Page 93 of Very Special Forces

I suckedin a breath. All those eyes on me? I wasn't sure if I loved orhated the idea.

"It'llbe fine," said Lily. "If it looks like anything is going south, Iwill trip and fall, drawing all eyes on me while I flailaround."

"Youwould do that for me?"

"If Ireally have to but I'd prefer not to," she said, "but of course Iwould embarrass myself if I had to and it would be so bad no onewould even remember what you did in error."

"Is yourdress ready?" asked Mom.

"Yes,it’s hanging in the closet."

Momgasped. "Solomon will see it!"

"Hewon't. Plus, we're staying in a suite at the hotel tonight and he'sstaying elsewhere so there is no chance he'll see it before thewedding. Are we going to the dinner? I am so hungry," I gasped as Ifelt the first hunger pangs forming.

Solomonstepped over and took my hand and after we thanked the celebrant,we walked out, trailing family members behind us. A small convoy ofus traveled over to the restaurant where we booked our rehearsaldinner. Before we got out, Solomon looked over at me.

"You'requiet," he said. "Overwhelmed?"

"No, notat all. Okay, maybe a little bit," I admitted, "Mostly I'm justexcited."

"What'son your mind?"

"I tookthat file over to Jas and Julia. She read it."

"And?"

"Andnothing. She's not sure about pressing for prosecution but if shedid, she would be right to. Her concern is not being takenseriously and Bryce talking his way out of it. The jerk alreadysent her an email completely changing the narrative. He said it washer fault for being clumsy. I'm not sure a prosecution would getanywhere."

"Covering his bases," said Solomon.

Inodded. "I wish I could have done more."

"She'ssafe?"

"Yes."

"Andbecause she chose to be, not because of yourinvestigation."

I noddedagain.

"That'sa good result." Solomon squeezed my hand. "You did a good thing.You kept investigating even when you weren't sure there wasanything there. You got the information she can reflect on if sheever thinks of going backwards."

"Brycehad me fooled too. He had everyone fooled. He seemed like a reallygood guy. How does she ever trust a man again?"

"Sameway you did," Solomon reminded me. "Slowly."

"I toldher life would be better than she could even imagine. Was I wrongto do that?"

"Nope.That's hope. Everyone needs hope."

Mymother rapped on the window and signaled us to follow. "Let's go todinner," I said. "This is our last night as singlepeople."

"I'msure food tastes the same after marriage."

Ilaughed as we got out the car and followed my parents inside,ambling towards the room we'd reserved for the dinner. Our actualreception would take place in one of the other function rooms butFrancesca assured us a smaller room would do just fine for therehearsal. "I just need to freshen up," I said, heading for therestrooms off the lobby. As I emerged, I started to cross the lobbytowards our private room, but when I saw Bryce in the restaurantadjacent to the lobby, I stopped dead.

Icouldn't miss the perfectly slicked hair or the charming face butnow that I'd seen the repulsive man beneath his handsome veneer, itall slipped away and he totally disgusted me. He wasn't alone.Sitting across from him was a pretty woman, the pair of themlaughing as they ate. Then he raised his glass and they toastedsomething. Before I could think better of it, I made a beeline forthem.

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