Holiday in Danger (7 page)

“No, I jumped from a car as it careened into the ocean. You don’t need to sugarcoat it.”

The nurse flipped the pages back. “I’m sure the doctor will be around soon.” She turned and walked from the room and Holly flopped back onto the pillow.

First I almost die in a runaway car. Then I get treated like a child by hospital staff. What next?

A knock sounded and before she could say anything, Ian stepped into the room.
Oh, great. This day just keeps getting better.
She turned toward the window. “What are you doing here?”

He stepped into the room and the door clicked closed. “I’m here to see if you’re okay.”

Holly crossed her arms. “I’m fine.”

“You could have died.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“From what Hillary and the police said, you handled yourself pretty well.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Obviously.” Ian stepped forward. “Holiday, I—”

“It’s Holly.” She huffed and looked up at him.
Whoa
. He didn’t look like the Ian from last night. Gone was the suave guy showing off his house, entourage, and infinity pool. Bags under his eyes marred his handsome face and the worry lines between his brows made him older. Worn. “What is it?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

“This time.”

She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He eased forward and perched on the edge of her bed. Before he spoke, he glanced at the door. “It means Trent and I think your car was tampered with. Intentionally.”

Holly paled. “You mean someone wanted my brakes to fail?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He glanced at the bed and back up at her. “I’ve been receiving some threats related to my shipping business. Until now, they’ve all been over e-mail. But this…I think it’s connected.”

Holly swallowed.
This can’t be real.
“You mean you have someone out to get you? Like in the movies?”

Ian laughed, but it rang hollow. “Yeah, something like that. Trent’s here for more than just a visit. He does high-end security and private investigations.”

“So he’s not here for a vacation?”

Ian smiled. “No. I hired him.”

Holly nodded. “Thanks for telling me.”

“There’s more.” Ian paused and his muscles ticked as he clenched his jaw.

She waited.

“Trent wants you back at the house. He’s concerned that whoever is threatening me may be targeting you. He wants you close to keep you safe.”

Holly’s mouth fell open. Move back to the guest house? Was he crazy? “I can’t move back to the guest house, Ian. Not after—”

Ian spoke over her. “The main house. He wants you to stay in the main house. It has top-of-the-line security. Cameras. Alarms. Everything. You’ll be safe there.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “What about you? What do you want?”

Ian glanced at the door again before turning back to Holly. “I want you safe. Protected.” She started to interrupt, but he held up his hand. “I know you can handle yourself. But we don’t know who we’re dealing with. I’ve made some enemies in my business. Dangerous ones. Some of them wouldn’t think twice about hurting you to get to me.”

“Why on earth would someone think hurting me would impact you at all?”

Ian grinned. “Maybe they saw the raging hard-on I climbed out of the pool with last night.”

Holly blushed. “I didn’t need to know that.”

“Yes, you did. Look, Holly, I’d be lying if I said the only reason I wanted you at the house was to protect you. But that comes first, all right? Your safety is more important.”

Holly swallowed. Just that morning she’d been furious at herself over staying with Ian. Now he wanted her back and sharing the same house, no less. She bit her lip. “What about Trent?”

Ian shrugged. “He’ll be staying at the main house too.”

“You don’t think that’ll be awkward?”

“Why? Because we both think you’re hot?”

Holly blushed. “I wasn’t going to put it that way.”

“Trust me. Trent’s a professional. He wants you there for a good reason. Say you’ll come.”

Part of her wanted to say no. She could handle herself, damn it. But the other part—the one that still got a rush when she thought of both men—it wanted another chance with both of them.

At last, she nodded. “Okay. I’ll come. On one condition.”

“Anything.”

“You convince the doctor to let me leave right now.”

Ian shook his head. “No way. If you’ve got a concussion—”

“Take it or leave it.”

Ian smiled. “You’re a piece of work, you know that?”

Holly smiled wider. “Keeps things interesting.”

He stood up. “Give me five and you’ll be out of here.”

Holly nodded as Ian walked to the door. She didn’t know if the butterflies in her stomach were from the news he’d delivered, the crash, or the way he smiled at her. But Holly had a feeling her life was about to get a hell of a lot more interesting.

TRENT

“D
ON
’
T
YOU
THINK
this is overkill?”

Trent kept his eyes focused on the road. “No.”

Holly shifted next to him in the Range Rover. “I agreed to stay at Ian’s and I’ve kept myself shut up in that mansion for days just like you asked. Isn’t that enough?”

He frowned.
Damn woman.
Didn’t she understand the danger she was in? “You could have died.”

“I can handle myself.”

“Against a hired gun?”

“I didn’t—” She stalled out and turned to the window.

At least that got her attention. He didn’t come to Midnight Cove to be the bad guy. But if Ian and now Holly were going to disregard the gravity of the situation…Trent needed to shake some damn sense into them.

His grip on the wheel tightened. “We have no idea who or what we’re dealing with. But no one cuts the brakes on a car without wanting someone dead.” He glanced in her direction. “Anyone want to kill you?”

Holly’s cheeks flushed and Trent bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. Damn if she wasn’t cute mad.

“I’m not in the habit of pissing people off, so no.”

Trent snorted. “Could have fooled me.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

She just doesn’t get it, does she?
He slowed the car and pulled over into a parking spot on the side of Main. Turning in his seat, he faced Holly head on. “It means that sometimes you have to swallow your pride and admit you need help.”

Her eyebrows knitted. “You mean I should admit when I need a big strong guy like you to come rescue me?” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not some damsel in distress, Trent. I don’t need saving.”

He checked his anger, but he couldn’t soften his tone. “I’m not in the business of letting people I’m hired to protect die, so it looks like you’re stuck with me.”

“I’ve been taking care of myself since I was eighteen. I don’t need a man to do it for me.”

“That’s not what your body said last night.” He revved the engine and pulled out onto the road as Holly’s mouth fell open.

Serves her right.
What that woman needed was a strong dose of reality. Starting with how much she wanted him. And Ian. Trent didn’t know what the hell it all meant, but he couldn’t shake the memory of her kiss.

Lips so hungry and raw. Grip tight on his arms as he caged her in. If she hadn’t run away…who knows how far they’d have let it go. All three of them. He ran a hand over his cropped hair and tried to shake it off. Now wasn’t the time.

He glanced her way. “I’m sorry. That was unprofessional.”

She glowered at the road. “You’re damn right it was.”

“It won’t happen again.”

She huffed in the seat but said nothing. After a few minutes, Trent pulled up to the curb and put the SUV in park. He turned to Holly. “What time should Ian pick you up?”

“I still don’t think this whole chauffeuring thing is necessary.”

“What. Time.”

She frowned and grabbed her purse. “Five thirty.”

“I’ll tell him to come inside.”

“Okay.” Holly pushed the door open and hopped out.

“And Holly?”

She turned around and her honeyed curls swung over her shoulder.

“Stay safe.”

She nodded and then she was gone. Trent watched her walk through the front door of Cove Catering before exhaling in a rush.

Fuck
. Before he’d shown up in Midnight Cove, his life was orderly. Neat. Now it was turning into a three-ring circus with Holly in the center. It was one thing to chase down leads about threatening emails and hang out with Ian in the evenings.

He’d assumed it was some angry customer halfway around the world who was pissed off at missed shipments or unexpected delays. He’d never expected it could be someone close to Ian. Someone in his own hometown.

Trent cracked his knuckles and stared out at the street. Someone in Midnight Cove had tried to kill Holiday all because she’d spent the night at Ian’s. Was it a crime of convenience or something more sinister?

He didn’t have a clue. But if he didn’t figure it out—and soon—the next time they might not be so lucky. With a deep breath, he turned on the car and pulled back onto the road. He needed to do some digging.

So much for a working vacation.

* * *

HOLLY

“If you want to quit, that’s totally fine. I can manage without you.”

Holly shook her head. “No way. I came here to help you manage the catering business and that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve already missed two days. No silly little accident is going to keep me from supporting my best friend.”

Hillary palmed her hip. “It wasn’t a silly accident. You could have died.”

Holly shrugged. “But I didn’t and I followed everybody’s orders. Between the doctor and Trent I swear they’d turn me into Rapunzel and trap me in some ivory tower. I’ve been sitting around for days doing nothing. It’s halfway through the week already and it’s about time I’m back to work.”

“What does Ian have to say about all of this?”

Holly frowned. “I don’t get why everyone is making such a big deal out of this. My brakes failed. That’s it. There’s no reason to think someone tampered with my car. It’s an old piece of junk. I’m sure the line just broke.” She pulled a plate out of the dishwasher and fished a danish from a bag sitting on the counter. At least living with Ian she’d have fewer pastries to resist.

She reached for a fork but Hillary slammed the drawer shut. “Nuh-uh. No way. No cream cheese and cherry goodness until you answer my question.”

“Fine.”

Best friends could be so determined. Holly waited until Hillary dropped her hand before reaching into the drawer for a fork. “He thinks it was intentional. Apparently he’s been getting hate mail. He thinks it’s connected.”

Hillary raised her eyebrows. “Ian Knowles getting hate mail? That’s ridiculous. He’s the nicest rich guy I know.”

Holly stabbed the flaky crust and shoved a bite of the pastry into her mouth. Butter and sugar and fruit filling all swirled together and she closed her eyes until the bite was gone.
So good.
At last, she turned back to Hillary.

“He didn’t say much. Just that it had to do with his shipping business. Someone’s been threatening to sabotage it.”

“Whatever for?”

“He didn’t say.”

Hillary grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee. Steam rose up from the blue ceramic and she cupped her hands around the warmth. “Is that why he’s got a bodyguard?”

“Trent’s not a bodyguard. He a friend who happens to do security and investigation work.”

“Could have fooled me. All those muscles.
Mmm
. Serious man candy. Not that Ian’s that bad, either.” She grinned and took a sip. “You’ve kind of lucked out, you know. Living in a mansion with two hot guys. It’s better than Cinderella.”

“Pfft. I don’t need a Prince Charming.”

“Need and want are two very different things.”

Holly’s cheeks colored and before she could turn away, Hillary pounced on it.

“What? Did something happen? Tell me something happened.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“If it’s got your cheeks turning bright red and you doing that thing with your lip, then it is too. Now spill.”

Holly sighed. She had wanted to keep the night at the pool a secret. Kissing both men? Back to back? It was crazy. She focused on the remnants of pastry as Hillary reached into the drawer for a spoon. “I might have kissed Ian…and Trent.”

The utensil clattered to the floor. “Are you serious? When?”

“After the party the other night. We ended up in the pool and it was dark and Ian got this silly idea to play Marco Polo.”

“Let me guess. It wasn’t the G-rated kind.”

Holly shook her head. “We were acting like teenagers. It’s embarrassing.”

“No. It’s awesome. I can’t believe you kept that a secret.”

“I’m sorry. But it doesn’t matter because it was a one-time thing.”

“Is that what they want?”

“It’s what I want. I can’t get involved with one guy, let alone two. I’m only here for a few weeks. Then I’m back to LA.”

Hillary bit her lip.

“What is it?”