by Hart, Taylor
“No, Tom. You don’t have to do this,” Emily said, looking horrified.
Tom smiled at her. “It’s just a couple of pics, Ems.” Taking her hand, he led her down to the beach. “It’ll pay for your mom. Then you don’t have to worry about the bonus.”
Her face turned red. “No, Tom.”
“You can’t change my mind.”
It took a good hour to do a couple of poses for Stan. He wanted Tom to flex, front and back. He wanted to snap one of Tom’s Army tattoo. He wanted Tom to stare off into the ocean and told him a few other poses the guys at Station 3 would never let him live down.
All in all, it didn’t feel that degrading.
Emily stood on the edges of the shoot. Wearing her red one-piece, a white wrap around her legs, her sunglasses, and her wide-brimmed white hat, she looked beautiful. All he could do was think about a life with her. There were just a few more details to figure out before she went back to New York.
They boarded the little boat that would take them to a bigger boat out on the ocean, and Emily gave him the silent treatment. Tom didn’t particularly mind. He felt amazing that he’d gotten the pictures over with. Stretching his arms, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes, loving the feel of the ocean water misting around him.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Emily said, keeping her distance from him.
He scooted to her and put an arm around her. “Yes, you can,” he whispered, kissing her cheek.
She yanked back as if he’d burned her, tugging off her sunglasses. “Listen here, Tom Kent. Don’t do that. Don’t kiss me when I’m trying to talk to you. It makes me forget what I want to say, and I didn’t want you to.”
He knew she was just getting heated up, but he would have none of it. He took off his sunglasses and put his hands on her face. “Good.” He kissed her again. “I like it when you forget everything except me.”
Emily’s anger slipped. She smiled, and they left the issue behind them with the wake of the boat.
* * *
Later that night, as they walked on the beach, Tom obsessed over how they would arrange to be together. “My flight leaves in the morning tomorrow; I’m heading to San Diego to be with Zane for Christmas. Why don’t you come with me?”
Emily stared at the skyline. “Dang, these sunsets are really the best.” She grinned and leaned against his side. “Maybe you’ll bring me back later.”
“I was actually thinking maybe next time we come, we go to the Big Island. I hear it’s nice.” He bent and lightly kissed her. “So you’ll change your ticket and spend Christmas with me in San Diego? My brothers will be so happy.”
“I have a helicopter ride planned for tomorrow.”
“You do?” Maybe she had mentioned it before. He wasn’t sure.
“Brett paid for it, but he said it was a parting gift to me.”
“Oh.” Tom’s excitement faltered.
Gently, she touched his face. “Would you want to change your ticket and stay with me?”
“Wait, let me get this right. We’d be in Hawaii together … on Christmas Eve.”
She shrugged. “If you want to come with me on the helicopter ride. I was kinda thinking we could start discussing our plans for the future.”
All thoughts of Brett flew out the window, and Tom said, “I’d like nothing better.”
“Perfect.”
“Ems,” he said, knowing he had to get this out. “So you’ll come to Park City, right?”
She grinned. “You didn’t do the naked chest shots for any other reason, did you?”
“At least we know I can make some fast cash.”
Out of the blue, she stiffened and looked around. “I’m feeling that feeling.” Her face paled.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” She pointed to a house with large bushes. “Right there. There’s something.”
Despite his misgivings, Tom always did what needed to be done when there was trouble: he walked right into it. “Don’t worry.” He let her hand go and marched toward the bushes.
Behind the greenery crouched the dark-haired man from the wedding. The man stared back at them, then ran down the beach.
Tom sprinted after him, but the guy cut away into a side street and Tom ended up losing him.
Chapter 23
Emily still had that feeling from the beach. Tom had insisted they call the police and report everything, and of course, they had to notify hotel security as well. Yet even as she stood outside of her hotel room, in full make-out mode with Tom, she couldn’t shake the vague sense of dread.
Pulling back, Tom surveyed her face. “I’m staying with you tonight.”
“No,” she said stubbornly. “I’m not doing that. It’s silly.”
He saw right through her brave words. “Ems, I’ll take the couch.”
“No. I’m twenty-eight; I don’t need to have you scare away all the monsters.” Gently, she put a hand on his cheek.
Strumming a hand down her arm, he kissed her neck. “What if I want to scare away the monsters?”
She laughed reflexively and leaned into him. Her mind flashed to the guy running down the beach. “I don’t know what that guy wants.”
Tom sighed and kissed her hairline. “He’s a weirdo. In my profession, I see them all the time.” When Emily shivered, Tom put a hand to her forehead, pushing it back so he could look into her eyes. “Just let me stay. I don’t think either of us is going to get any sleep tonight whether I’m here or not.” He flashed a smile. “So I might as well be with you.”
“No. No, Tom.” She wouldn’t have him stay on principle. She was fine. She was just paranoid. “Please go.” Turning, she slipped her key in and pushed the door open.
Tom moved past her. He strode to the end of the room, opened the sliding door to check outside, looked under her bed, peeked into the closet, and examined the bathroom.
She smiled, and warmth filled her. “Thank you.”
At the door, he hesitated, putting his arm around her waist.
All the chemistry ignited between them again, and she thought about the slow burn that had warmed her insides since the first time she’d seen Tom Kent days ago.
“Please, let me stay.”
She wanted to, but she couldn’t mess up what they had. “Not tonight.”
He cringed, but relented. Before stepping out, he pressed his lips to her hand. “I’m calling you when I get to my room.”
“Now we can actually talk without you sneaking around.”
“I kinda liked sneaking around.” Leaning in, he kissed her softly.
“Me too, ninja guy.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
She laughed. “Go.”
“I’m calling you in less than a minute.” He took off into a jog down the hall and flung open the doorway to the stairs.
She laughed again and closed the door. Breathlessly, she made her way to the bathroom and evaluated her reflection, marveling at the color in her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes.
There was a knock at the door.
“Tom,” she laughed, “I said you couldn’t stay.” She returned to the door and flung it back.
But it wasn’t Tom.
The dark-haired man stood there with a gun pointed at her. “Come with me, and no one gets hurt.”
Chapter 24
Tom hadn’t even fully opened his door when he pressed her number and put the phone to his ear. Expecting Emily to answer on the first ring, he walked in and stopped by his bed, picking up the remote. He had some games to check.
But she didn’t answer, and she didn’t answer on ring four either. Unease bubbled in his gut. Throwing down the remote, he rushed out of the room, out the door, and back to the stairs. Had that guy from earlier followed them? Dang, he hadn’t even checked for tails.
Flinging open the door to her floor, he rushed to her room and heard her yell out, “Tom!”
His heart pounded like a hammer inside of his chest. Dan
g! He went back to the stairwell and rushed down, knowing he could beat the elevator. When he got to the first floor, he flung the door back and raced to the elevator.
But it was stalled on the second floor.
“Crap!” He didn’t know if the guy was trying to subvert him. Probably. Taking a chance, he raced up to the second floor and to the elevator while calling the police. Good thing he’d put that number on speed dial.
Now, the elevator was moving back to level one. He cursed and rushed back down, telling the operator that answered what had happened.
The elevator opened, and no one was there.
Going into action mode, Tom raced toward the front desk, spotting the security guard they’d seen earlier. “Someone took her!” he yelled, frantically looking around the lobby.
The guard rushed to him and began calling the other staff, explaining that a woman had been taken and what the woman and the assailant looked like.
Fear stoked the fires inside of him. No, he couldn’t lose her. At this point, he could only do something he’d done twice before, when he’d been under siege in Afghanistan and when he’d been standing by his mother’s bedside at the hospital and pleading for her life. He bowed his head and prayed.
It was a short prayer. “Lord, help me find her. Please.”
Flashing his eyes opened, he felt inspired to run out the front of the lobby to the parking lot. He did, and just in the nick of time, he saw Emily with her hands tied behind her back. The guy was trying to push her into a car, but Emily kicked him in the knee.
“Ems!” Tom rushed to the parking lot.
She swiveled and ran toward him. Alarm washed over her face. “He has a gun!”
Tom gritted his teeth. In a snap judgment call, he didn’t stop.
The guy had recovered from the kick and was running out of the resort, turning back to shoot.
Tom was too fast; he tackled him, noting it wasn’t hard. He pushed the guy to his back and straddled him, putting his hands over his head.
The sound of sirens split the air.
Tom kneed the guy in the gut. “You’re gonna pay.”
* * *
Less than an hour later, Emily lay enfolded in Tom’s arms. The police had reported the guy had been stalking several women, but it looked like she’d been the first he’d actually come after.
Tom was on the top of the covers, and she rested beneath them. They were in Tom’s room, and he was running his hand from her head to the tips of her fingers, the way someone would soothe an upset animal.
“I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “You knew right where I was.”
Bringing her closer, he pushed his face into her neck. “I can. I said a prayer in the lobby when I couldn’t find you.”
She turned back to him, and her eyes widened. “You said a prayer?”
“Yes.” He blinked. “And God told me.”
Chills washed over her.
He squeezed her. “Because it’s our time, Ems. Now. We are meant to be.”
She believed it. Tears ran down her face. She turned in his arms and leaned into his chest. “Tom, I was so scared.”
He kissed the side of her face. “I was too.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
She glanced up at him. “It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow.”
“Married by Christmas.” He grinned.
She sighed and traced a finger gently down his face from his eyes to his nose to his mouth. “How many times did we say that to each other?”
He shrugged. “A lot.”
Her eyes fluttered. “It was always the plan.”
Tom nodded and kissed her head. “Sleep, Ems. And maybe all our dreams will come true.”
“They already have.” She wanted this. She wanted this forever. Gripping him tighter, she knew they’d make it work.
* * *
The next morning, Emily was still sleeping, but there was something Tom had to do. After making a few texts to his brothers to let them know he wouldn’t be coming for Christmas, he quietly slipped out of the door. The hotel security stood next to the door, and they nodded at each other. Tom rushed for the elevators.
His phone buzzed. Pulling it out, he answered it. “Sup, G?”
“Hey,” Grant said. “You weren’t kidding when you said the house was a dump.”
Tom snorted. “You’re welcome for the hospitality.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t enjoy staying.”
“Are you gone now?”
Grant grunted. “Back in L.A., and the woman I’m meant for won’t speak to me.”
Tom laughed. “Sounds about right.”
“What’s going on? I saw your text about not being at Zane’s for Christmas. Dude, you’re going to get it.”
“I don’t care, ’cause …” Nervous angst wove through him. “I’m on my way to find a ring for Emily Times!”
“What?” Grant shouted in sudden excitement. “Are you kidding me?”
Tom beamed, practically buzzing with a cocktail of happiness and hope and things he hadn’t dared feel in a long time. “So—”
“How are you going to buy her the ring?”
“What? I don’t know. Finance it. I’m going to start small, and then we’ll upgrade as we go.”
“No, you’re not,” Grant said quickly. “Venmoing you now.”
Tom’s phone buzzed, and he stared at it in disbelief. There was ten grand. “No … I’m sending it back.”
“Bro, consider it a wedding gift.” Grant laughed. “I’m so happy for you!”
Tom swallowed his pride. Now he could get a decent ring for her and he wanted that. “Ah, fine. Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it. Say hi to Emily; I have to go.”
“Okay, bye.”
Tom got off the phone and rushed through the hotel lobby to the concierge desk. The owner of the resort was waiting for him. When he’d figured out what he wanted to do, he’d texted the security guard and asked him to have people in place.
The resort owner brought him to a jewelry shop and unlocked it for him. Tom peered at all the rings, feeling a bit unsure.
His phone dinged again and then again. Looking down, he saw he’d been given another ten thousand from Will and another ten thousand from Walker.
“What?” He was at a loss for words.
A text sounded, and he pressed the audio file. Sloane’s latest song, “Someone to Love,” blasted out. Then another ten grand from Sloane arrived, quickly followed by a text from Zane along with a full background check. Just be safe, bro. We got your back. But she’s good. Do it.
It was stupid, but Tom found himself blinking back tears.
“Sir, do you know what ring you would like?”
“Oh. Sorry.” Sucking in a breath, he cleared his head and let his eyes drift across the selection, settling on a diamond in the middle of a little shell setting. He thought about how Emily had oohed and ahhed over that shell ornament on the Christmas tree the other night. “That one.”
Zane sent another text. Next year, Christmas in Hawaii. Plan on all of us.
Tom laughed. Yes, Emily would love that. The resort owner agreed and wrapped up the ring for him. Tom paid, and then swung by another shop to pick up bagels and waters before rushing back to the room.
He fist-bumped the security guard and then went in. She was still sleeping.
Everything he’d ever wanted was right here in this room with him. Dang, he wanted this woman. He wanted her by tonight.
When she opened her eyes, he gently sat on the bed and kissed her head. She grinned at him. “You already got breakfast?” She sat up.
Hesitating, he ran a hand over her hair and peered into her eyes. “It’s Christmas tomorrow, Ems.”
She grinned. “I know.”
Gently, he pressed his lips to hers. The other part of his plan still had to come to fruition. “Let’s eat and get ready for the helicopter ride, if you’re still up for it?”
“I’m up for anything with you.
”
Tom could hardly wait. The little ring burned a hole in his pocket. “Good, because you just might get everything today.”
She gave him a confused look, but he just pulled her in and kissed her.
Chapter 25
As Emily sat in the helicopter, she couldn’t believe that she was here, with Tom. It confused her, because Tom was talking with the two helicopter guys for quite a long time. Then they were all laughing and slapping each other on the backs.
He climbed in and took her hand, beaming. “This is going to be great.”
That feeling came over her, the stupid one, but she didn’t want to admit it after last night.
Leaning over, he whispered in her ear. “If you’re having a premonition, don’t freak out. Just go with it.”
Excitement pulsed through her. “What are you up to, Tom?”
“I don’t know, Ems. We need a bit of Christmas magic still, but I think it’s all working out.”
The pilot came and handed them each a monstrous headset. He was doing final checks and giving them safety instructions.
Tom held her close and peered into her eyes as the pilot started the helo. “I love you, Ems.”
Emily thought of the crazy night they’d had last night. She grinned up at him. “When I saw you punch out that guy last night,” she said, squeezing his hand, “I realized I kinda do like the whole firefighter alpha thing you have going on.”
He winked at her. “I know you do.”
The helicopter pilot turned back. “Okay, folks, let’s take off.”
“Wait!”
Emily turned and couldn’t believe her eyes. Brett was running out to the helicopter with another security-looking guy with him.
Brett hopped on. “Emily!” He grinned and reached for her, though she didn’t reciprocate.
Tom puffed out his chest, making it harder for Brett to reach her.
Brett pulled back. “Who are you?”
The security guy pounded the helicopter. “You’re good to go.”