Emeralds, Rubies, and Camouflage

by Olivia Jaymes

  “Maybe you should find him and ask him that question. Then you’d know for sure. I think he owes you that much. He sure as hell owes it to Amelia. Living in limbo like this, wondering if he’s ever going to call? That gives him all the power. Don’t you want to take it back?”

  Myra hadn’t even realized she’d handed over all her power to Bobby. She had no idea how it had happened but somewhere she’d quietly given it to him without any struggle.

  When did it happen? When they’d moved in together? When she got pregnant? When he’d convinced her to stay at home with the baby because day care was too expensive? At a later point? Or had it been like a slow leak in a balloon happening month after month until Bobby called all the shots?

  She didn’t have the answer but if she wanted her self-respect back things had to change.

  “Can you help me find him?” Myra asked softly. “I think you’re right. I do need to talk to Bobby.”

  “I think I can. Tomorrow morning you can give me all the information you have about his last whereabouts and his employer. It shouldn’t take long to find him.”

  Wrung out from all the emotion she just nodded. If Myra ever wanted to be worthy of her daughter’s respect she had to take control of her life again. Stop being a victim and start taking charge.

  Her new job had been the first step and finding Bobby was the second.

  Chapter Six

  ‡

  When Myra entered the office the next morning Holt was already there, head down over his laptop, a muffin and coffee at his right hand. After all she had revealed last night she wasn’t sure how to act. He knew some pretty personal things now and it created a vulnerability within her that she wasn’t sure she liked.

  She decided that not mentioning it at all was the way to go so she scuttled to her desk and began working through the pile of correspondence. As a wealthy man Holt was much in demand on the charity event circuit. He’d given her a list of his usual donations but he never attended the functions. It was her job to RSVP but soften the rejection with a check of varying sizes.

  Looking up from his laptop he pointed to the work on her desk. “Leave those for another day. We’re going on a business trip. The jet is fueling up right now.”

  “I can’t leave Amelia overnight,” Myra protested, not sure how she would deal with spending the entire day with him in such close proximity after the tenderness he’d shown last night. It had only served to make her admire him even more.

  “You won’t,” Holt assured her with a smile. “We’ll be back this evening, I promise. Bart will pick Amelia up at preschool like he does every day and Fiona will watch over her.”

  “Where will we be?”

  “In the Keys. I’ve been thinking about buying some property down there and my real estate agent called this morning and told me about a couple of homes that tick all the boxes. I want to take a look before they get sold out from under me.”

  That explained why he was going but not why she was.

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “Take pictures of the properties and any notes that I might need. That way I can just concentrate on looking them over. Getting the vibe, so to speak.”

  It made perfect sense and she’d never been to the Keys before. She’d always wanted to go although this was hardly a vacation. This was purely business.

  “I’ll need to tell Amelia.” Myra had left her daughter eating smiley-face pancakes in the kitchen with Fiona.

  “We’ll both go. I need more coffee and you need to eat some breakfast before we leave.”

  Myra pulled a face. “I’ve been trying to lose a few pounds.”

  Holt closed his laptop and stood, his face covered in a scowl. “Why? You look fine just the way you are.”

  Myra stood as well and smoothed down her cream-colored slacks. “I put on weight when I had Amelia, and Bobby said–”

  Holt didn’t let her finish. “Christ on a pogo stick, I can only imagine what your narcissistic ex-boyfriend said.”

  She felt a flush crawl up her face and neck. “Bobby had good qualities too.”

  If he was a total jerk it didn’t say much for her or her intelligence.

  Holt scraped his fingers through his short dark hair and groaned. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you had good times and that he has many redeeming qualities. I know how I sound but I’m just so pissed off about what he’s pulled. You and Amelia deserve better treatment. I need to get my PI on this as soon as possible, by the way. Can you write down everything you know about where he is and his employer before we go?”

  “I can. And it’s okay. I get mad too. I’ve just had longer to get over it. You’ve only had since last night.”

  Funny how time and distance had healed the hurt. She wasn’t in love with Bobby anymore although he was Amelia’s father so he would always have her affection. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. She hoped he’d be happy in his life but she also hoped that Amelia could be part of that life, if only sometimes.

  “Then go give Amelia a hug and then we’ll head off to the airport. I’m anxious to get down there. By the way, I’m going to change into something more casual and you can too if you like. It’s going to be a warm day.”

  A casual day with her sexy as hell boss. This was going to be dangerous.

  *

  “Will you bring me something from your trip, Mommy?” Amelia asked on the way to preschool. The little girl, Myra, and Holt were sitting in the back of a luxurious limousine that seemed to glide down the road. Somehow in all the hugs and goodbyes it had been decided that Amelia would ride to school with them so Myra could spend a few more minutes with her daughter.

  Just one more way Holt was always thinking of others.

  “I’ll be working. I’m not sure I’ll have time.”

  The one thing Bobby had been good at was bringing Amelia little surprises back from his road trips.

  Holt chuckled and looked up from his phone where he was tapping out a text. “We’ll make time. But your mom will be back for dinner.”

  Myra had already given her daughter the “be good for Fiona” lecture and Amelia had promised to behave. Fiona had been all smiles and assurances that everything would be fine and Myra was sure it would. But this was the first time business had taken her away from her daughter even for only a few hours. It would take some getting used to.

  “Fiona said we could watch a movie when I get home from school.”

  Myra sincerely hoped Fiona enjoyed the movie Frozen because Amelia had seen it approximately six hundred times and didn’t seem to be tired of it yet.

  “That sounds like fun. I’m going to miss you but you can tell me about your day when I get back.”

  Amelia was having a much easier time with the separation than Myra apparently. She nodded and then continued to pepper Holt with questions about the Keys and Florida in general. She was making it quite clear that Myra hadn’t taken her daughter any farther than the park or the beach.

  “Maybe I’ll get to go to the Keys sometime,” Amelia said wistfully as the limo smoothly pulled up to the front door of the preschool.

  “I’m sure you’ll go someday,” Holt laughed. “But there are lots of places even more fun.”

  “Like where?”

  Myra gathered Amelia’s lunch and backpack as the driver opened the door.

  “Thousands,” Holt replied. “The world is a big place. Maybe we can do some research when we get back. You can make a list of all the places you want to travel to in your life.”

  “Yes!” Amelia did a mini-fist pump in jubilation. Having Holt’s attention was the perfect panacea for Amelia missing her father. She was blossoming under his sure and steady personality.

  Both Holt and Myra were recipients of big hugs as she ran into the school where a stream of children were entering. Her daughter quickly met up with a few friends and was giggling all the way to the classroom.

  “She’s growing up too fast,” Myra sighed as the door closed and the
limo pulled away from the school. “Soon she won’t need me anymore.”

  “She’ll always need you,” Holt assured her, patting her hand with his much larger one. “My mother was here last month baking me cookies. We always need our parents, if only a little bit.”

  That made Myra feel slightly better. “You’re so sweet to her. If you’re not careful she’ll con toys and vacations out of you. You’re a softie.”

  Holt burst into laughter and even the driver glanced into the rearview mirror. “I don’t think anyone has ever said that about me. In fact, most of the opposing attorneys call me much more colorful names. But I like Amelia and she told me she has a birthday coming up. I’d like to take her someplace special.”

  Warning bells sounded in Myra’s brain. That would make them seem like…a couple.

  “Holt, you don’t need to do anything like that. She’s likes you so much she’d be happy with anything you gave her. Maybe a book or a doll.”

  His brows shot up in surprise and a smile curved his lips. “I’d love to do something really special for Amelia, but only with your permission of course. If you think it’s too extravagant then the subject is closed. You’re the boss.”

  Funny how she didn’t feel in charge. She’d admitted the night before that she’d given up her power with Bobby letting him call all the shots in the relationship. She hadn’t exactly been assertive with her own parents either. It was time to grab the reins and drive.

  “What did you have in mind? I don’t want you doing anything expensive, Holt. I don’t want her spoiled.”

  Holt stroked his chin in thought. “Let me think on this a little bit. There has to be something that you’ll approve of. I just know it.”

  “At her age pretty much everything we do can become special in some way. Add ice cream to a trip to the grocery store and she’ll be your best friend for life.”

  Sitting back in the leather seat, Holt stretched out comfortably. “Then I guess it would be bad to admit that I don’t remember the last time I was in a grocery store. Fiona takes very good care of my household.”

  Myra slapped her forehead with her palm and giggled at his sheepish expression. Holt had been born with money so he probably hadn’t done so many everyday tasks that others took for granted.

  “That is pathetic. First thing we’re going to do when we get back is take a field trip to Publix. There’s a whole world out there, Holt, and you’re missing it.”

  “I can’t wait for you to show it to me. I’m in your hands.”

  Except that he wasn’t. Not really. But the idea certainly had merit.

  *

  Myra Burke was seriously cute. And fun. Not to mention gorgeous. In fact, Holt had barely been able to drag his gaze from her all damn day so he could look at the real estate. He’d caught himself several times watching her instead of listening to the agent drone on and on about the features of the homes.

  Before they’d left she’d changed into a flowered sundress that showed off just enough leg to make breathing a little more difficult. Her long copper-colored hair had been tamed into a ponytail that accentuated her pretty face and bared the nape of her neck which begged to be kissed.

  “So which was your favorite?” he asked her as they settled at a table for lunch. They’d taken the ferry over to one of Holt’s favorite restaurants on a little island. The view was fantastic and the weather had cooperated fully – sunny and warm but not too humid.

  “Are you kidding? Both houses were amazing. But if you made me choose just one I guess I’d have to say the home on Eaton Street.”

  He’d had a feeling she’d liked that one the best by the way her eyes had lit up as they’d toured the home.

  “It’s smaller than the other,” Holt countered. “The house on Eaton only has five bedrooms.”

  “How many do you need to sleep in?” she giggled as the waiter stopped at their table to get their drink order and recite the specials. They both ordered iced teas and the young man bustled to his next table leaving them alone again.

  “It wouldn’t be just for me. If I bought this house I’d invite my friends to come down for fishing or diving. It would be filled with houseguests.”

  Close friends. Like Dane and his wife. People that knew him and didn’t judge or shy away.

  “Then buy the other one. But I honestly don’t think it’s as nice. The house on Eaton had such a beautiful pool area. If you were going to have friends down that would be a great place to entertain.”

  That’s exactly what he’d been thinking as well. The only difference was that when he imagined entertaining there Myra was at his side.

  “I think you’re right. I think I’ll put an offer in on the Eaton property.”

  The waiter dropped off their drinks and took their order – lobster quesadillas for her and fish tacos for him.

  “I think you’ll love the house,” she said but her attention was drawn to the view. Their table overlooked the pristine beach and the cloudless sky was an incredible blue today. He’d been right to bring her here. “This is so beautiful. Peaceful. Like another world. Do you come down here a lot?”

  “I do. Usually three or four times a year to fish and dive. It was a great place to relax and decompress when I was on leave. I’ve always rented a place but I’ve been thinking about buying for quite a while. I was close on one property but life got in the way.”

  His trips to Key West with his buddies had kept him sane when his life had been anything but. Always laid back and serene, it had been the complete opposite of the locations he’d been stationed while in the military.

  “Life? I bet you mean work. I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you do.”

  “No.” He shook his head. She had no idea. “It was life. I’d asked my father to take over negotiations on a property I was interested in since my leave was ending. I went overseas and a few days later…”

  For a moment it looked like she didn’t understand and then her eyes went wide and she sucked in a breath. His own heart accelerated in his chest and thumped loudly in his ears.

  “Oh. I see. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

  He’d made her uncomfortable and that was the last thing he’d wanted to do. Perhaps it was best to get it out there so they could move on. He was sure she’d wondered how he was injured but had never asked of course. She was far too polite and it wasn’t a topic he relished.

  “It’s okay. Actually I brought it up.” He studied her features carefully, looking for any sign of revulsion or disgust. “You can ask me about it if you like. You’re part of my inner circle you might say, so I don’t mind telling you.”

  She licked her lips in nervousness and fiddled with the fork on the table. “How were you hurt?”

  “Suicide bomber while I was stationed in Afghanistan.”

  He’d managed to say the words calmly despite the tumult in his gut. Her color was high and her lips pressed together as if she didn’t want to say another word but she finally did.

  “And you were hurt badly.”

  She didn’t phrase it as a question. Clearly he’d been seriously injured.

  “Burns and shrapnel on my left side. I’ve had several surgeries and skin grafts. This is as good as I’m going to get.”

  There. He’d said it. Laid it out there. He could barely breathe as he waited for her reaction.

  “Are you in any…pain?”

  He could swear he saw tears gathering in her soft brown eyes. Hell, no. No tears for him. He was alive, if not really kicking. He didn’t need her pity.

  “My leg aches sometimes, especially after a workout.”

  But she didn’t mean his leg. Her gaze had landed on the visible scars on his neck and arms.

  His fingers rubbed the back of his left hand where the skin was white instead of tan. “No, I’m not in any pain. They don’t hurt.”

  Not the way she meant anyway. It hurt when they kept people at arm’s length.

  “That’s good. I mean, I’m glad.”

>   She was flipping the fork over and over and her eyes were looking anywhere but at him. He felt a stab in the vicinity of his heart that she couldn’t stand to look at him very long. He’d been hoping for too much lately. Since Myra had come into his life his thinking had gone in directions that were dangerous.

  “I try and keep them covered so people won’t be uncomfortable.”

  Inwardly, Holt winced at the bald statement. He rarely discussed this topic so it was understandable that he had no fucking idea what he was saying. Add in one beautiful woman and he was confused as shit.

  Myra was looking him straight in the eye again and leaning forward in her chair. “Why should you do that? Screw anyone that feels uncomfortable. You’re a freaking war hero. Why should you have to cover up? If they don’t like it, it’s their problem, not yours.”

  Her mini-rant shook him to the core. He needed to know. These last two weeks he’d been walking around on eggshells. He just fucking needed to know once and for all.

  “They don’t…bother you?”

  She smacked the fork down on the table. “Of course not. Oh my God, did you think…? No, Holt it’s fine. I don’t care about something like that. Truly.”

  “It’s worse on my back and chest. What you haven’t seen isn’t pretty.”

  “I’m more interested in what’s inside a person. Bobby was considered good-looking by all my friends but he was a real shit when it came down to it.”

  Myra said the words so forcefully Holt couldn’t help but believe she meant it. Or she thought she did. She still hadn’t seen the worst. It was easy to say it didn’t matter when she was blissfully unaware of the ugly truth.

  “I hope you never describe me as a real shit,” he finally said, too overcome to say anything with real meaning.

  “Then don’t do anything to earn that title,” she replied tartly. Quiet for a moment, she then said, “I’m really sorry that happened to you. I can’t imagine all you’ve been through.”

  She’d described him this morning as a softie but she had a soft touch as well.

  “It may be hard to understand this but I’m actually lucky. Most of the people around me that day didn’t make it. For some reason, I did. I don’t take that lightly. I want my life to have meaning. Not just for me but for them. If I sat around all day bitching about what a victim I am—well, that would be disrespectful to their memories.”