Karen released a simple “oh” and didn’t say anything else.

With their wine glasses filled, they returned to the living room and turned on the stereo.

Eliza’s thoughts wandered to what Carter might be doing…

****

“You’re getting married tomorrow,” Blake pointed at Carter while holding his shot glass. “This needs a celebration.”

“Like you celebrated the night before your marriage.”

“No. I screwed that up. But I’ve made up for it every year since.”

Carter glanced over to Neil who tipped his shot glass back and downed his third shot within the hour.

“So that’s why you want a wedding every year.” Carter enjoyed the slow burn of the twenty-year-old whisky and listened to his best friend boast.

“I get married every year because I made Sam marry me in Vegas. She deserved better. But you…you’re doing it right the first time.”

Am I? Blake knew that Carter was marrying Eliza for her safety. The fact that it wouldn’t hurt his campaign couldn’t be ignored either.

“If you say so.”

“It doesn’t matter why you’re getting married,” Neil said, reading Carter’s mind. “What matters is that tonight is your last night as a single man. Any self respecting bachelor is entitled to inebriate his brain before he gets married.”

Carter turned to Blake. “You didn’t get wasted.”

“I was too busy writing up a contract with my lawyer. You’re not.”

Damn. Carter hadn’t even thought of that. Not that he worried that Eliza would attempt to marry him for what she could gain out of the deal. But considering her cold demeanor the other night, maybe…He shook the thought from his mind.

“C’mon, Carter. Your drink is dry, and we have a full night ahead.”

The noise from the radio droned out his groan.

The sound of a “full night” held very little appeal.

****

Eliza held a silver wrapped box next to one in scarlet red.

“We didn’t have time for a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, so we’re combining both.” Karen’s eyes were glazed over, and Gwen was tipsy and giggling with every word.

The first gift was a skimpy white silk teddy with a belted robe that would barely cover her bottom.

“It’s beautiful, Karen.”

“Open the other one,” she insisted.

The red box was smaller and rattled when Eliza shook it. “Should I be afraid?”

“It won’t jump out at you if that’s what you mean.” Karen’s sly grin made her nervous.

Sure enough, the second box was scandalous. “Handcuffs…really?”

Gwen’s giggling spread among them. It felt good to laugh. With her life on edge, Eliza hadn’t laughed enough, lately.

“Mine next,” Gwen said as she thrust gifts into her hands. “I’m a bit more practical I’m afraid. I wouldn’t even know where to buy a sex toy.”

Samantha and Karen both said “Melrose” at the same time. Another fit of laughter ensued.

“The first gift is something new.”

Inside the elegantly wrapped box was a pair of drop pearl earrings with tiny diamonds dangling on a gold chain. “They’re gorgeous. You shouldn’t have.”

“Don’t be silly. They suit your dress and will frame your face beautifully.”

“They’re too much, Gwen.” They had to have cost a small fortune.

“Rubbish. Now open the next gift. Something borrowed.”

The long box was light and adorned with a gold bow. Inside was a tiara with a veil fastened to the back.

“I had a coming out party when I was sixteen, and my father gave me the tiara. I hope you’ll wear it.”

“Are these real?” Eliza picked up the crown and ran her fingers along the stones.

“Of course.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen that many diamonds in one setting in my entire life,” Karen said.

“Me either.” Eliza started to shake her head. “This has to be worth a small fortune.”

“Probably. Image was everything to my father.” There was longing in Gwen’s voice.

“I’m honored.”

Gwen leaned forward and kissed Eliza’s cheeks.

“Oh, and here.” Gwen took a small envelope from the box and removed a coin from inside. “A sixpence for your shoe.”

“A what?”

“You know. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a six pence for your shoe.”

Eliza palmed the coin before returning it to the box.

Inside the next box, Samantha gifted her with something blue. A garter and a baby blue corset with matching panties.

“Carter is going to love that,” Gwen announced.

Eliza’s first thought was how right she was. Then it dawned on her that she and Carter hadn’t been intimate. Okay, if she counted their brief moment of insanity in the kitchen then maybe they had been. But not really.

And who said they would be on their wedding night. Theirs was a marriage of convenience. The expectations weren’t the same… Were they?

“Eliza?”

The thought of Carter removing her wedding dress and discovering the soft blue lingerie brought warmth to her thoughts.

“Eliza?”

Would he like it? Did he enjoy that kind of thing? What man wouldn’t love that kind of thing?

“Helloooo?”

“What?” Eliza snapped.

Karen tossed her hand up in the air, and Zod shot to his feet and ran to the window.

“We lost you,” Karen said.

Zod barked and Gwen told him to quiet.

“I’m sorry. I was…thinking about Carter.”

“I’ll bet you were.”

Zod kept barking and Eliza felt a chill dart down her spine. “Was ist es?” she asked the dog.

The women in the room stopped talking and making fun of Eliza’s lack of conversation.

Eliza turned off the lights, stood to the side of the curtains, and pulled them back.

“It’s probably a cat,’ Karen said.

The K9 shot to the back of the house.

Eliza shuddered. A dark memory tugged at the back of her mind. She followed Zod to the backdoor and grasped her purse as she passed it.

He scraped at the door, and Eliza didn’t hesitate about opening it.

“What’s happening?” someone behind her asked.

She found her handgun and released the safety. The door opened and Eliza stood there poised.