“Except for that broken heart that never healed,” mused Julia.
Lauren’s expression shuttered immediately. “Yeah, well, that’s not something I let myself think about too often. Because when I do, I wind up drinking – a lot. And I sure as hell can’t wake up with a hangover tomorrow morning. Mom would be seriously pissed.”
Julia frowned. “You’ve been drinking a lot more this past year or so than I’ve ever remembered you doing. Have you – I mean, do you have any idea where this guy is these days?”
“Of course.” Lauren gave her an odd little smile. “I know exactly where he is, Jules. Have for quite some time now.”
“Oh.” Julia was more than a little taken aback by this revelation. “Who is this guy anyway?”
Lauren shook her head. “You’re a smart girl, Jules, with that Ivy League education. And I’ve given you plenty of clues. If you think real hard you’ll figure it out sooner than later. Now, come on, time for bed, you blushing bride. And if I know that dirty talking, horny bastard you’re marrying he’s planning on doing plenty to make you blush on your wedding night. So get some sleep while you can.”
“Okay.” Julia sighed as she stood and linked arms with her sister as they walked inside the house. “But I want you to promise me that if you ever want to talk some more about this mystery man then I’m all ears. Promise?”
Lauren gave her twin a peck on the cheek. “Promise. But don’t hold your breath. In the meanwhile, I’m a little worried about Aunt Maddy. She and Mom were talking the other day and I could swear it was about some man she used to know. I’ve always been convinced that she’s got this big ole secret love affair in her past. One day soon I’m just going to come out and ask her. After I’ve plied her with a few drinks first, of course.”
Julia grinned, grateful to see that her nosy, interfering sister was back to her usual tricks. “Are you ever going to stop trying to butt into everyone’s lives?”
“Never. After all, that’s what I do best, isn’t it?”
***
July – New York
“Hey, Ben You gotta check this out. Photos of Lauren from her sister’s wedding last month. And get this – hair, heels, makeup and jewelry. Oh, and can’t forget the bouquet. She is so going to get ribbed about this next time she’s in town!”
Ben stopped in his tracks en route to his office as Chris called out to him. Chris had dropped by the office today, even though the team wasn’t due to head out on another assignment for a few more days. As was his norm, Chris was wearing a truly odd assortment of clothing today – Bermuda shorts in an eye-popping plaid, a Mickey Mouse tank top that exposed the tattoos of carton characters on each of his biceps, purple Crocs, and even though it was eighty five and sticky as a honeycomb outside, a knit cap that had been pulled down over his long hair.
But it wasn’t Chris’s odd attire that Ben was gazing at right now. Rather, it was the photo on Chris’s computer monitor that caught and held his attention. In it, Lauren was wearing a long, floaty bridesmaid’s gown of a mint green floral print, and she looked breathtakingly beautiful as well as exquisitely feminine. And he had never wanted her more than he did at this particular moment.
She was alone in the photo, holding her bouquet of pale pink roses and light green hydrangeas. Her long hair fell in thick, tawny curls halfway down her back, and her radiant features had been enhanced with a subtle application of makeup. She was smiling, her green eyes glowing with mischief, and she looked happier than he could remember seeing her in – well, nearly six years.
“How did you get a hold of that photo?” asked Ben. “I can’t believe Lauren voluntarily emailed it to you.”
Chris chuckled. “You got that right. This was actually posted on her Facebook page, and there are dozens more. Aren’t you Facebook friends with Lauren?”
“No.” Ben shook his head. “I don’t think she’d consider me to be any sort of friend to her at the moment.”
There had been numerous occasions over the years when he had been tempted to look her up on social media, to see if there was any information about her online – where she was living, working, if she had a boyfriend. But he’d always resisted the urge, knowing he would weaken far too easily and either try to get in touch with her or, worse, give himself still another reason to pine for her. Not to mention the fact that she would have certainly rejected or blocked any attempt he might have made to friend her on social media.
“She looks happy.”
Chris cocked his head at Ben’s observation. “Well, why wouldn’t she? I mean, weddings are supposed to be happy occasions, and I’m sure Lauren was surrounded by a bunch of family and friends. Besides, I know she can be a grouch and a pain in the ass, but she can also be a hell of a lot of fun. Especially at parties.”
Ben shrugged. “I’m sure she is. It’s just that lately Lauren has seemed – I don’t know – let’s call it out of sorts.”
“Hmm.” Chris continued to study Lauren’s photo. “Now that you mention it, I kind of agree. I mean, the girl’s always a little moody, depends what side of the bed she got up on that day, you know? But you’re right – she’s seemed more irritable than normal these past few months. I’ll have to ask Karl what’s going on there. Though he’s got his own drama going on with Tamsyn right now. Again.”
“I didn’t realize they were having problems,” replied Ben. “They seemed to get along just fine at the holiday party.”
“Yeah, well, here’s the thing,” offered Chris. “Their relationship is like the biggest, twistiest roller coaster ride ever designed. Karl and Tam have been together for almost ten years, and from what he’s told us, it’s been like living in a soap opera. Tam’s hot-tempered, Karl’s feelings get hurt easily, so it doesn’t take much for trouble to brew in paradise. That’s one of the reasons they’ve never lived together, why Karl insists on keeping his own place in Tennessee. Otherwise, he’d need to keep a suitcase packed round the clock. The two of them drive Lauren nuts, especially since both of them wind up crying on her shoulder whenever they have a fight and she keeps getting stuck in the middle.”
Ben nodded. “I can see that. She and Tamsyn seemed pretty close at the holiday party, and it’s obvious that she and Karl always have each other’s backs.”
“Yeah, but even Karl doesn’t know all of Lauren’s deep, dark secrets. She’s selective about what she tells people about herself. If you were to look through her Facebook profile, for example, it gives nothing away. A lot of photos from our assignments over the years, ones of her family, but nothing really personal. Definitely no pictures or posts about boyfriends or stuff like that.” Chris grinned. “She demands to know everything about our lives, is always fussing over us, but she keeps her life outside of work a closely guarded secret.”
“Why do you think that is?” asked Ben curiously.
“Dunno. Karl and I have our theories, of course, though mine are admittedly pretty far fetched – like she’s really a superhero or a spy in disguise, crazy ideas like that. Karl just thinks she had her heart broken once, and that’s why she never talks about her love life. George just figures she’s bossy. And mean.”
“Lauren doesn’t have a truly mean bone in her body,” Ben stated firmly. “And let’s face it, shall we – George really asks for it at times.”
Chris guffawed. “At times? He reminds me of that irritating kid everyone had in their fourth grade class – the one who never acted up, kissed up to the teacher all the time, and got his ass kicked every single day after school. And you’re right – Lauren is really a sweetheart deep down. Underneath that tough chick exterior, she’s got a heart of gold. A heart that I figure got broken pretty badly at one time. That’s why I think she puts on all of this false bravado, so that she can’t be hurt that way again.”