Sweet Fortune

fanatically devoted to Bright. She was going to try to kill all of us involved in the case. She started with me because she blamed me for having carried on the investigation in the first place.” Jessie paused. “She had actually tried to stop things right at the beginning.”
    Constance looked at her. “What do you mean?”
    “Mrs. Valentine called to say she recognized her picture in this morning's paper. Nadine is the one who pushed her down that flight of stairs.”
    Lilian shuddered. “She'd found out that Mrs. Attwood had gone to her?”
    Jessie nodded. “Nadine apparently believed in Mrs. V's powers and was afraid that a true psychic might be able to hurt Edwin Bright's cause. Nobody worried about me for a while, until it became apparent I was determined to pursue the case. Then things got complicated. Bright told her to let Hatch and me come on out to the island so that Landis and Hoffman could assess the situation.”
    “But they still weren't overly concerned until they found out Susan had been contacted,” Constance concluded.
    “Right.”
    Constance laced her fingers together on top of her desk and looked at Elizabeth. “I hope you understand that you are never again going to go to the mall with your friends. From now on out, one of us goes with you or you don't go.”
    “Ah, Mom,” Elizabeth muttered.
    Jessie patted her hand consolingly. “Don't worry, Elizabeth. I'll go with you whenever you want. The way I figure it, I owe you about a hundred trips to the mall.”
    “Fat lot of good that will do,” Elizabeth complained. “Hatch won't let you out alone now either.”
    Jessie grinned. “He's a little overanxious these days, but I expect he'll relax after the wedding.”
    “Who's overanxious?” Hatch asked as he came through the door with several cups of coffee. He glanced around at the smiling faces of the four women. Then he shrugged. “You finish telling them the story, Jessie?”
    “I told them everything.”
    “Good. Then we can get out of here.” He glanced at his watch. “I've got a lot of work to do before we leave on our honeymoon.”

    A month later Jessie awoke in the pink-and-white bridal suite of the luxurious beachfront hotel. Outside the lanai window, sunlight danced on the incredibly blue tropical sea. She stirred, aware of Hatch's strong, solid warmth beside her. His arm lay across her breasts, his face buried in the pillow beside her.
    For a long moment Jessie reveled silently in the perfection of the Hawaiian morning and the promise of the future that stretched out before her.
    The wedding had been hastily planned but had gone off without a hitch, thanks to Lilian and Constance. Elizabeth had been adorable in her bridesmaid attire. Nobody had tried to stuff Hatch into a coral tuxedo. He had waited for her at the altar in austere black and white and it had suited him perfectly. Her father had walked Jessie down the aisle and handed her over, with an expression of deep satisfaction, to the man he had personally chosen for her.
    Vincent had danced with his ex-wives at the reception, clearly enjoying himself in a way that surprised everyone who knew him. He did not excuse himself to make a single phone call to check in at the office.
    Nor did Hatch.
    “What's so funny?” Hatch shifted slightly, opening his eyes. The sexy, hungry memories of the night were reflected in his gaze.
    Jessie turned in his arms. “I was just thinking that you haven't made one phone call or sent a single fax since we got here.”
    “We've only been here a day. Give me time.”
    “I'm going to slap your wrists if I see you reach for the phone.” Jessie propped herself up on one elbow. “Happy, Mr. Hatchard?”
    “Yes. Definitely yes.” He ducked his head to kiss the tip of one rosy breast.
    “It went well, didn't it?”
    “The wedding?” He kissed the other nipple. “It went fine. If you overlook the way your father was bragging to everyone about how he had found your husband for you.”
    Jessie laughed and then sighed as Hatch slid his leg between her thighs. “I'm willing to give him some credit.”
    “What about giving me the credit? I took one look at you and knew I was the right man for you.”
    “True. You know, I'm going to be embarrassed every time I look Aunt Glenna in the face. Thank heaven she doesn't know what we thought on the way to rescuing Elizabeth. I was afraid she wouldn't come to the wedding.”
    “David had a long talk with her. Told her he knew