Page 17 of Risk Assessment
Dylan’s shoulders dropped a fraction at the handshake. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. But for the second time that day,words failed him. What was he supposed to say to his former best friend?
Matt seemed to understand Dylan was struggling. “I gotta say, I’m a bit surprised to see you here.”
Dylan smiled. “You aren’t the only one.”
“What gives?” Matt asked.
“I came as a plus one with my new girlfriend. She’s handling the public relations for the wedding. Making sure it’s seen as a big important social event.”
Matt’s brows rose. “You came to your ex-fiancée’s wedding with your current girlfriend? Dude, you got bigger balls than I thought.”
Dylan outright laughed and, just like that, all the tension left his body. “It wasn’t on purpose. Raleigh didn’t mention whose wedding it was, and I didn’t ask. I just figured it was a weekend away with my girl. It was one heck of a shock I can tell you.”
Matt grinned. “I bet. Jenn must have had a meltdown when she saw you.”
“Um, yeah, it didn’t go so well, but she seems to have recovered. She was actually quite sweet to me earlier.”
“Oh, boy. That’s not good.”
“My thoughts exactly.” He took a sip of beer. It was good to talk to Matt. It wasn’t until this moment that he realized just how much he’d missed his friend.
“Look,” Dylan started, “I owe you an apology and maybe an explanation.”
Matt waved his hand. “This isn’t the time or place for that conversation. We can catch up later. I just wanted to come over and say hey.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
Matt grabbed his beer. “Let’s make a point to grab a beer sometime soon. It’s been way too long.” He offered his hand.
“Agreed.” Dylan grabbed the offered hand and Matt leaned in and gave him a one-armed shoulder hug. Then he disappeared into the crowd.
Dylan went back to leaning on the bar and watching the crowd but, honestly, it felt like a hundred-pound weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Maybe life wasn’t as bad as he thought.
He started to take a swig of beer when a waiter caught his eye. If asked, Dylan probably could say exactly why. Maybe it was the way he moved or maybe it was the look on his face but Dylan’s gut told him the waiter was up to something and whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
The waiter bent over to deliver several dinners to a table full of elderly people. He was about average height with close cropped black hair. His build was slim, accentuating a long torso. He spent time at the gym, but he wasn’t a big guy by any means. Plates all delivered, he maneuvered easily through the crowd back toward the kitchen.
Dylan sipped his beer. Should he tell the hotel that he was pretty sure one of their waiters was stealing from the guests? No. Not his job. He was here to protect Raleigh, but he resolved to keep an eye on the guy. Thieves didn’t usually end up becoming stalkers but that didn’t mean it didn’t happen. Besides, maybe the guy was stealing things from the women he was stalking. Either way, the light-fingered waiter just went to the top of list of people that needed to be watched.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Raleigh made her way toward Phil. He was easy to spot in the crowd not because he was overly tall but because of his bright blue hair. In deference to the hoity-toity occasion, he’d combed his usual faux-hawk down, but the color was still a beacon in this crowd of the elderly blue-hairs and flashy blonds. He wasn’t exactly dressed for the occasion, wearing a pair of Dockers and a button-down shirt that was a similar color to his hair. Raleigh smiled. That was as dressed up as Phil got and she appreciated that he made the effort.
Phil directed an elderly couple to switch places. If he wasn’t the official photographer, would these people pay any attention to him? Probably not, but as it was he could tell them to go stand on the table and do a dance and they would hop up to do it. These pictures were going to be online in all the right places. TheNew York Timeseven wanted a few snaps of the event, since newspaper hadn’t been able to snag an invitation. Lydia had kept a tight control on how information about this wedding would flow out into the world.
Raleigh glanced around the room as Phil finished with the couple. The event was packed. It was a virtual “who’s who” ofBedford Hills society. Jenn and Andrew were posing for pictures with each of the guests in turn. They had a huge line in front of them.
Everyone wanted to be part of theItcrowd.
Raleigh had grown up in anItcrowd and had loathed it. She did not envy these people in in the slightest. She studied the engaged couple. Andrew wasn’t as tall and toned as Dylan, or remotely as good looking, but he had warm brown eyes and a nice smile. Was he a puppy playing with a pack of wolves? Or was he one of them? Because the Harris familywasa pack of wolves, always stalking their next meal.
Finally, she caught Phil’s eye. He held up five fingers and flexed them twice, and she understood he needed another ten minutes before they could start working on the candid shots. Raleigh went back to studying Jenn and Andrew.
There was something off about Jenn, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Andrew put his hand on the small of Jenn’s back and smiled at her.Hedefinitely looked smitten. Jenn, on the other hand, was slightly stiff, as if she was acting the part of the bride and needed more rehearsal.
As Raleigh watched, she realized what was missing. Excitement. The bride should ooze excitement the weekend of her wedding. While she should be beaming ear to ear, Jenn looked…determined. As if this was her job and her career depended on it. She wasn’t the only one. Raleigh glanced at the mirror that Phil had stationed on a nearby table so people could adjust if they needed to before getting their picture taken. She had a similar expression on her face. Well it takes on to know one.
A wave of sympathy for Jenn came over her. Her ex-fiancé had just shown up unannounced. And even with Lydia’s steely determination, planning a wedding of this magnitude would be a nightmare, maybe especially for the bride. Of course, Raleigh’sjob was to put a positive spin anything that happened, so even if something went wrong, the bride was covered.
