Crazy Love (Emerald Lake Billionaires 3) (17 page)

“Not that I know of. But I doubt Sam would have told me, even if he’d been unwell. He wouldn’t want me to worry.” Daniel took a handful of tissues out of the box and blew his nose. “He’s only sixty-nine years old. There’s so much more he wants to do with his life.”

Holly looked behind them. “Come with me.” She led him across to a red vinyl chair and sat down. “Sam is still alive. Maybe this is a warning. What he does with his life after this is up to him. You can’t change what’s happened.”

“I’m worried that he won’t listen to the doctors.”

“Sam will realize they’re trying to help him. If he doesn’t listen, you can’t do anything about it.”

Holly looked at their linked hands.

He hadn’t realized he’d reached out to her. “Sorry.”

As he let go of her hand, Holly’s fingers tightened around his. “It’s okay. Did Blake fly back to New York?”

“He didn’t have a choice. He needs to be at an important meeting in the morning. He’s going to call me later tonight to see how Sam is.”

“That’s good. What about your work. I don’t know much about computers, but I could make some phone calls if there are people you need to contact.”

Daniel’s cell phone was in his back pocket. He wasn’t able to turn it on in the Intensive Care Unit, but he could still use it on other floors in the hospital. “I’ll make some calls in the morning. My team in New York can take care of most things. Anything they can’t do will have to wait.”

The doors to the Intensive Care Unit opened and a nurse walked into the corridor. Daniel straightened, hoping the nurse wasn’t looking for him.

She caught his intense stare and shook her head.

Daniel sighed as she disappeared behind the doors to ICU. “I should go back to Sam. Would you like to come with me?”

“I can’t. Only close family can visit.”

Daniel had been through the same process with the staff when he’d arrived. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning. Sam might be out of intensive care by then. The visitor rules are probably more relaxed in the Heart Center.”

Holly squeezed his fingers. “You do that. Good luck.” She zipped her jacket to her chin. “If you need anything, just text me.”

Daniel walked to the elevator with her. “Thank you for what you’ve done.”

“I’m glad I could help.” She pulled her hat out of her pocket and pulled it over her curly, red hair. The elevator doors opened and she stepped inside. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Daniel nodded. The last thing he saw before the doors closed was the strained smile on Holly’s face. He didn’t know what had happened when her mom was sick, but he had a feeling that visiting Sam had been hard on her.

Harder than she’d imagined it would be.

***

Daniel stood in Todd’s barn, not quite believing his eyes. He moved out of the doorway as another couple walked inside. “Last time I was in this barn there were four alpacas in a pen, two horses in the stalls, and three cats in the loft. What happened?”

“A wedding happened,” said John Fletcher, owner of Fletcher Security and another of Daniel’s neighbors. “Claire and Hannah have done a great job. It’s just as well Todd has another barn. All of Sally’s animals have been moved there for the weekend.”

Daniel looked around them. “Where’s Rachel and Bella?”

“They’ll be here soon. Rachel’s been helping Tess with the catering for today. Bella wanted to go with her to make sure everything was okay. Would you like to sit with us?”

“Sounds good to me.” He started moving toward an area that looked as though it had been decorated as a chapel.

“Not there. Hannah came inside a couple of minutes ago and said we’re heading down to the lake.”

Daniel was glad he’d reread the wedding invitation before he’d left. He was wearing more layers than an onion, but he still didn’t know if it would be enough to keep warm.

Taking the sleighs down to the lake was only an option if it didn’t snow. So far today, the bride’s wish had come true. After another heavy dumping of snow overnight, the sky was crystal blue, and the air as cold as the Arctic.

John walked across to a table just inside the door. He picked up four blankets and passed one to Daniel. “You might need this. Let’s go.”

Five of the sleighs were already occupied with wedding guests. Happy laughter filled the yard as everyone wrapped their blankets around their shoulders or over their laps.

John stood beside a red sleigh that had been decorated with white bows. “Are you happy with this one?”

One of the horses attached to the sleigh, nickered. His ears twitched and Daniel could have sworn the horse was listening for his answer. “It seems fine to me.”

“Aren’t these awesome,” Rachel said as she walked toward them.

Bella, John’s daughter, let go of Rachel’s hand and patted the horses’ necks. “This is Twinkletoes and that’s Prancer.”

Daniel was surprised she knew the horses’ names.

“They’re fancy names for two horses,” John said as he passed Rachel a blanket.

“It’s true,” Bella said with the conviction of a nine-year-old. “Mr. O’Grady told me all about his horses. He has another twenty on his ranch. They take turns to pull the sleighs and show people the mountains.”

Rachel wrapped the blanket John had given her around Bella’s shoulders. “Mr. O’Grady is going to talk to the students in your class, isn’t he?”

Bella nodded enthusiastically. “He’s coming next week. I’m going to take photos of the horses to show everyone in my class.”

“We’d better find a seat,” Rachel said. “Otherwise, we’ll miss the wedding and you won’t be able to take those photos.”

Bella moved so fast that Daniel laughed.

“It was in her best interests,” John whispered. He wrapped a blanket around his fiancées shoulders and nudged her toward the sleigh. “We’d better sit beside Bella in case she decides to drive the sleigh herself.”

Rachel held onto John’s hand. “She would enjoy that.”

A man wearing a padded jacket that looked remarkably like a tuxedo, stood in front of everyone. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to take your seats. We’re about to head toward the lake for the marriage of Todd Randall and Sally Gray.”

Rachel sat on one side of Bella and John took the other seat.

Daniel sat behind them. He leaned forward and tapped John on the shoulder. “Have you seen Todd this morning?”

“He stayed with us last night. He’s nervous.”

“I don’t blame him. Marriage is a big step.”

Someone wearing a bright blue coat and yellow hat climbed in beside him.

“Thank goodness I made it. Have I missed anything?”

Daniel opened his blanket and wrapped half of it around Holly’s legs. “We were just about to leave. You didn’t tell me you were coming to Sally and Todd’s wedding.”

“I didn’t know I was until this morning. One of the waiting staff woke up with a sore throat, so Tess called me. I’ve been helping in the kitchen. Weren’t you staying with Sam today?”

“He told me if I didn’t come to the wedding he’d ban me from visiting him.”

Rachel laughed. “He must be feeling better.”

“He is.”

Bella turned around and grinned at Holly. “We’ve got plenty of ice cream for dessert. Tess said you love ice cream.”

“I like vegetables, too. I have a balanced sweet tooth.”

Daniel pointed to John. “Holly Miller, this is my neighbor, John Fletcher. It sounds as though you’ve already met Bella and Rachel?”

“We were making fruit salad in the kitchen,” Bella said. “It was fun.”

Mr. O’Grady stood at the front of their sleigh, holding the reins in his hands. “Get ready, folks. We’re going to the lake.”

And, one by one, each of the sleighs followed the first, pulling the wedding guests across the frozen ground.

Holly leaned towards Daniel. “Tell me about Sam.”

“The test results from yesterday are better than his doctor expected. He might be able to leave the hospital on Monday.”

“Has he decided to stay with you or go back to New York?”

“I think I’m wearing him down. There’s no reason why he can’t stay with me for a few weeks, but he thinks he’ll be all right in New York. I’m hoping the doctors at the hospital will talk some sense into him.”

Bella turned around with a cell phone in her hand. “Say cheese,” she said excitedly.

Holly stiffened beside him. Bella took the photo before she could say anything.

With a happy smile, Bella turned back to her dad.

“What’s wrong?” he asked Holly.

“I don’t like having my photo taken,” she whispered. “I don’t want to upset Bella, but I need to know what she’s going to do with the photo.”

“She’s going to share all of the photos with her classmates. Mr. O’Grady, the man who owns the sleigh, is going to her school.”

Holly pulled her hat even lower over her eyes. “I guess that’s okay.”

Daniel watched her bite her bottom lip. “Has this got anything to do with not telling anyone your artist’s name?”

Holly nodded.

“I could talk to John. He’ll make sure the photo doesn’t go any further than Bella’s class.”

“That would be great,” Holly said. “It must seem really strange to be this careful, but it’s important to me.”

Daniel knew that what was important to one person didn’t necessarily make sense to another. If he was as talented as Holly, he’d be telling everyone who he was. But he wasn’t Holly and he didn’t know why she was so protective of her identity.

As they passed under an enormous, snow-covered pine tree, he hoped that one day she’d trust him enough to tell him why. But until that day came, he’d do everything he could to show her she could trust him.

***

Holly sighed when Sally arrived at the lake.

Annie, Sally’s friend and bridesmaid, was the first to get out of the white sleigh. Her blue silk dress and white fur jacket looked beautiful.

Max, Sally and Todd’s big Irish wolfhound, stood obediently beside Annie. He gave a happy woof as Sally stepped out of the sleigh with her dad.

The look that Sally sent Todd was full of so much love that Holly knew this was the beginning of something special for both of them.

Molly O’Donaghue, the official wedding photographer, was taking photos of the bridal party.

Holly stepped closer to Daniel, hoping the sheer size of him stopped her from being in too many photos.

He looked down at her and smiled. “I’m going to hold your hand. If I see a camera, I’ll pull you close.”

She liked the feel of Daniel’s hand in hers. It was warm and comforting. It made her feel as though this could be the beginning of something special for them, too.

From the moment Sally walked down their makeshift aisle, there was a magical hush across the lake.

The wedding ceremony was simple and heartfelt. Max sat quietly at Sally’s feet while Todd took their wedding rings out of a little box they’d attached to his collar. Max’s tail flicked backward and forward. A goofy grin filled his face when Todd patted his head.

Todd had tears in his eyes as he said his wedding vows. Holly had only met him a couple of times, but she knew he adored Sally.

When it was Sally’s turn to say her wedding vows, her voice was strong and sure. Her hand shook as she placed his wedding ring on his finger, sealing the promise they’d made to each other.

When they were pronounced husband and wife, everyone clapped and cheered. Max woofed so loudly that his bark echoed around the lake, bringing even more smiles to the faces of the wedding guests.

Daniel’s hand tightened around Holly’s and he pulled her against his chest. “Photographer on our left.”

Holly turned her head to the right and leaned against Daniel’s jacket. She felt his hand slip around her waist, holding her against him. “Are you sure Molly’s aiming her camera in this direction? I thought everyone would be taking photos of Sally and Todd.”

“It’s not Molly with the camera. Bella’s back.”

Holly closed her eyes and groaned. “This isn’t going to work is it?”

“I don’t know,” Daniel said. “I think there are definite advantages in keeping you away from cameras.”

He pulled her closer and Holly almost melted against him.

Daniel had worked his way into her heart and she didn’t know what to do about it.

He leaned back and brushed his hand across her cheek. “Bella’s gone.”

Holly looked up at him. “I’d thank you, but I really want to say something else.”

Daniel frowned. “Am I going to like what you want to say?”

“I’m not sure.”

He held her hand and led her across to the nearest sleigh. “Everyone’s cameras are focused on Sally and Todd. We’re safe here for a few minutes.” He took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready. But before you start I want to warn you that I’m feeling a little emotional after the wedding. If you’re going to tell me you don’t like me, do it fast.”

If Holly hadn’t looked into his eyes she would have thought he was joking. But there was no humor in his gaze. He was as serious as she’d ever seen him.