To Catch A Cheat Part 31

"I bet you didn't picture him in a dugout, and with a dozen people huddled around him at the time."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head, "but having our friends here just makes it better." She swallowed, paused, then let him take her hand. "Ask me, Keith. Please."

"Candi Moody, will you marry me?"

"Yes," she said, her tears flowing steadily, then she cupped his face and lowered her mouth to his.

"Mom, does that mean I get to go to another wedding, too?" Bo asked, his big green eyes watching Keith and Candi hug and kiss. "And wear another zedo?"

"Tuxedo," Amy said, laughing. "And I imagine that's exactly what it means."

"Cool!" he squealed, and clapped.

"Yes," Keith said, hugging his new fiancee. "Very, very cool."

There's nothing like a good old-fas.h.i.+oned feud to boost ratings, except, maybe, a good old-fas.h.i.+oned wedding.

-SPEEDY

Chapter 27.

(Highlights of the Wedding, Courtesy of ColemanAndSpeedy.com) Since we understand that many of our online listeners weren't able to make the trek to Atlanta for the event of the year, Trent and Marissa's wedding, we have included some of the highlights here on our site. Click the links below to view the invitation, interviews with guests, reception highlights, and last but not least, the famed recipe for Trent's crawfish etouffee, prepared a year ago when he and Marissa spent that famed week in our corporate apartment. And since we want to support our fabulous duo (who landed us the number-one spot in ratings for the week they appeared on the show), we'll also ask you to visit their respective e-zine sites, AtlantaTellAll.com (hers) and DieHardAtlanta.com (his), and don't forget that you can now purchase both in print! Oh, and the sites that started it all, TheGuyCheats.com and TheGirlLies.com. Both are still open for business, though the primary liar and cheater are now hitched.

Enjoy the highlights from the wedding, and continue to tune in each weekday morning to Coleman and Speedy!

THE INVITATION.

Coleman and Speedy cordially invite you to the marriage uniting the previously feuding couple of Trenton Jameson Jackson and Marissa Leola Kincaid. This celebration of love (a love that started courtesy of the Coleman and Speedy show) will be on the eleventh of July at four-thirty in the afternoon.

(Okay. The wedding is actually on the Fourth of July, and we're merely broadcasting the tape on the radio on the eleventh, and no, this isn't the actual invitation. Do you really think we could fit all of our listeners into one location for this ceremony? Which is why you can listen to the ceremony via the radio or your computer.) INTERVIEWS WITH GUESTS.

Mona Kincaid.

"And you're the mother of the bride?" Speedy asked.

"Yes, and I'm thrilled to be here," Mona gushed.

"Would you like to say any words to the happy couple?"

"Of course. Marissa, I'm so glad you've got the man of your dreams. And I'm proud of you, honey, for putting the past where it belongs and looking to the future. That's what your daddy and I are doing, and I couldn't be happier that I'm going after my dream, too."

Daniel Kincaid.

"Any words for the newlyweds?" Speedy asked.

"Trent, we want to welcome you to the family, but if you do anything to hurt her, you're dead."

"Daniel!" Mona scolded.

"Oh, okay, dear. Trent, welcome to our clan. We're glad you're here." He lowered his voice. "And don't you dare mess up."

Landon, Amy, and Bo Brooks.

"We hope Trent and Marissa will be as happy as we are, and we truly expect that to be the case," Amy said.

"Especially with the interesting wedding gift we've provided them from Adventurous Accessories," Landon added with a chuckle.

"I can only imagine what that is," Speedy said, snickering. "And what's your name, little man?"

"Bo. Bo Brooks, and this is Fella."

"Fella?"

"My dog. He's like Petie, Aunt Rissi's dog, but littler. He was just borned two months ago, but he'll get bigger."

"I'm sure he will," Speedy said. "And are you having fun at the wedding?"

"Yeah, but I'm ready to play baseball."

"He's talking about the reception," Amy informed Speedy.

"Right. And if you're tuning in, we'll cover that, too, in a little bit," Speedy said.

Candi Moody and Keith Parker.

"Any words for the happy couple?" Speedy asked.

"Yes," Keith said. "We want to wish you both the best."

"And we want to thank you," Candi added. "Your web war brought the two of us together, and we'll be walking down the aisle at our own wedding this Christmas. Thanks for helping me find this amazing man!"

"Wow, all you listeners out there, I wish you could see this! I've never seen a clinch like this!" Then Speedy cleared his throat. "Okay," he said. "Moving right along."

Jamie Abernathy and Gerald Hopkins.

"I'd like to congratulate Marissa for finding that perfect guy. There's nothing like finding the right man," Jamie said.

"I agree," Gerald added. "I'd never have met Jamie, a guy who appreciates both me and my love of the symphony, without Marissa's site. Thanks again for helping me see the light."

"And we have another clinch, folks!" Speedy said, then cleared his throat again. "And we'll keep going."

LaDonna Farraday, Robin Grenade, and "Crazy Irene."

LaDonna: "I am really happy for them. I mean, I never really meant all that stuff about him having bad breath. He just dropped me, without warning, and I was p.i.s.sed, so I wanted to make him look bad. But that morning when Marissa turned him down on live TV, I felt vindicated. And I didn't mind all that much when they worked things out and got together. Besides, I got an invite to the wedding, and they've got great cake." "I am really happy for them. I mean, I never really meant all that stuff about him having bad breath. He just dropped me, without warning, and I was p.i.s.sed, so I wanted to make him look bad. But that morning when Marissa turned him down on live TV, I felt vindicated. And I didn't mind all that much when they worked things out and got together. Besides, I got an invite to the wedding, and they've got great cake."

Robin: "Okay, I'll admit I lied about his less-than-favorable anatomy, but that's all I'm going to say about that. Like LaDonna, I was p.i.s.sed, and when women get p.i.s.sed, they get even. Take that to heart, all you men out there listening." "Okay, I'll admit I lied about his less-than-favorable anatomy, but that's all I'm going to say about that. Like LaDonna, I was p.i.s.sed, and when women get p.i.s.sed, they get even. Take that to heart, all you men out there listening."

Crazy Irene: "Well, I worked for Trent, and I never dated him or anything like that, but I sure would have if he had asked. He's the kindest, most thoughtful, sweetest, most handsome-" "Well, I worked for Trent, and I never dated him or anything like that, but I sure would have if he had asked. He's the kindest, most thoughtful, sweetest, most handsome-"

"Um, Irene, is it?" Speedy interrupted.

She sniffed, loudly and grossly. "Yeah?"

"We're going to have to move on."

RECEPTION HIGHLIGHTS.

"We're at the most unique wedding reception I've ever attended," Coleman said. "What do you think, Speedy?"

"Never been to one like it," Speedy said. "Not that I mind. I've always loved baseball."

"Well, for our listening audience, let me describe what's happening. The bride, bridesmaids, and the bride's mother are gathered in one dugout and wearing white uniforms. The groom, groomsmen, and bride's father are in the other and wearing black uniforms. And Bo Brooks, son of Landon and Amy Brooks, is getting set to throw out the first pitch of the game," Coleman said.

"And there it is. A nice throw, for a four-year-old," Speedy said.

"Since the ladies wanted the home-team advantage, the guys will be the first at bat," Coleman relayed. "Ladies, can I ask you a few questions before you start?"

"Sure!" Marissa answered, giggling.

"We're talking to the bride, who will be playing second base."

"And letting my husband get to first base tonight," she said. "Then second, third, and definitely home."

Laughter rang out around her, while Coleman cleared his throat. "Family show, dear."

"Right," Marissa said. "Sorry, I'm excited."

"No problem," Speedy said. "So Marissa, tell us why you decided on a baseball game for the reception. I heard it was your idea."

"It was actually Amy's idea. She thought of it one night while we were working on our e-zine," Marissa said.

"And drinking a few margaritas," Candi added.

"Care to enlighten our listeners?" Coleman asked.

"Sure," Marissa said. "Are all of you ready?" she asked her cohorts.

"Baseball tickets, ten dollars," Amy said.

"Hot dog, two dollars," Mona said.

"c.o.ke, a dollar-fifty," Candi added.

"Guys in baseball pants . . ." Marissa said, then whistled.

The men laughed from their dugout, while the women yelled in unison . . . "Priceless!"

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THE RECIPE.

Trent Jackson's Crawfish etouffee 1 pound crawfish tails 1 to 2 blocks of b.u.t.ter cup chopped green onions 1 chopped onion 1 small chopped bell pepper cup chopped celery 1 tablespoon parsley 1 can golden mushroom soup teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon paprika

Saute crawfish tails in b.u.t.ter. Remove tails, add chopped vegetables, and saute until tender. Add garlic powder and paprika, stir well. Add soup, one can of water, and crawfish tails. Cook about 20 minutes. Serve over cooked rice, pasta, or broiled fish.

(Trent's recipe provided by amazing Cajun chefs Doug and Gay Duhon of Grand Point, Louisiana.)

About the Author.

Kelley St. John's previous experience as a senior writer at NASA fueled her interest in writing action-packed suspense, although she also enjoys penning steamy romances and quirky women's fiction. Since 2000, St. John has obtained more than fifty writing awards, including the National Readers' Choice Award, and was elected to the Board of Directors for Romance Writers of America. Visit her website, www.kelleystjohn.com, to learn the latest news about recent and upcoming releases and to register for fabulous vacation and spa giveaways!

The lovin' ain't over!