Mace held out his hand to Holly. “Ms. Holly, we welcome female riders as well. We’d be honored for you to join us.”
Holly took the man’s hand and pulled him in for a hug. “Thanks for helping me.”
The biker mounted his Harley and drove away.
Once Deputy Taylor had their statements, she gave them a ride back to the Crawdad Hole. “Do you need me to have a deputy positioned near your houseboat?” she asked.
“That won’t be necessary,” Simon said. “We’ll stop by for some of Holly’s things and stay the night at the boarding house.” He turned to Holly. “If that’s all right with you…?”
Holly nodded. “I don’t have the energy to argue or to stay awake all night wondering if someone will sabotage the boat while we sleep.”
Simon walked her to his truck and handed her up into the passenger seat. He stepped up onto the running board, leaned in and snapped her seatbelt in place.
“You know I can buckle my own seatbelt,” she whispered into his ear.
“I know,” he said, backing up just enough. “But this gives me an excuse to kiss you.” He pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.
Holly laced her hands behind his neck and deepened the kiss until they were both breathless. “Can we hurry by the houseboat? I’d like to get a shower and go to bed.” She kissed him again. “With you.”
Simon’s groin tightened. “We can make that happen.”
He closed her door, hurried around to the driver’s side and raced out of the parking lot, eager to get to the houseboat and back to the boarding house.
All the bullshit he’d imagined, convincing himself not to get involved with her, had flown out the back of the Fontenots’ truck. When he’d thought he might lose her for good, he’d realized he didn’t want to be without her.
As he drove out to the houseboat, she reached across the console and took his hand in hers.
He parked in the clearing and met Holly in front of the truck. They walked hand in hand to the dock and crossed the gangway to the houseboat.
Simon slid the key into the lock and pushed open the door. “Let me go first.”
Holly started to nod when a voice sounded from inside.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Lights flicked on, and Madam Gautier stood in the doorway, a frown creasing her forehead.
“Mémère? What are you doing here?” Holly asked. “Are you all right?”
Her grandmother shook her head. “I should be asking you the same. I hear the Fontenot boys tried to take off with you, and you all almost drowned.” She reached out with a gnarled hand and cupped Holly’s cheek. “This cannot continue.”
Holly covered her grandmother’s hand with her own. “I’m okay. I didn’t drown.”
Madam Gautier took her hand and stepped out onto the deck. “You must come with me.” She started across the gangway.
Holly stood fast. “I’m safe with Simon.”
Her grandmother looked back at them. “Both of you must come with me.”
“To your house?” Holly asked. “That’s not necessary. We weren’t going to stay here anyway. We’re going to the boarding house.”
“Madam Gautier, I blame myself for what happened tonight. I didn’t stay close enough to your granddaughter. I should’ve been at her side every minute.” He reached for Holly’s other hand. “But I promise I’ll stick to her like glue. The boarding house has security cameras. We’ll be safe there.”
The older woman shook her head. “Holly won’t be safe anywhere. You both need to come with me.” Her face hardened. “Now. No questions asked.”
When Holly opened her mouth, her grandmother held up her hand. “Trust me.”
Holly glanced from her grandmother to Simon.
