by AE Jones
“I should have known you were watching.” Alex shut the door and plopped down in Peggy’s guest chair. “Chameleon demons?”
“Yep. Their weddings are always a lot of fun. By nature they’re a flamboyant, opinionated group. What you did in there was amazing. You’re a born diplomat.”
Alex shrugged, even though she was more than a little excited by the praise. “I needed a break from reviewing the binders, and it looked like Chrystal could use a little help.”
Peggy leaned forward. “Do you have any questions?”
“Not yet. Once I’ve gone through everything, we can talk.”
“You’ll have to bring Dev up to speed as well.”
And with one sentence, Devin came crashing back into her thoughts again. He was becoming a regular green-eyed visitor in her psyche, which was already a scary, scary place. “What happened to good old Dev anyway? I haven’t seen him for hours.”
“He’s been busy, too. He’s coordinating his security team, and has his marketing group coming up with a strategy for Bennett Bridal. He finished his calls about an hour ago.”
“So where is he now?” Oh, Lord. She wanted to yank back her words as soon as she said them. Stalker, much? But she was only asking because of the case. It was not personal. At all.
Peggy hesitated.
“Peggy?”
“He’s dining out with Lorinda.”
No, no, no. That pairing would lead to no good. Alex was well aware of what a disappointment she was to her grandmother. Devin already didn’t want her involvement. Once her grandmother had finished with him, Alex would be lucky if he didn’t boot her off the case permanently.
Lorinda’s Wedding Tip: Dealing with the bride’s family can oftentimes be more difficult than dealing with the bride.
Chapter 9
She was the epitome of class and sophistication, and he felt like a specimen under a microscope. Devin stared at the woman across from him. Lorinda took a bite of her broiled salmon and, after chewing the requisite number of times, wiped her mouth with her napkin and examined him with her disconcerting caramel eyes.
It wasn’t until the main course that he realized why her stare threw him. She had Alex’s eyes. Or rather, Alex had hers. She smiled tightly and placed her napkin on the table. Within seconds, a waiter appeared to clear her plate.
“Would you like anything else, Mrs. Bennett?”
“A cup of coffee, please. Mr. Cole?”
Devin shook his head. “I’m fine, thanks.”
The waiter hustled away, and Lorinda turned her full attention on him. “Now that dinner is complete, we can dispense with the small talk and get down to business.”
He nodded. She had insisted that she did not conduct business over dinner, but her small talk had been part of the reason for his discomfort. Her questions had not been idle chit-chat. Charlie had been an interrogator in the Navy, and he was less skillful than Lorinda.
“Do you think Peggy’s concerns have merit? Is someone trying to sabotage me?”
“I believe it’s a distinct possibility. If the Prentice-Thompson wedding had been the only issue, it would lower the odds, but there has been an escalating pattern of mishaps.”
The waiter returned with a carafe and poured Lorinda’s coffee. The smell of hazelnut wafted across the table from her steaming cup. Once the server cleared Devin’s plate and left, she continued, “What do you plan to do about it?”
Devin was sure Peggy had already filled Lorinda in on the plan, but he would humor her. “First, my marketing team is working on a new PR campaign for Bennett Bridal. Naturally, I will run everything by you before it’s launched. Second, my security team is being brought in as well. They will provide security and intelligence services for your weddings until we find whoever is doing this.”
Lorinda took a sip of coffee. “How do you plan to stop it?”
“Research and footwork. I know it doesn’t sound glamorous, but most criminals are brought down because they get cocky and slip up. We need to determine motive, and that’s where you come in.”
“Me?”
“You’re the face of Bennett Bridal. We have to assume that this is personal. Do you have any enemies, Mrs. Bennett?”
Lorinda’s eyes narrowed on him. “I am a successful woman in a very competitive business.”
“Which means yes. I’d like you to provide me with a list of everyone who might be out to get you.”
“I’m not convinced we have a grand saboteur in action, but I’ll work with my assistant tomorrow to provide you with a list. Number one is our main competition, PWE.”
Devin nodded. “I’ve already had an introductory meeting with Steven Phillips. I’m not convinced he’s involved, but we’re not ruling out his father.”
“Did Peggy tell you about PWE?”
“No, Alex did.”
Lorinda’s mouth formed a thin line before she continued. “I don’t want Alexandra anywhere near PWE.”
Devin took a deep breath. He might as well tell her the truth. She would find out eventually. “She went with me to see Phillips.”
Lorinda blinked, and her breath hitched almost inaudibly. It was the first chink in her armor he’d witnessed.
“Is she all right?” she asked in a rush.
“Yes. Your granddaughter is a tough woman.” Devin couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice.
“Really?”
“She’s incredibly stubborn and bright. She insists on helping with the case. And it was her idea to review the binders of the sabotaged weddings to look for patterns. She’s studying them as we speak.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He frowned. “I’m confused. Alex wants to help you. Why won’t you let her?”
She took a measured breath. “After her wedding was called off…Alex had a very hard time. And working for me made it worse.” She looked away. “I couldn’t allow her to become the butt of jokes or an object of pity.”
After a moment she made eye contact with him again, as if she had locked away whatever emotion had been on the verge of escaping. “I don’t need Alexandra’s help. Not if it means she gets hurt in the process. Her well-being is the most important thing—above and beyond everything else. Do I make myself clear?”
Devin paused before responding. Their conversation had taken an interesting turn, and he had the distinct impression her threat was directed at him personally. “I know Alex lost her parents when she was very young, and you raised her. She needs you. You shouldn’t push her away again.”
Apparently Lorinda wasn’t afraid to show certain emotions. Her caramel eyes sparked with fury. “Don’t presume to understand my relationship with my granddaughter. I will do everything in my power to protect her. Make sure you do the same, Mr. Cole, or you will answer to me.”
* * *
Where was that waiter with the dessert tray? Alex sopped up the last of the marinara sauce with her bread and popped it into her mouth. Fresh basil exploded on her tongue.
She met the wide eyes of her friend Sheila across the restaurant table.
“What?”
“Alex, you just scarfed down a plate of pasta, and that’s your second piece of garlic bread in five minutes. Normally, when you eat this much you’re either pissed off or pre-menstrual. So spill.”
Alex glared. “Who says I’m either?”
“Hon, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, I can’t save you from your trip to cellulite land.”
“I knew it was a mistake to become best friends with a vegetarian exercise instructor.”
Sheila sipped her glass of mineral water with lime before answering, “Someone has to be your conscience. So what has you upset?”
“Not what, who. Devin Cole.”
“Devin Cole? Who’s that?”
“He a consultant working for Bennett Bridal. His company specializes in damage control.”
Sheila leaned over her salad plate, lowering her voice. “Your grandmother is that worr
ied about the business?”
“No,” Alex answered, shaking her head. “He’s Peggy’s brother. She asked him to help.”
“So what has you so worked up about him?”
Alex huffed. “He’s exasperating. I spent the entire day at the office, and he took off at the first opportunity. Now, he’s having dinner with Grandmother.”
Sheila’s eyes widened. “You’re working at Bennett Bridal again?”
Alex hesitated. “I’m helping for now.”
“And you’re okay? No panic attacks?”
Sheila was the only person, besides Dr. Jennings, Alex had confided in regarding her wedding phobia. “I had a rough time of it at the wedding until Sydney ran off, and then there were other issues more important than my panic attacks.” She reached for her water and took a sip. “So far, I’m doing okay at the office.” Better than she ever thought possible, but then finding out about the supernatural had a way of putting a lot of things in perspective.
“So what are you doing at the office?”
“Reviewing the wedding files.”
“Why?”
Alex reached for a breadstick and stopped herself. How much should she tell Sheila? “We think some of our weddings have been sabotaged. I’m trying to see if there is a common denominator.”
“Sabotaged?” Sheila frowned. “Isn’t that a bit cloak and dagger?”
“I thought so too, but after doing some digging, I believe there’s merit to it.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t want to say until I find some concrete evidence,” Alex replied. She couldn’t risk telling Sheila about the supernatural aspect of their business.
Sheila picked at the endive on her plate. “Don’t bother reviewing my file. The wedding was perfect. It was the marriage that sucked.”
Alex patted Sheila’s hand. They had met five years ago, when Sheila came to Bennett Bridal to plan her wedding. Unfortunately, her marriage barely lasted a year. “There’s someone else out there for you, She. I just know it.”
Sheila shook her head. “Sorry to drag you into my pity party. Let’s get back on topic. What does this Devin guy think of the sabotage theory?”
“He believes it, but I’m the one coming up with the leads. And then he goes all Conan the Barbarian on me and tells me I can’t help with the investigation.”
“What did you do?”
“I went to Peggy and convinced her to let me help. You should have seen his face.”
“I’ve never seen you this worked up over a guy before, even your slimy ex.”
Alex didn’t like her expression at all. “What’s with the canary grin?”
“Sweetie. If I’m not mistaken, I think you have the hots for Mr. Cole.”
“I do not!”
“What’s he look like?” Sheila pushed.
“His looks have no bearing in this at all.” Alex folded her napkin meticulously and set it on the table.
“He’s that good-looking?”
Alex huffed. “Yes, damn it. But he’s too cocky for my taste.”
“Uh-huh. I want to meet him.”
Alex’s stomach twisted. “What?”
“I want to judge for myself.”
Alex stared into the brilliant blue eyes of her drop-dead gorgeous and toned best friend. The last thing she wanted to do was introduce her to Devin. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Sheila grinned. “Like I said, you have the hots for him.”
“Could you be any more egotistical?”
“You’re just protecting your territory. A girl can understand that.”
“I’m not a bitch in heat, for God’s sake.” Alex reached for another piece of garlic bread and took a large bite, the yeasty bread smothered in butter and garlic doing little to alleviate her irritation.
“You may not be in heat, but the bitchy side is starting to shine through. Now put down that bread, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning in my spin class.”
Alex’s phone beeped and she read the text. “No can do. I’ve been summoned to a meeting tomorrow morning with Mr. Cocky Pants.”
Sheila arched her eyebrows. “Maybe you can find another way to burn some calories.”
Lorinda’s Wedding Tip: Ask the groom what he wants, but before you do, make sure the bride doesn’t hear you.
Chapter 10
What was it about Devin Cole that made her want to disagree with everything he said? Alex ticked off the possibilities in her head while she glowered at him across the desk. Was it his smug tone? Was it the fact he tried to boss her around at every turn? Or was it the irritating way he stared at her? His eyes half-mast. Bedroom eyes. Lord, where had that thought come from?
“Alex.”
She jumped slightly. “What?”
“Did you hear what I just said?” Devin asked.
“Ah…”
“I asked who we should interview first.”
“Who I want to interview first and who we can interview are two different things.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think we should interview Bradley Prentice. The problem is getting to him. I’m sure after Sydney’s disappearance his security has tightened even more.”
Devin shrugged like it was no big deal. “We just have to find a way to convince him to talk to us. Is he a supernatural?”
“Not according to the file. Were you hoping to blackmail him?”
He leaned forward. “Of course not.”
“So what incentive does he have to meet with us?” Alex asked.
“We’re trying to figure out what happened to Sydney. If he loves his fiancée, he should be willing to talk.” He tapped his fingers on the desk. “What else have you found in the binders?”
“If you’d stuck around yesterday, I wouldn’t need to fill you in.” She was being snarky, but she couldn’t seem to turn her filter back on.
“I had some work to do.”
“Like dinner with my grandmother?”
He hesitated, and all kinds of scenarios ran through her head.
“What did you talk about?”
“She wanted a status update.”
“That’s it?” Alex asked, wishing she could read his cryptic face. There had to be more to it, yet he was still working with her on the case.
“Yes. She’s not convinced there’s a real threat. Is there any chance you’ve found something in the binders that will help?”
“I’m trying to decipher the different types of supernaturals. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and the list goes on. There appears to be a wide variety.”
He stared at her without responding, so she continued. “But you’re already well aware of that, aren’t you?”
“I’ve dealt with supernaturals in the past.”
“Where?”
“My job,” he answered, then stood. “Let me make a couple of phone calls to get us in to see Prentice.”
Mr. Cocky Pants strikes again. “I’m going to build a database of the weddings and strange events or elements connected with each one.”
On his way out the door he said, “Be ready to go see Prentice.”
“I won’t hold my breath,” she mumbled.
He turned back to her. “What did you say?”
Whoops. Her filter was definitely not working. In for a penny… “I said,” Alex enunciated each word, “I. Won’t. Hold. My. Breath.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Is that a challenge?”
She shrugged. “If you want to take it that way.”
“Now you’ve done it. A bet is in order.”
His reaction was juvenile, and male, and she should take the high road and refuse him. “What kind of bet?”
He grinned. “If I get us in to see Prentice, you have to take me out to dinner. I’m craving Mexican food. Good Mexican food.”
“And what do I win when you don’t get us anywhere near Prentice?”
His eyes locked on hers. “What do you want?”
Heat flared in her chest and
elsewhere, and she chastised herself for the reaction. “You have to tell me how you know about the supernatural.”
He nodded. “Deal.” He walked over to her and held out his hand. “Shake on it.”
She hesitated long enough that his mouth quirked into a grin.
“You backing out on me, Bennett?”
Knowing it was a mistake, Alex grasped his hand. “Never.”
* * *
Alex glared at the smug man sitting in the driver’s seat.
Impervious to her glare, he gave her a blindingly innocent smile. “That was the best burrito I’ve ever had. And it was mammoth.”
“You had no trouble eating it and the flan you ordered for dessert.”
“When a woman takes me out to dinner, I enjoy it to the fullest.”
They’d left the Gaslamp Quarter and were driving along the highway toward the home—or rather, one of the homes—of movie star Bradley Prentice.
Alex ignored his jibe. “You still haven’t told me how you were able to schedule the meeting.”
“Uh-uh. That wasn’t part of the deal. I just had to get us in to see Prentice.”
She let out a loud sigh and stared out the window.
After a prolonged silence he said, “Let’s just say I can be very persuasive when I need to be.”
Before Alex could retort, her phone rang. Dr. Jennings was calling her. “Sorry, but I have to take this. Hello.”
“Alex, this is Dr. Jennings. I’m returning your call. Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“My service told me you were very upset when you called.”
“I…ah. I was then.” She glanced over at Devin. She really didn’t want to say too much in front of him about her phobia. “I helped my grandmother with one of the weddings, and I got a little bit upset. But after a few days’ reflection, I realized I was overreacting.”
“I’m happy to hear you took that first step.”
“Me too.”
“Are you okay to wait until our next session to talk more about this?”
“Yes. Thanks for calling me back.” She hung up.
“Who was that?”
“My psychiatrist. I called her right after I saw Sydney turn into a seal. And before you freak out, I didn’t tell her that. I just said I needed to talk to her ASAP, but she was out of town at the time. So what’s your plan for our meeting tonight?” Alex asked quickly, changing the subject.