Good heavens. Were all the Holt men gorgeous or just the few I’d met? If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it at least a dozen times. The powers above had blessed the Holt men with good looks and panty-dropping sex appeal.
“You must be Priest,” Asher held his hand out to Priest, then turned to Cameron, “and you’re Cameron. Nice to meet you.”
They shook hands, and led me to the passenger seat of the SUV while the three guys climbed in the back.
“Everyone, that’s Bauer.”
We all said hello, but it was half-hearted because the smell of spicy breakfast food filled the cabin.
“Declan called and said y’all only had the crap the plane comes stocked with so we brought sustenance. Hope you like it spicy.”
I held back gimme hands but just barely. As soon as the foil and parchment-wrapped burrito hit my palm, I opened it, sniffing the spicy, eggy, sausagey goodness.
“Oh! There’s cheese too,” I mumbled in appreciation, dancing in my seat.
“Ash, does she remind you of anyone?”
“Declan, when Nana cooks.”
They laughed. All four of them, but I didn’t care. The Tex-Mex flavors bursting in my mouth beat anything I’d eaten since the last time the concert stopped in the Lone Star State. The guys talked around me while I focused on the food and the cold, fizzy soda Asher opened and handed me.
When we pulled up to the hospital parking lot, Asher handed me a box. “Oh! I almost forgot. This package arrived for you.”
“What is it?”
“No clue. The delivery driver pulled up to the gate as we were leaving.”
I also had no clue. No one knew I was coming to Nashville. No one knew enough to connect me to the twins who picked us up. It was a tiny one.Ididn’t even know there was a connection.
“Thank you.”
The brown box didn’t give me any clues. I thought about opening it, but the vehicle slowed to a stop, and the back doors opened, then mine did. I turned to see Priest in the door opening, smiling with his hand out, taking the package from me before helping me exit the car.
Anxiety struck as soon as my feet hit the ground. Gavin texted throughout the night, but the updates were few and far between. Daddy had a massive heart attack. He needed surgery, but they were holding off until he was a bit stronger. Other than that, I didn’t know what awaited me inside, and it hit me.
With Priest on one side carrying my package and Cameron on the other with my bag, both of which I tried taking off their hands, only to be ignored in the nicest way possible, we walked into the hospital. Luckily, our bellies were full, and I had a bit more pep in my step than when I got off the plane, but I was still exhausted beyond comprehension.
Looking around, the anxiety I already felt doubled. I had no idea where to go. Taking a deep breath, I approached the man at the visitor’s desk, but Priest and Cameron placed their hands on the small of my back and guided me past him toward the elevators.
“Do Marines just know things, or have y’all been here before?”
Cameron laughed, but it was Priest who answered.
“We were Recon, ma’am, but Hayden and Declan spent the night arranging things for us. They made sure Bauer and Asher picked us up with food in tow, and they sent your dad’s room number to us.”
Tears flooded my gaze. Could they truly be this good? Could they be the guys I’d always hoped for?
When the elevator doors swooshed open, Gavin stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall opposite the bank of elevators. I didn’t tell him I had an entourage accompanying me. I hadn’t been in the mood for the inquisition, but seeing his face light up when our eyes met, only for his mouth to fall open when he took in Priest and Cameron flanking me, brightened my mood and day tenfold.
Until he opened his big, stupid mouth.
“Holy hell, Squirt! You went out and found yourself two fine as frog hair Daddies.”
Flames engulfed my face as anxiety-ridden embarrassment clawed its way through my body. Before I could respond, Priest stepped forward, pressing himself into Gavin’s personal space.
“Boy, I know you didn’t announce her business to the world without any thought as to what you said?”
Gone was the happy-go-lucky cut up I’d been getting to know over the last few days. In his place stood the scary gunnery sergeant who made Marines in his command pee their pants, everyone said he was. I hadn’t seen it, not even when I listened to all the Marines on Katie and Jackson’s detail swap stories from the fringes. Priest always smiled. Always. Sarcastic, funny one-liners and observations I pictured perfectly, but not this. Gavin was several inches taller, pounds heavier, and more muscled, but Priest didn’t seem phased.
