Free Holiday in Danger by Marie Carnay

by tomorrow morning?”
    He nodded. “Bright and early.”
    Holly hustled over to Hillary and gave her a quick hug. As she squeezed, she whispered in her ear. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
    Hillary nodded into her shoulder. “You better be.”
    Holly pulled back and flashed Ian a grin. “Ready?”
    “As always.” He held out his arm and she slipped hers into it. “I was thinking, instead of going home, how about we hit the beach? I bet you haven’t had a chance to take in the view since you’ve been back.”
    Holly waited as Ian pushed open the door before following him out into the afternoon sun. He was right. It’d been years since she’d stood on Midnight Cove’s beach. Years since she’d listened to the ocean and felt the water lap over her toes.
    What he didn’t know was that she’d stayed away for so many reasons. Fear. Hurt. Regret. She glanced at him, and his strong jaw and angled nose had her making up her mind. Maybe it was time to get over old wounds and make new memories. Starting with the view.
    She smiled as he glanced her way. “The beach sounds great. Let’s go.”
    * * *
    IAN

    Ian pulled into a parking spot overlooking the beach when the first raindrops hit the windshield. Before he could turn the engine off, the drops became a torrent. Water sluiced over the windows and turned the view into a blur of tan and blue. Gone was the ocean and the beach—everything. It was just the two of them. Alone.
    Holly shifted in the seat. “I guess the ocean will have to wait.”
    “I guess so.” Ian killed the engine. He should be chivalrous. Leave her alone and concentrate on her safety and protection. But that’s what Trent was for, right?
    Holly turned to stare out the passenger side window as the water poured down and Ian bit his cheek. Her dress had ridden up to expose a dangerous amount of thigh. All that creamy skin. Luscious and ripe for plunder. She crossed one leg over the other and the cotton of her dress caught between her legs. It formed a deep V and he wanted to dive into the chasm and lick away every single worry. Taste her desire and bring her over the edge.
    Fuck . He’d never expected her to come back into his life. And now that she had…Ian cleared his throat. “So why’d you stay away for so long? Ten years is a long time to never come home.”
    Holly snorted. “Midnight Cove isn’t home anymore. It’s just a place I used to live.”
    “How can you say that?”
    She turned to him and he could see the pain in her eyes. Dull and old, but still there. “Because my mother made it perfectly clear how much she wanted me to stay. It wasn’t much.”
    “But she’s gone, Holly. You shouldn’t let the past dictate your choices.”
    “I’m not. That’s why I’m back.”
    Ian wanted to believe her, but she’d made a point of staying away for so long. “So you two never patched it up?”
    Holly shrugged. “Not really. She married that rich guy. Forgot all about me. I didn’t even find out she’d died until after the funeral.”
    Damn . That was cold. “I’m sorry, Holly.”
    “Don’t be.” Holly sighed and turned back to the window. “Moving to LA was the best thing that ever happened to me. My dad and I made a new life. Started over.”
    “Does he still live there?”
    Her lip quivered and she shook her head. “He died last year. Sudden heart attack.”
    Oh . Ian frowned. “So you’re all alone now?”
    She swallowed. “I guess.”
    He should reach across the console and wrap her up in a hug. Kiss away the hurt and pain trapped inside her and make her feel something. Anything. She’d put on a brave front, shutting him down again and again. All week she’d been stoic and calm.
    He’d tried to talk to her, but she hadn’t been interested. Now that he’d gotten a foot in the door, he wasn’t going to waste it. She needed to know she was wanted. That she was home.
    She cut off his thoughts. “We should go. It doesn’t look like the rain is letting up