Claire Gulliver #06 - Carnage Goes Coastal by Gayle Wigglesworth Page A

them, Claire was in Jack’s arms.
    “This is what I’ve been dreaming about,” Jack whispered in her ear. “What’s the routine? Will we have to get up with the baby or anything?”
    Claire shook her head. “Karen’s really good about the baby. She’ll take care of him although he usually only wakes up twice in the night, well, the second time is really early morning. Anyway, she handles it.”
    Jack was nibbling at her neck as he muttered, “When are you going into work tomorrow?”
    Claire was having a hard time keeping her mind on his questions but finally murmured, “I’m working from ten to closing at eight.”
    “Think you can take a couple hours off in the afternoon? We have some important business to take care of, as soon as possible.”
    She pulled back, looking at him with a question on her face. “Business?”
    “Yes, we’re going shopping for that ring I promised you. Then we need to arrange a marriage ceremony. I was hoping by the weekend.”
    “This weekend?” Claire stared at him, her voice squeaky with surprise.
    He nodded. “Yes. This weekend!”
    “That’s not much time to pull together a wedding.”
    Jack looked at her. “Do we need more time? Can’t we just get married and have the falderal later?”
    Claire looked at him wide-eyed for a moment, then she grinned. “I’m thinking what my mother is going to say when I invite her to my wedding this weekend.”
    Jack smiled as he muttered, “She’ll say, ‘At last!”’
    Claire giggled. “You’re probably right.”
    But the discussion lost their interest as the kisses and neck nibbles became more intense and the couple became engrossed in each other.
    Much later that night Claire pulled free of Jack’s arms, sat up in bed and announced, “This weekend is impossible. I need more time to have the wedding I have in mind.”
    Jack tried to ignore her, but Claire jabbed him with her elbow. “Don’t try to pretend you’re sleeping. What gives with the race to the altar? Don’t you like weddings?”
    Reluctantly he admitted, “No, not particularly. I’m guessing most men don’t. But, I do want to get married. It’s just all the stuff that goes with it that makes me nervous.”
    “Well, what about when you married Karen’s mother? Was that a big deal?”
    “Was it ever! It went on for months. She and her mother planned every detail and worried and fussed through the whole thing. I’m not even sure she remembered it the next week. I know I just drifted through, just doing what I was told. When the pictures came it was like seeing pictures of someone else’s wedding. I didn’t recognize anything, and hardly any of the people, other than my parents.”
    He rolled over and said seriously, “What kind of wedding were you thinking about? You know I’ll do anything you want. I just want us to get married, soon!”
    “Well, you lucked out this time, because I don’t want a big splashy wedding. But I do want to have my friends and relatives there. And I think we can do it soon. I’m not sure about this weekend, but I’ll try to make it soon. Will that satisfy you?”
    He nodded, wrapping her in is arms. “I love you, and not just because you’ve promised not to turn our wedding into a circus.”
    Then just as Claire was starting to drift off, he asked, “Is the old Cadillac still in the garage?”
    “Uh huh,” she muttered.
    “Well, I’ll come pick you up in it tomorrow about two. We’ll travel in style.”
    She smiled her agreement before sliding into sleep.

CHAPTER 17
    “Jack, you’re back. So that’s why Claire’s been floating around all morning with that goofy grin on her face. How are you?” Mrs. B, Claire’s assistant manager at Gulliver’s Travel Bookstore, squeezed Jack’s hands happily. “And this must be why Claire has to take a few hours off this afternoon. You devil! You’re kidnapping her for some fun, aren’t you?”
    Jack nodded, putting his arm around Mrs. B and giving her a hug. “You