Page 22 of The Rented Bride

“It’s not funny,” Meg said, but a laugh escaped her lips.

Cassie nodded. “You’re right. This is serious.”

“We have to deal with it. Can you imagine what will happen if it gets into the ballroom? We’ll have pandemonium.”

“I agree.” Cassie cleared her throat. “But Meg, how do you plan to catch it? I’m not touching an iguana.”

“Cassie,” Meg recriminated, “it’s our job to make sure things go right.”

This would be a good moment to tell Meg that she’d already managed to get fired. The iguana wasn’t technically her problem anymore. But fired or not, she felt an obligation to do her best by Mr. Weston whether he recognized her efforts or not, and she wasn’t about to leave Meg in a lurch.

“I know,” she said. “But who could have anticipated this?” Cassie felt more laughter bubbling up and mashed her lips together.

“No more of that,” Meg said. “We really do have to find it. Think how bad it would be if someone got hurt.”

Cassie sobered. “You’re right.”

“Come on.” Meg grasped her arm and started at a fast walk down the corridor.

“Where did the maid see it?” Cassie asked.

“The library.”

“Oh boy,” Cassie said as they reached the stairs and started up. “How big is it?”

“I don’t know. I’m guessing bigger than a gecko and smaller than a kimono dragon.” Meg broke, and a little chuckle bubbled out. “Before I went looking for you I used the radios to alert everyone on staff to be on the lookout. I wasn’t able to get a hold of Blakely, then I discovered why.”

“So you know what happened with Mr. Weston and I?”

“Yep, but I promise not to laugh, even though I would have loved to see you lay him out. Not because I don’t love my boss, but because that man doesn’t ever laugh. I would’ve made him see the humor in it. At least he’d know I thought it was hilarious. I can’t believe you threw him over your shoulder.”

Cassie groaned inwardly. “Don’t say anything. I’m horrified enough as it is.”

“Don’t worry. Trent’s a reasonable man. It wasn’t your fault you didn’t know him. Under the circumstances, I think anyone could have made the mistake.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “He didn’t look like a billionaire. He looked like hired help.” Attractive hired help. Maybe it was a good thing she hadn’t known. She’d have tripped over her own tongue.

They reached the second floor and Cassie asked, “Is someone going to help us?”

“That’s a good question.”

Meg pulled the radio from her belt, switched it on, then said into the mic, “This is Meg. Where is everyone? We’re here at the second floor library. I’m not catching this thing with my bare hands. Send up some of the grounds men. And please, keep this quiet. I don’t want some tropical lizard ruining the party. Over.”

“Hang tight, Meg,” a male voice replied. Henry, Cassie realized. “Sorry for the delay,” he said. “We ran into something on our end. Help is on the way. Over.”

“What do you mean, something on your end?” Meg said into the radio.

“Nothing serious,” Henry replied. “Talk to Mr. Trent. Over.”

“Damnit,” Meg muttered, then said into the radio. “Thanks. Over.” She clasped the radio to her belt. “What else can go wrong?”

“Don’t jinx us. Come on,” Cassie said. “We can do this. Do you have a blanket or something to catch it with?”

“I can round something up.” Meg nodded at the library and took two paces to the door. “This is where it was last seen.”

“Have you searched the room?” Cassie asked.

“No. I’m not going in alone.” She shrugged. “We’ll see it if it’s in there. How many places can a big lizard like that hide?”