Marriage, Merlot & Murder (Wine & Dine Mysteries Book 4) Read online

  I wasn't the only one who noticed the groom's wandering eye. I flicked a glance toward Edward Somersby and found him scowling at his soon-to-be son-in-law. Behind him, Freddie's cousin, Natalie, smirked at the groom.

  "Yoo-hoo!" A man's lilting voice echoed up the stairs from the tasting room. "Is there a blushing bride in the house?"

  Juliet's eyes lit up. "Andrew!" She released Freddie's hand and started across the balcony, heading for the stairs that led back down to the first floor. "The rest of the wedding party must be here," she called over her shoulder.

  I checked my watch. The rehearsal was scheduled to begin in twenty minutes.

  "Perhaps we should head outside to the ceremony space?" I suggested. I followed Juliet toward the stairs, and the others trailed after us.

  A tall man with red hair and freckles was leaning against the tasting room bar. At the sight of him, Juliet shrieked and skipped across the room to fling her arms around his neck. "I'm so glad you finally made it!" she cooed.

  "Dahling, I wouldn't miss it for the world!" the newcomer told her, his voice laced with a slow drawl.

  "Can you believe I'm getting married tomorrow?" Juliet giggled.

  The man sent a glance over Juliet's shoulder, his gaze settling on Freddie as the rest of us walked toward him. His brows bunched. "No, baby girl. I really cannot," he replied, and I thought I detected a hint of disdain in his tone.

  Juliet released the man and turned around to face the rest of us. "Emmy, this is Andrew Phillips, one of my best friends from college. He's—" Her forehead wrinkled. "You know, I'm not really sure what to call him. He's not exactly a bridesmaid." She giggled.

  I closed the gap between us and shook Andrew's hand. "Nice to meet you. I believe the official term for a man in the bride's party is the bride's attendant or bridesman," I explained. I glanced at Freddie and his best man, Baker. "Though, I do know that all the men in a wedding party were originally referred to as bridesknights." To prepare for my role as wedding planner for the weekend, I'd pored over a few chapters of a book about wedding history and traditions, and I'd gleaned several interesting tidbits.

  "I think I'll stick with groomsman, thanks," Baker said.

  Andrew grinned. "Oh, not me, honey. I'll be a knight. Very medieval chic."

  "How about a toast before we head outside for the rehearsal?" Freddie suggested. He looked at me. "You have champagne?"

  "Of course." I nodded to Jean Luc, who was stationed behind the bar, and made a mental head count of the group. "Seven glasses, I believe."

  "Oui," Jean Luc agreed and pulled several slim flutes down from our glass fronted cabinets. Fortunately, we'd chilled several bottles of champagne in preparation for the wedding party to arrive. While I was excited to showcase our own varietals at the dinner, I knew bubbly was the toasting beverage of choice for the occasion and had purchased several cases from a local winery who specialized in sparkly wines.

  Once Jean Luc had the glasses poured, I quickly distributed one to each person in attendance.

  Andrew gave a low whistle of appreciation as I moved through the group, his gaze fixed on Jean Luc. "Speaking of knights, I think I just found my Prince Charming." He leaned close to my ear. "Who is that Hottie McTottie in the tight pants?" he asked, inclining his head toward the Frenchman.

  I stifled a laugh. "That's Jean Luc Gasteon," I replied. "He's our sommelier."

  "French and a hottie." Andrew licked his lips and reached over to grab Juliet's arm. "Girl, is he just my type or what?"

  "He is cute," Juliet agreed.

  I didn't have the heart to tell Andrew that he wasn't Jean Luc's type, which, from what I had gathered, was waifish French women with refined palettes and an appreciation for a good glass of Bordeaux.

  I handed Andrew his champagne and then offered a flute to Juliet. She held up her hand and politely waved me off. "Oh, no thank you," she said, giving me a demure smile. "I really shouldn't."

  "Why not?" Natalie teased. "Do you already have a bun in the oven?" She eyed Freddie, a wicked grin curving her lips. "What do they call that, cuz—a shotgun wedding?"

  Juliet tensed, and her smile evaporated. "No—it's nothing like that," she stammered, sounding embarrassed. "It's just that I'm a total lightweight, and I want to have a clear head for tomorrow." She dropped her gaze to her feet, frowning.

  "Give her a break, cuz," Freddie said, admonishing his cousin. He placed a protective arm around his bride-to-be. Luckily her tension seemed to drain at his touch.

  I glanced at the Somersbys, who'd been silent throughout the exchange. Edward was still scowling, and Meredith wore the same placid expression she'd had since exiting her Mercedes. What either of them was thinking was a mystery.

  "Perhaps we should say a few words to our friends and family," Freddie said, addressing the room. He beamed in the faces of his future in-laws' stoic presence.

  "What a good idea," Juliet agreed, her smile back in place as she stared up at her groom.

  "Thank you all for being here with Juliet and me as we begin this happy new chapter of our lives together," Freddie began. He glanced at his fiancée before returning his attention to the others. "We're both honored that you've chosen to bear witness to the commitment that we're making tomorrow. So, let's raise a glass to all of you."

  The members of the little group lifted their drinks—everyone except Edward Somersby. He continued to frown at the groom while the others clinked glasses and then took sips of their champagne.

  Freddie took a long pull from his own glass and then set it down on the bar. He turned to Juliet and gently gripped her face with one hand, tilting it upward to so that she was looking at him. "After tomorrow, it's just you and me, babe," he said, kissing her lightly on the lips. "Nothing is going to stand in the way of our happy ending."

  CHAPTER TWO

  "Emmy? Are you in there?" Ava's voice accompanied the soft knock on my office door the next morning.

  I quickly finished applying my lipstick and checked for loose strands of my hair, which was pulled back in a sleek, professional-looking bun. Rising from my desk chair, I smoothed a wrinkle in my purple silk blouse and tucked the bottom into my gray pencil skirt. Then I hurried over to the door and opened it.

  "What do you think?" I asked Ava as I let her into the room. "Does this outfit say 'awesome wedding planner'?" I held up my headset and clipboard as I twirled around in a slow circle.

  She grinned. "Girl, it screams it," she said, giving me a thumbs-up. "You look fab."

  "Thanks." I beamed at her and then turned back to the desk and grabbed a second headset, which I held out to Ava. "I got one for you, too. You'll need it so we can communicate during the ceremony and reception."

  "So official." She took the earpiece from my outstretched hand and offered me a latte in its place. "Okay, boss lady," Ava joked, "put me to work. Let's get this wedding party started!"

  I sent her to wait out front for the servers we'd hired for the reception dinner to arrive while I made my way to the rooms where the bridal party was getting dressed. According to the schedule I'd printed for myself (and that I'd already triple checked, of course), the ceremony was set to begin shortly, and I wanted to make sure Juliet had everything she needed before she walked down the aisle.

  "Juliet, it's Emmy," I said, knocking softly on the door. "Can I come in?"

  "Sure," she called in response.

  I turned the doorknob. "I just wanted to see how everything was coming along—" I stopped short when my gaze landed on the bride, who was standing with her back to me as she faced the floor-length mirror on the opposite wall.

  Juliet was a picture of elegance in her sleeveless white gown with tiny pearl beads and feathered accents woven into the bodice. Her dark hair was braided and pinned back in an elegant updo, secured with a pearl encrusted barrette. Even her makeup was flawless.

  "Wow. You look gorgeous," I told her, and I meant it.

  Juliet beamed at me through the mirror. "Thank you." Twin spots o
f rosy color appeared on her cheeks. "I feel like a princess," she added with a giggle.

  "And you look like one too, baby girl," Andrew cooed from beside her.

  Juliet continued to stand still while Andrew and one of the bridesmaids tied the silk ribbons on the back of her dress. In the opposite corner of the room, Natalie was seated on the black leather loveseat, looking disinterested as she sipped a mimosa and scrolled on her phone.

  Andrew finished tying one of the ribbons and then straightened, glancing at the self-absorbed woman in the pixie cut. He gave me a dramatic eye roll. "Clearly we've been all hands on deck here getting ready."

  I grinned, though Andrew's sarcasm seemed to be lost on Juliet as she nodded enthusiastically. "Mom and Dad were both in earlier too—they wanted to see the dress before the ceremony."

  I checked my watch. "The bridal party should begin lining up for the wedding procession in about five minutes," I told Juliet and her entourage. I met her gaze through the mirror. "I'll go find your father and make sure he's ready to walk you down the aisle."

  "Perfect! We'll be outside in just a few minutes," she promised as I slipped out of the room.

  I made my way over to the meadow where the ceremony was to be held, behind the winery's main building. Hector Villarreal, my vineyard manager, had built a gorgeous wooden gazebo for the occasion, placing it at the far side of the meadow, with the backdrop of the vine covered hills behind it. The entrance to the structure was decorated with garlands made of delicate white flowers and bright green vines, and several dozen white folding chairs were set up to face the ethereal scene. We'd worked hard to create a picturesque location for the ceremony, and I had to say, the end product was not too shabby.

  Guests had already begun to arrive. Some had taken their seats, while others milled about and greeted one another. I spotted Edward and Meredith Somersby standing among the crowd, chatting amiably with another couple near the back row of folding chairs.

  As I walked up the stone path toward them, I navigated around several guests starting to trickle toward their seats as the big moment neared. In fact, one tall man with sandy blonde hair practically ran into me, his eyes so focused on the phone in his hand he barely noticed me.

  "Sorry," he mumbled, gaze shifting from me to the screen in rapid succession.

  "No problem," I told him, mentally rolling my own eyes at how attached to their screens some people were. I said a silent prayer that he at least put it away during the ceremony. One thing I could not control would be a trilling cell phone in the audience as the bride and groom said their nuptials. I tried not to let that thought stir up a new bundle of nerves as I approached the Somersbys.

  "Sorry to interrupt," I said, going for a courteous tone as I reached the couple, who were still engaged in a conversation with a pair of guests. "But it's almost time for the ceremony to begin." I met Edward's gaze. "Would you mind following me to meet up with the bride?"

  Mr. Somersby nodded. "Of course." He placed his hand on the small of his wife's back and leaned over to give her a peck on the cheek. Then he bid farewell to the man and woman they'd been chatting with and turned away, falling into step beside me.

  "Are you ready to give your daughter away?" I asked in an effort to make small talk.

  Edward scowled. "To Freddie? Not at all." He sighed. "But I suppose I don't have much of a choice in the matter, do I?"

  I paused, not quite sure how to answer that question. "She seems very much in love with him," I said carefully.

  His expression softened. "I know. I just want my little girl to be happy."

  "Well, she appears very happy," I said, hoping to ease some of his uncertainty. "I just saw her a few minutes ago in the bridal suite, and she was practically glowing."

  "She usually is." Edward beamed. "My Juliet is an angel."

  My heart warmed. It was clear the man truly loved his daughter.

  We fell silent as we passed the three groomsmen, in their matching gray tuxes, making their way to line up beside the pastor at the entrance to the gazebo—Baker and two men who'd been introduced to me the previous day as old high school friends of Freddie's.

  I found Natalie, Andrew, and the two other bridesmaids—one a petite blonde and the other a slender brunette with a chin-length bob and blunt bangs—grouped together under a sprawling oak tree just outside the main building. The women were dressed in sleeveless chiffon gowns in a gorgeous plum color, and Andrew wore a silk shirt of the same deep purple hue with gray dress pants and a matching gray bowtie. He was helping the bridesmaid with the bob with last minute adjustments to the flower pinned in her hair, and Natalie was engrossed in something on her phone, fingers typing away as she generally ignored her surroundings.

  Juliet glided up behind the others just as Edward and I reached them.

  He beamed with pride as he wrapped his daughter in a warm embrace. "Are you sure you want to go through with this, pumpkin?" I heard him ask in a low voice. "There's still time to change your mind. Your mother and I would support your decision, of course."

  "Stop it, Daddy!" Juliet pulled away and gave him a playful slap on the arm. "Of course I'm sure. I've been waiting for this day my whole life." Her brown eyes shone with excitement. "I'm about to marry the man of my dreams."

  Edward gave a small grunt in response, though it didn't sound exactly approving.

  "Emmy." Ava's voice crackled in my ear.

  "Excuse me," I said to Juliet and her father, taking a step away from the group before I answered.

  "I'm here," I replied into the headset, adjusting it so that I could hear her better. "What's up?"

  "Small snag."

  Those nerves I'd been trying to squelch all day came back full force. "How small is small?" I asked in a hushed tone. I glanced to the bride and her father, who were waiting impatiently.

  "Can you meet me by the tasting room entrance?" she asked, the urgency in her voice not making me feel any better.

  "I'm on my way," I told her. I pulled the headset down around my neck as I walked back over to Juliet and the others. "I just need to run to the tasting room for a moment to check on something," I said, keeping my tone even.

  "Is everything okay?" Juliet asked, a frown forming between her slim eyebrows.

  I pasted on my most reassuring smile. "Of course. Just dotting our i's and crossing our t's," I said with maybe a little too much chipperness to be believed.

  Edward Somersby frowned at me. Then again, I was starting to think it was his default expression.

  "I'll be back before the ceremony begins," I promised and then quickly hurried away before anyone could question me further.

  I spotted Ava as soon as I rounded the corner to the tasting room entrance. She was waiting for me in the doorway, leaning against the threshold and nervously tugging at a strand of her blonde hair.

  "What's wrong?" I asked, though I was afraid to hear the answer.

  Ava chewed her lip. "Just promise you won't freak out, okay?"

  "Words like that don't exactly inspire calm or confidence," I replied, feeling my palms grow sweaty. A dozen worst case scenarios crashed through my head. "Did the photographer not show up? Did the band cancel?"

  "No." Ava quickly shook her head. "The photographer is here, and the band is unloading their gear in the parking lot." She sucked in a breath. "But I can't find the groom."

  I closed my eyes and thought a dirty word. "Please tell me you're joking."

  "I wish I were." She grimaced. "Emmy, I've looked practically everywhere, but I can't find him."

  "I saw the groomsmen taking their places. He's not with them?"

  She shook her head.

  I frowned, mentally chastising his best man for not keeping better tabs on Freddie. "You tried calling him?" I asked, flipping through the pages on my clipboard until I found the contact sheet that contained the phone numbers for every member of the wedding party.

  "Several times," Ava responded.

  "And?" I asked, punching the number i
nto my own phone just for good measure.

  "Goes straight to voicemail."

  I pursed my lips together, listening to my phone give me the same results. "He's probably got it shut off for the ceremony," I reasoned.

  "Smart. If he was at the ceremony," Ava pointed out.

  "He's not in the groomsmen's room? Maybe making last minute adjustments?"

  She shook her head. "First place I looked. He's also not at the bar downing liquid courage, not greeting guests, and not at the altar next to his best man like he's supposed to be."

  I could hear the growing concern in her voice that matched my own feelings as I remembered his wandering eye the day before. "You don't think he could have done a runner, do you?" I asked, hating to even voice the thought out loud.

  Ava bit her lip. "I thought of that, but his car is still here." She hiked her thumb over her shoulder toward the parking lot.

  "Then he's got to be here somewhere," I concluded.

  Ava's brow pinched. "What do you want me to do?"

  I swallowed. "All right. Let's just try to stay calm and figure out where he went," I said. I closed my eyes and took a few cleansing breaths. "Okay, go fetch the best man," I instructed Ava. "And then stall the ceremony for as long as you can. I don't want the bride to suspect that anything is wrong."

  "Got it." Ava gave a quick nod and took off around the corner.

  I entered the tasting room and nervously paced the floor as I waited for her to return with Baker Evans. I prayed Freddie would not leave that poor girl at the altar. I couldn't bear the thought of how heartbroken Juliet would be if he'd decided to bail on her at the last minute.

  After a few minutes that felt like an eternity, Baker finally poked his head through the doorway. "Your assistant said you wanted to see me, Miss Oak?"

  "Yes, please. Come in," I told him.

  "Is there some sort of delay?" he asked, glancing at his watch as he stepped fully into the room. His gray suit was a tad too tight for his frame, and his hair had been slicked back from his face in a way that only served to accentuate his round features.