by Jill Shalvis
From behind the counter where she was getting the drinks, she heard a drip, drip, dripping. Looking around she saw nothing, but when she walked to the corner for more ice, the floor squished beneath her feet.
She tapped at the loose linoleum in the corner and water gushed in.
A leak! They had a leak!
Perfect!
“Look at this,” she said loudly, with probably far too much glee. “We’ll need to evacuate right away before the place floods.”
“Let me see that.” Lap dripping wet from the earlier mishap with Dora’s pitcher of water, the potential buyer came behind the counter. He squatted down, peeled back the flooring and frowned. “This is a terrible mess, it’s coming from—” He went into the kitchen, following the wetness along one wall to the back door, which he opened.
Holly, Dora and Riley all crowded for space in the doorway to watch.
Holly had accidentally left on the hose, hours ago now. Water was pooling against the building, seeping into the foundation.
Holly bit her lip and looked at Riley, who blew her a kiss. She laughed, then covered the sound with her hand.
“Would you look at that?” Dora asked sympathetically. “You know, I used to be a flooring contractor. That’s going to be a mess to fix, trust me.”
The man glared at her. “Expensive?”
“Oh, yeah. Astronomical.”
Grumbling, he stalked past them, out of the kitchen and into the main room again, where he tripped over Buster.
Buster lifted his nose and howled.
Holly would never know why he reacted that way, but she could have kissed him right on his sloppy wet mouth. Inspired, she wrinkled her nose. “Oh, no.”
“Oh, no—what?” the man asked. “What now?”
“I smell rotten eggs.”
“Hey, that’s lunch cooking,” Dora said.
“No.” Holly shook her head, trying not to laugh. “It’s natural gas. We have another leak, folks.”
“Another leak?” he squeaked. “As in you’ve had them before? That wasn’t disclosed to us by the Realtor.”
“At least the gas company always responds to us immediately,” Riley commented. “Especially after the last incident.”
“What?” The man swiped at his brow. “Oh, no. I think I smell it.”
“Evacuate!” Dora screeched into the room.
Bless the hearts of the people of Little Paradise. Every one of them, now Holly’s friends, leaped up and caused a nice little riot trying to get out of the café.
Holly watched, pride and love brimming from her heart. From behind, Riley slipped his hands around her waist and hugged her close.
“They like me,” she whispered.
“They love you. So do I.”
“I’ve finally found my home, haven’t I?”
He turned her to face him and kissed her. “Right here in my arms.”
HARLEQUIN DUETS
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7135-1
KISS ME, KATIE!
Copyright © 2000 by Jill Shalvis
HUG ME, HOLLY!
Copyright © 2000 by Jill Shalvis
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Table of Contents
Kiss Me, Katie!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Hug Me, Holly!
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11