Page 14 of Risk Assessment
“Ms. Ross.” Lydia’s lips were a thin line of disapproval, her eyes glittering with anger. “I don’t believe you mentioned your”—she paused to throw Dylan a dark look—“boyfriend when we discussed you working at the wedding.”
Raleigh replied with a cool politeness. “Mrs. Harris, you said I could bring a friend, and I did RSVP for two. I apologize if—”
Dylan cut her off. “Raleigh didn’t know,” he said firmly. Mrs. Harris’s eyes narrowed, so he continued. “She mentioned she had a wedding to work for her job, but she didn’t mention the details and I didn’t ask. It was just a chance to get away for the weekend. Spend some time together. I didn’t realize it was Jennand Andrew’s wedding until I ran into Jenn in the lobby as we arrived.”
Lydia studied his face and then Raleigh’s. Both Bill and Jenn were doing the same. Neither of them said anything, obviously letting Lydia take the lead.
The whole room was holding its breath.
To make sure the scales tipped Raleigh’s way, Dylan added, “If I learned one thing from the time I spent with your family, Lydia, it was the wisdom of your rule about not discussing work at home. Raleigh and I don’t discuss the details of our work with each other. Better for everyone.”
“I do apologize, Mrs. Harris. I would never have invited Dylan had I known,” Raleigh stated in a firm voice, her chin held high.
Dylan knew that to be God’s honest truth.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lydia gave a small nod.Apology accepted.All the tension in the room seemed to drain in one breath, and people went back to socializing. Dylan felt pounds lighter now that all eyes had turned away.
“Well, Raleigh, please check in with Donna about what I’d like you to do this evening. Philip, your photographer is around somewhere. I’m sure you will be coordinating with him as well.” She gave another nod and sat down again. Her action made it clear the hired help was now dismissed.
“Of course. We’ve already formed a game plan,” Raleigh murmured.
Dylan then turned toward Andrew. The other man looked surprised. Standing beside Jenn, his blond hair matched hers perfectly. Andrew was only a couple of inches taller than Jenn as well. It was his brown eyes that gave him away though. Confusion and wariness warred for top position on his face. Dylan couldn’t blame him. What was his fiancée’s ex doing at his wedding? Shit happens.
Dylan offered his hand. “Hello, Andrew.” It hung out there for a second. Andrew looked surprised. What? Was Dylan supposed to make some big scene? He’d been the one to dump Jenn, so why would he cause a scene now?
Andrew glanced at Jenn but she was too busy frowning at Dylan to notice.Come on asshole, shake my hand and let’s get this over with. People were starting to notice. Dylan kept his hand stuck out and his gaze steady at Andrew. He wasn’t going to let it slide.
“Dylan,” Andrew said as he finally shook his hand. “Good to see you.” He let Andrew crunch his hand just a bit. A look of uncertainty crossed Andrew’s face, but Dylan didn’t reciprocate.
Crushing Andrew’s hand to a pulp wouldn’t change anything. Jenn wasn’t his anymore, and the sooner everyone realized he didn’t care, the faster they would stop looking at him.
“I hope you and Jenn will be very happy together,” he said. Raleigh squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back. He gestured to Raleigh. “This is my girlfriend. Raleigh. Honey, this is Sergeant Andrew Lynch. We used to work together.” He was pouring it on a little thick, but the situation seemed to warrant it.
As he put his hand on the small of her back and eased her forward so she could shake hands, he saw Raleigh give him the side-eye. What in the hell had he done now?Oh, shit. In the shock of seeing Jenn, he’d forgot to mention he also knew the groom.Whoops. He was obviously not thinking clearly.
Raleigh offered her hand. “Andrew, how nice to meet you. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you from Lydia and Jenn. I know you worked with Jocelyn from my office. I’m glad to finally meet you. Let me add my congratulations as well. You and Jenn make a lovely couple.” She gave him a big, warm smile.
Dylan smiled a tight smile right along with her. She was going to ask him all kinds of questions now. He just knew it. Questions he had no intention of answering.
“Raleigh, it’s nice to meet you, too. So glad you could join us.” Andrew’s smile was genuine, and why wouldn’t it be? His fiancée’s ex had just shown up with another woman. Everything was good in his world. “Why don’t you two grab a seat? Dylan, maybe we can catch up later?”
“Of course. Look forward to it.”
They moved away from the head table and worked their way across the room to a smaller round table in the corner, nodding and saying a few “hellos” along the way.
“I could sure use that drink right about now,” Dylan said as he pulled out Raleigh’s chair for her.
“I bet you could.” She sat down and got comfortable, taking off her wrap and draping it over the back of her chair. Then she reached out and grabbed Dylan’s arm. “And then you’re going to fill me in on all the details. You obviously know Andrew personally and, by the looks of things, you know a lot of the people at this wedding in more than a passing way.”
Dylan gave a curt nod as he flagged down a waiter.
“Yes, sir, what can I get you?” the waiter asked.
“I’ll have an IPA if you have one on tap and a…” He turned toward Raleigh and guessed, “White wine?”
She smiled slightly. “I’ll have an Old Fashioned.”
Dylan’s eyebrows shot up, but he nodded at the waiter and then sat back in his chair and let out a long breath. “I didn’t picture you as a bourbon gal.”
