The Substitute Read online

  The entire area was tented with a soft white fabric lined with white twinkle lights, and a giant chandelier hung in the middle, directly over the pool.

  “Does your mother think we’re already married and this is the reception?” Josh asked.

  “No, she wouldn’t miss the opportunity to torture me before the wedding.”

  “What the…” He walked down the steps to the pool deck, checking out one of the bistro tables.

  Megan followed in horror. Like the other tables, this one was decorated with a single blooming rose in a crystal vase, beneath which a few petals were artfully scattered on the white tablecloth. It was the domed glass covering the flower that had caught his attention.

  “Is this from Beauty and the Beast?” Josh asked, turning back to gape at her.

  She shook her head in dismay. “She said it was a princess theme.”

  “That must make me the Beast.”

  She released a short laugh. “If she originally planned it that way, I can assure you that she’s turned the tables. She loves you. I’m the Beast.”

  He set the tray of candles on the table. “Oh, God. Is that bowl of red apples on the food table a Snow White reference? And the brass lamp must be a nod to Aladdin.”

  Megan shook her head, speechless.

  “Seriously, Megan. What the hell?”

  She stared up at him in dismay. “I don’t know. I think I’m about twenty years too old for this party. And I don’t even like Disney movies. She knows that.”

  “And I think I just lost my man card.”

  “Isn’t it beautiful?” her mother asked, coming out the back door, tsking when she saw the tray of candles on one of the tables.

  “It’s something else, all right,” Megan answered, taking in the decorations. A clear high heel sat atop the bar at the end of the pool, keeping company with the liquor bottles.

  Her mother set an ornate picture frame containing words instead of a photo on the organza-strewn table. Megan moved closer to see it read Megan and Josh, June 14.

  “I thought Josh told you that he preferred to use Jay on everything.”

  Her mother gave her a blank look. “Did he? I figured he meant the invitations. Besides, if people are going to call him Josh, it will be less confusing if the placard says Josh.”

  Her father emerged from the door next, a frame in his hand. Megan gasped when she realized what it was: A photo of her and Josh in her parents’ kitchen.

  “How did you get that?”

  “The photos you sent me of you and Josh were just atrocious—all blurry and out of focus. And besides, Josh’s hair is longer now and he’s much cuter in person,” her mother said. “So after Josh kissed you in the kitchen, your father took your picture with his phone so we could use it tonight.”

  “That’s creepy,” Megan muttered.

  Her mother offered her a tight smile. “No. It was efficient. And while it’s not the professional portrait I wanted…which I suggested to you many, many times—”

  “I told you that Jay couldn’t get away from work.”

  “—this will have to do in a pinch.”

  “Why do we need one at all?” Megan asked in dismay. “We’re both here. Our presence should be enough.” Although she hoped Josh wouldn’t be here for long, so she could be done with this disaster of a weekend.

  She looked over her shoulder at him and mouthed sorry, although she wasn’t entirely sure why. He gave her a sympathetic smile before she turned back to face her mother, and she was surprised by how comforting the gesture was. She couldn’t help thinking what Jay would have done in this situation. No doubt he would have found a reason to blame it on her. He certainly wouldn’t have done a thing to comfort her.

  Her mother’s brow furrowed, but not by much, making Megan wonder if she’d had Botox injections recently. “Barbara Decker’s daughter’s engagement party was gorgeous. You’re not going to have anything less.”

  “Are you saying this is our engagement party? We’re getting married in three days!”

  “Barbara Decker gave her daughter an engagement party that was the talk of the country club for months.” Her mouth turned down. “I won’t be outdone by that social wannabe.”

  “So you did all of this?” Megan’s voice rose as she gestured to the tent over their heads. “How much did it even cost?”

  “Too much,” her father grumbled.

  “Bart!” her mother reprimanded. “Enough of that. You have one daughter and she will have the most beautiful wedding in all of Jackson County.”

  “Nicole,” her father chided. “The wedding is going to be in Johnson County. And this isn’t even the wedding.”

  “Details!” Her mother looked around, frantic and frustrated. “I wanted to hire real waitstaff, instead of taking a chance on these kids—” she waved at a teenage girl wearing a black skirt and blouse who was setting a plate of tiny cakes on the food table, “—but your father refused. And we haven’t had ample time to prepare after your foolish antics at the airport, Megan Nicole.”

  Shoot me now, Megan thought.

  Her brother came out the back door and helped her grandmother out onto the deck. Her grandmother had changed into a flamboyant green and blue dress, paired with a headband of giant feathers. It made her hair look snow white.

  “The guests are about to arrive and the candles aren’t lit yet,” her mother called over her shoulder as she moved toward the French doors. “Quit dilly-dallying, dear.” She stopped and looked Gram up and down before shaking her head. “I’m not even…” Her voice trailed off as she entered the house.

  Megan smiled to herself at her grandmother’s choice of attire—probably partially chosen to irritate Nicole. Megan grabbed two candles off the tray and Josh leaned close to her ear. “Where are we supposed to set these things up, anyway? The small tables are covered with the Disney props.”

  “I don’t care, just set them off to the side,” she grumbled, her smile fading. This was going to be a total disaster.

  “How about you set them out and I’ll light them?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Megan set one on a table decorated with a spool of thread and a dollhouse spinning wheel. Her grandmother hobbled past them and over to the bar. “Those are supposed to go in the pool.”

  “What?” For a moment, Megan was sure her gram had finally turned a corner and gone completely senile.

  “The pool.” She waved her hands toward it in a shooing motion. “Your mother looked high and low for those fancy-pants bowls. She wants them in the water.”

  Megan picked one up and checked it over. She suspected Gram was right. It didn’t make sense to add anything to the tables, and floating candles were certainly over-the-top enough to fit her mother’s theme. The question was how to do this gracefully. Then again, screw being graceful.

  After kicking off her shoes, Megan sat on the side of the pool, submerging her feet in the water. Josh followed and set the tray on the concrete. “Hand me the candles we set out on the tables,” Megan prompted. “I’ll light them and put the bowls in the water.”

  “Okay…” He sounded unsure, but he obeyed readily enough.

  Satisfied, Gram continued on her way to the bar. “I’m thirsty. Fix me a drink, Kevin. Do you still make a mean Sex on the Beach?”

  Kevin laughed and headed around the back of the bar, grabbing four glasses as he went. “I haven’t made one of those since I was in high school, Gram. When you hired me to bartend for those parties you and Gramps threw.”

  “Until your mother found out you weren’t really helping us with home repairs,” she chortled.

  “She had a royal fit.” He shook his head with an ornery grin. “It was awesome.”

  “I got in trouble for that too,” Megan added, calling over her shoulder. “Mom was certain I knew, so she was pissed I hadn’t told her.”

  Gram frowned, shaking her head. “Your mother and I don’t always see eye to eye.”

  Kevin hoisted a liquor
bottle in salute. “And thank God for that.”

  Josh helped Megan with several more floating centerpieces before he glanced up from putting a candle in one of the bowls, a perplexed look on his face. “Wait. If Gram is your mother’s mother, why doesn’t she have a Southern accent?”

  Megan chuckled. “That is one of the reasons Mom keeps Gram under wraps, which is harder to do now that Gram lives with them. Mom tells everyone she’s from Atlanta, but she only lived there for her last two years of high school when Gramps worked for Coca-Cola. She’s originally from Overland Park, Kansas.”

  Josh still looked confused. “So she developed a Southern accent in a very short period of time and kept it?”

  “More like she fakes it,” Gram snorted, taking her drink from Kevin.

  “Why?” Josh asked.

  Kevin walked toward them, a glass in each hand. “To make herself seem even more special than everyone else, of course. The reason for everything she does. She’d rather be seen as a genteel Southern lady with class and sophistication than a woman with Midwest roots.” He handed one of the glasses to Josh, a hard look in his eyes. “I suggest you drink this. You’re gonna need it.” When he leaned down and handed Megan the other drink, he searched her face. “It’s like you haven’t told Josh a thing about our mother, Megan. I find that surprising given how much you love your Mom stories.”

  He’d always been able to see through her bullshit, and she could tell he suspected something was up. Too bad he’d never guess what was really going on. She averted her gaze as she took the glass and instantly downed half of it, then struggled not to cough as it burned down her throat. “Good God, Kevin. Is that ninety-proof alcohol?”

  “Long Island iced tea. I figured you needed fortitude.”

  Josh gave her a concerned glance. “I’m not sure you should be drinking at all after what happened earlier.”

  “Isn’t that sweet of you, looking out for Megan like that.” Kevin’s tone was off as he turned his attention to Josh. “Has she done anything like this before?”

  Josh stood and met his gaze. “No, and this afternoon was inadvertent. She had no idea she couldn’t drink with Dramamine.”

  Kevin cocked an eyebrow. “And you didn’t think to stop her?” His tone was unmistakably confrontational.

  “He had no idea I took it.” Megan downed the rest of her drink. She had a feeling things were about to get ugly before the guests even showed up.

  “He wasn’t with you?”

  Josh shook his head and stood. “What exactly are you accusing me of? Trying to overdose your sister? That doesn’t seem very smart, three days before our wedding.”

  Kevin took a step closer with a defiant glare. “Is there a right time to overdose your significant other, Josh?”

  Megan jumped to standing, her feet leaving little wet splashes on the concrete, and placed her hand on Kevin’s chest, pushing him back. “Back off, Kevin. Josh would never hurt me. Otherwise, why would he suggest I shouldn’t drink now?”

  Kevin’s eyes narrowed as his gaze turned again to Josh. “I don’t trust you. Something’s up, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”

  “Kevin! Enough!” Megan barked in panic. If he was this pissed without knowing the whole story, what would he do if he found out? The sooner she ended this charade and broke up with Josh, the better. “Josh hasn’t done anything to make you distrust him.”

  “I haven’t liked him since you started dating, Megan. The man’s an ass. Look, maybe I’ve kept quiet about this for too long, but I can’t let you marry him without saying my piece.”

  “You only just met him, Kevin!”

  “Exactly my point.” His voice was low and menacing. “Why?”

  Megan opened her mouth and hesitated. “He’s been busy. Working.”

  “Too busy to meet your family?”

  She released a heavy breath, brushing the hair off her forehead as she glanced at her grandmother, who stood to the side listening while she sipped her drink. “I didn’t want to come home, Kevin. Surely you of all people understand that.”

  He was quiet for a long moment, but then he sighed and said, “She’s not the only person in your family, Megan.”

  She put her hand on his arm to stop him from turning away. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Just don’t take this out on Josh.”

  Kevin’s jaw tightened. “Sorry I accused you of trying to kill my sister.” He stared into Josh’s face, his eyes filled with a challenge. “I’m sure an uptight prick like you would be much tidier with how you carried it out.”

  “Kevin!”

  Josh tensed and took a step closer. The air between the two men was heavy with testosterone. Megan knew the slightest spark would set off this powder keg.

  “Kevin, I thought you were going to get me a drink.”

  Kevin continued to stare Josh down before picking up Megan’s glass off the patio and stomping back to the bar.

  Megan let out a sigh of relief, sagging her shoulder into Josh’s chest. “Sorry about that.”

  His arm curved around the small of her back, holding her in place. “Is your brother always that intense?”

  She knew she should pull away. His physical affection was for public display, yet somehow she knew he genuinely wished to comfort her. “Only where I’m concerned.”

  “He wouldn’t hurt you, would he?”

  She laughed. “No. Definitely not. But he’d hunt down whoever did.” She looked up at him. “We need to make sure he never finds out who you really are.”

  He nodded and looked over at Kevin, who was mixing another drink. “Seriously though, I’m not sure more alcohol is a good idea after—”

  The back door opened and Megan froze in terror when she saw the blond in the gray pencil skirt and white blouse. She’d forgotten all about Blair. How could she have forgotten about Blair? Her best friend searched the yard, her face contorting in horror before she made a beeline for her.

  Josh lowered his voice as his gaze moved to her friend. “Who’s that and why am I suddenly nervous?”

  “That’s one of my two best friends. And we should both be scared.”

  “I take it she knows?” he whispered.

  “Everything up until I boarded the plane.”

  “Shit.”

  From the angry look on Blair’s face, Megan couldn’t help agreeing with him.

  Chapter Seven

  Josh wasn’t frightened by much, but the woman who was making her way toward them looked like she wanted to rip someone’s head off. Possibly his. She didn’t look dressed for a cocktail party. She wore a business skirt paired with a white shirt and jacket. The glare that her icy blue eyes shot at him made him seriously fear she might take one of her black stiletto heels and jab his eyes out. Josh inched closer to Megan.

  “Blair,” Megan said. “What are you doing here?”

  “We had plans tonight,” Blair said, her voice a monotone.

  “Yeah. About that… I forgot to call you.”

  “I’ll say,” she said, stopping in front of them. She eyed Josh up and down. “Apparently you have a lot to tell me.” Her voice lowered, so Kevin and Megan’s grandmother probably couldn’t hear. “Like how you picked up a new fiancé on a four-hour flight.” Blair’s eyes narrowed. “Were you the one who drugged her?”

  “No!” Megan protested loud enough that her brother and grandmother looked over at them.

  Had they heard anything incriminating?

  Megan grabbed Blair’s arm and dragged her over to the food table, farther away from the others. Though she allowed herself to be dragged backward, Blair quirked her brow at Josh. “Oh, you better get your ass over here and join us, lover boy.”

  Josh knew he was going to have to dig himself out of this one. Part of him considered walking away from it all, throwing in the towel, but he wasn’t ready to do that. After seeing this lavish display of wealth, he was certain that Megan’s father—who genuinely seemed like a nice guy—had plenty of incentive to take Jos
h’s plans and make a fortune out of them, snagging away their investor to boot. Josh wasn’t sure there was enough money in the world to keep Nicole Vandemeer happy. He had to stay longer to see what he could uncover. He suspected some of Bart Vandemeer’s business associates might be at the party, and Josh hoped to sniff out information from them in the guise of polite conversation. Tonight could help him direct his investigation. He may have fallen into this role by chance, but it was showing more potential than he could have imagined at the airport earlier.

  He cast a glance at the feisty brunette next to him. And then there was Megan herself… No, Josh wasn’t going anywhere yet, bitchy best friend be damned.

  Megan looked over her shoulder, then back at her friend. “Who told you I was drugged? And how did you find out about Josh?”

  “Kevin. He wanted to know why your fiancé Josh let you get shit-faced on an afternoon flight.”

  Megan’s back stiffened underneath Josh’s arm. He’d unconsciously returned his arm to the small of her back. He considered dropping it, but decided it added to the illusion of a couple in love. Even so, he had to admit that wasn’t the only reason he kept it there—it felt good. The angry woman in front of him didn’t seem appeased by the gesture; if anything, she looked angrier when her steely gaze lowered to his arm.

  “What did you tell him?” Megan asked, her jaw clenched.

  “What did I tell him? Why don’t we talk about what you haven’t told me?” Blair hissed. Josh wasn’t sure Blair’s eyes could squint any tighter as she shot daggers of hate at him. “What the hell is going on here?” she asked, adding emphasis to each word.

  Megan rolled her eyes. “It’s a long story.”

  “It can’t be that long,” Blair countered. “Eight hours ago you were single. What great love story could have unfurled in that timeframe?”

  “It was all a misunderstanding,” Megan said.

  “Oh, really?” Blair kept her gaze on Josh. “A misunderstanding? Are you homeless?”

  “What?”

  “Are you mentally ill? A gigolo? A terrorist?”

  “Blair, stop.” Megan put her hand on her friend’s arm. “And I already accused him of being a terrorist.”