LITMIR.BIZ

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of time to change your mind.”

      Tessa winced. “You think I should? I chose the candlelight empire satin gown because of the high waist, but I was afraid my big caboose sticks out way too far anyway.”

      “You’ve been comparing yourself with the models in those bride’s magazines again, haven’t you? There is nothing wrong with your butt.” Mel sighed. “Not the gown. The wedding. Please don’t marry Dale just because you think he’ll give you the security you crave. Do you really want to spend the next twenty years trying not to rock the boat with Lucille?”

      For a moment, the only sound was the muted hum of voices from the outer lobby. Then Tessa shuddered and forced a strained laugh. “You know better than to mention boats to me.”

      “Don’t change the subject. You don’t really love him. Admit it.”

      “I do love him. For two years, Dale has been my closest friend, besides you. The wild, passionate version of ‘love’ is just an attack of raging hormones. Ten minutes of pleasure—a lifetime of consequences. My mother for instance—”

      “Yeah, you had a new ‘uncle’ every time you phoned home, but Vivienne is a bad example. Lots of actresses have revolving doors on their bedrooms.”

      But Vivienne’s unfaithfulness had caused the death of the only person who had ever loved Tessa. Her dad. Her mother’s flighty lifestyle was the reason Tessa had chosen a financial career. Numbers never lied, never changed and never let you down. “Dale and I are perfect together. He’s an accountant and I’m a banker. We both enjoy books, music and playing in Lucille’s charity concerts.”

      Mel snorted, making her short blond locks bounce. “I admit, I’ve never had a relationship longer than two dates, so I’m the last person to give advice. But don’t settle for blue-eyed bland. You deserve the best.”

      “Maybe Dale isn’t as exciting as 007, but he’s loyal, responsible and sweet, and he loves kids. I’m getting my heart’s desire.” She frowned. “In two weeks, I’m going to marry Dale and have a family of my own. Children to cuddle. A dog shedding hair on the carpet. Noisy, bustling holidays. And nothing on this earth will stop me.”

      “Okay, have it your way. I just don’t want you to wake up in thirty years and realize you’ve wasted your whole life with a man who doesn’t trip your trigger.”

      Tessa chuckled. “Gee, don’t hold back. What do you really think?”

      “After twenty years, you’re more than my best friend—you’re like my sister. We’ve been soul mates since our teary eyes met that first awful day of boarding school and I want you to be happy.”

      “No tears, see? I am happy. Very happy. Everything is on track and according to plan.” She glanced at the clock again and a groan slipped out. “Except I’m out of time. Trask has been on my case all week because we’re so far behind. And he’ll relish throwing it in my face at the promotion interview.”

      “He’s lucky to have you. Any woman who alphabetizes her spices and arranges her canned goods by expiration date is a pillar of organization.” Mel grabbed both Tessa’s hands in hers. “I’m telling you, this dress fiasco is another sign. Mark my words, Tessie, Dale is not your destiny. If you don’t wise up, The Man Upstairs will resort to something drastic.”

      Her friend’s pronouncement resonated in the throbbing pulse at Tessa’s temples. Dale is not your destiny.

      A shiver crawled up her spine. She shoved the eerie feeling aside. Practical and steady, she didn’t believe in destiny. A person made her own fate, and her course was perfectly charted and firmly set. She wouldn’t let anything thwart her lifelong dream for a family and security. Not now, not when it was finally within her reach. Tessa gave her friend a reassuring smile. “It’ll be fine. Everything will run smooth and well-oiled from now on, you’ll see.”

      The door flew open and her vault teller, Carla, burst inside. “Sorry to interrupt, but everything just went to hell. We’ve got customers lined up to the door. The cash shipment arrived, and needs to be verified. The kiosk ATM isn’t working again, the newbie on window three is having a panic attack, and Darcy went home with that flu that’s going around.” She groaned. “Oh, and Mr. Trask pitched a fit because he didn’t get your weekly report yet. He wants it ASAP.”

      Tessa sighed. As operations supervisor, her job was to ensure the branch ran efficiently, especially during Mr. Trask’s frequent absences. With customers up the wazoo and another teller gone, she’d have to keep Carla at a window and manage the vault herself. That meant spending an hour after work trapped in the vault counting stacks of bills. And she had a dinner date with Dale and Lucille to discuss wedding plans. At the thought of confronting Lucille, her heart sank. According to Modern Day Bride, newlyweds fought about three major topics: money, sex and in-laws. She grimaced. Her hopes to be the exception didn’t look promising.

      “Give the newbie a pat on the back, tell her to take a deep breath and focus on one thing at a time. Then go back to your window. I’ll count the cash.”

      Carla shook her head. “That’s my job. You’ve already got your hands full.”

      “Maybe so, but I need you out front.”

      “Don’t you think you should go out front? That newbie looks pretty shaky, and with Darcy sick, we’re now three tellers short. And don’t forget, today is payday for the biggest companies in town. I’d better do the count.”

      Tessa frowned. Carla usually obeyed without question. “Exactly why you belong at a station. I’ll get it done as fast as possible, and I can pop out if needed in the meantime.”

      “But—wait—” Carla’s brown eyes widened in near panic.

      “I know how much you despise manning a window, but it can’t be helped. Buzz if you need me.”

      Her face clouded with reluctance, Carla departed, and Tessa turned to Mel. “I’ve gotta run.”

      “Yeah, I know. Trask is such a bozo!” Mel huffed. “He’s always gone, and he works you like a six-handed cherry picker while stalling your promotion for months.” The tiny blonde planted her hands on her hips. “For five bucks, I’ll take him out for you. Lucille, too. I learned two killer moves in kickboxing class last week. I’d do it for free, but I’m dead broke.”

      In spite of her exasperation, Tessa chuckled. “You might have defended me all through boarding school, but I’m a big girl now. I’ll work things out with Trask and Lucille. Negotiation and logic.”

      “Negotiation and logic. Right. And sometimes, a good swift kick in the chops.” Mel picked up the garment bag. “I’ll return these and demand the originals back. I wouldn’t have accepted them in the first place, but I knew you’d have to see ’em to believe ’em.” With a wave, she headed out the door. “Bye. And think about what I said, okay?”

      “I doubt I’ll have time to breathe, much less think.” Her friend left, and Tessa’s stomach grumbled, reminding her she’d gone without lunch. Again. Since she had to stay late, she needed something to keep her on her feet. She rushed to the break room and gobbled two stale chocolate doughnuts before hustling into the vault.

      Inside the locked room, she cut the first bag’s seal to remove a bound package of twenties and then placed it in the money counter. The machine whirred as the crisp bills spilled into a neat rectangle. Humming “Jailhouse Rock,” she picked up the next package.

      The process went smoothly until the very last package, when she found a number of client payroll checks mixed in with the cash. How odd. Frowning, she flipped through the pile. The checks amounted to fifty thousand dollars and belonged in the main vault downstairs.

      She had to report this serious security breach immediately.

      After replacing the checks in the bag, she stepped out of the vault. An eerie silence shrouded the room, everyone frozen in place. “What’s going—”

      The

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