Chapter Thirteen. The wedding proved to be the most lavish affair Grace had ever attended

The wedding proved to be the most lavish affair Grace had ever attended. No detail was left unplanned, and she imagined Kazmar’s wedding coordinator drank heavily just to relieve the stress. The couple was to be married in McWhirter’s great room, which had been fashioned after an English church complete with large stained-glass windows, dark oak beams, and an elevated platform that was decorated with flowers and would serve as an altar.

The reception would be outdoors in the lush garden. Disregarding the desert climate, endless rows of flowers and shrubs surrounded a perfect tiff lawn that probably needed constant watering. A sea of tables filled with canapé s, lobster and champagne awaited the guests after they celebrated the marriage. Penguin-like waiters huddled with their captains, listening to the instructions that would ensure the service looked like a choreographed ballet. Her stomach rumbled but she imagined if she swiped a salmon roll from a tray she would be taken to the ground by the harried coordinator who continued to talk on his Bluetooth, bark orders at the dining captains and scribble messages to his assistant.

She returned to the hall and planted herself in the back, attempting to be unobtrusive while she gaped at the A-list celebrities who quickly filled up both sides of the aisle. Brad and Angelina, Will and Jada and George Clooney, along with his latest girlfriend, looked more glamorous in public than in photos.

Logan moved throughout the crowd effortlessly, like an unnoticed fly on the wall, snapping pictures of unsuspecting guests, changing lenses and ordering her assistant to reposition lights as directed. She was sleek and stealthy, the camera an extension of her arm, and obviously quite comfortable in her surroundings, even though she’d never been inside the hall. Grace imagined she was an expert at melding into her environment. At one point, she looked up and met her stare. A slight smile crossed her face and she winked.

A hush fell over the crowd as a clock struck two. The harpist, who had played mood music for the gathering guests, finished her song and the room went quiet. The string quartet began “Ode to Joy” and the wedding party entered. It wasn’t until Lena Lago entered that all the heads turned. The Brazilian beauty wore a dress that Grace suspected equaled her own salary for a year. It was designed with thousands of beads and what appeared to be small diamonds. The low-cut bodice accentuated her bust, which Grace was certain had been augmented by a great plastic surgeon.

The ceremony was over quickly, and she marveled that it took longer to gather the guests inside and parade the wedding party down the aisle than it did to perform the wedding.

Everyone quickly filed out behind the elated bride and groom and headed for the lobster and champagne. She stayed behind as Logan finished capturing shots of the departing guests.

“Well, what did you think? ” she asked Grace.

“Makes me glad I’m a lesbian.”

Logan chuckled and shifted her camera bag to her shoulder. “So you’d never want a wedding like this? ”

“No. I’m not interested in lavish parties. Even if I could get married, I’d rather fly up here and let Elvis marry us. No fuss, no hassle.”

Logan slung her arm around Grace’s shoulder and pecked her on the cheek. “I like the way you think, Dr. Owens. If I were the marrying type, which I’m not, I’d opt for the same thing.”

Grace fell into her eyes again, just as she had when they’d made love. Logan made no move to remove her arm or take off for the reception. Instead, she pulled her into a passionate kiss, one that made Grace’s knees buckle.

“Aren’t you supposed to be photographing the reception now? ”

“Yes, ” Logan said, sighing. “But all work and no play…well, you know how the rest of it goes.” She touched Grace’s cheek with the back of her hand. “I don’t think I told you how special last night was to me.”

“I’ll bet you say that to all the girls.”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve never said that to anyone. I avoid those types of statements because women tend to get their hopes up. They think they can change me, and I’ll leave my job for them.”

“Have you ever come close? ”

A sad smile crossed her face. “Only once. A long time ago.” She took a deep breath and glanced toward the open door. “Well, I better get back to work. C’mon, I’ll introduce you to some people. You’ll love Kazmar. He’s a great guy.”

She extended her arm, and Grace took it. As they entered the reception, heads turned toward them, and Grace was certain many of the guests thought they were a couple. Could it possibly happen?