Page 16 of Spellbound
We measured base paths and imaginary outfield fences, and some guy with a laser made sure our infield was at a square. Eventually, we had a field that looked like something the Bad News Bears would appreciate. We called it done, and clinked the necks of the beer bottles someone was generous enough to provide.
A slender woman with a long ponytail sauntered up. “Hey, guys. Looking really good over here.” She peered around our ever-dwindling group until she spotted me. She stepped forward with her hand outstretched. “Beth Williams. You’re new around here.”
“Eli. Yeah, just helping out.”
“Eli? Are you Elijah Masterson, Miss Abigail’s grandson?” At my cautious nod, she broke out in a grin. “You made that woman’s year, coming out to visit like you are. You planning to stay much longer?”
Shane interrupted. “You have to excuseDeputyWilliams, Eli. She tends to forget not all conversations are investigations.”
“Shut up, Shane.”
“Make me, Tink.”
Beth scowled at him, then sighed and shook her head as if dismissing him altogether. “Anyway, there’s plenty more to accomplish and some of the troops abandoned the project.” She scoffed. “Real life commitments, they claim. Who has time for that today?”
She laid out the plan for wrapping up this work party—hauling and hammering, stringing lights from corner to corner and banners around the newly-painted pavilion.
The autumn sun was warm and I got pulled from task to task, along with every other able-bodied soul out there, along with a few of the high-schoolers who’d previously just been hanging around and causing a commotion. Deke seemed to know them all, and handed out orders like a general for them to set up tables and chairs, and decorating them with swaths of black tulle.
From time to time, I searched the park for Emma Grayce and every time I spotted her, she was involved in some project or another, assembling the items needed to dip apples in caramel, the props for the photo booth, andOMG, Emma Grayce, a popcorn bar!If I ever got married, I was eloping to Cancun.
When everything was finished, the park had been transformed into the setting for a magical Halloween wedding. I put my hands to my waist and arched my back, then one at a time, stretched my hands overhead to get the kinks out of my shoulders. I ignored my T-shirt when it rode up and exposed my belly.
I looked up and found Emma Grayce, definitelynotignoring where my shirt rode up. I almost hated to lower my arms and deprive her of the show, so I stretched them out and then flexed. From here, I could see the heat in her gaze, and was this fucking party ready to go already?
Emma Grayce was moving in at a fast clip.
I licked my lips. Adjusted my crotch. We were done here, with hours to amuse ourselves before we were expected back. I had a plan to drag Emma Grayce to a quiet spot, somewhere we could explore the beauty of . . . nature. Heh.
And was totally cock-blocked by Stephanie running up and throwing her arms around Emma Grayce, tilting her off-balance and sending them both to the ground.
“EG, this is amazing! The best. No bride could ask for a prettier reception, or better friends.” Stephanie had tackled her with her enthusiasm. That was serious gratitude. I reached out a hand to each of them and hauled them to their feet.
“You both okay?”
Stephanie straightened, dusted dried leaves from her knees. “What? Oh, sure. EG, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
Emma Grayce waved off her apology. “Is everything okay? Going to plan?”
“Oh, sure. I escaped the bakery for a much-needed break. Good golly, I’m as busy as a one-legged cat in a sandbox these days. And why, dear lord, I thought making the cupcakes for my own damn wedding was a good idea, I’d still like know. But just look at everything. Y’all have turned this square into a fairy wonderland!” She spread her arms and spun. “I’m so freaking happy, I could just cry.
Emma Grayce peered at me over Stephanie’s shoulder, SOS transmitted from her widened eyes.
She let Stephanie pull her in mid-twirl and held on tight as they hugged.Circle hugged?
Their spinning stopped and Emma Grayce slipped out of Stephanie’s overly-enthusiastic embrace. “I’m so happy I’m here for you, Stephie. You and Grant, you’re just the best together. You’ll be the most beautiful bride, and his eyes are going to pop clean out of his head when he sees you at the end of the aisle. He—” She stopped abruptly. The tears filming her vision were dripping down her cheeks and off her chin to stain her blouse.
I slipped my arms around her from behind. Rested my chin on her shoulder. “Tears?”
She relaxed into me and let her lips curve up. “Happy tears. Definitely happy tears. It’s going to be a beautiful wedding.” With her head tilted to the sun-drenched sky, she added, “A beautiful day. We did good here today. You were such a help, so thank you.
I nuzzled my nose into her neck, no care who was around to see. “Just how thankful are you, babe? We have a few hours until we need to be back for rehearsal and I ferreted out a few ideas for picnic spots. You game?”
After the morning of physical activity we just finished, a lively, vigorous, not-so-relaxing picnic sounded perfect.
“Sounds great; I’m starving. Any of the places near water?”
I peered up into the sky, still sunny with only thin streaks of clouds. “Yeah, apparently there’s a creek. How about a skinny dip?”
