Chapter 2 #2
“Thanks.” Jesus, was she for real? There was no way in hell he wanted to be in any pictures. He needed this weekend to be over as quickly as possible.
They turned away from the reception desk and started across the lobby with the bellman in tow.
Dylan’s breath caught in his chest and his hands clenched into fists. “Son of a—” he mumbled.
Jenn Harris.
Of all the people he could run into, she was just about the worst-case scenario.
She was exiting the bank of elevators. Her tall slender form was only emphasized by the light blue summer dress she was wearing.
Her long blond hair hung down over bare shoulders.
Her normally pale skin had a slight tan and a light dusting of freckles would be visible on her cheeks because of the summer sun.
She would hate that. He’d always liked them.
Now, he wanted to turn tail and run, but it was too late.
“Dylan!” Jenn called out his name and hurried toward him. The surprise on her face turned to anger about halfway across the lobby, and he couldn’t blame her.
His muscles tensed. Whatever she laid on him, he deserved. He hadn’t seen her since the night his whole world had changed.
The night he’d come home and broken off their engagement.
“Jenn,” he said in a gruff voice. He swallowed hard. Pain and sadness filled his chest, making it difficult to breathe. Guilt tied his vocal cords in knots. She looked beautiful—Jenn always did—but she also seemed tired and, judging by the tightness around her mouth, stressed.
It didn’t matter. It was none of his business anymore. Jenn wasn’t his business any longer. He’d made sure of that.
He tried to inflate his lungs, but it was like he’d been on the receiving end of a tear gas canister. He cursed long and loud in his head. He was in deep trouble, and he’d only been here a total of five minutes.
This weekend was going to be hell.
“What are you doing here?” Jenn stopped abruptly in front of him. She glared at him and then Raleigh, giving them the once over, making it very clear she found both parties wanting.
“Uh—” he started, having no clear idea of what he was supposed to say, but Raleigh cut him off.
She offered her hand. “I’m Raleigh Ross. I’m managing your PR and your wedding book. Your mother hired my firm.”
Wait! What? It was Jenn’s wedding that Raleigh was here to cover? That news hit him like a rubber bullet to his vest. Jen was already getting married?
He’d heard Jenn was engaged, but that was only a few months ago.
He sucked in air like he’d run a marathon.
Jenn was getting married. His fiancée—ex-fiancée—was marrying someone else and he had to be here for the whole weekend.
This was a brand-new level of hell. He’d rather go through the police academy all over again than spend one more minute here.
Jenn’s eyes narrowed, but the way she’d been raised left no room for ignoring social niceties. She shook Raleigh’s hand.
“Congratulations on your wedding,” Raleigh said with a huge smile.
“Thank you,” Jenn ground out, but she did not look pleased. “Dylan, what are you doing here?”
“He’s my date,” Raleigh replied quickly.
Dylan was instantly grateful. He was still incapable of speech. He sucked in more oxygen. Get it together. You’re a mess. He could hear his training officer’s voice loud and clear, as if the man was standing beside him. He stood up straight and regulated his breathing.
“I didn’t realize that PR hacks were allowed to bring dates to my wedding,” Jenn said, with a pointed look at him, frost dripping off every word.
“It was a courtesy offered by your mother. I’ve worked with her on all her fundraising events for her various charities.” Raleigh’s voice was smooth and firm.
Dylan was immediately impressed. Raleigh definitely had skills. She was comfortable facing off with Jenn. Most people were intimidated, especially when she was pissed off—and she sure was pissed off right now.
Waves of cold rage were emanating off her.
If looks could kill, he would have been six feet under no question, and Raleigh would’ve been beside him.
“I see.” Jenn’s lip curled, and she set her jaw. “I guess it’s too late to do anything about it now, but you can be certain I will be speaking to my mother.” With that, she turned and flounced off in the direction of the dining room.
Dylan tried to keep his face neutral, but he had the insane urge to laugh. Jenn was getting married only months after they had broken up, and she was mad at him. Where did she get off being so angry? She’d moved on, with no problem apparently, whereas he’d only gone on a few dates.
He turned toward Raleigh, but one look at her high chin and flattened lips had his gut tied in knots. He shook his head. Women: so much more hassle than they were worth.
“You might have mentioned that you know the bride and obviously have history with her.”
“Well—”
“Save it until we’re alone, and then I want a full explanation.” She maintained a pleasant smile while hissing out the words.
She didn’t wait for his response. She marched across the lobby past the fountain and out the side doors, presumably toward their cabin. The bellman had to scurry to keep up with her.
Dylan trailed Raleigh and the bellman down the path.
A large group was headed toward them. The two men in front were wearing dark suits, but the cut of the suits didn’t quite disguise the slightly thick look created by wearing Kevlar.
The suits also didn’t hide a gun's bulk under the shoulder and at the ankle.
Security. High end by the look of the suits.
Two more men brought up the rear, sporting a similar look but it was hard to see their faces. The person they were protecting was walking in front of them, blocking Dylan’s view.
Raleigh and the bellman stepped back from the path, making way for the large group to pass.
"Dylan?" a voice from the back of the group cut through the early evening air.
Dylan frowned as he looked at the group.
The two guys in front looked right through him.
The protectee in the middle also wore a suit and had close-cropped hair and dark sunglasses on his tanned face.
Dylan didn't recognize him at all, and he didn't show any signs of even looking in Dylan's direction. Maybe he was hearing things.
One of the men in the back stepped away as the group passed and offered his hand. Dylan blinked and shook the man's hand. "Gabe. Sorry I didn't recognize you."
Gabe smiled. "It's the suit. Throws everyone off. How are you? What are you doing here?"
"I'm doing okay. Hangin' in. You know how it goes."
Gabe glanced over at Raleigh and the bellman. He raised an eyebrow, but Dylan gave him a slight negative shake of his head.
"What about you?" Dylan asked. "What are you doing here?"
Gabe nodded in the direction the security cadre had been headed. "Another job. The guys have it under control, but the client likes me to ride shotgun now and again."
"Sure." Dylan had no doubt that Gabriel Risk was doing a lot more than riding shotgun if he was working. Risk was the owner and Chief Executive Officer of one of the top personal security companies in the country. Whoever the client was, he had to be one hell of a VIP.
"Let's grab a beer next week. I'll be back in the city by then. I want to hear how you're really doing. Being in limbo is tough. I know how much you want back on the ESU."
Dylan gave him a tight smile. "It's not so fun, for sure. I'd love to grab a beer. Get in touch when you can."
Gabe nodded as he offered his hand again. He clapped Dylan on the back and strode after his team.
Dylan started forward and looked up to find Raleigh glaring at him.
The bellman gave him a smirk; apparently he recognized a dead man when he saw one.
Was it too late to turn around and run? Dylan stood still for a second.
He could leave. He didn’t owe Raleigh anything.
And spending the weekend at Jenn’s wedding was way, way The image of Raleigh standing in her hallway, face full of fear, filled his head.
She was genuinely terrified. He couldn’t leave her alone.
She hadn’t done anything wrong. A second image, one of a scared little boy popped up unbidden from his memory.
No one should ever have to be that kind of terrified.