“Hello?” Shep said into the phone.
Paul Wagner’s thin, craggy voice came on. “I sent that photo. Let me know if you don’t get it and I’ll try again.”
“Thanks,” Shep told him and checked. “It hasn’t come through yet.”
“Well, I just sent it. Could take a little longer. I might try to send it again. You know, the more I think about, I’m sure it won’t be of any help. But you can call if you don’t see it.”
Shep promised to do just that and caught up with the others.
“Here’s my plus-one,” Royce announced as a young, shapely brunette came rushing down the hall toward them. “Meet Ruby Jo,” he said and looped an arm around the woman.
“I just love weddings,” Ruby Jo announced, voice high and sweet as if she were talking to a baby. “They always make me cry.”
“Me, too,” Amanda said, her gaze deadly and aimed at Royce.
If Greg noticed, he didn’t show it. He seemed lost in his own thoughts. But as he poured the champagne, Shep saw him stealing glances in Charlie’s direction.
It was clear he was still determined to talk to her.
* * *
TWO GLASSES OF champagne later, Charlie collapsed on their hotel bed laughing. When she saw Shep’s expression, she laughed even harder. Wiping her eyes, she sat up and faced him. “Why do you look so upset? That has to be the weirdest wedding rehearsal you’ve ever been to.”
“There did seem to be a lot going on behind the scenes.”
She laughed again. “Amanda was trying so hard not to look at Royce. And Royce! Clearly he was trying to make Amanda jealous. I mean feeding his date one nut at a time from the dish on the bar. I swear Amanda flinched every time Royce bent over to whisper in his date’s ear. I caught her rolling her eyes every time Ruby Jo laughed, which was often.”
“That was the highest pitch laugh I think I’ve ever heard,” Shep agreed with a grin as he sat down on the end of the bed. “I think you enjoyed the intrigue more than I did though. I was busy watching Greg.”
“Oh, I think he got the message. Didn’t you see how attentive he was to Amanda? I don’t think he’ll bother me again.” The few times Charlie had stolen looks at Greg, she’d seen him being sweet and loving to Amanda. “He probably just had a case of cold feet and was hoping I would tell him it was going to be fine.”
“You know it was more than that or you wouldn’t have been scared.”
She couldn’t deny it. “He was just so intense. But getting married is a big deal. Did I tell you that he knows about his best friend and Amanda? He doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. He said she was just getting it out of her system.”
Shep shook his head. “How could he not be jealous?”
She shrugged.
“Charlie, you know what he wants to tell you. He doesn’t want to marry Amanda because he’s fallen for you.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
“What else could it be? Why share his past relationships? Why talk to you about any of it? You’re his employee.”
“Right. I hope I have a job after the holidays.” She kept telling herself that once Greg and Amanda were married, he’d go back to being professional again.
“You really think you can continue working for him?”
Charlie felt her heart thump. “This is the best job I’ve ever had. The thought of losing it—”
“You can get another job. You know that. You already said you could.”
She nodded. It was true. She knew she could find another job. Eventually. But she’d liked this one just fine before all this. “You really think—”
“That he’s getting up the nerve to tell you how he feels about you before he walks down the aisle? Yes, I do. Frankly, I wouldn’t trust him around you after the wedding.”
She stared at him. “You’re jealous.”
“Damn right I am.”
“You do know that I’ve never given him any reason.”
“I know that.”
She swallowed. “But he admitted that he hadn’t sent a headhunter after anyone but me. He said he—” she made an embarrassed face at him “—had to have me.”
“Well, I know that feeling.” Shep brushed a lock of hair back from her face, his fingers skimming over her cheek and sending tiny electrical pulses through her. “Isn’t he always telling you how much he likes you, how much he respects your work?”
“That doesn’t mean he’s fallen for me.”
“How could he not? You’re beautiful, smart, talented, amazing. But even if I’m wrong, he has to know he’s about to make a major mistake marrying Amanda. I think he’s looking for a way out and he thinks it’s you.”
She hoped Shep was wrong. “I don’t see this turning out well,” she said, hoping he would disagree. He didn’t.
“Unless he goes back to just being your boss, which I don’t think he’ll do, and add to that Amanda’s insane jealousy of you...” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, it doesn’t look good.”
She groaned, knowing he was right.
“Hopefully Greg won’t get another chance to talk to you alone before the wedding. I’ll have to keep you busy.” He grinned and she felt her blood heat as he kissed her.
When he broke off the kiss, Charlie looked into all his eyes and wanted to take him up on every promise she saw there. She wanted to feel that heat, that passion, that pleasure and give it back in spades. She wanted him and knew she always would.
“If you had any idea what I want to do to you right now...” He slowly began to undress her as she grinned at him, daring him to show her.
AFTER THEY made love, they showered and reluctantly got ready for the rehearsal dinner. Shep would have much preferred staying cuddled in bed with her.
“Did I tell you that I confronted Amanda earlier today about the dead mouse?” Charlie asked. She slid a dark green velvet dress over her head and let it slither over her body. “She admitted it—and admitted putting the eye drops in my dessert and Greg’s. She said she got them out of his suit jacket pocket.”
“Did she say why?” He couldn’t help being worried.
“She blamed it on the drinks she had.”
“Are you sure we shouldn’t just get out of here?” he asked.
She smiled. “I wish we could, but Tara is coming tomorrow. She’s going to be in the wedding. I can’t do that to her. And in truth, I can’t do it to Amanda, as awful as she is. I feel sorry for her. I don’t think her other maid of honor broke her leg and is in traction. I think everyone turned her down.”