But Melanie’s hands weren’t clumsy. They were sure and focused. She stepped to the cardboard cutout of another woman in a chef’s coat. Something in the back of Evie’s memory knew the name that went with the flat grinning face, but she couldn’t bring it to the surface. As if that would do anything to save her.
“I’m not ready!” Evie demanded, but for some reason her voice came out closer to a whisper. It felt like something was sitting on her chest and she didn’t have the breath to get her voice to its full volume.
“Just pick one, you dumbass.” Melanie pushed the trigger on the torch and lit the grass at the cutout’s feet.
Evie glanced around the circle, her eyes settling on the cutout of her parents in their wedding attire.
Suddenly, Zach’s fingers wrapped around her wrist. “Here.”
“What?” She looked down at the pair of tickets Zach pressed into her palm. She couldn’t make out the writing on the golden trimmed paper. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
He looked down the front of his tux and smoothed out his tie, then flashed her a smile. “You ready?”
“For what?! I have to save my parents!” she tried to tell him, but nothing came out. The grass was going up quickly, the flames closing in around them, but Zach seemed completely calm, completely unbothered.
“You’ve got this, Buck,” he said. But she didn’t. She didn’t at all.
Chapter 14
Zach had a plan. Up at six. Take Steve out for a sunrise stroll. Swing back to his house. Shower. Check on Evie with his own two eyes, then kiss the hell out of her before he went over to the ranch to greet the first wave of the Getlier bridal party.
Weddings at Big Rock ran about the cost of several major organs. He found that whoever was footing the bill appreciated it if the man in charge made an appearance and gave his personal assurance that the bride, groom, and all in tow received the full ranch experience, with all its special touches. This time around, the bride’s father was Sebastian Getlier, owner of the Rams. Zach wanted to make this man happy.
At five fifteen the blaring ringer on his phone woke him up. He hit Accept before he really processed the name he saw on his screen. He answered anyway.
“Zach Pleasant.”
“Zach, it’s Nicole Pruitt.”
“Morning, Nicole. How can I help you?” Zach groaned as he rolled over.
“I’m calling about Evie.”
Okay, that woke him up. He rubbed his face and sat up in bed. “Is she okay?”
“As far as I know, yeah. Unless she had another head injury under your watch.”
“Nope, she’s fit as a fiddle. What’s up? I figured Jesse would be your point man.”
“Well, I tried your brother, but he didn’t answer.”
“He’s probably still asleep. Talk to me.”
“I just spoke to Raquelle and she was spiraling out over some messages Evie got on Instagram.”
“Yeah, from Melanie Burns? She asked Evie if she knew her. I saw the messages. They were pretty fucked up.”
Nicole sighed. “I told Raquelle to run everything by me first.”
“Listen, I get it, but I think transparency with Evie might be best. I mean, she needs to know if she’s on the outs with someone. There’s protecting her and there’s keeping her in the dark.”
“Yeah, I get that. I—I’m not certain, but I think Chef Burns was at the party. I think. There were a lot industry chefs there.”
Okay, Zach was really awake now. He turned on his bedside lamp. “You think maybe she pushed Evie?”
“It’s just a hunch. I asked if I could get a look at the guest list, but the person who has it is on vacation with her family and won’t be back until Tuesday. But if Melanie was there—”
“No, I hear ya. Those messages were pretty out of control. Even if she wasn’t there, she clearly hates Evie enough to threaten her. Does anyone else in your circle know Evie is in California?”