“I’ll come with you,” he said.
“No! Jesus. Are you crazy?”
“No one knows what happened last night,” he tried to soothe. He attempted to smooth her hair. She swatted his hand away. “I’ll drive you home. Nick’ll meet us at the flower shop. We’ll help you decorate. Don’t worry, it’ll all get done.”
She sucked in a long shaky breath, staring at him with those big brown eyes, so sweet and sexy.
A buzzing sounded in her purse. She blinked, then groped in the big leather bag and pulled out her cell phone. Still looking dazed and disoriented she peered at her phone. “It’s Maddie,” she whispered. “Omigod, she’s staying here in the hotel.”
She looked at Tyler, panic filling her eyes.
“She doesn’t know you’re here,” he said quietly. “But don’t answer it, if you’re not ready.”
She nodded, pressed a button that silenced the buzz, then covered her eyes with one hand. “Okay, I have to go.”
“Just let me get dressed.”
“No! I said it’s okay, I’ve got my car. Gotta go. See you guys later.”
And she flew out the door.
Tyler turned and scowled at Nick. “Thanks for the help, buddy.”
“Christ, I’m still asleep, man.” Nick shook his head. “Sorry, but you know I’m not awake until my third cup of coffee.”
Coffee. That sounded good.
“We must have had about two hours sleep last night.”
Tyler grinned. “I’m not complaining. Holy hell. What was that?”
Nick’s eyebrows drew together above his nose. “I don’t know. But I hope she’s okay.”
“Kaelin? Why? Because she left in such a hurry?”
“No. Because she stayed.”
Chapter Ten
Kaelin’s heart raced as she waited for the elevator, waiting for someone she knew to step out of a room, like Scott or Hardeep or Maddie. No, their rooms weren’t on this floor. But still. Someone else she knew could be staying there. She looked at her watch, nibbled her lip, and when the elevator arrived, thankfully empty, she bolted into it and stabbed the button for the lobby. She slumped against the wall. Dear god, what had she done?
Well, she had no time for regrets or analysis or even some pleasurable memories, she had a gazillion things to do. She rushed out of the elevator, remembered there was a back door so she could avoid the lobby and headed that way. Her car was out front, but oh well, she’d just jog around the hotel to it.
In high-heeled sandals and a black silk cocktail dress. The late June day was hot already, the sky a perfect clear blue, the sun directly overhead. Finally she arrived at her car, sweaty and breathless. With no underwear, beard burn on her chin and who knew where else, mascara under her eyes and her hair in knots. Jesus.
She slammed the car into gear and peeled out of the parking lot. She had to get home, take a shower. She probably smelled of sex and Tyler’s cedar and spice aftershave. Her tummy did a little flip and she groaned out loud, hands tight on the wheel. She must have lost her mind last night.
Not now, not now. She had to focus. She was supposed to pick up the flowers before noon then take the bouquets to the Wirth home. The big arrangements for the church were being delivered as well as the centerpieces for the tables, but she was supposed to meet the delivery guy at each place to give instructions on where to put everything. All the decorations and favors were at her place.
She chewed the inside of her lip as she drove on autopilot, so at first she didn’t even notice the flashing lights behind her. When the police car whooped its siren at her, she jumped. Her eyes flicked to the rear-view mirror then forward again. She frowned. He couldn’t be pulling her over. Could he? Maybe he just wanted to pass her. But no. When she pulled up at the curb, the police car pulled in behind her.
She dropped her head to the steering wheel. No. No, no, no.
When she turned to open her window, Brent stood there. Oh, thank god. He wouldn’t give her a speeding ticket.
The window lowered at her touch on the button.
“I thought that was you,” he said.
“Brent! What are you doing? You scared the crap out of me.”
He frowned at her. “You were going kind of fast, Kaelin.” He studied her hair, her face, her braless breasts beneath her wrinkled silk dress. “Are you okay? You look…” His voice trailed off.
Heat scorched her cheeks and washed its way down under that silk dress. “Yes, I’m fine, but I’m late…the wedding… Are you giving me a ticket?”
“I should.”
She lost patience. “Well, then do it, and do it quick. I’m in a hurry.”
His frown intensified. “Kaelin.”
She wanted to scream.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Home!”
Then his eyes narrowed even more as he studied her clothing and she knew, she just knew, he recognized that she was wearing the same clothes she’d had on at the police station last night.
“Where were you?” he asked.
She gritted her teeth. “That isn’t really your business. Seriously, Brent, I need to go. Can you mail me the ticket or something?”
He stared at her, and she saw emotions flicker over his face—disappointment, hurt, anger. Shit.
“No,” he said. “I can’t. License and registration, please.”
“Forget Me Not Flowers,” Avery said. “On Main Street downtown.”
“I know it. Okay, thanks.” Tyler snapped his phone shut as he strode through the lobby of the hotel with Nick. “Okay, now we know where she’s going. We’ll meet up with her there.”
“Why isn’t she answering her cell phone?” Nick muttered.
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s in the shower or something.”
“Maybe we should go to her place.”
They got into Tyler’s Jeep. Should they? It had been half an hour since she’d rushed out. He and Nick had showered and dressed in record time, grabbed coffees to go from the hotel restaurant and were now trying to track down Kaelin so they could help her get done what needed to be. If they drove there, they’d likely miss her and then they might miss her at the florist. Shit. This was stupid. Why couldn’t she just have waited a few minutes?
He parked on Main Street, a block away from the flower shop, and they loped up the street. He’d thought he didn’t miss Mapleglen, but the downtown was kind of pretty with its brick sidewalks, vintage-style streetlights and baskets of bright hanging flowers everywhere. They shoved into the flower shop, which smelled all fresh and green and flowery.
“Hi.” Tyler greeted the young girl behind the counter with a grin. “We’re here to help pick up the flowers for the Wirth-Richards wedding.”
She smiled at him, straightened her shoulders and flicked back her long blonde hair. “Oh yes. They’re all ready.”
“So Kaelin Daume hasn’t been in yet?”
“No.” The young girl blinked. She checked the order. “She was supposed to pick them up before noon, actually.”
Tyler shot a glance at Nick. Should they take them and go? Wait for her? Then he got a thought. What if something had happened to her?
That was crazy. This was Mapleglen and she’d just left the hotel less than an hour ago, fine, although flustered. But maybe she shouldn’t have been driving when she was all distracted. Again, shit. He tapped his fingers on the glass counter.
The shop phone rang and the girl smiled as she held up a finger and answered it. “Oh yes!” she exclaimed. “Good timing. Your, um….someone is here to pick up the flowers.” She moved the phone away from her mouth. “Your name?” she asked Tyler.
“Tyler Wirth.”
“Oh. Of course.” She spoke into the phone again. “Mr. Wirth is here to pick them up. Shall I send them with him?” She listened, nodded, said, “Of course.” And handed the phone to Tyler. He tried to not to rip it out of her hand.