CHAPTER 28
The ringing of a phone cut through the room, jolting Holden from dead asleep to wide awake.
His eyes shot open. Clara was the first thing he saw. Her hair was splayed over his chest, her cheek lying right over his heart.
Then he looked at the sun piercing through the curtains. He’d slept in. He never slept in.
Gently, he slid out from under her. When a soft hum slipped from her chest, he almost ignored the call and lay back down.
But the call could be important. Itbetterbe.
He stood and lifted his phone to see Deb’s name on the screen.
So probably not that important.
With a sigh, he stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door with a soft click before answering the call.
“Deb, is everything okay?”
“Hi, Holden. Sorry to call so early, but I went to leave today and the lock you installed won’t engage properly. It’s happened a couple of times, but I’ve always managed to get it. Today, I just can’t seem to make it lock at all, and I’m late for work.”
Holden ran his fingers through his hair. “It could be that the strike plate isn’t aligned properly, but that’s something I would have picked up on at installation.”
“Is there any chance you’re free now to come by? I really need to get going.”
Footsteps sounded behind him. Then warm arms curled around his waist and a cheek pressed to his back.
Fuck, he loved it when Clara was close.
He set a hand over her smaller one. “I can be there in ten.”
A relieved sigh sounded over the line. “Thank you. I’ll let work know I’ll be late.”
Holden hung up and turned, his arms going around Clara’s waist.
She looked up at him. “Is everything okay?”
“Something’s wrong with Deb’s door. I need to run over and fix it so she can get to work.” He hated the idea of leaving her alone though. “Maybe you should come?”
“Holden, I need to get ready. It’s the Amber Ridge street party today.”
“We’re not due to get there until ten.”
“Exactly. And before then I need to shower and wash my hair and dry it. I have to choose something to wear. Do my makeup…”
He frowned. “We’re just going for a couple of hours.”
“Don’t you want me to look pretty?”
He could have laughed. “You are always the most beautiful woman in every room.”
“Pfft. You have to say that.”
“I don’t. And I don’t like leaving you alone.”
“I’ll lock the door. I’ll be fine.”
He still didn’t like it. “On one condition. You call me at the first sign of trouble.”
