Page 13

For the next hour, I'm too busy to think about Matt or my attraction to him or the conversation in the car. I direct staff, rearrange seating, consult with the caterer, and generally do what I do best, solve problems. I'm in my element, the professional taking charge, making decisions and creating order from chaos.

It's only when things finally seem under control that I slip away to find a bathroom, desperate to do something about my bedraggled appearance before more guests arrive. As I round a corner, I nearly collide with a staff member carrying a case of wine.

"Sorry," I say automatically, stepping back. "Is there a restroom nearby?"

"The main one is pretty full. I saw a line. If you want, you can use the staff bathroom. It’s down those stairs, to the end of the hall, then left," he says. "But careful down there. We had some water come in through a broken window. Floor's slippery."

I thank him and head down, my wet shoes squeaking against marble tiles. The farther I go, the darker and quieter it becomes. The staff bathroom, when I find it, is blessedly empty. I do what I can. I bend under the hand dryer for a moment until my hair is dryer. Using paper towels and the emergency makeup kit I always keep in my purse, I manage to transform myself from "drowned rat" to "caught in light rain" in about ten minutes. I’ve just put my makeup back in my purse when the lights suddenly shut off, and I emerge into a dark and silent hallway. Theemergency lights have kicked on, casting an eerie glow through the hallway.

I start back the way I came, moving carefully on the slick floor. As I pass a set of double doors, I hear voices from within. One of them is distinctly Matt's.

"—at least a foot of water in the cellar already," someone is saying. "Wine collection's in danger."

"What about the structure?" That's Matt, all business.

"Foundation's solid, but we need to move the guests to the upper floors, just in case."

I push the door open without thinking. Matt stands with the venue manager and two staff members, looking at what appears to be blueprints of the building spread across a large table.

"Jackie," he says when he spots me, surprise evident in his voice. "You shouldn't be down here."

"I was using the bathroom," I explain. "What's going on?"

He hesitates, then seems to decide I deserve the truth. "Flash flooding in this district has caused some major issues. We’re in the floodplain and water's rising faster than expected. We need to move everyone upstairs as a precaution."

"Is Catherine aware?"

"Not yet. We're trying to avoid panic."

I nod, already shifting into problem-solving mode. "I can help with that. Tell me what you need."

He studies me for a moment, then nods. "We need to clear all the lower rooms, then start moving guests upstairs in a way that doesn't cause alarm."

"I'll take the east wing," I volunteer. "I noticed some storage rooms down that way when I was exploring earlier."

Matt shakes his head. "Not alone. Some of those doors lock automatically."

"I'll be fine?—"

"I said no.” Man. If I had to imagine what a Daddy Dominant voice sounded like, it would be the one he is using right now. I half expected him to add, ‘little girl’ to the end of the statement. He pauses for a second, as if expecting me to argue with him. When I don’t he continues.

“I'll go with her," he tells the others, his tone brooking no argument. "Coordinate with the staff to move people upstairs. Frame it as a better view of the storm or something."

The venue manager nods, gathering up the blueprints. "We’ll start moving everyone."

As they leave, Matt turns to me. "Come on. East wing first, then we'll check the wine cellar."

"You don't have to babysit me," I say, following him into the corridor. "I'm perfectly capable?—"

"Of getting locked in a storage room during a flash flood? No thanks. I've seen what happens when people underestimate water. It's not pretty. Especially in areas that don’t normally see this much water. Be a good girl and obey me."

My mouth drops open. What did he just say? I want to argue, but the grim set of his mouth stops me. This isn't about me or his suspicions or whatever tension exists between us. This is about safety, and he clearly takes that seriously.

We move quickly through the darkened downstairs, checking rooms methodically. Most are empty, those that aren’t we quickly clear. The emergency lights cast long shadows, creating an atmosphere that would be almost romantic under different circumstances.

"All clear," I say after checking the last room in our assigned section. "Now what?"

Before Matt can answer, a tremendous crack of thunder shakes the building, followed immediately by the unmistakable sound of breaking glass. Water rushes in through a window atthe end of the hall, a sudden torrent that seems to expand faster than should be possible.