Page 37 of Very Special Forces

Bryceleaned in and said in a conspiratorial voice, "Just in case I needto take a break from all the fun, where can I hide?"

"There'sa small smoking area out the back for patrons but it's not exactlya hiding area," I told him.

Helaughed. "No, I guess not. I'll find somewhere. There, I think thecake looks good. No tasting," he teased, nudging me with his elbow."Hey, guys!" he called out as someone behind us squealed his name.He walked towards them, reaching out his arms, all wide smiles andcompliments.

Igrabbed the empty cake box and dodged out of the room just as Lilyarrived carrying the ice buckets, with Ruby on her heels bearing atray of cocktails for the first guests. By the time I returned totend bar, Julia, in her rosy pink dress, and twenty more guestsarrived, ensuring I was busy serving, pouring glasses of wine andcocktails, smiling and thanking guests for all the bills they addedto the tip jar.

Atfirst, I didn't have chance to do anything but serve but I did getto see all the guests, taking extra care to ask their names and howthey knew the newly engaged couple. Most people were happy for anysmall talk, describing how they knew the couple and how excitedthey were for the party and the eventual wedding. In betweenserving, I kept an eye on Bryce but he barely looked my way exceptto raise his glass once, when he smiled and nodded before turningback to his conversation. He buzzed around the different groups,charming and laughing, clinking glasses, slapping backs of guys andcheek-kissing ladies, always gravitating back to Julia. Out of thetwo, she was definitely the quieter but they looked at each otherwith such sweetness, it was hard to remind myself why I wasthere.

"What doyou think?" said Jas. She stood next to the bar, half turned to me,half watching the crowd. I didn't see her come in.

"It's agreat party."

"It is.And him?" She nodded towards Bryce.

Irecalled the way he looked at me earlier, like I was a body for thetaking. I brushed the thought away. What person didn't look at theopposite sex? It wasn't like he made any lascivious comments, plus,I could have been mistaken. "He's very attentive," I said. "Andhe's put a lot of thought into the party."

"You saythought, I say controlling. Everything always has to be perfect forhim."

"It isan engagement party," I pointed out. My engagement party was heldin the same room and it was perfect too but I didn't need tomention that.

"Hey,"said Ruby, sliding behind the bar. "Lexi, it's your break. You havebeen running off your feet."

"I'vehardly left the bar," I admitted.

"Lilysaid I should take over and after you've taken your break, you cancirculate."

"Perfect. I'll be right back," I told Jas. "I need to takeoff my shoes for a few minutes."

Shenodded, then plastered a bright smile on her face and waved to thegiggling group of women a few paces away. "We'll talk later," shesaid. "I almost don't want you to find anything. I prefer to bewrong about him."

"What'sthat about?" asked Ruby.

"I'minvestigating the groom," I told her as softly as I could while noone approached the bar. "She's a friend of the bride and she has abad feeling about him."

"AboutBryce? He's great!"

"Lilymentioned he helped you out."

"He did.What does Julia’s friend think he's done?"

"Notsure yet," I said. "But keep your ears open. I'm going to take thatbreak."

I wasglad Jas was in that mind set of wanting to be proven wrong becauseunless I did hear something soon, it was likely I would have totell her I refused to investigate any further. I excused myselffrom the bar as a couple approached and left Ruby to serve them. Iescaped from the room, quickly ducked my head into the main bar —no sign of my Army buddies yet — and then hurried to Lily's officebefore anyone else saw me. Inside, I shut the door and tugged offmy heels, dropping into the chair. It wasn't exactly the employeebreak room, but at least I had a chance to think quietly and...words drifted through the open window along with the acrid scent ofcigarette smoke.

"Bryce is too good for Julia, you know," said a female voice."I don't know what he sees in her. I mean... He's hot and she's...not. She's like a timid, little mouse.Yes, Bryce; no, Bryce."

"Youmean, you don't know why he isn't marrying you," said the secondwoman.

"Bitch!"The pair giggled.

I easedoff the chair and tiptoed to the open window above my head. Thelights were off and they must have assumed the room wasempty.

"Doesshe know you and I and he used to..." There was morelaughter.

"No!Apparently, Julia saw some text messages once but he dismissed itand told her not to think anymore of it. They were old messagesanyway."

"She wassnooping on his phone? Lame!"

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