What? How does he know I’m running frombad guys? I must wear my shock on my face.
“The wedding dress. You’re a runawaybride.”
“Oh.” I relax, sitting back in the car.He doesn’t know. “Yeah, something like that.”
“That happens more than you’d think herein Vegas.”
“No joke?”
“Yep, where too?”
“The Prescott Upper House. Around to thebusiness entrance.”
I’m getting paranoid. I need a drink, oreven better, just knock me out and wake me up when this is all over.
It takes the cab driver a good twentyminutes to get from wherever we are to the Upper House, and then another ten tomaneuver around to the business entrance. The smallest bill I have in my purseis a hundred. I cringe, giving it to him. I don’t dare ask for change eventhough I want it. “Thanks,” and I climb out.
There are a few people lingering aroundthe entrance, but I ignore them and no one stops me. I take the elevator up tothe third floor. That’s where Cole has been every other time. I don’t know ifthere are other offices or conference rooms, and I don’t know if Cole is evenhere today or if he’s at his dad’s offices. There’s a woman sitting at thefront desk. She gives me the once over, smirking. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I need to see Coulter Holt.”
She scoffs at me. “Do you have anappointment?”
“No, I’m his wife.”
Now she rolls her eyes. “Oh okay, in thatcase, just one sec.” She picks up the phone. I can tell she doesn’t believe me,and why would she? I’m standing here barefoot in a wedding dress. She probablythinks I am some sort of deranged crazy lady who’s here to kidnap Cole and tryto make him my husband. Hmm, I wonder if that’s ever happened to him. I laughat the thought and the woman behind the desk eyes me cautiously. Oh good grief,maybe I am a crazy person. Enough is enough. She doesn’t believe me, so if Iwant to find Cole, I’m going to have to go find him myself. I walk around herdesk.
“Hey,” she shouts at me. “You can’t goback there.”
I open the conference doors. “Oh, youmean back here?” I walk in, but it’s empty. Dang it. I remember the otherconference room at the end of the hall, taking off toward it. The dumbsecretary is still on the phone with security, I’m sure. I open that conferenceroom, and it, too, is empty. I feel tears threatening at the back of my eyes.Think Kate, just think. I spot a phone sitting on the conference table.Finally, a way to at least get a hold of him. I dial his number, but it goesstraight to voicemail.
The conference room doors slam open andtwo security guys converge on me. “Cole.” I scream at his voicemail. “I’m atthe Upper House, but no one believes I’m your wife.” The phone is jerked out ofmy hands. “Hey, I was leaving a voicemail. That wasn’t nice.” The securityguard sneers at me. And I whimper.
CHAPTERNINE
The security guards actually handcuff me.Not with real cuffs. They’re those pull tie things, and they escort me down tosome part of the hotel I’ve never seen. My emotions filter between anger andfear. Angry at Cole and his damn security, and for not telling his employeeshe’s married, and well, I’m afraid of what may happen if I don’t find Cole orLuke, or anyone else. I think at this moment I might even take my mom. Well,maybe. I’m not that desperate…yet.
What I just don’t get is why Shane isafter me,again?There has to be some type of problem for them to stillbe up in our business. Well, Cole’s business. Oh, and there’s the matter ofwhat Cole is going to do when he finds me. Oh yes, and to top off the terribleday, I’ve ripped the jacket of my wedding dress, the bottom inch of the dressis now black, and I’m still barefoot. Great, I really want to wake up from thisnightmare, and anytime would be great—like now.
One of the security men comes back in.“We called the police. They should be here shortly.”
“Super. Can’t wait.”
“You know, you just can’t barge into ahotel’s corporate office and not get in trouble.” The security guardscrutinizes me.
“Okay, if you say so.”
“I wouldn’t be so smug if I were you. Forthe breaking and entering you’d just get a slap on the wrist, but it seems you’rewanted for theft. A woman matching your description was seen running from adesigner bridal boutique wearing a wedding dress she didn’t pay for.” He sneersat me like he’s more than happy to see me go to jail.
My eyebrows shoot up and my mouth popsopen. I told the girl at the front desk this dress had been paid for. I inhalea long, slow breath through my nose, trying to get a grip on what he’s justsaid.
“Not so smug now, are you?”
“You’re right. My mother-in-law paid forthe dress. I did not.” I seethe. I’m so angry I have spots in my eyes.
“Or did she?” The security guy laughs.
He makes me so mad I want to hit or kickhim or do something really freaking mean. I need to think of something elsebecause my anger is slowly seeping down and becoming fear. I do not want to goto jail. “The owner of this stupid hotel, his name is Holt, right?”
