Eclipse Bay

front seat of his car eight years ago.
    Not bloody likely.
    Hannah came to a halt in front of Rafe. She looked flushed and glowing, and there was a sparkle in her eye. He was almost positive that Decatur had nothing to do with the look. She was up to something. He had sensed it when he’d picked her up earlier. She had a scheme cooking tonight. He was content to stand back and watch it unfold.
    She smiled.
    “We’re back,” she said.
    “Yeah, I can see that,” Rafe said.
    “You’ll have to excuse me,” Perry muttered. “Got to say hello to some very big people. I’ll catch up with you later, Hannah.”
    “Yes, you will,” she said very sweetly. “I’ll look forward to it.”
    Perry hurried off into the throng.
    “He doesn’t look real happy,” Rafe said. “What did you do? Step on his toes?”
    “I’m saving that for later.”
    Jed looked interested. “That sounds promising. Anything you want to tell the press?”
    “Not yet, Jed.” Hannah smiled. “But stay tuned.”
    “If we’ve got some time before the excitement starts,” Rafe said, “may I have the next dance?”
    “You may.”
    “Hannah!” A man’s voice rose above the din of nearby conversation. “Hannah Harte! Is that you?
    In the next instant, a small knot of people unraveled to allow Tom Lydd to pass between them. He had his wife, a wholesome-looking blonde, in tow. Both were smiling at Hannah with genuine delight.
    “What a terrific surprise,” the young Mrs. Lydd said. She threw her arms around Hannah and then stepped aside so that Tom could do the same.
    “Didn’t know that you’d be here,” Tom crowed. “This is great. Nice to see a familiar face.”
    “I’m delighted to see you,” Hannah murmured. “Allow me to introduce Rafe Madison and Jed Steadman. Rafe, Jed, meet Tom and Julie Lydd. Fair warning—Jed is the editor of the Eclipse Bay Journal .”
    “Not a problem. I’ve got no quarrel with the press. Always been good to Lydd-Zone.” Tom pumped the hands of both men with his trademark boyish enthusiasm. “Great to meet you both.”
    “Any friend of Hannah’s.” Rafe slanted a quick glance at her. She winked at him. That clarified one thing, he thought. The Lydds were part of whatever plan she had concocted.
    “Hannah is more than a friend,” Julie Lydd confided.
    “She was our wedding consultant. A true magician, as far as we’re concerned. Tom and I had a vision of what we wanted, but we didn’t have the vaguest idea of how to pull it off. Hannah made it all happen.”
    “Everything went off like clockwork.” Tom beamed at his wife. “Isn’t that right?”
    “It was amazing,” Julie agreed. “We wanted the whole thing staged on an alien world, you see. The one Tom created for his first big computer game.”
    “We’re talking waterfalls, lagoons, architectural features, the works,” Tom continued. “Did the whole thing on our private island up in the Sans Juans. Hannah was brilliant. You can imagine the logistical nightmare involved. Very impressive organizational talents. After we got back from the honeymoon, I called her up and tried to hire her. There’s always room for that kind of management skill at Lydd-Zone.”
    “I told him that if the bottom ever falls out of the wedding business, I’ll take him up on his offer,” Hannah said.
    “Anytime,” Tom assured her genially.
    Hannah smiled warmly. “I love doing weddings for couples who are matched by my sister’s agency.”
    Jed cocked a brow. “Your sister’s a matchmaker?”
    Julie Lydd answered, “Tom and I met through Private Arrangements. That’s the name of Lillian Harte’s agency. She uses a very sophisticated computer program to make her matches. Not everyone likes that approach, of course. A lot of folks think it takes the romance out of the process. But it appealed to both Tom and me.”
    Rafe looked at Tom. “I hear you’re thinking of endowing a research fund here at the institute.”
    “Looking into it,” Tom agreed. “I’m a big fan of the think tank concept.” He turned to Hannah. “You’re from this neck of the woods. What’s your take on the folks running this place?”
    Hannah’s smile brightened to a blinding glare. “I’m so glad you asked, Tom. I do have some opinions on this operation. Why don’t we find a private place to talk?”
    “Great.” Tom took his wife’s arm. “I noticed a small conference room just outside in the main hall. Doubt if anyone would mind if we used