Kisses to Remember

by Christine DePetrillo

  Holden took two steps closer, and Eli immediately rushed forward. He grabbed Holden by the neck, causing Holden to let loose a pained cry. His neck already killed him. Eli’s meaty fingers clamping down on him was unbearable, and he was pretty sure he’d broken something in his hand hitting Claus. Holden hated being this powerless while Claus pawed Johanna.

  Eli brought Holden down to the floor. He let go of his neck, but flipped him so his face was pushed into the carpet. Pinning him in place with his knee, Eli rested his gun against the back of Holden’s skull.

  “I’m just waiting for Claus to give me the word, asshole.”

  From his position on the floor, Holden couldn’t see what Claus was doing to Johanna. He could only hear her as she spoke to Kam.

  “Okay, baby. I’ll tell Holden and Miles you said hi. Is Pep still there?”

  “Thirty seconds,” Claus said.

  “Get some rest so we can take you home. I love you.” Johanna’s voice cracked a little on those last three words.

  “Hang up,” Claus said.

  The phone hit the receiver. Holden wiggled a little, but Eli only applied more weight to his back, which felt ready to snap.

  “Just kill us,” Johanna said. “Get it done, but leave my baby alone.”

  Holden hated the defeat in her voice. It was the same defeat mocking him in his head. The same defeat that was keeping him from formulating a way out of this.

  “Not here,” Claus said. “The sounds of gunshots tend to draw a crowd.”

  “Too bad your man here didn’t lose his memory for good.” Eli knocked the nose of his gun against Holden’s head. “If only we could scramble his brains again.”

  “Guess we’ll have to blow his brains out instead.” Claus’s enormous booted feet came into view, followed by Johanna’s bare feet.

  Holden moved his arm just enough so he could touch her toes. She pressed her foot into his palm and that simple connection cleared away his hopelessness. These stupid shitpigs were not going to win. Johanna had asked him to marry her, and dammit, he was going to fucking live happily ever after with her.

  ****

  Johanna was all done with the rollercoaster ride this day had been. She just wanted to go home, have Kam snug in his bed, Ted lazing on the couch, and Holden making love to her in the barn. In no way did she want to spend the evening—an evening where she had actually gotten engaged—with these two German gorillas.

  She’d sent Kam a clue on the telephone. She could only hope the kid had picked it up. He hadn’t said anything, but she had always counted on him, even when he was younger. He’d amazed her time and time again.

  Tonight needed to be one of those times.

  In the meantime, she couldn’t put all her eggs in one ten-year old basket. Claus was getting far too touchy with her, and Holden looked to be in considerable pain with Eli’s knee nearly cracking his spine in half.

  “Bet you wished you died in that plane crash, don’t you?” Eli drew a circle on the back of Holden’s head with the nose of his gun.

  “If he had, he wouldn’t have been able to fuck this beauty.” Claus pressed his hips against Johanna, nudging his erection into her back.

  Eli gestured to the broken sliding glass door. “From what we saw, she’s an amazing lay.”

  Johanna’s skin rippled at the thought of Claus and Eli watching her and Holden together. That had been a private, almost sacred moment. They had no right to witness that.

  Claus ground his arousal into her with more force. When he reached a hand around to cup her breast, nothing but Holden’s T-shirt to keep him from touching her nipple, something snapped in her brain. She wasn’t going to stand there and let him get off on fondling her. Screw that.

  At the same time Johanna decided some action needed to be taken, Miles came racing out of the bathroom. He’d worked the door open as she’d seen him do at home on occasion. He zeroed in on Eli’s leg and clamped his jaws down on the man’s ankle.

  Eli let out a roar. “Get it off me, Claus! Get the beast off me!”

  Claus made a move to lower his gun to the dog. Johanna took a chance and pummeled her boney elbow into Claus’s groin. The huge man went down to his knees, his hand cupping his stones as his mouth opened and closed, opened and closed. Only strangled, almost squeaky noises emanated.

  Miles gnawed on Eli’s ankle while the man’s cries reached a near hysterical range. He’d rolled off Holden, and Johanna reached down to yank Holden to his feet.

  “We gotta move, handsome.” She pulled him toward the gaping hole that used to be a sliding glass door.

  “Not that way!” he shouted, but a glance back revealed the door to the hotel’s hallway was blocked by a man-eating dog, a shrieking dog biscuit of a man, and a groaning Sasquatch.

  “Trust me.” Johanna whistled for Miles and the dog chomped down on Eli’s leg one final time before releasing him and bolting for the balcony beyond the shattered glass.

  The balcony was small and up three stories from the ground. Jumping down wasn’t an option, but the neighboring balcony was within range.

  “This way.” Johanna climbed over the iron railing of their balcony and hopped over to the next one. Holden did the same and they both called for Miles who cleared it gracefully. The three of them repeated this until they had made it around to the front of the hotel. The sight she had so desperately wished for greeted them there.

  Police cars. A dozen of them. Lights flashing.

  “Thanks, Kam,” she said to the night sky.

  “Why are we thanking Kam?” Holden asked as he waved his arms to flag the nearest officers.

  “He’s the best listener in the world.” Johanna added her flailing arms to Holden’s and suddenly a spotlight blasted them.

  “Johanna Ware? Holden Lancaster?” a female officer asked through a bullhorn.

  “Yes!” Johanna and Holden said together.

  “Go to Room 319,” Johanna shouted down. “That’s where the bad guys were last.”

  The officer signaled to a team behind him and they rushed into the main hotel entrance. Turning back to Johanna and Holden, the officer said, “We’re clearing out the hotel, then we’ll open the room behind you.”

  Johanna and Holden waved their understanding and slumped simultaneously into the white plastic lounge chairs on this balcony.

  “My heart is going a mile a minute.” Johanna patted her chest.

  “At least both of our hearts are still going.” Holden flexed his hand and grimaced.

  “Concussion, amnesia, stitches, and now busted knuckles. You are a handful, Mr. Lancaster.” Johanna pulled herself off her chair and made Holden scooch over so she could squeeze into his. She took his hand into her lap and straightened his finger, eliciting a groan from him. “We need some ice, pronto.”

  “I’m useless.” Holden took his hand back. “I did nothing to get us out of that.” He gestured to the hotel behind them.

  “Umm, correct me if I’m wrong, honey, but did you or did you not defend me, my son, and Ted from almost certain death by Sabrina earlier today?”

  “Well, yeah, but—”

  Johanna pinched his lips closed with her index finger and thumb. “It was my turn to save us, Holden, and you know what? I had help.”

  “Kam. How?”

  “I asked him if he wanted the hotel or the police Lego set.” Johanna gave him a smug smile.

  “Genius.” Holden shrugged. “I don’t get it, Johanna.”

  “Kam already has the hotel and the police set. He’s got a thing about getting repeats. Drives him nuts. We actually keep a list of what he has and what he wants. I was hoping if I asked him about ones he has he’d pick up on the hint.”

  “And in true Kam fashion, he did.” Holden smiled. “God, I love that kid.”

  “And you’ve only known him for a month. Imagine how much you’ll love him after years and years.”

  “That’s going to be a lot of love.” Holden traced Johanna’s cheek.

 
“Maybe too much.”

  “No such thing, my lady. No such thing.” He brushed his lips against hers. “And I plan to remember each and every kiss.”

  Johanna slid her arms around him and pressed her lips to his cheek. “I’ll make sure you do.”

  Miles scrabbled up onto the lounge chair with them. Johanna pulled the dog into their group hug, letting him lick the underside of her chin and then Holden’s fingers. She was so looking forward to a lifetime of kisses to remember.

  Epilogue

  Six months later…

  The morning sun shimmered off Hanalei Bay on Kauai’s North Shore. Not a single cloud interrupted the wide blue expanse of sky. The sand beneath Holden’s bare feet was already a toasty temperature, and a warm breeze caressed him.

  None of this was the best part about being in Hawaii though. The woman holding his hand, walking beside him, wearing the hottest bikini in creation with a wide-brimmed straw hat protecting her fair skin and red waves of hair was hands down the best part.

  The fact that she was his wife made it even more perfect.

  Holden had flown them to Hawaii himself thanks to Carl who had chosen to take two weeks off from business after hiring Holden about a month ago.

  “I’m an old man,” he’d said. “I haven’t stopped working since I turned thirteen and my father stuck a wrench in my hand.” He’d cuffed Holden’s shoulder as they stood in the hangar next to Carl’s plane. “I need to rest a spell. Just a rest, mind you.” He’d waggled a finger at Holden. “Why don’t you take that pretty Johanna somewhere special?”

  Carl had pressed the plane keys into Holden’s palm. “Just don’t crash it, and make sure she’s gassed up when you return.” The man had turned around and walked out of the hangar without another word.

  Holden knew just where to take Johanna, but he had wanted her to be Mrs. Lancaster first. They’d gotten married at a beautiful ceremony held in Johanna’s barn. He’d transformed it again into a setting fit for romance, this time using purple roses, white candles, and with Kam and Ted’s help, about thirty of Johanna’s friends attended. Two of those friends had been Meri and Dina from Café Coeur. Meri had arrived with Evan Salisberg, Johanna’s client, who had thanked Johanna over and over for her matchmaking. The smiles on Meri’s and Evan’s faces were almost as big as Holden’s and Johanna’s. Almost. When Evan heard they planned to honeymoon in Hawaii after Holden finished building Ted’s cabin, he immediately offered his place on Kauai.

  Johanna had accepted, the prospect of staying in a hotel not appealing to either of them. Their experiences with Claus and Eli, now both rotting uncomfortably in separate federal prisons, had taught them hotels were tricky. It was easy to check in, but checking out could be a matter of life and death.

  Donovan Electronics was no more. The FBI and similar organizations across the globe had put their resources together to uncover the international weapons manufacturing operation Claus Vannekar and Eli Brom had spearheaded with the all too willing help of Sabrina Donovan. Holden had been called to testify against Donovan Electronics, which he agreed to do for Vaughn. For his buddy.

  After the trial, Holden spent a few days in Texas boxing up stuff he wanted to keep, selling the rest of it, and putting his house in the care of an eager real estate agent. Within three days, she had sold it to a nice young couple, and Holden was on his way back to Valentine, Nebraska. To his new life. To his every dream come true.

  To Johanna.

  Kam had come home after two weeks in the hospital. Johanna had been right. The kid was superhuman in the healing department. The doctors were amazed at his speedy recovery. His mobility was still limited, but he was well on his way to full capacity. The moment Alex had heard about Kam’s injury from one of the guards, he’d called Johanna explaining the threat he’d received in prison to cut them loose. He requested to see them again, and Holden had encouraged them to oblige the man.

  “You must miss him,” Holden had said to Kam.

  “Yeah.” Kam had studied his sneakers, his arm still in a sling and bound to his torso. “Maybe not as much as I used to.” He had turned those bottomless eyes up to Holden. “He’ll always be my dad, but…”

  Pulling him into a hug, Holden had said, “Thanks, buddy.” When he’d released Kam, he’d continued, “Maybe you should visit your dad for him though. Think what it must be like not being able to see you.”

  Johanna had given Holden soft, gracious eyes as she kneeled in front of Kam. “What do you say, honey?”

  “I’d hate for Dad to be lonely, especially when we have each other and Holden.”

  Johanna and Kam had been visiting Alex every two weeks since that conversation. Ted figured he might go along on the next visit.

  When Christina Darren had come to the farmhouse to visit Kam, the two of them had spent an entire rainy afternoon in the basement building a city out of Legos. Soul mates at age ten? Maybe. Just maybe.

  Holden had suffered through the annoyance of a cast on his hand for the knuckles he’d busted walloping Claus’s iron jaw. That German asshole’s face should have come with a warning label. The cast slowed Holden’s momentum on finishing Ted’s cabin, but he’d managed by taking on the help of a few teenagers from the local high school. The kids had done great work, and Holden hoped he’d taught them a few things on the job.

  Ted was thrilled with the end product, and the moment Nurse Nancy had sawed his cast off, he’d moved in. Nurse Nancy’s car spent a great many evenings in his small driveway.

  In Johanna’s driveway, a 1991 Thunderbird sat waiting for Holden to remodel it into something that could whip around a racetrack. He’d promised both Ted and Kam they could help him. He’d sold his black and red Camaro to a producer in Hollywood who was making a vampire-themed television show. The guy had taken one look at the painted streaks of blood on the side of the car and had paid a hefty sum to own what he’d called “The Marrow Camaro.”

  A tug on his arm now pulled his mind away from the racecars. Johanna led him to a plaid blanket spread out on the sand. At the water’s edge, Kam kneeled over the most complex sandcastle Holden had ever seen.

  Is that a dragon on the turret?

  Ted stood over Kam’s work wearing lime-green swim shorts and a Hawaiian shirt with the telltale palm trees all over it. He laughed at something Kam said, then dumped a bucket of water on the boy’s head. This made Kam shoot to his feet and chase Ted into the water, the sound of his giggles floating up to Holden on the lazy breeze.

  At first Kam and Ted had refused to come to Hawaii.

  “You don’t need us hanging around,” Ted had said.

  “Yeah, Mom,” Kam had added. “Kids and grandpas aren’t allowed on honeymoons.” He’d rolled his dark eyes as if this should be common knowledge to everyone.

  “Says who?” Holden had asked. “I married your mother assuming you and Ted were part of the deal. If you’re not, then maybe I should reconsider.”

  Johanna had grabbed a fistful of his T-shirt and brought his face nose to nose with her own. “There are no take-backsies, no do-overs. You’re stuck with me now, mister. Eternally.” She’d turned around to face Kam and Ted. “But just to be sure, you two are coming. No arguments.”

  “Oh, to be dragged off to Hawaii. Such cruelty.” Ted put a hand to his forehead. “I guess we have no choice, kid. Let’s go pack our swimsuits.”

  And here they all were now. Enjoying a perfect day, on a perfect island, in perfect company.

  Johanna lowered to the blanket and pulled Holden down with her. “What do you say we move here and make careers out of sunbathing?” She rested on her elbow, her sunglasses tipped low on her nose so she could look at Holden.

  He copied her posture and fit his hand in the sexy dip at her waist. “You sunbath. I’ll watch.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

  She slithered her hands up into his hair and deepened the kiss. She made a solid case for spending the rest of their lives right there on that plaid blanket. When s
he finally released him, Holden felt a little dizzy. Floating on clouds dizzy. Drank too much of a really great wine dizzy. Married the most wonderful woman in the world dizzy.

  “Holden! Mom! Come look at this!” Kam hollered from the shore.

  “This is why kids aren’t allowed on honeymoons.” Johanna sat all the way up and let Holden pull her to her feet.

  “Would you have wanted to be away from him?” Holden adjusted her straw hat. When she shook her head, he said, “That’s what I thought.”

  “Think you have me all figured out, don’t you?” She poked a finger into his bare chest, then flattened both her palms against his skin.

  “Not at all.” Holden pressed his hands over hers. “I’ve just taken very careful notes, Mrs. Lancaster.”

  “Well, keep up your studies, Mr. Lancaster. I’m a fascinating subject.” She tore off her hat, threw it, Frisbee-like, to the blanket and bolted for the water. Her hair streamed behind her, rippling like red silk. She stopped to pull Kam to his feet and drag him into the water. Mother and son splashed each other, smiles on their faces. Ted joined in, making hurricane-sized waves and causing Holden to lose track of Kam a few times.

  He watched them for a few moments, reveling over the fact he could call them his family. Never had he felt so…full. Full of hope. Of peace. Of love.

  “What are you waiting for, Holden?” Kam called, his dark hair plastered to his forehead as he wiped his eyes.

  “Yeah,” Ted said, pausing in the midst of the wake he was creating. “Some of these splashes have your name on them, son.”

  Johanna merely beckoned him to the water with a single crook of her index finger. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to.

  Other Titles by Christine DePetrillo

  ALASKA HEART

  ABRA CADAVER

  LAZULI MOON

  THE LAST STALLION

  ALLEY CAT

  MIDNIGHT MISTLETOE

  IN THE NICK OF TIME

  FOR THE LOVE OF LIBERTY

  SPEAK EASY TO ME

  TABLE FOR TWO HEARTS