Page 1 of Deep Tide

CHAPTER

ONE

A cell phone went off during the vows.

Leyla Breda kept her attention on the bride and groom, trying not to react as her aunt leaned forward and glared down the pew. Two seats over, Leyla’s cousin rooted around at her feet and looked dismayed as she picked up a stylish silver clutch.

Leyla’s stylish silver clutch.

Her heart skipped a beat as the phone chimed again. Leyla grabbed the purse and quickly silenced the ringtone—but not before noticing the number on the screen.

Which could only mean one thing.

Leyla stood up and quietly slipped out of the pew. Reaching the door to the chapel, she darted a glance toward her brother, who was so enamored with his beautiful bride that he didn’t notice the disruption.

Yeah, right. Her brother noticed everything. Joel was a police detective. But he had wisely chosen to gaze into Miranda’s eyes and not destroy the moment.

Leyla hurried into the foyer, trying to imagine what level of catastrophe would prompt her assistant to call her right now. She opened the chapel’s outer door and stepped into the late-day sun.

“What’s wrong?” Leyla asked Siena, the second-in-command at her fledgling catering business.

“They haven’t started yet, have they?”

“They started at six.”

Siena gasped. “I thought six thirty!”

“It’s okay, I stepped out. What’s wrong?”

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

“Siena, what’s wrong?”

“It’s the cake.”

Her heart skipped another beat as she envisioned the glorious four-tier tower of buttercream smashed to the ground.

“What about it?” Leyla asked.

“Well... I can’t find it.”

“What do you mean? Rachel was supposed to deliver it to the venue at four.” She checked her watch. “It’s six twenty-five.”

“Rachel called in sick.”

“What?”

“And Wade, too. Rachel said she asked Amelia to fill in for her, but I haven’t seen her yet, and the wedding coordinator said—”

“Did you call Amelia?” Leyla was already striding toward her car.

“Yes, but she’s not answering. Neither is Rachel or Wade and—”

“I’ll get it myself.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m on my way now.”

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