by Jodie Bailey
Based on things her brother, Jeremy, had told Holt in casual conversations, Blair wouldn’t hurt a fly. From the hailstorm of bullets, Holt wasn’t so sure. Not exactly the same innocent-looking woman he’d observed at the storage auction this morning.
Either way, Holt had a job to do and Blair Sullivan’s sunny smile and warm eyes weren’t going to interfere. Jeremy, his criminal informant, and Bryan Livingston, his DEA colleague, were missing. The only connection between the disappearances was Alejandro Gonzalez, the right-hand man of the Juarez Mexican Cartel, who had last been seen in Hope.
Holt had jumped on the undercover assignment to investigate and hopefully find Agent Livingston and Jeremy alive. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to Jeremy. Not only was he his CI, but Holt had been mentoring him over a year after helping him get into rehab in Memphis.
Holt knelt over Blair. Blood slicked her cheek and neck, but the injury didn’t appear too bad. Next to her lay a Glock .380 auto. Slimline. Nice choice. It appeared Blair knew guns. But then, she’d been married to a criminal who trafficked them along with drugs. How could a woman who seemed so kind and gentle have gotten messed up with someone like Mateo Salvador?
Holt checked her pulse. Steady.
Blair’s long eyelashes fluttered and rose to reveal dazed eyes the color of medium-roasted coffee beans. Man, but she was beautiful. Get a grip, Holt. She’s a person of interest and you know her past. She shot up and skittered back. “Get away from me!” She searched along the ground frantically.
Holt raised her gun. “Looking for this?”
Terror pulsed in her eyes, and she held her hands up. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Then that makes two of us.” But trouble had reared its ugly head. Question was, had it come for her or because of her?
Easing into his cover, he pasted on a grin, hoping to disarm her. He needed Blair Sullivan to trust him. “I’m Holt Renard. Was on my way home when I came up behind that vehicle.” He’d been following her for two days, not that he wouldn’t recognize her. Jeremy had a few family photos on his mantel, and Holt had thoroughly examined the case files on Mateo Salvador. “Why were they shooting at you?”
Not that she’d tell him if she did know, but she was scared and it might tumble out. Had it been Alejandro in that SUV? Or Hector Salvador, her late husband’s brother and the head of the Colombian Salvador Cartel? Did he find out Blair was fraternizing with his greatest enemy? Was she playing both sides? Eyes that held goodness and honesty told him she wasn’t playing anyone. But looks could be deceiving.
Recognition lit her face. “I know you. You were at the auction today. Trying to outbid me. You’re Superman.”
Wow, she’d really nailed her head good. He’d been called a lot of things, but Superman wasn’t one of them. Had to admit, he kinda liked the idea. But reality smacked him with truth. Holt was no one’s hero. The one person he’d wanted to save most in his life, he couldn’t.
He cocked his head and contained his amusement.
She shook her head as if confused. “Did I say that out loud?”
“That I’m Superman? Yeah. You said that. And you’re right—I was at the auction today.” It had been a great place to blend in and study her without raising suspicion. He didn’t think she’d paid him a lick of attention. Apparently, she had. He clasped her hands and helped her to her feet. She swayed a bit, and he steadied her. “Got a name?” he asked.
“Gigi!” Blair’s face flashed with panic, and she hobbled to her truck. She opened the passenger door, and Blair’s sister moaned and touched her head as she exited the vehicle. A small cut above her forehead oozed a few drops of blood. “You okay, G?”
Gigi nodded and then threw up in the field.
“We need to get her to a hospital.” Holt stepped closer.
Blair held Gigi’s hair away from her face and soothed her, stroking her back. Holt’s chest squeezed. Her soft voice and words of comfort to her sister moved him, not to mention she was ridiculously pretty. Fairly tall, even compared to his six-foot-three frame. Curvy where she should be, but delicate. Surely this woman wasn’t neck-deep in drug trafficking.
Gigi turned in his direction and moaned. “Naturally, the guy with the eyes would see me ralph.”
Holt chuckled. “If it makes you feel any better, you did it gracefully.”
“It doesn’t.”
Blair smirked, then sobered. “I want to get out of here.” She looked at Holt. “Blair. Sullivan. And this is my sister—”
“Gigi. Yeah I got that. Seems you might need a little medical attention.” He pointed to her head.
She touched it and sighed. “It’s not that bad. Thank you for checking on us.”
Not that Holt came to their aid to get close to Blair, but he did hope it might be an open door to gain her confidence. Whether she was involved with the cartel or not, Blair could be the key to helping him find Jeremy and Bryan. And time was not on his side.
“What happened? Who were those crazies?” Gigi took the water bottle Blair gave her and swished some water in her mouth before spitting it out and climbing back inside the truck.
“Yeah, who were those crazies?” Holt asked, frowning. Blair had no business driving after knocking her head like that.
Blair shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m not sticking around in case they decide to come back and introduce themselves. Thanks again for your help.”
“Yeah, thanks, Mr. Hollywood.” Gigi smiled and then winced.
“It’s Holt, in case the head injury has you confused.” With all the acting he was about to do, Hollywood fit much better than Superman.
Blair leaned out her driver’s-side window. She looked too petite to be driving this bulky thing. But clearly, the woman was strong. And brave. “Had you not shown up when you did, I don’t know what would have happened. You must have scared them off.”
Holt studied her, searching her eyes for answers to what might have actually gone wrong. Nothing there but terror and confusion. “I guess I did.” It took squeezing off a few rounds himself. Relieved Blair didn’t realize he’d used his weapon, he relaxed his shoulders. “You sure you’re okay to drive? I can give you a lift to the hospital, and we can come back for your truck later.”
Blair’s face blanched.
Did she not plan on seeking medical attention? Not if she didn’t want questions raised.
“I can manage,” Blair finally said. “Besides, my stuff’s in the back and I’m not leaving it.” She narrowed her eyes. “We’ll be fine.”
Holt couldn’t blame Blair for being suspicious of him, but he’d have to remedy it. Quick. If saving her life didn’t get him in her good graces, he wasn’t sure what would. Charm? He could lay that on pretty thick when necessary, but something about the way she’d carried herself and avoided eye contact with him at the storage auction said charm wasn’t the way to go to win her trust.
Honesty might be the ticket. But that was one thing he couldn’t give. Came with the territory. “You sure?”
“Positive. Thanks again.” That was her polite Southern belle dismissal.
“Okay.” He ambled toward his truck with no intention of letting them out of his sight. Blair cranked the engine and it sputtered to life. She pulled through the tall grass and back onto the road from the shallow ditch. Holt followed at a distance, hoping not to further scare them, but this was the only way into town, and he wanted to make sure they were safe.
As he suspected, they went straight to their home. No medical attention. He clambered out of his truck.
“Why are you following us?” Blair demanded.
He held his hands up in surrender. “You took a whack to the head. Just wanted to make sure you got safely home.”
“Well, we did.”
Holt turned to Gigi, who was tottering
out of the truck. He rushed to help her. “How do you feel?”
“Like I got hit by a truck.”
Holt winked. “Imagine that. Are you not going to the hospital? You really should.”
Blair came around and slipped in between Holt and Gigi, creating a protective barrier. “I can take it from here.” She shifted her eyes toward Gigi and studied her sister’s face, as if she were in a battle about whether she should go or not.
“I feel woozy, Blair.”
Blair sighed. “We’ll go see Doc Drummond.”
Ah. The local doctor. “What about the police?” he asked. Didn’t matter to him as much as them receiving some medical care. Better if she didn’t call the police. They’d only get in his way. Besides, based on the homework he’d done on the town, the sheriff was recovering at home from a stroke and the deputy chief was in charge. He was only a year younger than Holt’s thirty-two years. Probably didn’t know diddly-squat. This town barely had two thousand residents. Biggest crime might be cow tipping.
Then again, Alejandro Gonzalez had been spotted here by Agent Livingston, so who knew what was going on? A place like this wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar. Could Alejandro have been meeting the head of the Juarez Cartel? No one had ever seen his face before. Which meant he could be hiding right under their noses.
Did Blair know who he was? Was that why she’d moved here after her husband had been gunned down by the Juarez Cartel? Had she been in on Mateo’s execution? Or had the head of the snake moved here to lie in wait and strike at Blair as a move against her former brother-in-law, Hector Salvador?
Too many questions clogging the wheel. Holt inhaled and exhaled, concentrating on the here and now.
“I’ll call the police once I get my sister to Doc Drummond’s.” Her tone didn’t sound convincing, and her eyes shifted before she looked away. Nope. She wasn’t calling anyone. Seemed odd for someone innocent. “Let me drive you. I know you managed to drive home, but neither of you seem to be in any shape to be behind a wheel.” It killed Holt to see a hurting woman. A stray thought of his high school love crashed into his mind. She’d hurt for so long before the cancer took her, ruining all their dreams for a future together.
But he didn’t want to think about it. Thinking meant feeling. And Holt didn’t want to feel. Not even right now while looking at the lovely Blair Sullivan. He was feeling something. Something he shouldn’t. She was an assignment. That was all.
Blair gnawed her bottom lip. “I think we’ll be okay.”
Gigi was already walking toward his truck. “Do you know where Doc Drummond’s office is?”
“I just moved here, but it’s a small town. In fact, it appears you and I are neighbors. I rented the McCowens’ house across the street.”
“Cool.” Gigi climbed inside the Ford F-150 he was using as his cover vehicle. “You have a head injury, Blair. I don’t want to wreck for the second time today. So get in.”
Blair hesitated and chewed on her thumbnail as if considering the offer. “So you live across the street.” She eyed him. “What brings you to Hope?”
“I’m opening up a used outdoorsman store. Kind of a dream of mine. That’s why I was at the auction today. Trying to stock the place.” And the lies continued. Worst part of his job—especially if he was lying to someone innocent. He wasn’t sure she was, but he wanted her to be.
Blair scowled at Gigi, who had taken up homestead in his truck. “And where is your business?”
Okay, this might be a little too coincidental, but he’d make it work. “Only place I could find for the right price. I leased a building on the square. Right by what appears to be your shop.” He pointed to her bulky box truck. The side was painted with a huge Christmas tree, and the name of her business was scrolled in red: It’s A Wonderful Life Antiques. “Guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other, neighbor.”
Blair didn’t budge. She wasn’t buying it. The woman was tough. Smart. If she wasn’t a person of interest professionally, he’d admit she was definitely someone he’d like to get to know personally. But nothing serious. Holt’s heart couldn’t afford to do serious.
“Don’t worry, I won’t come knocking for a cup of sugar. I don’t bake.” If Holt could put her at ease, lower her guard, he could get close. At this rate, he wasn’t getting nearer than arm’s length, and that wasn’t good enough.
“Neither does she,” Gigi called from the cab of the truck. “My head hurts. Let’s go.”
Blair stepped forward and froze. “My gun! Where’s my gun?”
“I have it. You weren’t exactly thinking clearly back there.”
“I’d like it back before I go anywhere with you.” Her tone was laced with suspicion, caution.
Holt slipped it from his waistband and handed it to her. “What are you doing carrying a gun?”
“Why does anyone carry a gun? And I live in the South.” She grabbed her purse from her truck, tucked her gun inside, locked the doors and slowly made her way to his truck. He hoped she had a license to carry a concealed weapon. “Gigi, get out. I’ll take the middle.”
Safeguarding her little sister from the mysterious and probably—in Blair’s eyes—dangerous man. Something about her fierce protectiveness unraveled a cord he’d kept a tight rein over.
No doubt, this woman would sacrifice herself for her family. Whether she was the good guy or the bad. But which was she?
* * *
Blair sat next to Holt in Doc Drummond’s office, staring through the gold lettering painted across the large picture window announcing that this was indeed a doctor’s office. The heat filtering through the pane warmed her face.
“You doing all right?” Holt asked. He hadn’t budged since they entered. This man didn’t even know them. Why would he stick around like this?
“What do you think?” She hadn’t meant the question to come with a sting. “Sorry.” Blair lightly touched the bandaged area of her head where she’d hit it against the steering wheel. Thankfully, her hair covered it. She didn’t need the town asking a bunch of questions, although news traveled at warp speed, so they’d know about the wreck. Not the bullets, though. And she preferred to keep it that way.
Doc Drummond had bought her quick story, which wasn’t a lie, of losing control of the wheel and running off Farley Pass. She probably should have come here in the first place, but she’d been rattled and frightened. She’d wanted to get home. Safe.
Down the cobbled streets, neighbors bounced in and out of shops. Kids licked dripping ice-cream cones; friends laughed and peeked inside each other’s shopping bags. Vehicles lined the area in front of the regal courthouse.
Felicity Potts, the owner of Read It and Steep Bookstore and Tea Company, was sweeping the welcome mat. Blair caught her eye and she waved.
Blair waved back.
“Tea shop. How about I go over there and get a cup for you?” Holt asked.
Blair tried to see past Holt’s good looks to the kindness he showed. Was it real? When it came to men, her judgment stank. Mateo had proven that. “Are you going to get some for yourself, too?”
“Yeah, I don’t do tea.”
Blair smirked; couldn’t help it. “Chamomile.” She reached into her purse. “Let me get you some cash.”
He laid a hand over hers. “I got it. Be back in a minute.”
“Thank you. For the fourth time.”
“Five if you want to thank me for the drive over.” He swept his dark hair out of his eyes and left, jogging across the street.
Blair loved Felicity’s tea. She loved this town. Barely any crime. But today someone had tried to kill Blair and Gigi. Guilt wound her shoulders tight and drummed in her neck. She’d brought a can of worms to Hope. Somehow. Holt had asked her if she was going to call the police. It had almost sounded like he was testing her. Could the man buying her a cha
momile tea be behind the attack? His popping up seemed awfully suspicious, but he’d done nothing but help and be friendly.
Mateo had been friendly, too. Charming. Sweet. Fun. Look where that had gotten her.
She leaned her head against the glass and closed her eyes.
The door opened and a blast of heat sucked the cool air from the waiting area. “Blair Sullivan. What in the world happened to your head?”
Blair didn’t need to look up to know who was standing over her. The familiar sugary scent permeated the room as her voice tinkled. Riella Drummond. Doc’s wife. “G and I had a car accident on the way home from the auction today.” Blair opened her eyes to the most-well-put-together woman she’d ever seen. Hair worthy of shampoo commercials and naturally bronzed skin.
Riella sat next to her and laid her purse on a table filled with up-to-date magazines. “Do you need anything? I can have Sophia bring dinner over.”
Sophia, Riella’s housekeeper, made a mean enchilada dish, but Blair didn’t feel right about taking something for nothing, especially when nobody was dying. “No need for all the fuss. We’ll grab a bite at the Black-Eyed Pea if G feels up to it.”
“Ah. Well, I just came to bring my man something to eat. He missed lunch. You sure you don’t want anything? I have plenty.”
Blair inhaled the tangy scent of Italian food. She must have stopped in at Mangiare. Another reason Blair adored this town—the wide variety of ethnic groups represented here. And the variety of food choices because of it. It really was a wonderful life.
Until today.
“No, really. I’m fine and Gigi will need to get home soon anyway. She’ll probably want to lie down.”
Riella glanced outside. “You met the man who leased the store next to yours yet?”