Lucy nodded, making her head pound harder. Her breaths were quick and shallow. She was sitting in a room full of people, but she couldn’t remember ever feeling so alone. Well, except the one time. But that was so very long ago. Way before Zac.

He’s only a phone call away.

Lucy punched his cell number into the handset, trying to ignore the frowning manager and the prying eyes. She supposed it wasn’t every day a person saw a bride in a diner.

Zac must be fretting about her, she thought as the phone rang. She did hope he wasn’t waiting at the chapel. She glanced at the clock on the diner wall. No, it was too early for that. The wedding didn’t start until five thirty.

My wedding day. What happened to the past month?

She pushed the questions away. Needing Zac more than ever, she dialed the Roadhouse.

Zac Callahan lined up the shot, drew back the stick, and struck the cue ball. It rolled forward, spinning across the green felt, and kissed the solid blue ball, which shot off at an angle and sank into the corner pocket.

The bystanders erupted in cheers. Wagers always had a way of upping involvement.

“Of all the luck,” Beau said.

Zac straightened to his full six-four height. “Luck’s got nothing to do with it, big brother.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Beau surveyed the table, his near-black eyes narrowing in a frown.

Zac had left him nothing. With the rest of his evening on the line, he wasn’t leaving it up to chance. Marci, one of his servers, had called in sick, and the crowd was picking up. He was going to need the extra hands.

“I can’t wait to see you in that apron,” Zac said.

“Not happening.” Beau’s dark hair hung forward as he took a shot and missed.

His new fiancée, Eden, consoled him with a pat on the arm and mouthed to Zac, I’m so there.

“Zac, you’re wanted on the phone!” his hostess called on her way past the poolroom.

He set down the cue stick and pointed at Beau. “No cheating.”

Beau gave a Who, me? face as Zac headed toward the counter. The restaurant was already half full because of the Red Sox game on TV. The crowd gave a hearty shout as the tying run crossed home plate.

Zac paused a moment to watch, then continued on his way. He patted Sheriff Colton’s shoulder as he passed and avoided the booth where Morgan LeBlanc sat with a friend. He’d had a couple dates with Morgan, and they were going out again soon. He tried to work up some excitement about that and failed.

He slipped behind the counter and snapped up the handset. “Zac speaking.”

“Zac! Oh, thank heavens.”