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clicked along, posing various groups and couples—and smoothly avoiding any pose that put the feuding maid of honor and best man together.
The minute she was finished, Parker took over.
“Parker’s going to line them up for the introductions. We’ll go around this way.”
“Let me carry the bag for you.”
“No, I’m used to it.” She led him around, through doorways, through the kitchen bustling with catering, and out into the Grand Hall. “I’ll get some shots as they come in. B and G have the sweetheart table there. It’s a plated meal, numbered tables. Once everyone’s down, it’s just a matter of keeping an eye out for an op. How are you holding up?”
“Fine. You’re doing all the work.”
“We’re still on red alert. We need to keep an eye on the CBBM. If he leaves the hall, one of us has to go after him, make sure he’s just going to pee or catch a smoke. When we’re done in here and move up to the Ballroom for the dancing, that’s when it’s going to get crazy. Less structured, and harder to keep a bead on him.”
SHE WAS RIGHT. HE STUCK WITH HER WHEN HE COULD ONCE the party began in earnest. Guests took advantage of the band and danced, or gathered in groups to chat. Some wandered in, some wandered out. Since he knew what to look for, he noted various staff members by the exits. It was oddly exciting.
“I think we might be clear.” Laurel joined them. “I’m bringing the cake out after this next set, and he hasn’t made a move. No sign of the target either. The B and G don’t look worried about it.”
“Couldn’t look happier,” Mac agreed. “Another ninety and we’re clear.”
“I’m going to check the dessert table.”
“Wait till you get a load of it,” Mac told Carter. “The cake. It’s amazing.”
“Carter? Carter!” A pretty blonde in a red dress dashed over to grab his arms and beam up at him. “I thought that was you. How
are you?”
“I’m fine. Ah . . .”
“Steph. Stephanie Gorden. Corrine’s friend. How quickly they forget.” She laughed and tipped up to her toes to kiss his cheek. “I didn’t realize you were friends of Naomi and Brent.”
“Actually, I’m—”
“Brent’s my cousin. What a beautiful wedding. This place is just fabulous. Really, imagine having an actual
ballroom in your own house. Of course I suppose the Browns lease it out for events so they can maintain it. I’m going to have to find Greg—you remember my husband, Greg, don’t you? He’ll be so surprised to see you. What’s it been? It’s been a year at least. We haven’t seen you since you and Corrine—”
She broke off, gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry that didn’t work out. We thought you were perfect for each other.”
“Uh, well. No. This is Mackensie Elliot. The wedding photographer.”
“Hello, how are you? You must be exhausted! I’ve seen you running around, snapping pictures. Naomi must be making it easy for you. She’s such a beautiful bride.”
“It’s been . . . a snap.”
“I’ve gotten some really nice pictures myself. Those digital cameras practically work themselves, don’t they?”
“Hardly need me at all. You’ll have to excuse me. I have to go pretend to work.”
When Carter caught up with her, Mac was taking candids on the dance floor.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think she meant to be insulting, but she’s an idiot and can’t help it.”
“No problem.” She switched cameras, handed him the other. “Fresh memory card. Remember how to do it?”
“Yes.”
“They’re decorating the limo. I want to go get a few shots out there before they bring in the cake.” She started out with Carter in her wake. “So a year ago—the breakup?”
“The . . . right. More or less. We were together almost that long, and lived together for about eight months. Maybe it was nine. Then she decided she wanted to live with someone else. So she did.”
Mac paused. “She hurt you.”
“Not as much as she should’ve been able to, given the situation. Which means we weren’t perfect for each other. Far from it.”
“If you lived with her you must’ve been in love with her.”
“No. I wanted to be in love with her. It’s not the same thing at all. Mackensie,” he began as they moved outside.
“Shit, damn, fuck!”
“Excuse me?”
“SBP. Red alert!” she said into her headset. “SBP sighted south side of main entrance. CBBM’s with her. Come on, Carter, we’ve got to head them off until reinforcements get here.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
HE WASN’T SURE WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO, AND WAS LESS sure of what she intended to do. But when Mac cut across the snowy lawn, Carter instinctively picked her up.
“What? What?”
“You’re only wearing shoes.”
“So are you! Put me down! I can’t project a stern and forbidding demeanor when you’re carrying me. Down, down, or they’ll get by us.”
The minute he set her down, she was off. In a kind of lope, Carter thought. A long-legged gazelle leaping through the snow. He wasn’t graceful, he knew. But he was fast when he had to be.
He passed her. Carter figured his ungainly slide on the path, thanks to his now ruined and snow-slicked shoes, cut back on the impact of the barrier, but he blocked the forward motion of the furious best man and his current amore.
“I’m sorry. Mr. and Mrs. Lester have expressly ordered that Ms. Poulsen not be admitted to this event.”
“She’s with me, and we’re going in.”
Not just furious, Carter noted, but a little bit drunk. “Again, I’m sorry, but we have to respect the wishes of the bride and groom.”
Just slightly out of breath, Mac reached them. “You were told, specifically and repeatedly, that your friend here isn’t allowed.”
“Donny.” Roxanne tugged on Donny’s sleeve. “You said it was all right.”
A combination of anger and embarrassment heated Donny’s face. “It’s all right because I say it is. It’s my brother’s wedding, and I can bring whoever I want to bring. Meg’s bent, and that’s too bad. But she doesn’t run my life. Out of my way.” He jabbed a finger at Mac and Carter. “You’re just the hired help.”
“She’s not going in,” Mac said. Too many trips to the bar, Mac calculated, so his ego, his pride, his resentment all swam in a pool of alcohol.
Where the hell was the backup?
“You just said it yourself, it’s your brother’s wedding. If she’s more important to you than his happiness today, then you can turn around and go with her. This is private property, and she’s not welcome at this time.”
“Donny.” Roxanne tugged at his arm again. “There’s no point—”
“I said you’re with me.” He whirled back to Mac. “Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t tell me about my brother. Now move!” Temper ripe in his eyes, he planted a hand on Mac’s shoulder and shoved.
Like a flash, Carter stood between them. “Don’t touch her again. Now, you’re drunk, and you’re obviously stupid so I’ll factor that in. You need to cool off and calm down, because you really don’t want to do this.”
“You’re right. I want to do this.”
He smashed his fist into Carter’s face. Carter’s head snapped back, but he didn’t give ground. Roxanne squealed, Mac cursed. Before she could leap forward, Carter pushed her back behind him.
“She’s not going in. You’re not going back in. All you’ve proven is that you’re too selfish to think of anyone but yourself. You’ve embarrassed Ms. Poulsen, and that’s a shame. But you’re not going to get the opportunity to embarrass your brother and his wife today. Now you can leave on your own, or I can help you with that.”
“Why don’t we all help him with that?” Del said as he and Jack flanked Carter.
“I don’t think there’s any need for that.” Parker clipped down the path, then mus
cled her way through. She stood, an ice queen in Armani, and stared down the best man. “Is there, Donny?”
“We’ve got better things to do. Come on, Roxie. This place is a dump anyway.”
“I’ll make sure they leave.” Del shook his head in disgust. “Go on back in. How’s the face, Carter?”
“It’s not the first time I’ve had a fist smash into it.” He wiggled his jaw experimentally. “It always hurts though.”
“Ice pack.” Parker watched the CBBM and SBP’s departure with cold eyes. “Emma.”
“Come with me, Carter.”
“It’s all right. Really.”
“Ice pack.” Parker’s tone brooked no nonsense. “I’ll signal the all-clear, and let’s get back inside. Nobody hears about this.”
“Did you see what he did?” Mac murmured.
“He who?” Del asked.
“Carter. He just . . . Every time I think I have him figured out, he shifts on me. It’s confusing.”
Somebody else had it bad, Del noted as Mac hurried down the path to finish her job.
IT TOOK NEARLY TWO HOURS BEFORE MAC COULD FINISH AND track Carter down in Laurel’s kitchen. He sat alone in the breakfast nook, reading. As she came in, he glanced up, took off his glasses. “All clear?”
“More or less. I’m sorry it took so long. Carter, you should’ve gone home. It’s after midnight. I should’ve gotten word back to you. Oh, your poor face.” She winced at the bruise on his jaw.
“It’s not so bad. But we decided I should stay here. If I’d come back out, I might’ve had to explain how I came by this.” He touched his fingers gingerly to the bruise. “I’m terrible at lying, so this was simpler. Plus, as promised, there was cake.”
She slid in across from him. “What are you reading?”
“Oh, Parker had a copy of a John Irving novel I hadn’t read yet. I’ve been tended, entertained, and fed. Your partners made sure of it. And both Jack and Del each came back for a while. I’ve been fine.”
