* * *
Something buzzed.
Vic’s eyes shot open, her heart giving a hard kick.
She reached for the phone.
Abigail.
“For God’s sake.” It was just after seven.
What was so important that Abigail had to get in touch with her at seven in the morning on a Sunday while Vic was on vacation?
Grumpy from lack of sleep, her head aching, Vic read her boss’s email—more questions about the Merced campaign. She forwarded it to Jeff, who was supposed to be covering for her, then put the phone on Do Not Disturb and tossed it to the foot of the bed. She was going to have to find a way to put limits on her boss, or Abigail would be calling her in the middle of Lexi’s wedding.
She tried to drift off again, but her headache made sleep impossible, the throbbing ache like a migraine. That margarita must have packed more of a punch than she’d realized. What she needed was coffee.
She crawled out of bed and walked into the bathroom, flicking on the light and staring in dismay at her own reflection. “Great.”
She looked like she hadn’t gotten enough sleep—which was true. She’s stayed up far too late watching the interviews Eric had taped, a few of which had made her cry. She’d made a few obvious cuts, then organized all of the photographs into folders so they’d be easy to find.
She showered, dried her hair, and then put on her makeup. The pain in her skull was unrelenting, her muscles sore from yesterday. When she was satisfied that her appearance wouldn’t scare anyone, she followed the scent of fresh-backed croissants and coffee down a flight of stairs to the inn’s dining room, where a buffet breakfast was being set out for guests.
“Good morning.” Sandrine, the inn’s French pastry chef, greeted her with a basket of croissants, her accent charming. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you.” Vic went straight for the coffee, leaving room in her cup for cream, which sat nearby in a little porcelain pitcher. “This smells delicious.”
She wasn’t truly hungry, but she ate anyway, the coffee helping to clear the fog from her head. If only it would chase away her headache…
By the time Lexi called an hour later, she was feeling a little better.
“Be sure to dress in layers. It’s cold up there.”
In June? Okay.
“See you in about fifteen minutes.”
Vic changed out of the skirt and blouse she’d been wearing into a pair of jeans, a tank top, a fleece jacket, warm socks, and hiking boots. She had just stepped out of the inn’s front door when Austin’s SUV drove into the parking lot, Eric’s truck behind him.
She waved. “Hey.”
Lexi waved back, an excited smile on her face. “We’re taking two vehicles in case the guys get called out. Britta’s riding with Eric this morning, so hop in.”
Vic climbed into the backseat behind Lexi, doing her best to be cheerful despite her aching head. “Good morning.”
Cheyenne, Austin’s younger sister, sat in the backseat, too. Tall like her brother, she wore her dark blond hair in a messy bun, sunglasses covering her eyes. She hadn’t wanted Austin to get back together with Lexi and had been a real bitch to Lexi at first. She’d eventually come around—which was good news because Vic didn’t have the energy to scratch her eyes out this morning.
“I heard you kicked ass at the res yesterday,” she said.
Vic pushed a smile onto her face. “It was a lot of fun.”
Lexi pivoted in her seat. “Did you get a good night’s sleep?”
“Yes.” Vic didn’t want to worry her with something as stupid as a headache. “I stayed up a little too late.”
She didn’t see the look that passed between Lexi and Austin.
* * *