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“I’m never off duty” Eric says, his words clipped, and it feels like he’s reminding himself not to get too comfortable. We aren’t friends, and he is here to do a job.
We walk back into the reception area together, and I continue making sure everything is exactly as it should be with Eric following behind me. So much for it looking like he’s my date now.
The room is beginning to fill up with guests and the waitstaff are starting to come around with appetizers. I breathe a sigh of relief when I get to the last table to check to make sure the pre-printed menu is on it. It feels like everything is perfect for Brandon and Tracy, and while I know they would never expect me to work while I’m here at their wedding, I can’t help myself.
“Have something to eat,” I tell Eric when one of the waitstaff comes by with a tray. I would never tell him to have a drink since he is working, but I see nothing wrong with him eating. “Try the crab cakes and tell me if they’re dry,” I joke, letting him in on the secret that I was back in the kitchen too.
“I’m not a big fan of seafood,” he says, and I’ve learned something personal about him. I tuck that away in my memory for when his time is done here and I decide to get him a little going away present. Or what would be better, is if Ethan could hire him on as security for Badger Creek, a more stable job with real hours. Eric could have a life. But maybe he likes his life as it is.
“Then go with the bacon wrapped dates or the prosciutto asparagus,” I now say, snagging a crab cake off the platter.
I toss my drink back, setting the glass on the tray of another staffer who has just walked by. They all know me, and I know them, but I try my best not to call attention to anything. I don’t want them to think I’m here judging them on how well they’re doing their job. I’m here as a guest and while I have been walking around checking things, that’s on me and my obsessive need to make things perfect.
“Another drink?” Eric asks me even though I’m busy going through a mental checklist of everything that is usually in place for weddings. Honestly, I usually don’t even get this far into the process with potential clients. I usually do the tours and the bookings, but with Tracy and Brandon, I wanted to make sure they got the highest level of service.
“Yes, please another white wine,” I reply, remembering to check to make sure the doors to the deck overlooking the mountains are open for guests to go in and out. “I’m going to check the door,” I now tell Eric, pointing to where I’ll be, since last time I had him hunting me down.
The line at the bar has gotten long with the arrival of more people, but Eric keeps looking over his shoulder, checking on me. I give him a wave, telling him I’m okay as I move along the doors, checking to make sure they’re all open.
I reach the last door and that’s when I hear it. It’s a voice I never thought I’d hear again, and my knees go weak. I clutch the door handle, needing it for support as I listen. My heart is hammering so loudly that it blocks out all sound and I strain to listen for what I just heard. I feel bile push up from my stomach, stinging my throat and making it feel like I might throw up.
It can’t be, and my eyes move about the room, looking for the voice, not that I know what he looks like, but I recognize that voice. It’s the voice of the man who held me in the motel room, it’s the voice of the man who blindfolded me and put me in that car.
And then it’s gone.
Just as quickly as I heard it, I hear nothing now.
Maybe I dreamed it. Maybe it’s being alone without Ethan that has my mind filling in missing pieces from that night.
No, I heard that voice. It was loud and clear and that person is somewhere in this room. I need to find it, which sounds crazy, but there is something in me that is drawn to the voice. The need to end this is stronger than my fear.
I slowly wander the room listening to conversations, and I hear someone call my name. It’s one of the waitresses, she waves, giving me a kind smile, and I try to do the same back, but I have no idea if I truly have. I’m obsessed with the voice.
Eric catches my eye, throwing his hands up in annoyance as the line for the drinks hasn’t moved. But I’m too distracted to notice.
And I hear it again, stopping me in my tracks.
I feel all the color drain from my face when he makes eye contact with me, watching me from about twenty feet away. He’s in a group of people, but he’s watching me. His smarmy, sick voice rings out louder than any other voice in the room.
His face is stoic as he stares me down, and this time, fear floods my veins, telling me to run, to get the fuck out of here.
But instead, the feeling of vomit forces its way up into my throat, sending me running for the bathroom.
I don’t make it though, stopping at the first garbage can I see, I puke into it, the tears streaming from my eyes and I can’t tell if it’s the fear or the emptying of my stomach that has me crying.
“You alright there, princess?”
And when I look up, he’s standing right in front of me.
CHAPTER27
ETHAN
“Okay, let’s get one more of the bride and groom and then we’ll take a quick break for a few minutes before some last shots over by the lake.”
I watch as the photographer snaps some more shots of Brandon and Tracy, who look so ridiculously happy, he doesn’t even have to ask them to smile. I’m so happy for them, glad that today has gone smoothly and it’s been everything they wanted it to be.
“Mr. Morrison?” I look over to see one of the servers from the lodge standing with a tray of champagne. “Would you like a drink?” she asks.
