You Say It First
Page 37

Pallas almost wasn’t surprised. Who knew rain could be so dangerous.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
PALLAS DIDN’T GET out of the police station until nearly four in the morning. By the time everyone had told their story, the DJ and his getaway driver had been apprehended and all the stolen items had been returned. The gun had turned out to be a paint gun instead of the real thing, which was a little comforting. Still, despite the almost-happy ending—how much better things would have been if there hadn’t been a robbery at all—she was tired and hungry and had a killer headache. Nick walked with her, his hand on the small of her back.
While she appreciated the support and that he’d stayed with her through the incredibly long ordeal of helping Catherine and her parents press charges, as well as giving a statement, she was honestly too exhausted to express much more than a heartfelt “Thanks for staying.”
“Happy to be there.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “You beating yourself up about what happened?”
“Maybe. Sort of.” She leaned against him. “Everything about the day was a disaster.”
“Not true.”
“What went right?”
“The ceremony, the weather, the food. We got the zebras back.”
Cade had texted a few hours before to say all three were safely in their barn.
“They shouldn’t have escaped in the first place.”
“You aren’t responsible for that,” he told her. “Jerks did it.”
“I should have thought to have a lock on the gate. Only who lets out zebras?”
They passed Catherine, crying in her new husband’s arms. The harsh streetlights made the coffee stain on her dress stand out even more. Pallas looked away.
When they reached Nick’s truck, he helped her inside. He drove out of the parking lot but instead of heading for her neighborhood, or even Weddings in a Box, he drove toward the highway.
“Are we running away?”
“No, we’re getting you something to eat. You haven’t had anything since breakfast yesterday. You’re starving and probably have a headache.”
“I do,” she said, rubbing her temple.
“There’s a fast-food place by the off-ramp that’s open twenty-four hours a day.”
“I’m impressed that you know that.”
“Sometimes work goes late. It helps to know things like that.”
“Apparently.” She leaned back in her seat. “I can’t believe everything that happened. Did you see the stain on Catherine’s dress? I’m sure her grandmother feels horrible. Did I tell you Silver texted me to say everything was closed up? She and Alan stayed and took care of that. I owe them.”
“You have good friends.”
“I do.” She looked out the side window at the dark and empty streets. “At least we’re going to have quite the story to tell. One day this will be funny.”
“It’s kind of funny now.”
“Not for me.”
She was upset and embarrassed about everything that had gone wrong. Zebras? Really? What had she been thinking? Sure they’d been a favorite with the guests, but they’d gotten loose. She should have paid attention to the rain. It had been an omen for sure.
Nick stopped in front of the drive-through window. “They’re serving breakfast. What are you in the mood for?”
She ordered an egg sandwich and coffee. Despite her exhaustion, she was going to have to go to work and check on everything. Then she could go home and get some sleep.
After paying for their order, Nick drove back to her place. They went inside and put their food on the kitchen table. Pallas started a pot of coffee because a single cup wasn’t going to be close to enough.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Nick put down his breakfast sandwich. “What are you thinking?”
“That I should have listened to the rain.”
“Was it talking?”
She managed a slight smile. “It was making noises, warning me of the danger to come.” She picked up her coffee. “I feel stupid,” she admitted. “I’m supposed to be good at my job.”
“You are.”
“The wedding got out of control.”
“It didn’t.” He held up one hand and raised a finger. “First, a couple of guys let out the zebras, not you.”
“I should have anticipated that.”
“That drunk idiots would release zebras into an area where there were cars? No one could anticipate that.”
“I should have locked the gate. If not to keep the zebras from getting out then to keep someone from going in.”
“Carol and Cade were there. Why didn’t they stop the guys?”
“They were off getting something to eat.” She sighed. “I should have told them to eat in shifts.” She looked at him. “I’m sorry, but you can’t talk me out of the zebra guilt. It’s all mine.”
“I don’t accept that, but I’m willing to move on. You’re not responsible for what happened to the dress.”
Pallas winced. “That was awful, but you’re right. Not my fault.”
“The DJ isn’t, either. The bride and groom brought him in. You didn’t recommend him.”
He was right but... “How do you know?”
“You would have checked him out. You won’t hire just anyone to be a vendor.”
A really good point, except... “Oh, no. I hired you to be a Roman guard and I didn’t know you at all. What if you’d been a serial killer?”
“You are tired, aren’t you?”
“Is that your polite way of saying I’m not making sense?”
When Nick didn’t say anything, Pallas got her answer. Talk about embarrassing.
“Ignoring what went wrong, did you like having different elements in the wedding?” he asked.
“I thought it was kind of fun. I’m not sure I’d do zebras again, but it was nice not to have everything be the same.”
“Good. Then if there’s a message from the universe, it’s the alien wedding. You’re being told to branch out and try new things.”
Pallas wasn’t sure universe messages were that clear, but she got his message. She did like working with her friends. The brainstorming was fun, as was watching it all come together.
“I do like helping them,” she admitted. “Nova and Joel are darling and her dad is incredibly brave. I want to see them get married.”
She sipped her coffee. “I wonder if there are special needs couples out there and if I could help with those weddings.” She shook her head. “I’m not making any sense, am I?”
“You are. I think you should get some sleep, then figure it all out in a few hours.”
“I have to go to the office.”
“Not at five on Sunday morning.”
“Oh.” He might be right. After all, Silver and Alan had locked up Wedding in a Box. She could check things out later.
She collected their trash and threw it out. Nick rose and walked around the table. He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her.
“Does that ‘oh’ mean you agree with me?” he asked. “That there’s nothing that can’t wait until sometime this afternoon?”
Before she could figure out an answer, he leaned in and kissed her. And then an answer didn’t seem all that important. Her brain was so fuzzy and the exhaustion, when combined with the delicious feel of his mouth on hers, scrambled any coherent thought.