‘I’m told she came with you.’ Cat straightened up and fixed him with a hard stare. ‘That makes her your responsibility.’ Damn the man, he wasn’t going to wriggle out of this if she could help it.
‘Sorry, she didn’t,’ Luke argued. ‘She latched onto me in the bar and she … well, had already had a few; I could smell it on her breath.’
‘Prosecco,’ Cat heard Debbie slur, ‘he bought me a glass of Prosecco.’ She looked down to see Debbie smiling through her curtain of matted hair. ‘He likes me.’ She gave a lopsided smile. ‘I like him too.’
‘Why did you give her more alcohol?’ Cat’s accusing gaze settled on Luke. ‘You’re saying you were aware she’d already had a few, as you put it. Why make the situation worse?’
‘I bought her one glass, that’s all.’ He shrugged as if he wasn’t part of the problem. ‘When we arrived here in the function suite we went our separate ways. I’ve been with Kieran and the others all evening. You can ask him if you like,’ he said, indicating the corner table where Kieran sat chatting with the other service technicians. ‘She’s been with Sam and Lauren. If you’re blaming me for buying one drink, you should look at their table, it’s littered with bottles.’
Cat looked across to where the two girls were just back from the dance floor, Sam busy refilling their glasses. Sure enough, the table was cluttered with bottles and a collection of empty glasses.
‘Well?’ She detected an edge to his voice. He clearly didn’t like being challenged. Too bad, Cat thought, enjoying his discomfort. A groan took her attention away from him as Debbie pushed herself upright and cupped a hand over her face.
‘Debbie,’ she leaned over her, ‘you don’t look at all well. I think we’d better find you somewhere quiet where you can lie down for a while.’ Debbie nodded silently, swallowed hard, and made an unsuccessful attempt to get to her feet.
‘No, wait.’ Cat pushed her back into the seat. ‘Let Luke and Fergus help you. Come on then, boys.’ She nodded towards Debbie. ‘Give me a hand. We need to get her out of here.’
Luke shot her an annoyed look, muttering something about bossy women, before stepping forward and taking hold of Debbie’s arm. Fergus took the other and between them they slowly raised her to her feet. Party guests moved out of their way as they carefully manoeuvred her across the floor and out into the corridor where Cat indicated one of the long leather couches.
‘She’s not staying here all night, surely?’ Luke asked, his worried gaze fixed on Debbie whose head had now flopped onto her chest.
‘No, there are five staff bedrooms behind the reception area. They’re used if anyone is working late and wants to crash out here instead of going home. We’ll take her there. Keep an eye on her; I’ll just go and get a key card.’
By the time Cat returned, Debbie appeared to have passed out. Luke shook his head, concerned. ‘I don’t like the look of her,’ he said, ‘she’s gone a funny colour.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Cat said, patting Debbie’s cheek and being rewarded with a few jumbled words, ‘she’ll be fine once we get her settled.’
Despite groans of protest, Luke and Fergus managed to get Debbie on her feet once more and moved her slowly into a dimly lit corridor. Outside a door marked ‘Five’, they propped her against the wall.
‘We’ll be fine now, Fergus. Thanks for your help,’ Cat said, as she inserted the key card and opened the door into a small clean room with a single bed and an en suite shower room.
As Fergus disappeared back to the party, Cat and Luke manoeuvred Debbie gently through the door and down onto the bed.
‘I think she’s coming round,’ she heard Luke warn as Debbie groaned and muttered something unintelligible ending indrink.
‘I think she’s asking for water,’ Cat said, checking the small bedside fridge and finding it empty. ‘Drat. Housekeeping musthave forgotten to leave any when the room was last cleaned,’ she grumbled. ‘I’ll have to go and ask reception for the key to the store. Won’t be long.’
Luke sat on the end of the bed watching Debbie as she slowly regained consciousness.
‘Where am I?’ she mumbled, brushing her hair from her eyes as she struggled to ease herself upright.
‘In one of Cat’s staff bedrooms,’ he answered softly, keen to keep her as calm as possible. ‘She thought it might be best if you stay here overnight. She’s just gone to get you some water.’
‘I can’t stay here,’ Debbie protested, wincing painfully as she pushed herself up onto one elbow. ‘I have to go home. Mum and Dad are away … the dog …’
‘Shh.’ He moved up the bed to sit with her. ‘Don’t upset yourself. Someone will run you home first thing in the morning. I’m sure the dog will be fine for a few more hours.’
‘I made a fool of myself, didn’t I?’ She looked at him as she fell back against the pillows, her mascara-rimmed eyes welling up. ‘I always do.’ She shook her head sadly. ‘Can’t help myself.’
‘It’s not a hanging offence, Debbie. We all do crazy things sometimes.’
‘Even you?’
‘Especially me,’ he admitted with a grin. ‘You need to rest here for now. Sleep it off and go home in the morning. You’ll feel much better then.’
‘But my car …’ she protested. ‘No, I can’t possibly stay.’
‘Yes you can,’ Luke replied. ‘Be sensible, you couldn’t drive home in your condition anyway, could you?’
