She widened her eyes, feigning total innocence. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
He pulled back; his squared chin tucked in, and looked at her from her sandals up her legs to her chest before looking at her face.
Captured like a deer in the headlights by Nick’s intensity, she didn’t squirm and, she hoped to God, didn’t reveal how nervous he made her with his piercing stare. She felt the heat and the scrutiny as if he were touching her.
He was really good at this seduction game. She might not be good at the game, but she wasn’t ignorant of the creepy ways of men. As an adolescent, she had been subjected to the filthy minds of her dad’s meth associates. With their leering, lascivious looks, the obscene bastards made an innocent young girl feel dirty. For some reason, Nick’s stare didn’t disgust her—the opposite, in fact.
“Here we are.” Hollie reached to open the door, but Nick was ahead of her. Like a real gentleman, he opened the door for her.
“Hey, Hol, what’s up?” Nesto leaned across the long white counter. He flicked his head back to shift his hair, dyed jet-black, out of his eyes. With the summer heat, Nesto had given up his worn-out coat and wore a black Slayer T-shirt.
The chrome stud that pierced his tongue flashed as he continued. “Marilyn Manson is coming to the Showbox. I just scored two tickets for this Friday.”
“That’s dope,” Hollie said. Nesto was seriously into metal. He and Hollie had gone to a couple of shows together. It really wasn’t her scene anymore.
“We’re on, right?” Nesto shrugged his thin shoulders.
“Unbelievable,” Nick said under his breath.
Hollie turned quickly. “Are you into Marilyn too?” She would have pegged Nick as an alternative music kind of guy, but what did she know? He moved to her, using his large, muscular size to hover over her. For some reason, she didn’t need to push against his closeness like she did with other men who crowded her.
“He’s hitting on you when I’m standing right here.” Nick didn’t lower his voice.
Hollie shook her head. “He’s not hitting on me. He’s a friend. And stop mean-mugging him.”
Nick muttered under his breath. “Right.”
Hollie shook her head. “Thanks for the invite, Nesto. But I can’t. I’m having dinner with some friends.”
Nesto ran his fingers through his greasy hair. “You’re turning down Manson? He should be smoking…but not like our Zombie concert.”
Hollie felt Nick tense next to her. The dude really needed to learn how to chill. She poked him in the ribs. “The show was mental. Zombie was definitely a showman. All the fire and lights.”
“Nick, meet Nesto.” Hollie turned her back to Nesto and gave Nick her best threatening look, warning she’d do damage if he wasn’t friendly.
“Dude.” Nesto nodded at Nick.
Nick said nothing but gave a brisk nod.
She took out the picture from her purse and placed the photo on the Formica counter. “I need to enlarge the T-shirt on this woman.” She pointed to Maddy wearing a World of Warfare T-shirt.
Nesto, his fingers covered in tattoos and silver rings, picked it up and examined the picture closely.
“Can you do it?” she asked.
“Depends on how big you want the enlargement. You’ll lose details if we try to make it too big.”
“I want to enlarge it enough to do a Google reverse search to see if we can find out who designed it.”
“I don’t think I should go over three by five. I can play around with it and see if I can get it bigger.”
“Great. That should be big enough. When can you have it done?”
The door opened, and both Nick and Talley abruptly turned to the sound. A voluptuous woman, decked out in a tight sundress, with long blond hair and designer sunglasses embossed with gold insignias, entered the store. She pulled down her glasses and peered over them. She did a quick glance at Hollie, then a slow perusal of Nick in his worn blue jeans and white T-shirt accentuating his bulging biceps and tight abs. She licked her coral lips.
Nick smiled back at her. He hadn’t given her the full-deal smile but enough that she sashayed up to him and Talley. “What a beautiful dog.”
The woman wasn’t looking at Talley. She was consuming Nick and his impressive body.
Hollie wasn’t up for flirtatious games by golden women and men who both knew their first-class worth.
“I’m out of here, Nesto. I’ll pick up the photo tomorrow. Thanks again for the invite.”
She turned to get the hell away from all the bullshit. She wasn’t going to stay and see if Nick gave Blondie the same devouring stares.
She pulled the door open. Nick was right behind her. Nick’s hand came on top of hers. “Let me get it.” His hot breath lightly brushed along her neck. “What’s the rush?”
“I’ve got to get back to work.” She made the mistake of looking at him.
His blue eyes, twinkling in amusement, pissed her off. What an asshole!
Her anger entertained him.
She didn’t take shit. Not from anyone. Not anymore. She marched down the sidewalk.
He grabbed her arm and turned her toward him. “What’s wrong?”
She shook his arm off. If he hadn’t dropped his hand, she was ready to flip him.
He must have read her intent. All the amusement in his eyes disappeared, and the tone of his voice was serious. “Hollie, what is it?”
She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. She had no hesitation about making a scene. “Your whole macho man-on-the-make is lame. Go play your games with someone else.”
For a second, a flash of upset shone in his darkened eyes, then he stepped closer so that their toes were almost touching. Talley sat down on the sidewalk.
“You think this is the way I act toward all women?” His voice registered both shock and anger.
“I watched you hit on Blondie from Bellevue.”
“I did not.”
Someone bumped into Hollie, forcing her against Nick. He grabbed her arms to prevent her from crashing into him.
Hollie was about to whip around and nail the bastard who had bumped her. But instead, Nick gently but securely pulled her closer. “I’ve never acted this way toward another woman. I swear.”
“Right. You’ve never come on hot and heavy before?”
He ran his hands along her arms. “Of course I’ve hit on women for sex.”
“Geesh, even from you, that’s brutal.” Hollie pulled away from him and walked away.
“Wait. What’s wrong? I’m trying to be honest here.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard a lot of hook-up lines, but yours really sucks.”
He walked next to her, but Hollie focused straight ahead.
“You don’t understand. I want—”
“Yeah, I get what you want. And it ain’t happening.” Hollie kept her fast pace, dodging other pedestrians until she got to Freemont Avenue. She had to wait for the light.
“Hollie, can we please just sit for a minute?” He pointed to the long steps by the waterfront building. “You’ve got the wrong idea.”
“Right.”
“Just hear me out. Please.”
Nick’s face was taut with feeling, and his eyes were muddled with emotion.
She couldn’t say no.
“Five minutes, that’s all you get.”
Chapter Five
Nick’s breath couldn’t make it all the way down to his lungs. He had totally screwed up. He didn’t have a clue what he could say to make it better since he didn’t understand his own behavior. He lusted after Hollie, but there was more to it than hard-driving hunger. It was subtle, something that came from her as a woman—her gentle nature and her wounded soul. Her vibrant spirit was far more potent than her incredibly hot body.
She sat on the cement step next to him. Her long shapely legs stretched out in front of her. She had slipped off her sandals. She wiggled her slender, fluorescent pink toenails. How cou
ld her bare feet be such a turn-on?
He angled his body to be able to look at her. By the fire flaming in her dark eyes, he had a lot of misunderstanding to repair. Hell, all he had done was smile at the blond hottie. He was used to women giving him the once-over and responded like any red-blooded male. It meant nothing, but Hollie saw it as proof that he was some sort of creepy, uncontrolled freak who hit on every woman. She didn’t believe his sincerity, which pissed him off big-time. He thought she had understood him and his genuine interest in her.
“Please let me make this right. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
Hollie snorted. Not the best sign, but at least she hadn’t told him to go screw himself yet. And she was still sitting, listening to him. Maybe his years working with wild horses were part of his drive to get close to this prickly woman. He had always enjoyed the challenge of high-spirited horses. In no way would she be easy. Nothing about her said easy. Not that he could tell her, but he got that underneath the hard-ass act, she hid a whole lot of hurt and fear.
“I’m attracted to you, and I came off way too heavy-handed. But it seems when I’m near you…I…”
Hollie’s exotic eyes studied him. And he felt embarrassed by her open, honest gaze.
“I don’t go around hooking up with every woman. All I did was smile at the woman in the store. It wasn’t anything.”
“Tell that to Blondie. She looked like she wanted to devour you.”
“There are always women who want to hook up, but it means nothing.”
“Hard for you, is it?” She grunted.
“I wasn’t interested. She’s not my style.”
“Rich, stacked blonds aren’t your style?” The outrage in her voice was almost amusing, but he’d get clobbered if she saw him smile. She had been ready to do physical damage to him earlier. He was entertained and challenged. He’d like for her to get physical with him but not to harm him.
“Can you give me another chance? I promise to tone down my reaction to you. I can’t say that I won’t find it hard…” His heart thumped against his chest. He wasn’t sure he could promise he wouldn’t lust after her. “Talley and I will be coming to the office, and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. If you want me to back off… I will do whatever you ask. I want us to be friends, at least, if that’s all that works for you.”
“Okay.”
“Okay to what?” He sounded too eager.
“I’m cool with friends.”
“I’m cool with that.” He didn’t plan for only friends, but he could behave until Hollie trusted him.
“I don’t buy that a guy like you is out of control with lust for someone like me. But I’m chill if you can keep it friendly when you come into the office.”
He didn’t want to seem too excited. “Great. I appreciate the second chance.”
“Everyone always says I’m forgiving.” She laughed but without humor.
“If there is anything I can do to help you and Dr. Walters with the two missing Marines, Talley and I are pretty good at sniffing out dangerous situations.” He grinned at her, hoping to rescue this disaster of an afternoon.
“Thanks, but at this point, I’m not sure what any of us can do. I’m hoping to track the T-shirt and to find out if Maddy does online chats on World of Warfare. The T-shirt could be random and not connected.”
“It’s a good start. I’d be happy to cruise the forums to look for her.”
“Sure.”
“Can you tell me what is Dr. Walters’ connection to the two missing Marines?”
“Angie’s mom asked the boss to treat her daughter’s cat after Angie went missing. The boss is a real softie. She wants to save everyone.”
Hollie confirmed what he had already believed. The doctor definitely had rescued her Goth assistant. He didn’t know what Hollie had been saved from, but he planned to find out.
“Angie hasn’t been heard from since she went searching for a friend from her PTSD group who had disappeared,” Hollie said.
“Both women served and have PTSD?”
“Yeah, really crack to have survived the war, and then go missing in Seattle.”
“We’ll help. Talley and I have experience. But I don’t get why Angie’s mom would reach out to Dr. Walters?”
“This bit…this reporter convinced Angie’s mom that Dr. Walters could talk with Angie’s cat. Emily Chow wanted the boss to do a TV talk show after the boss and Mitzi broke up a drug-smuggling ring.”
“The little doctor and the French Poodle broke up a smuggling ring? You’re kidding, right?” By the way Hollie’s eyes narrowed, she didn’t find his disbelief amusing.
“Dr. Walters and Mitzi are tougher than you think.”
He hadn’t meant to upset Hollie. “I believe you.” It was obvious she was very protective of her boss and the poodle. “Go on. Tell me about the reporter.”
“Emily Chow is still hoping to make a name for herself on the boss’ back. She told Angie’s mom that the boss could find her daughter by talking with the cat.”
“That is pretty nervy of Emily Chow.”
“Nervy is not the word I’d use.”
“I’m sure you’d be able to find a more descriptive one.”
For the first time since they’d sat down, Hollie laughed, and then gave him the sweetest, most tentative smile. “I swear a lot. It’s a bad habit. I’m trying to clean up my act since, but once in a while, something spills out at work.”
“I don’t think you should change anything about you.” Nick wanted to touch her hand.
Hollie stood up. “I’ve got to get going. I’ve got a project I’m working on.”
Nick tried to hide his disappointment. “Yeah, okay. Talley and I should head out. Thanks again for the second chance.”
“No problem.” And she walked away, ponytail bouncing and hips swaying. Oh, she knew what she was doing to him, and she was enjoying it.
Nick shouted, “Talley and I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
She turned around and gave him the same flirty smile she had flashed when he’d asked about her tat.
“I know.”
Nick couldn’t stop the wide grin across his face. Oh, yeah. Hollie wasn’t going to be easy, but he was up for the challenge.
Chapter Six
Hollie stood in front of the towering brick mansion. She had never been in any house this large or this impressive. What did she know of mansions with perfect yards and artistically arranged flowerbeds with blossoms spilling onto the walkway? She had grown up in a rotting, mildewed shack in the woods outside of Darrington, a lumber town in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, seventy-five miles northeast of Seattle.
Aunt Aideen must have been watching for her. The dark green door with an impressive shiny knocker swung open as she approached.
“Hollie, you made it.” In her bright blue caftan, the silver-haired woman greeted Hollie with arms open wide. Everything about Davis’ aunt was big. The woman was almost as tall as her nephew but louder, splashier, and totally in your face. Hollie immediately recognized a kindred spirit. She didn’t know Aunt Aideen’s story, but obviously she didn’t take crap from anyone, including her nephew, the hunky love interest of Hollie’s boss.
“I’ve got cold lemonade waiting. You must be hot after the bus ride.”
She did feel hot—not from the bus ride across town but from replaying her earlier interaction with Nick. She had tried to distance herself from him and the effect his dark, inviting looks had upon her. When she’d stormed out of the store, he’d seemed to understand her difficulty to admit any interest in men or any vulnerability. He had apologized, trying to make her feel more comfortable. No man had ever actually considered her feelings or understood her uneasiness.
Aunt Aideen took Hollie in her bulky arms and gave her a big hug. Although Hollie was above average height at five seven, she felt engulfed and small in the older woman’s embrace. No one but Aunt Aideen had ever blatantly ignored Hollie’s hands-off attitude.
Now Nick, like Aunt Aideen, ignored her cool defiance.
“Come inside. It’s too hot out here,” Aunt Aideen insisted.
They stepped inside the tiled foyer.
“I wish Mitzi could’ve come. With Davis in DC, I’m missing my weekly visit. Grayce has promised to bring her over next week.”
Aunt Aideen studied her face. “It’s more than the heat that has you looking frazzled.”
Davis had made light of his aunt’s psychic talent, but Hollie assumed he was joking. The last thing Hollie wanted was to dissect the unfamiliar feelings Nick stirred within her with Aunt Aideen. Hollie leaned forward to look inside the house. “This is some palace.”
Aunt Aideen’s eyes remained focused on her face. Hollie knew she hadn’t fooled the perceptive woman. Then she smiled and relaxed, as though sensing that Hollie did not want to discuss it. “Why don’t we go into the backyard; there’s a wonderful breeze.” Aunt Aideen gestured toward the entranceway with her thick hand, adorned with a large moonstone ring. “While we have our drinks, I’ll tell you more about the project I want you to tackle.”
Hollie tried not to gape as she followed Aunt Aideen through a massive living room with towering windows, well-padded couches, and elegant, colored rugs on the tile floor. The entire house she had grown up in could fit in this living room. She balked at calling their shack a family home. That place was the front where her parents conducted business—selling the meth they cooked in the woods.
She’d never seen so many beautiful objects assembled in one place except at the Seattle Art Museum. But Aunt Aideen’s house didn’t feel like a display to be kept at a distance, to not enjoy or touch. The home and its amazing collection felt welcoming.
Hollie paused to glance at a picture of Davis as a young boy, holding his mother’s hand. She wondered how it would feel to have a mother holding her hand and looking at her with such love. “It’s hard to believe Davis actually was small.”
“He was always large. Such a tragedy that his mother died so young. He was very close to her.” Aunt Aideen plowed forward through a swinging door and disappeared.
The Grayce Walters Romantic Suspense Series Page 52
