Without a Hitch(13)

“Ah, sure.” I follow her directions and take a seat. Two women descend on me like flies to shit.

“Okay, so we’re missing a shoe?” I ask innocently. “Anything else?”

You could hear a pin drop. “I don’t think so. Not yet anyway,” Melinda huffs.

“I’ve got it.” I’m about to tell them my plan when the makeup artist shushes me, and I automatically snap my lips closed. They paint my face and pull my hair into a high, sleek ponytail for the next twenty minutes. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love how it swishes when I walk.

“Perfect,” Jenna exclaims. Grabbing my arm, she leans in and whispers in my ear. “Lindy had both shoes when she walked in. We went into my bedroom for a few minutes, and when we came out, Olivia was here, but the shoe was gone. She’s such a bitch.”

“Okay, so we think it’s in the suite?”

“I think so?” That doesn’t sound promising.

I glance around. “I’ll find it. My sister Sloane used to hide and refuse to come out. I’m a great seeker.”

Jenna grins. “You just might be the best investment I’ve made for this wedding.”

I laugh because what the hell do you say to that? The fact that she has twenty grand in disposable income still shocks me, even after spending so much time with the Westbrook billionaires lately.

With my hands on my hips, I scan the suite. When my gaze lands on Olivia, the faintest hint of remorse flits across her face before she dons a mask of indifference. She’s definitely attempting to sabotage this wedding, but I don’t have the time or the expertise to go all Dr. Phil on her ass. She sits perched on a windowsill beside a large armoire and watches me from the corner of her eye. While everyone else shuffles about the room, she’s the only one that hasn’t moved.

Narrowing my eyes, I search for something to prop me up high enough to search the top of that armoire. My gaze darts from the giant maple furniture to the chair sitting at the desk and then to Olivia. I see the nervous twitch of her eye and know I’m right.

Without preamble, I drag the chair over to where she sits. It’s much heavier than I was expecting, but I muscle the damn thing across the carpet. I give her a gotcha look when she doesn’t move out of my way. The room around us goes silent, and when I peek over my shoulder at Jenna, she stands with a satisfied smile.

Removing my shoes, I step onto the chair's seat and try to climb up high enough to see, but I’m still a good six inches short. I hop down, turn the chair around, and call for Melinda. “Hey, Melinda?

Can you come hold this chair for me?”

Melinda literally skips across the room. Her gleeful face shines brighter than diamonds. “Of course,” she sings.

“Seriously. What do you think you’re doing? There’s nothing but four inches of dust up there,”

Oliva mutters.

I give her the side-eye. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

Climbing back onto the chair that now has its back propped up against the door of the armoire, I gingerly step onto the backrest. When I know it will hold me, I push off and hook my arms on the dusty top. “Well, you’re right about one thing, Olivia. There is about four inches of dust up here. But, huh? Looky here.” Pressing onto my tiptoes, I lean forward and hook my finger around the heel of Melinda’s shoe.

“Huh,” Jenna scoffs. “I wonder how that ended up there?” Her tone drips with sarcasm as everyone in the room turns to Olivia.

“Who knows? If Melinda could take care of her shit, she wouldn’t keep losing things. Would you, Lindy?” Even I know she’s referring to Jacob.

I hop down from the chair and accidentally lose my balance, making sure to catch her drink with my arm on the way down.

“Oopsies,” I singsong as I plow into Olivia, knocking her drink all down the front of her.

“Hey! You idiot. What the hell is wrong with you? Look what you did to my dress!”

“Gosh. I’m so sorry. I was up much higher than I thought. I never in a million years would have thought I’d run into you when I jumped down.” I flash my best aw-shucks expression.

“What am I supposed to do now?” she wails. “I didn’t bring another dress, and we have to be downstairs in an hour.”

“Oh, geez. You know what?” Jenna makes a cutthroat motion behind Olivia, and I give her the most serene smile. “I saw a strip mall about five miles away. Surely you can find something there.

But”—I check my watch dramatically—“you’d better hurry. I’ve heard Daddy doesn’t like you girls to be late.”

Melinda chokes on her mimosa, and I keep my plastic smile in place.

“Jenna. Give me one of your dresses.”

Jenna’s face turns beet red. “I don’t have an extra. Sorry. As the bride, I need to keep my backups.

You know, just in case someone acts up.”

“Ugh. You’re all assholes.” Olivia slams her empty glass down and storms out of the suite.

When the door clicks shut behind her, I’m tackle-hugged from all sides.

“I knew you’d be amazing,” Jenna cries. “Now, let’s get ready for this party! I’m getting married, biatches!”

Quietly, I slip back into my shoes as they all down a shocking amount of champagne. Crap. Now I’m going to be babysitting more than just Oliva.