Grilled Rye Murder: Book 16 in The Darling Deli Series Read online

  Her gaze was drawn back to David. He looked wonderful in his new suit, with a fresh haircut and shave. His eyes never once wavered from her, and a blush rose in her cheeks at the intensity of his expression. He was looking at her like she was the most important person in the world.

  At last she took the final steps and handed her bouquet to Candice. She met David’s gaze with an eager smile of her own. Now that she was up here, her nerves were gone. She was ready for the vows.

  “David, will you take Moira Darling to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and trust her in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, and to be true and loyal to her so long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” her fiancé said, holding her gaze.

  The minister turned to her. “Moira, will you take David Morris to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and trust him in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, and to be true and loyal to him so long as you both shall live?"

  “I do,” she said, smiling up at the man that she loved.

  The wedding party moved to the reception hall after the vows and rings had finished being exchanged. Moira, giddy at the thought that she was now a married woman, held tightly to David’s hand as they mingled with their friends. She had decided that she would wait to tell him about the kidnapping until later tonight, not wanting to wreck the wonderful day by making him worry about her.

  The reception hall was beautiful. Allison, Cameron, and Jenny had obviously been hard at work while the others were at the wedding. There wasn’t a surface that wasn’t decorated, or a table setting that wasn’t perfect. The three-tiered cake, which had been delivered moments before the guests arrived, was absolutely gorgeous. Covered in white chocolate buttercream frosting, and decorated with artful flowers, it looked like something that Moira would see in a magazine. It would almost be a shame to cut into it… almost. The promise of the layers of fresh strawberry and rich chocolate cake under the frosting was enough to make her mouth water.

  The rest of the food looked amazing, too. The deli’s three volunteers had really gone all out. Platters of cold cuts and cheese were laid out on the long table, along with a variety of fresh sliced bread, bowls of fruit, heated pots of soup, and even a champagne tower.

  At the other end of the room was a DJ and a live band, still setting up. Part of the hall had been sectioned off for dancing, and Moira couldn’t wait to get out on the dance floor with her new husband.

  “Oh, Mom, that was a beautiful ceremony,” Candice said, approaching them with Eli at her side. “Everything was just perfect. I’m so happy for both of you.”

  “Thanks, sweetie. You were wonderful. You look so beautiful in your dress.” She embraced her daughter while Eli congratulated David. “I can’t wait to see what you two do for your wedding.”

  Candice grinned. “Me either. It’s going to be fun to plan. Will you help?”

  “Of course.”

  They were interrupted by Martha, who was weaving her way through the crows towards them. She gave Moira a wide-eyed look.

  “Were you being serious on the phone?” she asked. “I spent the whole ceremony trying to figure out if you were, or if you had been playing some weird joke on me.”

  “Trust me, I was a hundred percent serious,” Moira told her. She glanced at the others. “I’ll tell you all about it, but later, okay? I just want to enjoy being married right now.”

  During her panicked call from Detective Jefferson’s car, she had told Martha everything. Her friend was the only one that knew why she had really been late, and she knew the other woman was probably dying to hear a more detailed version of the story.

  “What are you two talking about?” David asked, looking between them. “What did happen back there? I was worried you had gotten cold feet.”

  “Your wife is crazy,” Martha said, shaking her head in amazement. “That’s all I’ll say.”

  Moira grinned and kissed David on the cheek. “I’ll tell you later, all right? I promise… everything is good now. No cold feet. Ever.”

  He opened his mouth to object, but she cut him off with another kiss. There would be enough time to talk about kidnappings and murderers later. For now, she wanted to kiss her husband, get a piece of cake, and enjoy the happiest night of her life.