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Jeremy relaxed. “We’ll be each other’s decoy.”
She glanced quickly at Jeremy.
“I can read you like a book. You’ve been watching the tall blond guy all day.”
“I have not.”
Jeremy snorted. “Of course you haven’t. The little girl he’s got with him is sweet.”
“That’s his daughter, Bella.” John had sat in the front row of the church with his daughter beside him. Bella’s attention had mostly been on Annie, but every now and then, she’d grin at Rachel.
“I read a newspaper article about him a few months ago. John Fletcher is one wealthy guy.”
“Money isn’t everything,” Rachel muttered.
Jeremy’s shoulders tensed again. “Debbie alert on your right. I’m heading left.” He did a quarter turn and started moving away from the dance floor.
“You’re going to have to get used to seeing her at some stage,” Rachel said softly. “Bozeman is a small place.”
“I’m good at hiding.”
Rachel believed him. If Jeremy put his mind to something, there’d be no stopping him. If hiding was the only way he could figure out his feelings for Debbie, then maybe that was okay. “You know that you can’t hide forever?”
“I don’t need to. Debbie told me she’s leaving Bozeman next April.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I’m trying not to feel anything. Does that answer your question?”
Rachel smiled at someone she knew. “It does. And as long as you keep me away from John, I’ll be your wingman with Debbie.”
Jeremy stepped into a sharp quarter turn. “You gotta warn me sooner if you want to avoid someone. John was on his way over here. Hold on tight, we’re about to move as fast as this song can take us.”
And before Rachel knew what he was doing, Jeremy had whisked them off the dance floor and straight onto a covered balcony. “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?” she asked as he opened the door.
Jeremy pulled her through the doorway and closed the door. “This is a walk in the park compared to what I’ve done.”
Rachel wrapped her arms around her waist. It might be a walk in the park for Jeremy, but it was winter. Snow was falling beyond the covered balcony and it was cold. If they didn’t get back inside soon, they’d end up with hypothermia.
She felt something tug on her skirt. She looked down at a little girl with big, brown eyes and knew that John wouldn’t be far away.
***
John didn’t often panic, but he could feel his heart thumping against his chest. Bella had been beside him the entire afternoon. She’d sighed when the bridal party had walked down the aisle, straining against his hand as she’d tried to get closer. She hadn’t stopped staring at Annie’s lace and satin wedding dress all afternoon.
While he’d been talking to one of Dylan’s relatives, Bella had slipped away. She’d disappeared into the middle of the reception venue as easily as a pat of butter melting on a hot skillet.
For the first five minutes, he hadn’t been too worried. Then five minutes stretched to ten and panic had set in. He’d walked quickly around the room, peering under tablecloths and behind the white curtains that had been draped along the walls. He’d even checked the bathrooms, shocking an elderly woman as she’d come out of one of the stalls. And he still couldn’t find Bella.
He’d seen Rachel on the dance floor, drifting through the other couples with one of the groomsmen. As soon as she’d seen him, she’d disappeared. He didn’t have time to wonder why she was avoiding him. Bella was missing and he needed to focus on where she could be.
He took his cell phone out of his pocket and hit speed dial. “It’s me. Bella’s missing. Watch all exits. Tell Tank to check everyone leaving the building.”
He nodded at the short response he got from Tanner and put his phone away.
“Are you okay?” John spun toward Dylan. His mind was still on Bella, thinking of all the things that could have happened to her.
“I’ve lost Bella.”
“How long has she been missing?”
He checked his watch. Damn. “Twenty minutes.” She could be out of Bozeman by now, heading toward the Canadian border in a truck, or sitting in a plane, ready to fly out of the country. He looked around the room, then back at Dylan. “Are you using any other rooms in the building? Maybe an audiovisual office or a storage room that isn’t obvious?”
“Come with me.” Dylan started walking across the room. “The AV room is over here. One of the staff set everything up this morning. He’s coordinating the sound system, lights, and data projector from in here until we cut the cake.” Dylan threw the door open.
The guy sitting in front of the sound system leaped out of his chair. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. What’s wrong?”
John scanned the room. “Have you seen a little girl? She’s eight-years-old.” He held his hand at hip level. “She’s about this tall, curly brown hair and big brown eyes.”
The AV guy shook his head. “No kids have been in here all day. Do you want me to call the front reception desk? They could keep an eye on everyone who comes and goes.”
Dylan told him to make the call while John left the room.
Within seconds, John was back on the dance floor, weaving through the couples who were oblivious to what was going on. On the far side of the room, a white curtain billowed into the air. It was November and freezing cold. No one would have been outside unless there was another reason they were there.
He rushed toward the curtain and frowned as one of Dylan’s groomsmen walked through the French doors. Rachel followed him.
For a split second, the skirt of her dress caught on the wind, hiding the child beside her. John didn’t need to see the face of the person holding Rachel’s hand to know it was his daughter.
He ran to Bella and hugged her tight. “Where have you been?” He didn’t wait for her to reply. She was shivering in her dress. He took his jacket off and wrapped her in its warmth. “I’m taking you over to the fire. Are you okay?”
Bella nodded. “I’m sorry, dad. I went outside to watch the snow and the doors locked behind me. No one could hear me knocking on the glass.”
He picked Bella up and walked quickly across the room. Rachel and the groomsman didn’t follow him. He’d find them later and thank them for finding Bella.
He sat in one of the high-backed chairs and held his daughter close. “Don’t worry about being locked outside. You’re safe and that’s all that matters.” With Bella sitting on his lap, he called Tanner. “Stand down. Bella’s safe.”
A flash of blue silk caught his eye. Rachel was walking toward them with a blanket and a takeout cup in her hands. She put the drink on the floor and shook out the fluffy blanket. “Put this around Bella. It will help keep her warm.”
When the blanket was tucked around his daughter, Rachel handed Bella the cup. “It’s hot chocolate. It will warm you up from the inside.”
Bella glanced at John. He nodded and she carefully took the drink out of Rachel’s hands. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Rachel said softly. She glanced at John and he saw the understanding in her eyes. If she knew the full reason why he’d panicked when Bella had gone missing, she wouldn’t be so calm.
“Are you okay?” Rachel asked.
John nodded. “I am now. Thanks for finding Bella.”
A red blush hit her pale cheeks. “It was lucky that Jeremy and I were outside.”
Disappointment dragged its heavy feet against John’s heart. He’d never bothered to ask Rachel if she was dating anyone. He didn’t know her any better than most of the people in Bozeman. What she did with her personal life wasn’t anything to do with him.
Her blush got a whole lot redder. “Jeremy was helping me too…” Her voice petered out. “Jeremy’s gone to tell the manager about the door. The lock’s broken. Bella couldn’t get back inside.” She kneeled down in front of Bella. “Are you feeling better?”
Bella nodded. “Dad’s keeping me warm.”
Rachel’s gaze locked on his. Her blue eyes widened before she glanced at Bella. “Dad’s are good at that. Do you need anything else?”
Bella shook her head. Her mouth popped open when Annie rushed over to her.
“Dylan told me what happened. Are you all right, Bella?”
Bella looked at Annie with such utter devotion that John almost smiled. She pushed the blanket away and slid off his legs. John took the drink out of his daughter’s hands before it spilled over Annie’s dress.
“You look beautiful.” Bella’s voice was soft and sweet. Her hand reached out to gently touch Annie’s dress.
Annie smiled and kneeled down. She held the skirt of her dress toward Bella. “My dress is made from champagne silk. My friend Emily made it for me. The lace came all the way from Italy. If you look closely, you can see little beads stitched in the pattern.”
Bella’s fingers ran across the lace on Annie’s dress. John hoped like crazy that her hands were clean.
