He lifted one shoulder. “I keep hoping you’ll rescind your resignation.”
Navy tilted her head to the side. “You keep on hoping.”
“Hoping and praying,” he said in a throaty voice. He gave her his full grin and her knees went weak.
“Divine intervention might help you,” she quipped back.
“We’re going to die and you two can’t stop flirting,” Ryan said with disgust.
Holden simply tightened his grip on Ryan’s arms. Ryan winced and didn’t say anything else. Navy started. She’d been so invested in Holden she had forgotten they weren’t alone. Ryan looked surly yet defeated with his arms pinned and blood dripping from his nose.
“I’d like some divine intervention with this vicious storm,” Ollie muttered, still videoing.
“I’m going to take Ryan to his room to cool down and then we’ll discuss the day,” Holden said to the group in general.
He gave Navy one more devastating grin and then pushed Ryan in front of him. Navy turned to watch him go. The storm might turn into a hurricane, heck it might already be a hurricane, but she felt comforted that Holden was watching out for all of them. Maybe this storm was the divine intervention. Instead of her quitting and leaving mad, maybe the two of them would have time to work out their differences and she could finally learn real and personal information about Holden as they cuddled and listened to the howling wind and thundering waves.
Holden shoved Ryan into his bedroom. The guy sprawled against the bed and cursed at him. Ryan stood but didn’t move to come after him.
“You forget I played hockey?” Holden asked. What a loser trying to pick a fight with him.
Ryan spit. “Just leave me alone.”
“Gladly. Stay in here and stop making stupid comments about taking the yacht.” He pointed out the window. Ryan’s suite, and the south side of this wing of the house, had a view of the sheltered bay. His yacht was securely anchored and was moving with the dock up and down with each wave. Even though the bay was sheltered, the waves were still doing their share of destruction. Water crashed violently against the decks and Holden was certain there would be damage to his yacht. It didn’t matter. As long as Navy was all right. How great was she that she could joke in a situation like this? He needed a lot of time alone with her. Time to kiss and then to talk. Had he finally met the woman he could share his past with without fear that she’d go spew it all to the media? He envisioned his mama in her wheelchair staring dejectedly at Callie’s grave. He would have to be very sure he could trust Navy before he spilled any secrets.
Ryan didn’t answer, stalking into the attached bathroom and slamming the door. Holden closed the bedroom door behind him and wished he could reverse the locks and keep the idiot in there.
Holden hurried back down the hallway, in awe of the viciousness of the storm. There was no way he was fixing the generator in this. When he’d gotten back to his room last night he’d found multiple warnings on his computer and phone that must have come in before they lost power and the internet server. Each message said the same thing—a severe storm was coming at the island, but they would be fine as long as they stayed indoors and kept the house buttoned down.
The storm had better calm down soon or Zack’s beautiful house would have to prove that it was immune to water and wind. If it flooded, Holden would have to deal with Alecia shrieking about how they were all going to die, and he might have to knock Ryan down again. Actually he wouldn’t mind knocking Ryan down again. The idiot had always been too flirtatious with Navy.
The group watched him apprehensively as he walked back into the main room. Ollie had finally set down his camera. He had probably gotten enough footage of the storm, and without Ryan here he knew the fireworks would settle.
Only Navy didn’t appear terrified, but there was something deep in her beautiful blue eyes that told him she was acting tougher than she was actually feeling. Of course she was. She was Navy Quinn.
“Can you all help me check that the windows and doors are securely fastened?”
Several of them nodded and they spread throughout the house testing latches and locks. When they reconvened in the main room Holden explained the situation:
“Before the storm knocked out communication I received warnings from the national weather service that had originally been directed to Zack Tyndale. They explained there was a severe storm coming but felt our safest path was to wait it out and not risk being in the open ocean.” He tried to say everything analytically and hopefully avoid everyone getting emotional.
They all stared at him. Finally Ollie said, “Excuse me, sir. You knew this level of storm was coming and didn’t warn us?”
Holden shrugged his shoulders. He was used to being the boss and telling team members how situations would proceed. “They originally said it would pass in twenty-four hours. Then they cautioned that the hurricane had grown in power, but knew we would be safe in this waterproof and hurricane-resistant house. I followed the instructions of the experts to stay put.”
“H-hurricane?” Alecia whined.
“You should have told us how bad it was going to get,” Michael said.
“And what would that have done? Make everyone … more upset?” His eyes flickered to the quivering woman on the floor.
Alecia glanced up at him, as if she knew he was talking about her. Her lower lip trembled but at least she wasn’t sobbing. “I thought you would take care of me.”
“We’re all going to be fine,” Holden said for what he was sure was the twentieth time. He ignored Alecia’s look and request. He would treat her exactly like he’d treat anybody, except for Navy. His gaze swung to her. She wrapped her arms tightly around her chest and glared at him. “Navy?”
“I understand not telling … some people.” She lowered her voice and looked wounded. “Couldn’t you have told me?”
He didn’t know how to point out that he would have but he hadn’t really had the opportunity. Tropical storms hadn’t been on his radar or of much concern when he was kissing her or when Alecia was shrieking for help. Then late last night her door had been shut tight and he hadn’t dared push his way in.
“I apologize,” he started.
“Don’t apologize,” she interrupted him. “Don’t keep things from me, I mean us.”
Holden wondered if this had more to do with her brother and Kim than it did the storm. They needed time to talk that situation through. He kept messing up with Navy and now it felt like he had lost her trust again. Yesterday they had finally broken through barriers that had been up for a decade and now it was all a mess. He would deal with getting everyone settled about the storm and then he was getting Navy Quinn alone and they were going to talk—and possibly kiss. No, the kissing was a definite.
He knew how to run multiple businesses, keep board of director meetings progressing smoothly and on time, manage his vast resources, deal with media scrutiny, and remain elusive and untouchable, but he was honest enough to admit he had no clue how to have an intimate relationship. His own parents were no example. His dad had withdrawn into his work and his mama into her illness and grief after they lost their daughter.
As he looked at Navy with her tight posture and narrowed eyes, he suddenly felt apprehensive and unsure, as if he were a freshman playing against the Minute Men on the ice. This small fireball had the power to take him under.
Chapter Six
Navy tried to not act put out as Holden took charge. He found Jorge still sleeping in his room and had everyone eat fruit, granola, and yogurt for breakfast and reassured them all over and over again that the storm would pass and they were safe. She wished he had confided in her about the storm as a trusted employee and a woman he was invested in, but she didn’t want to hold on to petty frustrations when their crew seemed to be self-destructing right in front of her eyes.
Everyone but Ryan congregated in the theater after breakfast. It was down several steps from the main level and one of the only rooms in the house without
windows. Not seeing those massive waves breaking on the pool deck seemed to calm everyone down a little bit. The house still shuddered with the wind and it was impossible not to hear the wind and rain rattling and pelting the windows down the hallway. The storm couldn’t get any worse or the waves would roll right over the house.
With no power the only light was from the open theater door and the natural light from the hallway. Holden had asked them to conserve the flashlights and cell phones if they could, not that anyone had any coverage without the Wi-Fi boosters working. Navy’s eyes darted around the room. Taya and Ollie were quietly cuddled on one couch. Michael, Jorge, and Alecia were all sitting in recliners. Holden had excused himself to check on Ryan and check the security room next to the theater for any incoming communication. Nobody was talking, and it felt tight and uncomfortable in the room. They knew each other well after the last twelve weeks of filming and living in close quarters, but the fear and obvious frustration of the group was stifling.
She had a lot of nervous energy she wished she could work out. She was tempted to go to the home gym and pound through some weights. Glancing around, she realized all of them were used to being active, except Ollie. Yet that wasn’t true. Ollie was a bigger guy, but he had a lot of energy and was always moving and going and she had seen him using the gym for weights regularly.
“Who’s up for going to the home gym and getting a weight workout in?” Navy asked. It would be tight in there with this many of them, but that was okay.
Even in the dim light she could see the disbelief on their faces.
“I’m not going anywhere where I can see the waves that are going to drown us,” Alecia said sulkily.
Navy forced a smile. The workout room windows faced the bay so it wouldn’t be as scary. “We’re going to be fine, Alecia.”
The young girl gave her a haughty look and muttered something under her breath.
“Anyone else up for a workout?” Navy asked, standing. Maybe she would just go by herself.
Every person in the room gave either a slight or a vigorous shake of their heads.
“I don’t like seeing the waves either,” Taya admitted.
Ollie held her even closer. “We’ll be okay,” he said bravely, but there was a slight tremor in his voice.
Navy was tempted to leave all of them. She hated storms but she was not going to let this one make her a quivering mass of flesh. Some activity would help all of them; positive thoughts just abounded from the endorphins when you exercised. She blew out a breath and said, “Okay. There’s plenty of room in here, let’s do something in this open space.”
Again they all just stared at her but Navy wasn’t about to be dissuaded. She stepped down the platforms to the open space between the wall that acted as the movie screen and the rows of seats.
“Let’s start with some squats,” she suggested, squatting down low and then tightening her quads, glutes, and hamstrings as she straightened. She ignored their looks, like she was some crazy person as she continued to squat down and up.
Taya smiled at Ollie. “She’s got a screw loose, but it would probably be good to move.”
He returned her smile and helped her stand up. The two came and joined Navy. She smiled her appreciation, finished the squats, and then barked out, “Burpees with a pushup!”
Ollie groaned. “I should’ve stayed on the couch.” But he followed Navy and Taya into a round of burpees.
Michael made his way down and joined them.
“Crazy Americans,” Jorge muttered. But before Navy could respond, he was down in a burpee, executing a very nice pushup—body straight as a board, arms bending deeply as his chest and nose brushed the floor.
“Good form, Jorge,” she called out.
“I was champion youth wrestler before I become chef,” he informed her as he jumped into a squat then leapt in the air before squatting low again, pushing back into plank position and doing another pushup.
“Nice.” Navy hadn’t known that about their eccentric chef.
Alecia groaned something but reluctantly joined them a few minutes later.
“Jumping jacks,” Navy called out.
They all formed a loose circle and jumped in and out, their arms wide. Navy grinned at the group, feeling better than she had since kissing Holden last night in the workout room. Several of them returned her smile and nobody was quivering in fear or grumping about it anymore. Navy considered that a win.
“Use one of the steps or couches for triceps dips,” she instructed. Everybody followed her lead. Navy thought they might get through this storm with exercise to distract themselves. Holden was probably right that it would pass quickly. She wouldn’t mind kissing Holden to distract herself, but there were too many things between them to let herself wander too far down that romance pit. A pit she most likely wouldn’t be able to free herself from.
Holden went to check on Ryan and found the guy was still locked in his bathroom. Holden rapped on the door. “Ryan? You okay?”
“Fine,” Ryan spit back at him.
“You want to come out and get some breakfast or something?”
“No.”
Holden took a calming breath. This guy had played professional football, he was one of the top fitness trainers in the world, and he was acting like a baby. He had heard people’s true character came out in emergencies. Apparently that was the case here. Holden knew he shouldn’t have taken the guy out earlier but he had it coming. He guessed he should just leave him here and not feel so guilty about it.
Glancing out the suite’s windows, he was amazed at the size of the waves in the bay. The storm had to be a hurricane at this point. He couldn’t imagine any help was coming. He wouldn’t want anyone out in this storm, no matter how highly trained or what kind of equipment they had. He just had to keep praying that the storm would pass them by or calm down.
He walked toward the suite door. He’d tried with Ryan and the guy needed to find it somewhere inside to be a man. Guilt slowed his footsteps. He walked back and asked through the door, “Is there anything you need?”
Silence lasted for a few seconds and then Ryan said in a small voice, “Navy.”
Holden’s fists immediately clenched. This loser couldn’t have Navy.
“I know I’ve been too flirtatious with her, and acted irresponsible about the yacht thing with the group. I apologize for hitting you.”
Holden straightened, confused where this maturity was coming from.
“Navy and I are friends. I trust her. I want to tell her why I’m acting so crazy and I think she could help me.”
Holden closed his eyes. He didn’t want Navy anywhere around this guy and wondered if Ryan was manipulating the situation to get Navy to feel bad for him, but they were in an extreme spot and Navy probably could help the guy. On TV the trainers were equal competitors, but in real life, it was Navy who ran the show and kept the crew together. Holden knew she could help him personally feel happy and settled, if she would let him hold her again. He still needed to apologize for not sharing all of the information he had about the storm.
“I’ll …” He cleared his throat. “… ask her if she can come talk to you.”
“Thank you.” Ryan’s voice was as humble as Holden had ever heard it.
“Sure.” Holden turned and strode out of the bedroom. He went down the hallway to the main area then took the other hallway to the wing that housed the gym, theater, and control room. He wanted to go into the theater first and find Navy, but he needed to see if any communication had come through. He hurried to the control room, or security room, or whatever it was. Searching around the equipment for a few minutes he found a two-way satellite radio. He tried it but got nothing but static. Trying different stations he put out an SOS but got nothing. He didn’t know what anyone could do anyway. He’d hate to be the reason the Coast Guard sent a boat or helicopter out in this nightmare and the men died because of it. His group would be safe on the island until the storm passed.
He
gave up on the radio and strode back to the theater. As he poked his head inside, he smiled. Only Navy. She was barking out orders and the entire group was faithfully doing burpees. Holden thought it was a brilliant idea to get everybody moving to distract them.
Navy glanced up and caught his gaze. She grinned at him, but then her blue eyes darkened and she seemed to close off again, as if she remembered why she was mad at him.
“Holden,” Alecia cried out, running toward him. “I’m so scared.”
Holden backed away from the young lady. “You’ll be fine,” he tried to reassure her. “I need to talk to Navy alone.”
Navy gave him a challenging look but luckily didn’t refute him. “Alecia,” she said. “Why don’t you lead them now?”
Alecia looked surprised but then she shrugged. “I guess I could.”
“Of course you can. You’ve done how many hundreds of workouts the past few months? You and Michael can take turns coming up with ideas of exercises to do without any equipment.”
Alecia’s eyes lit up. “Okay.” She hurried back to the group. “Planks,” she commanded.
Ollie groaned as he lowered into a plank position. Holden was more impressed with Navy than ever. She’d found a way to distract Alecia and keep the girl from hitting on Holden.
Navy walked past him and into the hallway. Holden hurried after her. Taking her elbow, he escorted her into the great room. He would tell her Ryan’s request, but he had some things to say first.
He focused on her beautiful face, but Navy was staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows with wide eyes. “The waves are going to cover the house,” she murmured.
Holden followed her gaze and feared she might be right. The waves that had been crashing on the pool deck now had enough force they were battering against the windows and doors. Yet no water was leaking through the window frames with each new wave that burst over the bluff. Zack appeared to be right that his house was waterproof.
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