think this one is a keeper,” Emily said.

“What does it mean that you’re taking longer to pick out a wedding dress than it did to meet and fall in love with your fiancé?” Jane asked.

“Don’t poke at it, Janie. I’m happy,” Emily pled.

“I’m not poking. Well, I am, but with love. I’m happy you’re happy, but it doesn’t mean I get to stop teasing you,” Jane said.

“Never,” Emily agreed. She sucked a sharp breath. “I can’t believe I’m going to be married in two weeks.”

“I can’t believe I’m finally getting an actual bedroom in two weeks,” Nick said, beaming. “I could have it now, if Jane would stop being stubborn.”

Jane held up her phone and pushed a button. Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” began to play.

“Stop it,” Nick said, covering his ears. Jane had refused his proposal as soon as she returned from Philadelphia. He had nearly cried—with relief. After some prodding, he confessed he had only proposed out of the blind panic her interest in Blue caused. But seeing as how she and Blue amounted to nothing, and she hadn’t seen or heard from him in six months, Nick felt safe and secure once again. Annoyed by his proprietary certainty she wasn’t going anywhere, Jane had put the song on her phone and played it every time he hinted they should be a couple again. She played it a lot, and it never ceased to annoy him.

“You’re going to be the most beautiful bride in the universe,” Jane said, hugging Emily. “And I’m going to get all my weeping out now before the big day so it will be nothing but sunshine and rainbows.”

“Me, too,” Nick agreed, hugging them from Jane’s other side.

“I know it seems like I’m breaking up the team, but you guys are going to get married someday, too,” Emily said.

“I know we are,” Nick said confidently.

“She meant to other people,” Jane snapped.

“The more you fight it, the more I’m certain of your undying love,” Nick said.

Jane reached for her phone.

“Jane, play that song again, and you’re going to regret it,” he threatened.

She played the song. He let go of Emily and lunged for her. Jane gave a strangled scream of alarm, not for herself, but for Emily’s wedding dress. “No,” she said, dodging away from him. He caught her from behind, and the front door flew open.

In one fluid motion, Jane pivoted out of Nick’s embrace, picked up a wooden kitchen chair, and bashed it into the intruder’s body. Blue dropped to the ground, clutching his arm. “Ouch, Jane,ouch. Why? Why a chair? Why not a pillow?”

Jane stood over him, breathing hard, chair still held aloft. “Don’t you ever knock?”

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