Dot shook her head. “Lee’s staying for a couple of weeks. You won’t be able to avoid him for that long.”
“So we find somewhere in town,” Ed said. “Georgie will let us stay at her place.”
“Ed, you’ve done enough,” Tess said. “If I can get a lift into town after the wedding, I’ll figure out something.” She hugged herself.
“No,” he responded, taking one of her hands in his. “You’re not dealing with this alone.” The offer was instant, but then he remembered Dot’s warning. Maybe he should be more careful.
Relief and doubt fought across her face.
“I agree with Ed,” Dot said. “We can monitor you easier out here. Brandon and Sam both have experience in protection.”
“How long’s Sam staying?” Ed asked.
“A few more days.”
Ed hoped it wouldn’t take longer than that to clear up this mess.
“In the meantime, avoid Lee, and if you remember where you’ve seen him before, tell me immediately,” Dot said.
Tess nodded.
The first guest drove up to the house.
“Take Tess with you to greet the guests,” Dot said. “We’ll keep Lee busy inside.”
“All right.” Ed slipped his hand into Tess’s and squeezed. “Come on. We’ll keep you safe.”
He wasn’t letting Stonefish hurt another innocent person.
Chapter 10
Tess felt like a meerkat sentinel, constantly scanning the surroundings. Why couldn’t she remember where she’d seen Lee before? The only reason she didn’t bolt for the shed and hide was Ed by her side. His presence calmed her. When he wasn’t hugging and greeting guests, he was by her side, a beacon of safety to relax her nerves. She smiled at people, but names slipped away from her as her attention was on the house, waiting for Lee to reappear.
When it came time for the ceremony, Dot approached her. “We can get a seat at the back,” she said. “Lee will have his attention on the couple.”
Ed nodded. “There are three seats there.”
Was he kidding? “No. You’re not sitting with me. You should be at the front with your family.”
“You’re my guest.”
Tess shook her head. “I won’t let you miss out.” She straightened his galaxy patterned tie, full of purples and blues and thousands of stars. “Go.”
Dot added, “Lara will need someone to sit next to.”
“All right.” His smile charmed Tess. “If you insist.”
She took a moment to watch him walk away. His grey suit pants fit nicely, and though he wore a white shirt, it was rolled up to the elbows like the groomsmen’s.
Sophisticated and sexy.
There was no denying it. He was handsome.
A soft piano instrumental of a popular love song played from a speaker set up at the front where the celebrant, groomsmen and groom waited. The entire crowd turned to watch Lara walk down the aisle, sprinkling red blossoms as she went, her grin so wide there nearly wasn’t enough room on her face. Tess shifted, glad she was on the far corner of the seating where no one was looking at her.
Faith followed Lara, her gaze shifting from the girl in front of her, to Darcy who stood waiting next to Brandon. Georgie was next and she scanned the crowd as if looking for someone, and then finally the bride appeared.
Amy looked gorgeous. She had been sitting in a dressing gown when Tess left the kitchen, but now she wore a long, canary yellow dress with a cowl neckline which hugged her curvy figure and then fell in lines to her feet. Last night Amy had explained she’d bought the dress on a whim from an op shop in Byron Bay because she’d adored it so much, but had never worn it. It suited her and this more casual wedding style.
