The Grayce Walters Romantic Suspense Series

by Jacki Delecki

  Hollie followed close behind into the dining room and then into a major kitchen. She gazed around at the glistening stove and refrigerator, the tiled countertops, the herb-filled pots on the windowsill. “You must love to cook.”

  Aunt Aideen gave one of her deep belly laughs. “I’m a terrible cook, but I like to entertain. You’ll have to ask Davis about my cooking abilities.” And the idea made her laugh some more.

  Aunt Aideen pointed to a tray on the center island. “You carry the tray outside, and I’ll get the door. I decided we’d have high tea without the tea since it’s so bloody hot. Have you ever done high tea?”

  Hollie shook her head.

  “I thought not. This will be fun, and we’ll get recharged to tackle our work.” Aunt Aideen proceeded to the back door and held it open.

  Hollie lifted the hefty tray.

  “We can use two trays if it’s too heavy.”

  “It’s cool. I got it.”

  Hollie carried the tray out the door into the backyard. On each side, ten-foot hedges gave a sense of total privacy—a secluded haven with a spectacular western view of Puget Sound from Queen Anne Hill.

  “Put the tray here, dear.” Aunt Aideen pointed to a glass table with a red umbrella.

  “Although high tea is British, and, as Scots, we shouldn’t love anything British, we appreciate that it’s a splendid and civilized custom. When they were young, the girls, Davis’ sisters, and I used to have tea parties. Now, years later, I have tea parties with their children. You’ll have to join us when the children come. We have a grand time.”

  Aunt Aideen sat and waved toward the chair across from her. “Of course, Davis hated high tea. Not enough food for a growing boy, you know. And elegant rituals aren’t exactly a boy’s idea of entertainment.”

  Aunt Aideen dished fruit onto a plate adorned with pink and green flowers on its border. She cut a wedge of gooey cheese and added crackers and cookies to the plate. She handed the plate with a white, pressed napkin and silver fork and knife to Hollie. “You may pour the lemonade.”

  Hollie felt nervous, unsure of her manners. The full extent of her dining out experience had been fast food and Denny’s, never in such a hoity-toity fashion with everything so perfect and pristine.

  She kept her head down and peered at Aunt Aideen through her eyelashes. Aunt Aideen seemed oblivious to Hollie’s trepidation.

  Hollie poured the lemonade carefully into each crystal glass.

  “Please start.” Aunt Aideen served herself. “You must tell me what you think of the cookies.”

  Hollie took a bite of the tiny cookie. It melted in her mouth, all buttery with a taste of lemon. “You made them?”

  Aunt Aideen guffawed. “Of course not. I’ve never had the patience for baking. How about you? Are you a baker?”

  If reheating a frozen pizza counted as baking. “Nope. I’ve never had the time or interest to learn, but I might someday.” She was about to lick the sugar off her fingers and caught herself at the last second.

  “Oh, I think you’re going to learn to cook—and many other things. I see a great future for you.”

  Oh, no. She braced herself, hoping to hell this wouldn’t get weird with psychic shit. She didn’t believe people could look into the future. She didn’t believe in fantasies. She didn’t really believe in much. When you’ve spent all your life surviving, you don’t have time for otherworld mumbo jumbo.

  Aunt Aideen burst out into a loud chortle. “Oh, my goodness. Davis has warned you about me, hasn’t he? I can see it in your face.”

  Oh, shit. Now she was caught. She didn’t want to get Davis in trouble, but she couldn’t lie to Aunt Aideen.

  “You don’t have to worry about protecting Davis. I know exactly how his logical brain works. And I couldn’t be happier that he’s found his match in Grayce. She’s the perfect antidote for his skepticism.”

  Hollie didn’t know what to say and wasn’t sure she should be privy to her boss’ private life. It was more than obvious that Davis was one whipped man when it came to her boss.

  “I think you should trust your instincts about the young man who has you befuddled.”

  Hollie was about to take a sip of lemonade when she stopped with the glass in mid-air. “What? There isn’t…”

  Aunt Aideen raised both eyebrows. How did Aunt Aideen know about Nick? The boss would never share private stuff.

  “Uh…”

  Aunt Aideen waited expectantly. “You should trust yourself. You’ve developed great insights into people from your life experiences.”

  Hollie put the glass down on the table. “He’s, like, all-American. Probably the star high school quarterback who dated a cheerleader.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not exactly a candidate for dating regular guys.” She felt a wave of disgust and shame. “I’ve never really been on a date. Do you think I should tell him about living on the street after our first or second date?” She started to crack her knuckles but stopped herself.

  “I don’t think you’re obligated to disclose anything you don’t want to tell.” Aunt Aideen spoke quietly, but Hollie felt the force of her words. “It’s your story and yours to share, when and if the circumstances feel right.”

  Hollie kept her eyes down and busied herself spreading the oozing cheese on a cracker. She didn’t want to see pity or sympathy in Aunt Aideen’s eyes.

  “You have nothing to be ashamed about. I know very little of your past. The important part that you need to remember is, when I look at you, I see a strong and resilient woman.”

  What crap! Aunt Aideen living in this fancy house. What did she know?

  “Both my parents were meth addicts and drug dealers.” Hollie leaned back and cracked her knuckles. “I’m not exactly the girl you take home to meet the parents.”

  Aunt Aideen didn’t flinch with Hollie’s attempt to rattle her. She leaned across the table and looked directly at Hollie. Now Hollie was the one to flinch with the older woman’s steely gaze. “If I know anything about young men, he isn’t interested in your childhood or in your parents. Besides you aren’t responsible for how badly your parents behaved.” Aunt Aideen’s lips lifted into a little smile. “I like him already. He has shown great insight to see beyond your great beauty to detect your big heart.”

  Hollie fingered the fork. Why did Aunt Aideen think Nick could see her big heart? Embarrassed by Aunt Aideen’s praise, she felt heat moving to her face. Unaccustomed to compliments, she was used to deflecting them. She couldn’t really respond with her usual response of “Bullshit.”

  Aunt Aideen patted her lips with the snowy-white napkin. “I’m confident it will all work out. Young love is always turbulent at the beginning.”

  Was this one of Aunt Aideen’s predictions? Did she really believe she and Nick could be together?

  Aunt Aideen leaned back in her chair. “Let me tell you about the project and the help I need.”

  Unsettled by the abrupt shift, Hollie only nodded.

  “My foundation has been providing financial assistance to women in developing countries, helping them set up their own businesses. I’ve a new project supporting Tibetan, Newar, and Nepalese women who weave cashmere shawls. Tibetan nomads near Mount Kailash collect the cashmere. I have fabulous pictures from my last trip, and I wanted you to add them to the website. You’ll have to sort through hundreds of my pictures and decide how to showcase them on the website. Grayce tells me you’re tech savvy.”

  “I’m okay, but I’m surprised your foundation doesn’t have a web designer.”

  “Yes, Martin is the web designer. But these pictures are very special to me. I wanted a woman’s eye to find the right pictures to showcase the strength and hope in these women’s faces. I think you’re the perfect person for the job.”

  “But…but.”

  Aunt Aideen broke out into a big grin as she lifted the pitcher. “More lemonade?”

  * * *

  The sun beat down on Hollie through the open bus window. The sun wouldn�
��t set for another two hours, but Aunt Aideen had been insistent that Hollie leave the house by eight p.m. She hadn’t wanted Hollie riding the bus at night. The unfamiliar and sweet feeling that Aunt Aideen worried for her safety made her thoughts jump to Sgt. Welby. He’d be the kind of man who’d be protective—evident in his care of Talley and reflected in his tat in memory of his men.

  She had another fifteen minutes in the scorching-hot bus before arriving at her apartment. Thanks to her job with Dr. Walters, she now could afford her own digs—a room in a dilapidated house in the University District. She wasn’t bothered that she didn’t live in a mansion and that her house was shabby, the paint was peeling, and she hardly had any hot water. For the first time in her life she had her own private space with a lock on the door.

  She had worked at Aunt Aideen’s desk for several hours, running through hundreds of pictures from the trip. She had lost track of time, staring at the amazing faces of the Tibetan and Nepalese women, weaving cloth to survive in that impoverished, isolated region.

  At first she had suspected that she herself was just another charity case for the older woman, but after being immersed in the pictures, she was glad Aunt Aideen had chosen her. She loved the shape of women’s faces—their deep black eyes and their pure joyful smiles. And she realized that neither she nor the women in the photographs were charity cases. Aunt Aideen helped people not because she felt any obligation or duty or in order to make points in high society; she helped people because of love. She couldn’t believe her luck that Aunt Aideen had entrusted her with such an awesome job.

  She understood why Aunt Aideen wanted the page to be something special, because these women were special. Aunt Aideen believed in her ability to do a good job. She’d work hard not to disappoint Aunt Aideen.

  A cool evening breeze wafted through the open bus window. Before meeting Dr. Walters at Teen Feed, she had never had anyone who believed in her. Now she had both the boss and Aunt Aideen. Her heart swelled with an alien emotion—contentment, a feeling she wasn’t sure she could trust. But for the first time, her world wasn’t chaotic but steady and secure.

  Chapter Seven

  Nick took one shuddering deep breath before opening the door to the acupuncture office. Unlike his visit a few days ago that had gone sideways, he had a game plan for today’s interaction with the prickly but perfect Ms. Hollie.

  Anticipation and hunger licked along his spine as he opened the door. Which persona would she present today—the hot leather chick or an innocent? He’d liked her as both. He simply liked everything about her.

  Hollie stood in the doorway of Dr. Walters’ office with her back to him, giving him enough time to check out her sweet backside in tight blue jeans before she spun around.

  By the way her dark eyes narrowed, he had been caught enjoying the honeyed view. One minute near her and already he had blown his plan of cool and collected approach. He tracked up her tight black T-shirt with an avenging war goddess that looked a lot like the woman in front of him with her ebony hair and fiery eyes. Instead of her hair down around her shoulders like the image on her T-shirt, Hollie’s black, shiny hair was twisted on top of her head and held in place with chopsticks. He would like to see her let down her hair, but mostly to see the heavy curls splayed across his pillow.

  She had ditched the ephemeral goddess T-shirt for the angry, aggressive one. Was her T-shirt a message to him to be wary of women on warpaths? Somehow he thought it might be, and the thought pleased him. Did she have any idea that presenting herself as a dare just revved him up? And he was every bit the man to take on the challenge.

  She had her feet apart and her dark eyes staring directly at him. Oh, she was a tempting provocation. “Talley and Sgt. Welby, right on time for your appointment today.” She gestured for them to proceed directly into the doctor’s office. “Dr. Walters is ready to see you.”

  He wasn’t going to get to chat her up before the appointment. Not in the least intimidated by her bold posture, he moved closer, gently crowding her against the doorjamb. “You’ll be here when Talley and I are done?”

  He liked the way her eyes widened and she raised her defiant chin. “Of course. I work here. Where do you think I’d go?”

  He leaned down close to her ear. “Thought you might try to hide from me.”

  Her spine stiffened as she stood taller. She tilted her head, showcasing her exotic eyes and her strong-boned cheeks. “I don’t run from anyone.”

  He couldn’t help his need to inch closer and feel her heat, and her chest puffed up in umbrage. “Good to know.”

  He smiled at her exasperated, loud exhalation.

  * * *

  Nick entered the office with Talley wagging her tail. He wasn’t exactly keeping to his plan of cool and helpful, but Hollie’s baiting look of wait till I get you alone had his whole body thrumming with tension and excitement.

  Dr. Walters hadn’t moved from the chair behind her desk. He knew she had watched him hit on Hollie. And although he didn’t want to look like some oversexed jerk, he couldn’t stop smiling when he greeted the vet.

  The petite woman stood and walked around her desk. She bent to pet Talley, to rub along the big dog’s chest. “I can see that you are both feeling well today.”

  Talley sat alert as the vet petted her, then she lay down on her side in total trust. They both were doing a lot better. And Dr. Walters gave him the perfect segue. He needed Dr. Walters’ approval of his pursuit of Hollie, and his need to be of service. He’d never disrespect a woman and never insult a woman like Dr. Walters. Knowing what he and Talley had suffered, he was committed to help the missing Marines with PTSD.

  “Ma’am, may I speak to you before we get started with the appointment?”

  Her lips parted into a small smile. “Please.” She pointed to the chair in front of her desk.

  He waited for her to sit before he did.

  “Is this about your extra visit?”

  Nick sat up taller. Oh, shit. Was she going to warn him off? He hoped not, since he didn’t think he could stay away.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’d feel more comfortable knowing you don’t mind me…coming to the office and… I’d like to help with the search for the missing Marines. It would give me something else to focus on—”

  “Beside your interest in Hollie?” He hadn’t noticed how Dr. Walters’ green eyes could change colors. They were lighter, almost mischievous.

  “I mean no disrespect to you, ma’am, or to Hollie.”

  “Of course not. I think you could be a great help with your military experiences and you’re tech savvy. And I know Hollie would appreciate your help.”

  “She would?” He couldn’t hide his interest. He also knew he couldn’t fool Dr. Walters. She definitely was perceptive and something else he couldn’t nail.

  Dr. Walters laughed, a light laugh like a garden wind chime. “I’m pretty sure she would.”

  He leaned forward, closer to the desk. He was dying to ask if Hollie had said something. “That’s great news. Thank you, ma’am. Talley and I won’t let you down.”

  “Hollie is a very smart and talented woman. She’s had a lot of challenges in her life. I’m assuming you won’t pressure her. Not that Hollie would allow it.”

  “Of course not.” Nick would never break his promise to Dr. Walters, and he’d struggle, if needed, to temper his intense attraction to her office assistant. He could man up to the tantalizing trial.

  Chapter Eight

  “Hide from him! Of all the bullshit!” Hollie muttered under her breath as she stomped back to her desk. Despite the heat wave, she wished she had worn her high-heeled boots so she could make a loud statement.

  Nick Welby knew exactly how much he had rattled her, and he also knew she couldn’t go ballistic since the boss was sitting right there. Hollie had been forced to stifle all the threats of harming his body parts.

  And hadn’t he enjoyed her misery? His slow, quirky smile said he’d gleaned every tormented, twisted word
she’d had to swallow.

  Wait until he came out, away from the boss. She’d a few choice things to say or maybe not. He was expecting her to be all fury. Hollie laughed out loud. Oh, she was going to enjoy making him squirm with her own dark, lustful looks. Two could play this game.

  In the meantime, she had been able to check out the T-shirt designer’s website now that she’d traced a Google match for the T-shirt. His website was called Earthbro. What a loser since the guy was all about violence.

  She really hoped she could find a connection to Angie and Maddy. The boss had said nothing, but Hollie knew she felt pressured not having any leads for Angie’s mom.

  Hollie was startled when the boss’ door opened. She had become engrossed in the hilarious chatter of the stoned gamer dudes and had lost track of time.

  Nick and Talley came out alone. Perfect. No barriers to her provoking the shredded dude with the boss in her office.

  Nick’s face had softened; his eyes were now clear as if he’d had an acupuncture treatment too. She didn’t know how Dr. Walters did it, but clearly the boss healed both the owners and the animals.

  Nick put on the whole macho guy thing, but Hollie had recognized at their first meeting that he was suffering from the effects of the war. He was hyper vigilant and tense. From her months on the street, she recognized his situational awareness; the compulsion to ensure the environment was safe. In her life, she had only worried about her own safety—much simpler than Nick and Talley’s burden of protecting others.

  At this moment, she lost her need to make him squirm. He looked relaxed. She was glad that Dr. Walters had given him relief from the pain.

  She jumped up from her chair. “Looks like Dr. Walters’ treatment helped.”

  Nick jolted in surprise.

  His reaction made her smile. Had he thought she would attack him? Since she had considered leveling him, she was amused.

  The tightness in his jaw and neck were gone. “Yeah, I don’t know how she does it, but the acupuncture really helps Talley relax.”