Sweet Escapes: Romance Story Boxed Set

by Leighann Dobbs

  ‘This is all your fault,” he spat. “You and your boyfriend.” He jerked his head in Nick’s direction and waved the gun between Nick and Holly.

  Nick took a step towards Stan. “Really, how do you figure that, Stan?”

  Holly hoped Nick knew what he was doing. It didn’t seem like a wise move to provoke Stan in the state he was in.

  Stan snorted. “If it wasn’t for you putting ideas in her head, Holly would have come back to me, and all the jewelry, the house, and everything else would be mine!”

  Stan took a threatening step closer to Nick. In the heat of the argument he must have forgotten to pay attention to where he was pointing the gun. Holly saw it was aimed at the floor. Suddenly, Nick’s elbow shot out with lightning speed and connected with Stan’s nose. Stan dropped the gun and the jewelry, clutched his face, and crumpled to the floor.

  Holly flew into Nick’s arms. Bill jumped on Stan and wrenched his arms behind his back, securing them with his handcuffs.

  Nick looked down at Holly. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  Not trusting herself to speak, she simply nodded.

  “I thought you were going to stay in the car?” he said, reproachfully.

  Holly felt a blush creep into her cheeks. “I was afraid Stan would hurt you,” she confessed, “and I thought if I was here I might be able to stop him.”

  Nick brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. “You could have been hurt, Holly. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

  The sound of Bill making his call to the police saved Holly from further admonishment. They turned to look at Bill, Nick keeping a protective arm around her.

  “Well, I’d say that’s a job well done.” Bill leaned down and hauled Stan to his feet. “You know what Stan, I never really liked you all that much and now it seems you’ve sunken to a new low. I guess you’ll have a lot of time to think about the mistakes you’ve made in jail.” He headed for the door, pushing Stan in front of him.

  ***

  The police were quick to arrive and Holly felt a perverse pleasure in seeing them put Stan in the back of the police car. Bill quickly took control of the situation as the lead detective and soon the house was abuzz with people taking pictures and writing notes. They took Holly aside separately and asked a barrage of questions.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours, Holly, Bill and Nick stood in the living room watching the police pack up their gear.

  Nick turned to Bill. “You might want to take another look at the stolen car ring you were investigating a few months back. I think Stan was involved.”

  Holly felt her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “What?”

  “I did some more investigating after you ran into him, Holly, and I found some things linking him ... and Eve, to the ring.” Looking at her, his face turned sympathetic. “He was probably involved long before he left here.”

  Holly felt like she had been punched in the stomach. Stan had been involved in a stolen car ring ... with Eve, right under her nose, and she’d had no idea.

  “Well, that would explain his sudden departure and his desperation for money. We’ll find out the real story once we get a chance to talk to him,” Bill assured them. “I better head on out in one of the police cars. Looks like I’ll have a long night ahead of me. I’ll have one of the guys give me a ride home.”

  As Bill nodded a good-bye and headed out the door, Nick reached for Holly’s hand and pulled her over to him.

  Holly felt happy, happier than she had in years. “Nick, I think maybe we should talk about a few things ....” She let her voice trail off.

  “Yes, we should,” Nick replied with a teasing gleam in his eye. “By the way, what was all that ‘boyfriend’ stuff Stan was talking about upstairs anyway?”

  Chapter Six

  The outdoor tables at the Purple Finch Cafe were small but charming. Holly bit into her grilled cheese sandwich and let the warm, gooey cheese coat her taste buds. The late fall sun shone brightly, making it warm enough for Holly to bundle in a sweater and sit outside to enjoy her lunch break from the museum. She marveled at how perfect her life had become and let out a soft sigh of contentment.

  Her sigh turned into a full-blown smile and she glanced up to see Nick approaching the table. He came over and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

  “Enjoying lunch, I see.”

  “Umm … hmmm,” she mumbled around a mouth full of food.

  Nick sat opposite her and covered her hand with his, momentarily distracting her from eating. “I’m going to call my landlord today and give him my notice…. Are you sure about this?”

  Holly flipped her hand over, lacing her fingers through his. “Never been surer,” she said with confidence.

  In the several months since the whole business with Stan had happened, Holly and Nick had been inseparable. Rose had been right, Nick was nothing like Stan, and Holly had never been happier, but shuttling between his apartment and her house wasn’t the ideal situation so Holly had invited him to move in.

  “I’ll be starting art school next semester and my time will be pretty limited between my job at the art gallery and classes. If we don’t move in together, we may not be able to find any time to see each other,” she said with a laugh.

  A little sparrow landed on the sidewalk a couple of feet away. Holly untwined her hand from Nick’s long enough to break of a small piece from her bread crust and toss it on the ground in front of him. The bird immediately hopped over. Scooping up his prize, he retreated to a nearby tree branch to eat it.

  “I talked to Bill earlier today. It seems Stan has made a deal with the Attorney General. He’ll be giving them information about who else was in the car ring. Then they’ll be moving him out of state. I don’t think he’ll be bothering you anymore.”

  Holly waved her hand, dismissing any thought of Stan. She had made her peace with him and had even visited him in jail. He had been apologetic, but her feelings still didn’t warm towards him. She had moved on and Stan knew it.

  Nick stood up. “I have to get back, I’m working on a case and I have a lot to do today, but not enough so I couldn’t take a few minutes to see you.”

  He came around to her side of the table. This time her mouth wasn’t full of food and when he kissed her on the lips, she kissed him back. He let his lips linger for a while, then pulled back, tracing his finger down her cheek. “I’ll see you later tonight, right?”

  Holly felt a familiar warm glow starting in her center. “Of course.” Her voice sounded a little breathless, but then Nick’s kisses always made her sound that way.

  Holly leaned back and watched him walk away, marveling at how funny life was. Nine months ago, Stan’s leaving had turned her world upside down. She had been hurt, scared, and miserable, thinking she’d never be happy again. But what she had considered to be the worst thing to ever happen to her had actually turned out to be the best. It had given her the opportunity to have a second chance at happiness, and in the process she’d gained a new career, an education, and, most importantly ... love.

  The End.

  Passionate Vengeance

  Leighann Dobbs

  This is a work of fiction. None of it is real.

  All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.

  Passionate Vengeance

  Copyright © 2012 Leighann Dobbs

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under "fair use," without the express written permission of the author.

  Table Of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter One

  Ayla swore under her breath as the
heavy books clattered to the floor. Her mother always said she tried to do too much at once and something like this was usually the result. She bent down to retrieve them, her skirt riding up a little too high.

  "Let me help you with those."

  Ayla whirled around at the sound of the voice. Standing behind her was Seamus McDonough, the CEO and owner of the company she was currently working for. He was tall and, some might say, handsome. Dressed in a black turtleneck and black jeans, he was a powerful man both physically and professionally.

  Ayla glanced up at him and for a quick second her eyes narrowed in distaste, but she quickly covered that with a broad smile.

  "Th-thanks Mr. McDonough."

  "Oh, Please, just call me Seamus. We're not very formal here."

  He extended his hand out and Ayla had no choice but to offer hers in return. His handshake was firm and warm. Their eyes met and Ayla felt a warm tingle of electricity shoot through her.

  "Ayla Bannerman."

  Ayla noticed Seamus eyes glance towards her exposed thigh as he bent to help her retrieve the books. Nervously, she pulled on the hem of her skirt. She didn't need the likes of Seamus McDonough looking at her legs or any other part of her for that matter.

  "I see you have the System's Database Manuals here, that's quite a bit of reading."

  At first Ayla thought Seamus might be saying that with suspicion but a quick glance at him told her that he was merely trying to be conversational.

  "Yes, I've just started in the IT department and I thought it would be a good idea to familiarize myself with the internals of the software and databases here at McDonough International."

  "That's wonderful. I like seeing people take an interest in their job and the company." Seamus handed her the books and stood. "I hope you will feel free to call on me if you need anything - anything at all."

  His smile seemed genuine and Ayla was put off by his kindness. This was not what she had expected at all and it put her at a loss for words.

  "Well, it was a pleasure meeting you Ayla." Seamus turned to walk back down the hall. "I hope to be seeing you around."

  Ayla's eyes narrowed. Watching his broad shoulders recede down the hallway she replayed their conversation in her mind. She had thought he would be harsh and gruff, but the man she met tonight seemed gentle and kind. She had to admit she might have even felt a little attraction to him, but she pushed that thought from her mind. She knew that the real Seamus McDonough was ruthless and cunning - a liar and a thief.

  Ayla hoped her reactions didn't give away her true feelings, she needed Seamus to see her as just a regular employee doing her job because whatever she did, she couldn't let him know her real reason for hiring on at McDonough International.

  ***

  Ayla settled into her sofa with the Systems Database Manuals in front of her. It hadn't been difficult to smuggle them out of McDonough International, in fact no one even questioned her about the contents of her oversized tote bag.

  If she had been questioned, she would have simply said she wanted to study them at home so she could come up to speed quicker. But that was only partly true.

  She did want to "come up to speed" quicker but not so she could do a better job for the company. She wanted ... no needed ... to become very familiar with the systems so she could get access to certain files. Files that would help her get revenge for what Seamus McDonough had done to her father.

  Ayla's fists clenched as she remembered how hard her father had worked to develop the technology to make an environmentally friendly form of gasoline that could work with todays engines. It had been his life's work, his pride and joy.

  He had worked day and night on it. Often, Ayla would visit him at his office. She loved all the computers and test labs. In fact, it was these early memories that influenced her to become a computer engineer.

  Her dad didn't have the benefit of a lot of money, but what he did have was determination and drive. It took almost 8 years, but he was finally making a good amount of progress - enough to put the final touches in place and apply for a patent.

  But before he could do that, McDonough International announced their new product "GreenGas" ... the same exact technology that her father had worked so hard to develop. Somehow they had stolen her fathers documents and with their massive amounts of money and resources they had beaten him to the punch!

  Her father had been devastated. It had nearly killed him and had certainly killed his drive to research anything else. Her loving, happy father had turned into a bitter, angry man all because of McDonough International.

  Ayla's plan now was to use her skills as a computer whiz to search the McDonough International corporate databases to try to get some evidence of what they had done. She was well qualified for the job they had hired her for, in fact, she had won many awards and accolades for her work at various companies. But this time she would be using her skills for something a bit more personal. She would make Seamus McDonough pay for what he had done, even if it meant the end of her career.

  A wet tear slid down her face as she turned back to the manuals, determined to learn everything she could in order to avenge her father and bring Seamus McDonough to justice.

  Chapter Two

  Seamus gazed pensively across his desk, through the huge glass wall, into the computer lab. He hardly noticed the equipment, though the room was filled with the latest technology and most advanced computer systems. All he saw was Ayla - her deep red hair and flawless skin, a startling contrast to the stark walls and rows of computers.

  The tingling in his stomach surprised him. The truth was that he hadn't cared to look at a woman since his wife had been tragically killed 4 years earlier in a plane crash. But somehow, this one was different.

  She seemed so innocent and serene, perched on the lab bench, unaware of him watching her. Her luxurious hair spilled over her shoulders and Seamus wondered what it would be like to run his hands through it. Her business suit, though perfectly tailored, fit her just snug enough that Seamus caught himself imagining what might be discovered underneath it.

  "Uhh hmm..."

  Seamus was abruptly startled back to reality by his sister in the doorway.

  "I hate to interrupt your thoughts, but the investors are in the conference room and we really need you to give them an update."

  As CEO, Seamus was charged with the mundane task of giving investor updates and being the ëface" of the company. Victoria, his sister, ran the day to day operations of the company which had been founded by their grandfather before either of them had been born.

  Under their control, the company had flourished and this week the company was celebrating it's 50th anniversary. Victoria had arranged a media blitz and invited all the investors in for meetings. Later in the week, there would be a party including all 100 employees, the investors and, of course, various people from the media.

  ***

  Seamus gave one last wistful look into the lab. Victoria followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing. That red head was going to be a problem, she could already feel it. Her mouth pursed into a thin line, her mind already forming a plan to ensure the girl would not get in her way.

  ***

  Click. Click. Access Denied.

  The computer screen blinked it's warning at Ayla. She bit her bottom lip and tried another password.

  Restricted Access - Please Use Main Console.

  Main Console? Was there a main console somewhere that she hadn't been told about yet? Ayla was sure that the files she needed were stored in this particular area and she had to get access somehow.

  She heard the lab doors swoosh open behind her and she quickly switched screens on her computer.

  "Hey Ayla, I just wanted to check in and see if you had any questions before I head out for the day."

  Gordie, her trainer, was pleasant enough and quite knowledgable. Ayla was learning the ropes pretty quickly but fitting in her "real" work along with trying to find the evidence for her father was getting to be quite a ch
allenge. She had to maintain appearances long enough to get the job done, however.

  "Oh, great! I think I have a good handle on what you've shown me so far, but I actually do have a couple questions," Ayla smiled up at Gordie.

  "I'm here to answer, so shoot!"

  "The last company that I worked at had different levels of security for the databases. There was the common data area that everyone could access, then the systems programs that required a specific clearance and then the sensitive company materials that only certain people could access."

  "We have a similar setup," Gordie nodded, "The common files are stored in here and the employees can access with their passwords. Then the systems files can only be accessed by administrators like us. There's a more secure area with sensitive technology that can only be accessed from the terminal inside the Beta lab."

  Bingo!

  "Has anyone shown you the Beta lab yet?"

  Ayla shook her head, "No, not yet."

  "I have a few minutes before I have to leave, I'll take you over," Gordie made his way out of the lab, "We'll stop by security first to make sure your badge has the appropriate access".

  Chapter Three

  Ayla's heels clacked on the polished tiles as they made their way down the basement corridor to the Beta lab.

  Gordie stopped in front of a nondescript door and motioned for Ayla to try her badge in the card reader. The door clicked open and Ayla stepped into the core processing lab for McDonough International.

  "We keep this located down here because it houses the most sensitive data and computers for the company." Gordie spread his arms to indicate the rows of computers glowing in the dim light, "We don't really need to come here much so it's not too inconvenient for us".