by Sonya Weiss
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
He picked up the shoe and set it neatly in the closet. He darted a glance at the bed, then looked away.
“Making your bed will help you feel better,” Holly said.
Liam shook his head. “Stupid alarm.”
Holly was tempted to do it for him, but the therapist had warned her not to do the things that Liam needed to do. She deposited the bag she’d brought with her onto the bed. “There’s a new comic book in there. After you make your bed, you can sit on it and read.”
“Stupid bed.”
“I have to go, but I’ll be back in a couple of days, okay?”
“No. It’s not okay.”
Holly wanted to hug her brother, but most days he wasn’t receptive to being hugged or touched at all. “I’ll be back soon.” She walked out the door and down the hallway back to Mia’s office. She waited until Mia ended a phone call she was on.
“What happened with Liam’s alarm?”
“It went off this morning and he threw it across the room. Then he went back to sleep. He was late for work and had a tantrum right before he left. He’s okay, Holly.”
“I know, and I know it’s the way he processes things. I just wish there—”
“Was something more you could do.” Mia smiled in understanding. “I hear that from all the families.”
“Your brothers really haven’t spotted Burt lurking?”
“Nope. Not one sighting.”
“He’ll pop up eventually. He always does. Anyway, I’ll head to Jake’s and try to decide how to tell him the news that he’s going to be a father.”
“Maybe he’ll surprise you.”
Holly raised her eyebrows. “With his reputation, can you see Jake as a father?”
Mia made a face. “Honestly, I don’t know. Just remember, you have a place you can run if you need to.” She came around the desk to give her a warm hug. “Good luck with everything. Call me if you need me and I’ll be there.”
Holly told her good-bye and walked out to the parking lot to the gray sedan Jake had leased for her. She’d never had a nice car before much less driven a new one.
She’d felt like the drive to the home had flown by, but driving back to Jake’s house, the road seemed to stretch on. Her mind conjured up the different reactions he’d have to the news. Still mulling over the situation later when she parked the car in the driveway, Holly decided she’d tell Jake and get it over with. Like ripping off a bandage.
Bessie waved Holly into the kitchen the moment she set foot in the house. “I made braised short ribs for dinner. I’m afraid the— Holly?”
Holly heard her name but couldn’t respond as she made a mad dash into the bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach. She leaned back against the tub, waiting for a few seconds for the queasiness to pass before she chanced moving. When she was sure there wasn’t going to be a round two, she plucked a washcloth from the decorative basket on the counter and ran it under cold water. She pressed it against her forehead for a second, then to her flushed cheeks.
She brushed her teeth and was in the middle of rinsing her mouth when she noticed Bessie hovering in the hallway. The knowledge in the other woman’s eyes made Holly cringe. Was her pregnancy that easy to read?
“Does Jake know?” Bessie asked quietly.
“Not yet.” Holly didn’t bother to deny it. She retrieved her purse from where she’d dropped it, and dug out the pregnancy test. Clutching the box, she went into the kitchen and stuck it in the trashcan. “Please don’t mention it to him.”
“I won’t, honey. That’s none of my business.” Bessie’s small hand patted Holly in the middle of the back. “You look torn. Is there something I can do?”
“It’s…” Holly took a breath to pull herself together. “What if I would be a terrible mother? My life is so upside down and—”
“Thinking you’d be a terrible mother is fear talking,” Bessie pointed out. “But I’m willing to bet my life’s savings that you’ll be a great mom.”
Holly twisted her fingers together. “Jake is not going to be happy.”
“Well, this isn’t about him anymore. And it’s not about you, either. It’s about doing what’s best for that little one that’ll arrive one day.” Bessie squeezed Holly’s hand gently. “Everything will be okay.”
Hope sprang up in Holly. Maybe everything would be okay.
A cell phone on the counter rang, and Bessie excused herself to get it. Her gaze darted to Holly. “Yes, she is. Do you want to talk to— Oh. All right.” Bessie frowned at the phone. “Jake’s on his way. He never comes home this early.”
He knows. Holly panicked for a second before calming down. She’d just found out herself. He couldn’t know yet. “I would offer to help you with supper, but the smell of meat cooking…”
“I understand. My daughter couldn’t stand the scent of milk.” She smiled as if lost in the memory. “Why don’t you go relax until dinner? Once that baby is on the scene, you won’t be relaxing for a while, trust me.”
“Okay, thanks.” Holly went to retrieve the handheld computer that was supposedly company issue, but she hadn’t heard of any other employees receiving one. Jake had seemed so gruff at first and sometimes, he did act distant, but on the other hand, he was also kind and giving.
She tapped the screen to pull up her email and was thankful she was sitting down when she did so. The email from her uncle sucked all the oxygen from the room. The subject line was titled “good job.” Holly clicked it and read. With each line, she became more afraid until she reached the end. He was congratulating her on returning the drive and “taking” Jake instead. He wanted to meet to discuss how they could get millions, or “whatever we can” from Jake. The fear faded and anger took its place. Gripping the side of the device until her knuckles turned white, Holly wished there was a way to end her uncle’s threats once and for all.
She was still trying to decide the best way to do that when Jake walked into the living room. He didn’t look his usual picture of perfection. His tie was loosened, white dress shirt rumpled, hair mussed as if he’d run his fingers through it repeatedly.
“Hi.” Holly tilted her head back to smile up at him, the memory of last night still fresh in her mind. After they’d made love, she’d started to return to her bed, but Jake had wrapped his arm around her waist and they’d slept next to each other.
The look he gave her made Holly’s blood run cold. “What is it?”
“My study. Now.” He threaded his way around the sofa and disappeared down the hallway without waiting for her.
His expression could have been chiseled from a mountain for all the warmth it held. Inside his study, Holly closed the door behind her and leaned against it. “Jake?”
“What did you do with it?”
“Do with what?”
He slammed his hands down onto his desk. “Don’t play me, Holly. I know you took a drive from my office this morning. Someone saw you.”
“The drive on your desk?”
He nodded, his lips pulled into a tight line.
“Yes, I took it,” Holly said slowly, not understanding why he was so angry.
“Why?”
“Kate told me it had the new security set up on it, and she needed it. I gave it to her.” Kate was Jake’s head of security and the woman had been hateful to her from the second she’d stepped foot in the building until Holly had realized that Kate was in love with Jake. Once she’d realized that, she hadn’t taken any of Kate’s digs personally and avoided the woman as much as possible.
Jake unclipped his cell phone from his waist and hit a button. “Get Kate on the line. Now.” A few seconds later, he barked into the phone. “Did you tell Holly to get the drive from my desk?” He listened for a second, then disconnected. “She doesn’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Oh my God, Jake. She’s had it in for me from day one.”
“I want to see your pu
rse.”
“You want—” Holly marched from the office with Jake hot on her heels. Picking her purse up, she handed it to him and crossed her arms.
Turning the purse upside down over the coffee table, he dumped the contents out. Her wallet slid to the end of the table followed by a tube of lipstick, a small hairbrush, and the drive. Kate. “Jake, I didn’t—”
“Save it.” His voice was raw. “Don’t set foot in the company again.”
…
Cole had tried to warn him. He should have listened. Jake tapped his fingers on the bar and raised a finger, signaling for another shot. His fourth? Fifth?
He hadn’t wanted to find the drive on Holly. Before tonight, he’d warred between not trusting her and trusting her before realizing it didn’t matter. He was falling for her.
He’d thought that she cared for him at least a little and that she wasn’t pretending. That she didn’t want anything from him. How many times could he act stupid where Holly was concerned before he was officially declared a life-long resident of Idiotville? Maybe there was a group for that. Idiots United or something. He took out his cell phone and called Mason.
“Hey buddy! I’m a little—” He pinched his fingers together. “Wasted. Come get me. What chauffeur? Holly probably stole him. Fenced him. I gotta get him back, too.” He hung up and slipped the phone into his pocket, then tapped the bar again, but the bartender shook her head.
“Sorry. I’m cutting you off.” She took his shot glass.
“You’re a thief, too?”
The woman sighed. “Did you call a ride?”
“Nope.” Jake stood, and the damn room tried to tilt and throw him down. He put his hand on the bar. “Don’t let her steal you. Or this bar.”
“I won’t.” She reached across the bar and clutched his arm. “Wait here while I call someone for you.”
“No need. I have people.” Jake nodded and tapped a finger on the side of his head. “They’re coming.”
Several minutes later when Mason and his wife Olivia walked in, he jumped up and threw his arms around both of them. “People!”
“Oh no.” Olivia hooked her arm around his waist and after Mason tossed some bills on the counter, he did the same on the other side. Together, they half walked, half dragged Jake out to a waiting car.
Jake whistled. “Nice. I gotta get me one of these.”
Olivia opened the door, pressed her hand on the top of his head, and pushed him into the backseat.
Jake sat up, fumbled for the seatbelt, and then braced his hands on the seat. “It’s spinning.”
Mason gripped the steering wheel and lowered the rear window. “What the hell were you thinking? This isn’t you.”
Jake held up his index finger. “Holly is drunk.” He frowned, trying to think straight. “No, Holly is a thief.”
“Are you talking about her stealing the drive?” Olivia asked.
Jake smacked himself in the chest with his fist. “She’s trying to steal this.” His voice dropped to a shocked whisper. “She did steal it.”
He saw Olivia and Mason exchange a look, and he wanted to tell them not to feel sorry for him, but his tongue was thick, and his words wouldn’t stop slurring.
Chapter Fourteen
The look of disgust on Jake’s face was the final straw. Holly folded the last pair of jeans and stuck them in her suitcase, then closed it and set the case on the floor beside the bed. It was too late tonight to ask Mia to come and get her, but first thing in the morning, she’d do that.
When she heard voices in the driveway, Holly went to investigate. The front door swung open and Mason and Olivia helped Jake inside. It was clear Jake had too much to drink. He was going to have a hell of a headache tomorrow. While Mason dragged Jake down the hallway and to the bedroom, Olivia asked, “What happened?”
“Oh, you know. I stole a second drive and Jake flipped out about it.”
Olivia shook her head. “No, you didn’t. What really happened?”
Holly had only interacted with Olivia briefly at the company and was surprised that she was fierce in her denial. Hugging her arms around herself, Holly said, “Kate told me to get a drive from Jake’s desk. She said it had the new security setup on it. So I did what she said. When Jake called her, she denied all of that and he found the drive in my purse.”
“I’m sorry, Holly. She’s threatened by you,” Olivia said firmly. “You’re beautiful, kind, and Jake is into you. She’s jealous and upset because the break-in made her look bad.”
“He believed her without question when she lied, and he told me to stay away from the company.”
“Because the so-called evidence is pretty damning. Everything will get straightened out, and you’ll be back.”
Holly didn’t know if Olivia was asking or stating, but clarified, “I won’t. I’m leaving in the morning. Since Jake said he didn’t want me at the company, there’s no reason for me to be here.”
“Except the job isn’t finished,” Mason said as he joined them.
“I’m sure Jake won’t mind if I cut out,” Holly said.
“I mind. Stick around until we finish the security upgrades.”
“Kate isn’t going to allow—”
“Kate is gone. She just doesn’t know it yet,” Mason said with a fierceness that made Holly swallow.
“She’s a single mom and losing her job would be a hardship,” Holly said.
“You’re defending her?” Olivia asked with a smile that puzzled Holly.
“Not necessarily her, but for the sake of her kids, please don’t fire her.”
Mason gave her a contemplative look. “See me at the office first thing tomorrow and I’ll take care of this.” He nodded toward the hallway. “He’ll sleep it off, so he should be okay the rest of the night.” He went to the door.
“I’ll be right out,” Olivia told him. She took Holly’s hand. “Jake never gets drunk. I’ve never seen him lose control.”
“He thought his company was at risk and that I was responsible for it. Again.”
“This has nothing to do with the company and everything to do with you. I think Jake loves you.”
Holly’s lips twisted. Olivia was clearly mistaken. “I picked up on that in between his ‘stay the hell away from the company’ and his walking out.”
Olivia laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She turned to leave, then paused. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Holly locked up behind Olivia, then went to her bedroom, lost in thought. Mason and Olivia seemed to be fighting for her. Having someone side with her was new. Other than Mia, she’d never had anyone believe in her. She took a seat in the chair by the bed and tucked her feet up, wrapping her arm around her legs. Resting her chin on her knees, she realized she’d been a fool to even consider staying for one second. For even dreaming that she could. Jake would always think the worst of her.
…
The next morning, Jake was sure his head was coming off. When the alarm buzzed, the sound reverberated like a thousand steel-toed boots stomping around the room. He silenced it, and dozed off. An hour later, he jerked awake, sat up, and the pounding intensified. There was a reason he never got drunk and now he remembered why. The morning-after hangover wasn’t for wimps.
Climbing out of bed, he walked gingerly to the shower, trying not to let the heels of his feet connect with the floor since it made the pounding in his head worse. He’d gone to the bar to drink away the disappointment he’d felt after finding the drive in Holly’s purse, but the only one he was disappointed with was himself. He’d started to trust her, dammit, and she’d pulled the rug out from under him.
The heat from the shower relaxed his muscles but didn’t do a damn thing for his headache. Jake braced his hands against the shower wall and ducked his head under the spray. He deserved this morning from hell. What had he been thinking, getting involved with Holly? The real kick in the goods was that he’d started to genuinely care about her and dammit if she hadn’t shown her true c
olors again.
After his shower, Jake dressed in a somber suit to match his mood and went to the kitchen, coming face to face with Bessie. He held up a hand. “Don’t. Save it until after my head is finished exploding.”
She handed him a glass of water and a couple of headache tablets. “Mason called looking for you.”
He took the tablets and downed them with a sip of water. “Is Holly in her room?”
“She left for the office already.”
“Office? I told her to stay away from there.”
“I heard what happened. You were out of line and need to apologize to her.”
Jake grunted, took another sip of the water, and eyed her over the rim. He’d snort at the very idea if it wouldn’t make his eyeballs pop out from the pressure. He wasn’t the one in the wrong. He was just the fool who’d trusted the wrong woman.
He set the glass on the counter. “Thanks.” He located his sunglasses and put them on, then braved the outside. He drove like a little old man on the way to the company, but sudden moves made him feel ill.
As soon as he made it to the building, he went straight to Mason’s office. The second he stepped into the room, he removed his sunglasses. “I told Holly to stay away after I found out she took a second drive.” He looked around the office, finally noticing Olivia seated on the sofa against the windows.
She crossed her legs and shook her head at him. “Kate lied to Holly about what was on the drive. She had Holly get it, then slipped it into Holly’s purse.”
Jake frowned, looking at each of them in turn. “Why?”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Because Kate wants you.”
“Kate lied? Are you sure?”
“While you were still sleeping it off, Kate admitted to it when I confronted her,” Mason said. “Holly asked me not to fire Kate for her kids’ sake. She’s still here, but I’m not sure she needs to remain.”
The office phone rang and Mason answered, spoke for a few minutes, then hung up. “Someone from the private investigator’s office is here. Said he has some information for us.”