“It’s all right.” He reached for her just as she heard a card being inserted in the locked door behind her.
She let out a silent thank-you as the door opened only a few inches before it collided with her body.
“Charlie?” Shep’s voice was the most wonderful sound she thought she’d ever heard.
“Shep!” She quickly slipped past Greg and moved away from the door to allow Shep to enter.
One look at her face and he said, “What’s wrong?” and took a step into the room, stopping short of her boss. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
“Greg was just leaving,” she said. For a moment it was as if they were all frozen in place.
“I’m sure we’ll get another chance to talk,” Greg said, nodding at her as he moved toward the open doorway.
It wasn’t until he’d left, closing the door behind him, that Charlie threw herself into Shep’s arms.
* * *
“YOU’RE SHAKING LIKE A LEAF,” Shep said, holding her tightly against him. “What the hell was that about?”
Charlie pulled back. She still looked pale and shaken. “I have no idea but from the way he was talking... I’m not sure there is going to be a wedding. I think he might have hired me for more than my design skills.”
Shep held her by her shoulders so he could see her face. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t even know. For a moment, I thought he was going to profess his undying love.” She shook her head. “He was talking crazy... I didn’t know where he was headed, but it was the same stuff he was talking about when he followed me into the bar the other day.”
Shep didn’t like it. He wanted to go after the guy and set him straight. Charlie was scared. Greg had unnerved her. “He sounded like he plans to try to talk to you again—before the wedding.”
She looked as if she was having trouble believing this was happening.
“Do you think he’s going to cancel the wedding?”
“I have no idea. You heard him. He’s bound and determined to tell me something.” She shivered.
He pulled her close again for a moment. “I’m glad we’re staying in the same room. I’ll try to stay at your side until this is over.”
“You’ll get no argument from me.”
“That might just be a first,” he joked as she stepped from his arms. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Thanks to you showing up when you did.” She took a ragged breath and let it out. “I just know I don’t want to be alone with him.”
“I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He watched her take her bag over to the bed and set it down. He could tell that she was still scared, still worried.
“He was such a good boss,” she said. “I’m afraid this will mean the end of my job.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I can find another one.” She tried to smile. “I just don’t understand any of it. He’s never acted like this before. Maybe it’s the wedding.”
Shep hated to add to any of that but he wanted to be the one to tell her. “I have some rather shocking news.” She looked up expectantly. He quickly told her about what he’d seen on the news downstairs in the bar about Daniel’s roommate.
“You don’t think it was an accident?” she asked as she sat down on the edge of the bed, looking even more shaken.
“He was looking into Lindy’s murder and now he’s dead? No, I don’t think it was an accident.”
Charlie hugged herself, looking chilled in the warm room.
“I called Daniel at work,” he said.
Her gaze shot up. “Why?”
“I wanted to talk to him about why his roommate had been investigating your stepsister’s murder. You have to admit, it’s strange.”
“And?”
“He thought it had something to do with some girl Jason was dating. He said Jason described her as ‘freaky, freaky scary.’ Daniel said he never met her or knew her name, but that he saw her once waiting for Jason outside of work. A blonde.”
“You think it was Lacey?” she demanded, eyes wide.
“I think it’s more than possible given Jason’s hit-and-run. All I can imagine is that he was getting too close to the truth.”
Her cell phone rang, startling them both. Charlie groaned as she checked the screen. “It’s Amanda.” She let it ring again. “I guess if we find out it’s over, we can leave.” She crossed her fingers of her left hand and picked up the phone with her right. “Hello?”
“I need you down here. The rehearsal’s been moved up an hour. Greg is so anxious to make this happen he’s making everyone crazy. He says he wants us down here right now. He’s waiting and said to make sure you got word.” Amanda’s laugh indicated that she’d been through a few glasses of wine and that if anything, she was more nervous than before.
Charlie shot a look at Shep. “I’ll be right down.”
“We’ll be right down,” he said as she disconnected. “I’m no longer sure of who I have to keep you safe from.”
She flashed him a smile an instant before tears filled her eyes. “Have I told you how glad I am that you’re here?”
He nodded and pulled her into his arms. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be on this earth than with you,” he said against her hair. He felt a rush of emotion as he drew back to look at her. This love he felt was so strong, it made how he’d felt about her years ago pale in comparison.
With it came fear for Charlie. Lacey was still out there and if he was right, she’d killed Jason. So far, Lacey had just been taunting Charlie. But it felt as if she was no longer fooling around. All his instincts told him she would be coming after Charlie next.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHARLIE DIDN’T KNOW what to expect as she and Shep went to meet Greg and Amanda. Tears and hysteria were definitely high on the possible list though. Greg had wanted both Amanda and her downstairs. Charlie really doubted it was because he’d moved up the rehearsal. She was hoping that by the time she and Shep reached the lower room, the fireworks would be over.
But as she pushed open the door, Shep right behind her, she was shocked to find that Amanda had been right. Greg had moved up the rehearsal by an hour. The preacher was standing at one end of the room holding a large Bible. In front of him were Greg and Amanda. Greg had his arm around her. They were both smiling.