Chapter 754 Chapter 754
As soon as they walked through the doors, Zain wanted to turn around and leave. There were several people standing in the lobby, all dressed in pricey clothes. Oaklyn put her arm through his.
“Brock said it was being held throughout the businesses off the lobby.” She smiled at him. “A fancy luncheon in a bar, that’s new.”
Zain looked around. “Two by the elevators.”
She smiled sweetly. “I saw.”
He didn’t know what the plan was. It was a ‘fluid situation,’ is what they were told by Luka. Eaton said the translation to that was they didn’t have a solid plan and would have to see what happened and adapt. Zain didn’t adapt. He had routines and rarely strayed from them.
Brock came out of the beveled glass doors and propped them open and then put his hands on his hips and looked around. Zain had to admit he was good at acting. With his hair slicked back and the stance he took, he didn’t seem anything like the man who had openly cried over a movie.
“You.” Brock pointed to a man standing by the wall. “I need the display brought out here.” He continued to look at him. “Now.” With an abrupt nod, he turned, spotted Zain, nodded again, and went back in.
“Shall we?” Oaklyn squeezed his arm.
Zain nodded. “I don’t want to get cornered in a room with a bunch of strangers.”
“Leave that to me. I like to stay on the move.”
“Jett will be coming inside shortly. We’ll need a distraction.” Eaton’s voice was steady and quiet in his ear.
“See, honey, we’re not late.”
They turned to see a couple coming in the entrance behind them. The man was in a very crisp suit, and the woman was in a dress that had so many colors on it Zain wondered if someone threw up a crayon box on it. The man smiled at Zain and held out his hand. “Del Pritchard.” Zain took his hand and gave it a quick shake. “And this lovely woman honoring me with her presence is my wife, Trudy.”
Zain nodded to them. “William Jeggins and my lovely wife, Marsha.”
“I love your pantsuit,” Trudy said. “Where did you get it?”
Oaklyn smoothed her hand over the grey material. “I think it was when we were in Canada, wasn’t it, Bill?” She smiled at him.
“I’ve lost track.” He gave her a quick smile. “You look good in everything.”
“Oh.” Her eyes lit up when she smiled at him.
“I’m going to go find a drink,” Del said and walked away.
“Ignore him,” Trudy said. “He hates fundraisers.” She looked around. “But I say if we’re lucky to have it, we should share it, right?” She smiled.
“Absolutely.” Oaklyn nodded.
“I better go stop him from drinking the bar dry.” She hurried away.
Zain blew out a breath and started walking across the lobby to the display window at the boutique. The man that Brock had ordered to bring things out came out with a cart, leaned down, and set the lock on the wheel. When he straightened up, Zain caught a glimpse of his scared neck. He cleared his throat so Oaklyn would look.
“Oh. I see.” She fiddled with her hair. “Found the third one”
Her voice came over the comm.
Zain looked into the restaurant and saw how many people were in there and hoped they didn’t have to go in there and mingle. The vibes were off, and he didn’t know why. It was likely because all he could smell was roses and whatever that other smell was they’d had him soak in. There wasn’t enough time to come up with the brooch or button thing that Brock used, so they’d both soaked in a bath filled with strong floral bath bombs. His wolf was completely put off by it. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized how much they both relied on being able to smell.
“Any security in the lobby?” He recognized Luka’s voice and turned around to look.
He shook his head.
“Negative,” Oaklyn said and then pointed at something in the display window. He’d almost forgotten they were supposed to be doing something here and not just standing here scared half out of their skin. He looked down at her. She didn’t look concerned at all.
“Jett will be coming in shortly with a delivery,” Eaton said. “Be nearby, Brock. We need a diversion.”
Brock snorted into the mic. “I don’t know what to do other than throw myself on the floor and cry.” He was using his normal voice.
Oaklyn hugged Zain’s arm and looked around. “I have something in mind.” She said quietly and then started to lead him toward the bar entrance.
“Let him get in the door before you do anything,” Eaton said. “We’re ready in the basement, Jett.”
“I think you poured too much of that pine on this box, Luka. My eyes are watering.” Jett said.
Zain looked at Oaklyn. She was watching the scarred man set up some crystal glasses.
Brock came out with two pitchers in his hand. He glanced at Oaklyn and then made an exaggerated motion with his head to what was in his hand.
“That will work just fine, Brock.” She paused and looked at the poster with information about the fundraiser on it. Zain hadn’t realized it was for the children’s Christmas fund. “Give him a minute or two more, Jett. I need it high enough it makes a lot of noise when it hits the floor.”
“Let me know when,” Jett replied.
Zain stood there, running his hand up and down her back like he figured a husband might do. Contact with her also seemed to soothe his erratic animal. He looked back over at Brock, who was filling the glasses half full of red and green liquid. They were stacked three tiers high so far.
“Now is good, Jett.” Oaklyn glanced at Zain and smiled.
The entrance doors opened, and Jett, dressed in blue overalls, came in pushing a dolly with two boxes stacked on it. He had a baseball cap on backward and headphones over his ears. He was humming as he walked toward the elevator. “No one told me the guys were so big.”
“You getting soft, Jett?” Luka asked.
Jett snorted into the mic. “I got this.”
“Let’s go in and mingle, sweetie.” Oaklyn smiled and started walking toward Brock.
Brock looked at her and stepped back to admire the display. He nodded and patted the man on the shoulder. “Looks good.” With slow steps, he started to turn.
Oaklyn laughed and walked faster. Zain slowed because he still wasn’t sure what the plan was. Before he could ponder it, she slipped and crashed into the cart, and the sound of glass shattering echoed throughout the lobby.
“Oh, my stars.”