Page 95 of Wedding Crasher

Jonny was to lead the ceremony, and it would seem that Gabe was to be a speaker too.

She’d never held a funeral service in the chapel before, but when Ivan had asked, she hadn’t hesitated for a moment. Dora was one of their own, and it would be an absolute honour to give her the send-off she deserved.

Emily was relieved to find Melanie missing when she pushed open the heavy funeral parlour door. It was Gabe himself she found in reception, and he smiled widely when he saw her.

‘I’ll just be one tick, can you wait? Sorry, Melanie’s down at the florists.’

Emily laid the yellow dress across the reception desk in its plastic cover and glanced around the tastefully decorated room. She’d thankfully never had cause to visit a funeral parlour, but it was obvious that Gabe had made this place as welcoming as he could, given the sombre nature of his business. It was such a shame that circumstance had set them all against each other. She had a hunch that he’d be a good friend to have in your corner, not to mention a perfect match for Marla, if she weren’t so stubborn.

He was undeniably easy on the eye too, which even in her very pregnant state she couldn’t help noticing as he came through the door and smiled at her again.

‘Hey, Emily.’ His eyes dropped to her bump. ‘Wow, that’s coming along nicely. I don’t need to fetch hot towels and water, do I?’

Emily laughed. ‘Don’t panic, you’re safe. There’s still a few weeks to go yet.’

‘So. What can I do for you?’

Gabe’s eyes softened as Emily explained about the yellow silk dress and the jewel box.

‘Of course.’ He picked the dress up carefully by the hanger. ‘Leave it with me, I’ll see that Dora has them with her.’

‘Thanks.’ Their business was finished, yet Emily lingered. Something in Gabe’s expression held her there, as if there was something more he wanted to say.

Eventually, he broke the silence. ‘So, is Marla well?’

Gabe kept his voice deliberately casual, even though he was desperate for news. Marla had kept their interactions to a bare minimum over Dora’s funeral arrangements, and she’d made damn sure that they never had a moment alone since the emotionally charged interlude in Dora’s kitchen.

‘She’s fine, I think.’ Emily nodded. ‘The trouble with Rupert knocked her about a bit, but she seems okay again now.’

He wished he hadn’t asked; the last thing he wanted to hear was how Marla missed Rupert. ‘Break-ups are always rough.’

‘Rough?’ Emily said. ‘Rough? He was lucky she didn’t have him locked up. I bloody well would have if he’d done that to me.’

Gabe stilled, as if someone had pressedpause. ‘What did he do?’

‘He’s such a low-life. Called her all sorts of names, and then he lunged at her in the chapel.’ Emily shook her head in disgust. ‘You should have seen the bruises on her arms.’

I’m going to kill him with my bare hands.

‘Bastard.’

‘You can say that again.’ Emily turned as the door opened. Melanie came in, her neat kelly bag over one arm and an enquiring look on her face. Emily took it as her cue to leave.

‘I’ll leave that with you then.’ She smiled at Gabe and nodded towards Dora’s dress in his hands.

Gabe watched her leave. As soon as she’d disappeared inside the chapel, he strode through the funeral parlour and right out of the back door, pausing only to lay the dress down and grab his helmet on the way past.

Some things just couldn’t wait.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Gabe ditched his motorbike outside the glass front ofThe Herald’s offices half an hour later and strode straight through reception, much to the annoyance of the middle-aged brunette who’d been surreptitiously reading herHello!magazine behind the welcome desk.

Every head in the huge open-plan office turned to look at the leather-clad figure as he pulled off his helmet. Some of them probably recognised him as the man they’d attempted to ruin a couple of weeks back, for the sake of selling a few copies, and others were just struck dumb by the sight of a dark angel in their midst.

He turned to the nearest girl, who according to her name badge was a trainee reporter called Esther.

‘Where will I find Rupert Dean?’

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