“No, please, let’s not ruin everyone’s evening,” Liz said, placing her hand on Garrett’s arm. “I’m sure it was just somebody who looked a bit like him.”
Logan and Garrett shook their heads. Just the thought of Elizabeth feeling uneasy had every protective instinct in them buzzing.
“Craig, please stay with the girls,” Logan requested, as he and Garrett began to move toward the foyer. “I’ve got a new girl helping Susanna. With this crowd, and everyone in costume, it certainly won’t hurt to check.”
“Hiding behind a costume seems exactly like something a sleazebag like Greg would do. It won’t hurt to take a stroll around the room while you check the front desk,” Jason said as he knew Nancy was now as concerned as Liz. If Greg were here, he’d better pray Jason found him before Logan did. Jason would be satisfied to see him leaving the club in handcuffs, but he had a feeling Logan would demand a far higher price for invading the sanctity of the club he’d created.
Nancy nodded toward the men as they walked back across the room with them. Beside Logan and Garrett strode one of the hugest men she had ever seen. His hair was almost as black as Elizabeth’s, streaks of silver at his temples only enhancing his appearance. The leather chaps he wore molded to thighs as thick as tree trunks, the buttons on his chambray shirt threatening to pop if the man took so much as a deep breath. “Holy moly, who is that?” she asked softly.
“No idea, but it definitely isn’t Greg. Even in disguise, there is no way that puny little creep could pull off that look,” Ariel said.
Elizabeth smiled. “That’s Jackson Holliday.”
Three heads finally swiveled on necks to change the object of their staring contest. “And pray tell why exactly have you kept that cowboy a secret?” Nancy prodded.
Though it was fleeting, the women were glad to see a flash of a smile on Elizabeth’s lips. “We’ve only met a few weeks ago when Logan and I were discussing his moving out of the loft upstairs. Clayton recommended his company and Logan just hired him recently. With the renovations going to basically take place after hours, we needed someone to head up security. Jackson owns Holliday Holdings, a security firm and will supply the staff when he’s not onsite himself.”
“So that’s the man himself,” Barbara noted, causing the others to turn their attention to her.
“You know him too?” Ariel asked before Nancy could.
“My firm often used security and investigators. I’ve heard of his company but haven’t had the pleasure to actually meet the man.”
“Well, it looks like you’re about to,” Nancy said, nodding to the men who were now only a few feet away.
Despite the interest the newcomer had generated, the women seemed to forget all about him the moment Logan reached them, his stoic expression as well as the single shake of his head he gave told them no one named Greg Spenser had been admitted.
“None of the monks I checked out were Greg either,” Craig informed them when he returned as well.
“Look, let’s just forget it. Monks and nuns are a pretty common theme tonight. I feel rather silly,” Liz said. “Thanks for checking, though.”
“Don’t feel silly,liebchen,” Logan said. “Though I can’t fathom how he’d get past our security protocols, never second guess your gut reactions. They seldom lead you astray.”
“I’ve got my team on alert,” Jackson said. “Logan’s told me about this Greg Spenser and I assure you we will all keep watch.”
“Thank you, Master Jackson. I’d like you to meet our friends,” Elizabeth said, his reassurance reminding her of her manners.
Introductions were made and Jackson nodded politely to each woman, then gave a final slight bow to Elizabeth before turning to begin his rounds, the crowd parting before him.
“Wow, he’s like Moses,” Nancy said.
“Let’s hope he’s more like his great-great-great grandfather,” Logan said. When they all stared at him, he shrugged. “Jackson is a descendent of Doc Holliday. He fought with Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral.”
“That’s all very interesting, but I want to know why you called himMasterJackson, which tells me the cowboy might be more than just a security guard,” Ariel said.
“He’s a man of many talents,” Logan said.
His cryptic remark didn’t do much to satisfy Ariel’s curiosity, but it served to relieve some of the tension that had consumed them with Liz’s worries about Greg. Though Liz continued to feel as if eyes were raking up and down her body, she shook it off the best she could and joined the others in enjoying the party.
As the club filled to capacity, Logan and Liz went to the center of the room and the lights dimmed slightly with a spotlight moving to highlight the couple.
Logan thanked everyone for coming, and then made the formal announcement that tickets for the grand opening of Haven were going to be for sale throughout the evening. Instantly, cheers and hands shot up into the air, with comments of desires to purchase ringing through the crowd.
Though Elizabeth had originally protested against the high rate that Jason had promised she’d have no problem demanding, she had agreed to the fee. Assuming she’d see several hands drop as Logan continued his spiel, explaining that the weekend included all meals, as well as the special meal for New Year’s Eve with a party, and all the champagne anyone could desire, and then gave the price—doubling the rate they had agreed upon, she was absolutely shocked as additional hands shot up and began to wave—far more hands than she had rooms available. Liz was both thrilled and anxious, in that she didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
As it became evident that some people were going to be missing the event, Logan came up with the solution. It was agreed by all that a lottery should be held. People who wished to reserve the remaining rooms were given a slip of paper to write their names on, and the slips dropped into Craig’s extra-large top hat. Elizabeth saw Ethan about to drop his slip in and reached out to stop him.
“You have a room,” she said. “We invited you and Jeanette in thanks for finding us the perfect home.”
