The Wedding Trap (Second Service #1)(22)
Author: Adrienne Bell

“I’m a little tired,” she said. It was a lie. She was exhausted.

He nodded. His gaze was inscrutable. “You should take a nap before we have to go downstairs.”

Beth suppressed a laugh. “After everything that’s happened, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to feel safe enough to sleep again.”

“It’s all right,” he said. “Rest. I’ll stand guard.”

Beth nodded. Her eyes were drooping before she’d pulled a pillow out from under the bedspread. She didn’t think that she’d fall asleep, not with all the residual adrenaline pumping through her veins. But there wouldn’t be any harm in closing her eyes. Just for a few minutes.

***

Beth snapped her head up. Her eyes flew open as a terrible buzzing filled the room.

She twisted around in the sheets looking for the source. She found it on the bedside table. Her phone.

She snatched it up and looked down at the screen.

Her mother.

Beth hit the decline button. There was no way that she was awake enough to take that call right now.

Soft laughter came from the next room. Beth put down the phone and squinted, trying to get her tired eyes to focus on the form sitting several feet away.

“That thing has been going off practically non-stop since you fell asleep,” Alex said. She might not be able to see him clearly, but she’d recognize that voice anywhere. “I’m amazed it took this long to wake you up.”

Beth rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“How long have I been out?” she asked.

“A while.”

She checked her phone: it was six thirty-two.

Crap. No wonder the phone had been ringing off the hook. They were over a half hour late for Isobel’s cocktail reception. She had four missed calls—three from her mother—and six unread text messages.

Beth flew from the bed, clutching her phone. “Why did you let me sleep so long?” she shouted as she ran into the bathroom.

“You needed the rest,” came the answer, without a hint of apology. “Besides, you’re kind of cute when you’re asleep.”

Beth took stock of herself in the mirror. Now she knew he was making fun of her. Her clothes were terribly wrinkled. Her hair was matted on one side. And was that a line of dried drool on her cheek?

Of course it was. Heaven help her, she’d probably been snoring too.

Beth fired off a quick text to Isobel.

Sorry. Time got away from me. Be down in ten minutes.

She glanced at the smeared mascara under her eyes, and changed the ten to fifteen. She briefly considered sending the same text to her mother, but put the phone down on the counter.

Nineteen minutes later they were in the elevator. Beth checked her hair one last time in the polished steel wall panel. It wasn’t great. It wasn’t hideous either. As usual, a tight ponytail hid a multitude of sins.

Maybe not dumping a body in the garbage sin, but certainly the slept through the alarm kind. What did it say about her that right now she was more concerned with the latter than the former? She decided not to judge herself too harshly. If she stopped too long to think about the situation her stomach started doing backflips.

Alex slipped his hand into hers. Her nerves must have been showing. "Everything is going to be okay," he said.

She wanted to believe him. She really did. But she couldn’t. Nothing was okay. Everything had changed, and there was no way she could go back to the person she had been. The one who bumbled through life, uncertain of where she was going or what she was doing.

Now people were depending on her, not only for their safety, but for their very lives.

She realized with some sadness that she had never taken a close look at her life until it was in danger. Maybe not being able to go back wasn’t such a bad thing—if she lived through this.

She clenched Alex’s hand as the lobby bell sounded and the doors slid open. There was no machine gun welcome committee. She sighed in relief.

Beth looked around the lobby. She didn’t see anyone she recognized. Of course not. Everyone she knew was already at the party. There were a few people on the couches, some with drinks in their hands, some with magazines and computers. No one looked their way.

At least a couple of them had to be federal agents. Alex’s expression gave nothing away.

Beth jumped a little as her phone went off in her purse. Alex squeezed her hand. She wasn’t sure if it was reassurance or a reminder to play it cool. Either way, she thought that she was doing pretty well under the circumstances.

She pulled her phone out. There was a message from Isobel.

Seriously. Where the hell are you?

Alex read it over her shoulder. "Remember, even though you’re with people you trust, you don’t leave my side. Not to go to the bathroom. Not to the bar. Not even for a second," he said.

“Isobel isn’t trying to kill me,” Beth said, annoyed. Still, she didn’t complain when Alex stayed a step ahead of her as they walked into the lounge.

Beth glanced around the packed lounge. It was filled with wedding guests, most of whom she knew. Every unknown face stood out in the crowd. Was it her imagination or were people paying more attention to her than usual?

Alex gave the place a quick scan as well. He nodded casually in her direction when he was done, and led her deeper into the crowd.

“I think we’re all right,” he said. “Salvatore isn’t here. He probably just found out about Staal’s failure.”

"Okay.” She didn’t know what else to say.

Alex let go of her hand and dug into his pocket for his phone. She drew in a long, steady breath as he checked the screen. She was going to be okay. Everything was going to be fine.

"Do you want a drink?" he asked.

Hell, yes.

"No, thanks," she said. Whatever was coming, it would be better if she faced it with her facilities intact.

He nodded. They stood outside the huddled groups of guests. Panic started to build inside her in earnest. Back in her room, it had been easy to make her decision to stay. But now, out in the open, she felt like a target. Beth fought the frantic instinct to drag Alex back up the stairs, lock the door to their room and never come out again.

“Shall we mingle?” Alex asked.

“No, thanks.”

“Why not?”

Beth shrugged her shoulders, trying to look casual. She had the feeling that she looked anything but. Alex discreetly pulled her to empty spot along the wall and leaned in close. More that a few heads turned, and people whispered behind their hands. They must have looked like a couple of besotted lovers sharing a moment.