Holden took a slow step back. And damn her, but she wanted to pull him back again.
“I’m staying,” Holden said, no hesitation in his words.
Jesse looked at Holden before studying Clara’s face. Even though Holden was his best friend, Clara knew he’d only leave her with him if he knew she was okay.
She gave a small nod before moving around the island and lifting to her toes to kiss her brother. “I’ll call if I need anything.”
“Good.” He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.
When they finally separated, he shook Holden’s hand, and the two men shared a look she couldn’t decipher before her brother left.
Then it was just her and Holden…and suddenly she was nervous. Scared that she’d wrap her arms around him and not let him go.
She took a few big steps back. “I might, um, take a bath.”
He nodded, watching her so closely that she wanted to squirm. “Call me if you need anything.”
Nope. She wouldn’t be needing a thing.
She turned and walked quickly, almostranout. The second she reached her bedroom, she closed the door and let her breath rush out.
Time. She needed some time to trust Holden again. Shecould notjust fold because he was here, and he was beautiful and strong and he smelled really good.
In the bathroom, she turned on the tap and undressed. Once a candle was lit and the lights were off, she sank into the tub.
Usually, a warm bath relaxed her. But tonight? Tonight her body was tight and stressed and she couldn’t sit still.
She leaned back and closed her eyes, trying to allow the tension to ease from her body.
It did nothing. Diddly-squat. Absolutely no relaxing happening here.
Maybe some magnesium flakes would help.
She reached for the jar on the counter but accidentally knocked it off. The glass hit the floor and shattered.
She gasped—and that gasp turned into a cry when the door flew open and Holden charged in, fury on his face.
Holden placedthe almond croissant on a plate with some cucumber sticks, hummus, and olives. Aspen had dropped off the croissants and he’d found the rest in Clara’s fridge.
Thank fuck she’d let him stay. If she hadn’t, he wouldn’t have slept. Not one damn minute. Someone had broken into her house.Attackedher.
His feet itched to go out and find the person. Show them exactly what happened when they lay their hands on his woman.
Was Clara right? Was this person a woman? Who? Someone from the hospital? Briar? Helen? Deb? Hell, there were dozens of women who worked there, it could be anyone. Was it someone who was working with Malcolm, or trying to protect him?
They needed answers and they needed them now.
Jesse had told him that Malcolm was temporarily suspended from practicing until everything was sorted out. All the sick patients were his. Not only that, but he didn’t have an alibi for the night Scarlett was murdered.
Holden was about to head to the bedroom when his phone rang, Briar’s name on the screen.
He tensed, considered not answering, but…fuck. He was still in the middle of her kitchen renovation.
“Hey, Briar.”
“Hi! I just wanted to call to let you know I paid the final installment for the kitchen.”
“Great. I’ll start installation next week.”
