Page 71 of Married at Midnight

“It’s all done,” Trevor said. “Amanda Frost is in the King County jail awaiting arraignment, and your prototype is back at your lab, courtesy of Mike Mulligan.”

Connor clapped Trevor on the back. “Thanks, man. Not sure what I would’ve done without your help.”

“I’ll have to think of a way for you to pay me back.” Trevor smiled mischievously as he turned toward Jordan. “We haven’t met.” He held out his hand. “Trevor Edwards, SPD.”

Her green eyes raked him from head to toe. “Jordan Krane, PA dash C.”

Connor sighed and shook his head. “You two play alphabet soup for now, but I expect to see both of you at Grayson House tomorrow. Thanksgiving Day is a bust, but the wedding is on. Ellie and I would love our best friends to be there.”

Trevor’s dark eyes filled with interest. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Ellie opened her eyes and stared up at the bag of saline solution hanging over her head. She frowned. When had she gotten an IV?

She heard voices. One of them distinct from the others.

“Connor?”

Soft footsteps sounded, and he was beside her. “Welcome back,” he said in a soothing voice.

An inexplicable feeling of joy moved through her at the sight of his face above her. He reached down and cupped her face with his hands and kissed her deeply.

Then just as quickly, the joy vanished, replaced with fear. “Amanda?” she asked as she looked beyond Connor to see she was in a hospital room. “What happened?”

“Amanda was caught before she even left the parking lot. You remember how slow the car moves? She had no idea her plan was doomed to failure by using the prototype as her getaway car.”

Ellie released a soft laugh. “That kind of makes me feel a little sorry for her.”

“Don’t feel sorry for Amanda. She got what she deserved.” Connor gently stroked Ellie’s cheek with his thumb. “Now, back to us. We never finished our discussion.”

Before Ellie could comment, a commotion came from the doorway. “She’s awake? Let us through.” Her bearing as regal as ever, Viola crossed to the bed and took up a position across from Connor, folding her in an exuberant hug. “My darling girl, I was so worried about you. I’m grateful beyond words that you’re safe.”

James and Julie Hawthorne crowded around the opposite side of the bed. “The best outcome possible. Thanks for bringing her back to us, Connor.” Ellie’s father shook Connor’s hand, treating him as if he were a conquering hero.

“What did I miss after Amanda drugged me a second time?” Ellie asked, her gaze shifting back to Connor.

He gave her a smile. “I’ll explain everything to you . . . later.”

The Elvises entered the room, wreathed in smiles. “We could tell when we first met you that you were a fighter,” Lenny said as he bent to kiss her bruised cheek.

Aaron, Ernie, and George crowded in. “We’re so glad you’re okay,” Aaron said with a heartfelt smile.

“I’m so happy to see you all, and I thank you for your concern and your love. And since you’re all here, there is one thing we need to talk about.” Again, her gaze found Connor’s.

“My dear,” Viola interrupted, “the only thing we need to discuss is how quickly you’ll be out of this hospital bed. We all missed Thanksgiving because we were so concerned for your safety, but now that you’re better, I’d love to get married, and then there’s the Holiday Street of Dreams that starts tomorrow. None of those things can happen without you.”

“I need to know something first, before any of this goes any further.” Ellie pulled herself up into a sitting position. Her hands tightened on the handrails as she fought another bout of dizziness. She had to say what had been haunting her since before Amanda had kidnapped her. “What role did you all play in Connor’s and my relationship?”

Viola and the Elvises fixed her with identical inquiring looks. “What are you talking about, dear?” Viola asked.

Ellie knew she should rest, but she had to know the truth. “I’ve never been drugged before last night, or so I thought.” She glanced at Lenny, George, Ernie, and Aaron. “What did you all do the night Connor and I got married?”

Ashen faces stared back.

“You’re asking if we drugged you? The answer is no,” Lenny said, his features as serious as she’d ever seen them. “Did we do what we could to fan the flames of love? Yes. We knew about your past together, and we knew you were both in town. All we had to do was make sure you both stayed in the same hotel, and that you happened to meet in the hotel bar.”

Ellie’s gaze clashed with Connor’s. “Did you receive an offer in the mail for a free hotel room that just happened to be one of the dates you’d be in town?”

“Yes,” he said. “I took advantage of that offer. Did you also get a voucher for a free drink in the lobby bar with the same deal?” he asked Ellie.