Holly’s blushed cheeks deepens to a shade of violet. ‘I, err, no. I’m just here on holiday. Visiting. I mean, er - walking my dog. Sorry for the interruption. I assure you it won’t happen again.’
‘No way. I feel like we’ve met before. I know you, I’m sure of it,’ Max muses, raking his fingers over his temple. ‘I never forget a pretty face.’
‘Yuck! It jizzed on my leg!’ Olivia wails, frantically gesturing to her calf.
Holly’s head whips round. ‘“It” didn’t jizz on your leg! “It” is a girl. And girls don’t do that kind of thing.’
My eyebrows rocket skywards.Liar.Girlsdodo that kind of thing.
And she is living proof of it.
Those startling azure eyes finally land on mine, and a flash of something flicks through them. I don’t doubt she’s conjuring up the exact same memories as me.
Her scarlet cheeks turn practically indigo. ‘Sorry for the intrusion, I swear we won’t bother you again.’
My face falls. Max doesn’t miss it, glancing between Holly’s retreating back and me.
‘Wait!’ he yells after her, his grey head darting between the two of us.
There’s a reason he’s in charge around here. In less than three seconds, he’s discovered my secret. That it was Holly’s arrival that enabled me to show the appropriate passion and enthusiasm to deliver my lines.
Holly’s head cranes over her shoulder. Her pace slows, but she doesn’t stop walking.
‘Wait, Miss… er…’ Max jogs after her.
‘Can we get back to it? My complexion is suffering in this dreadful climate,’ Olivia complains again.
My feet follow Max before I can think to stop them.
‘Holly, wait.’ My voice is rough with a need I don’t even pretend to hide.
Max glances between us again.
Holly’s feet slow to a standstill, and she turns slowly, a look of reluctance carved on her pretty features. ‘I swear, I didn’t know you were here. I’m not some crazy stalker. I was simply taking Tootsie for a walk, somewhere I thought would be quiet. Somewhere I thought nobody would see us. I had no idea you were up here.’
‘Believe me, I know you’re not a crazy stalker.’ It’s me who’s been driving past her house each day, not the other way round - worse luck.
What is it about this woman that draws me to her like a fucking magnet?
‘You guys know each other?’ Max struggles to catch up.
I say, ‘Yes,’ at the same time Holly says, ‘No.’
‘You have amazing chemistry.’ Max lets out a low whistle. ‘The second he spotted you, his entire demeanour transformed.’
‘Thanks for that.’ I shake my head and exhale a slow breath. So much for playing it cool.
‘Holly, is it? Great to meet you.’ Max takes her hand. When he pulls it to his lips to kiss the back of it, a tendon in my neck pulses erratically.
‘How do you feel about being an extra in a Hallmark movie?’
ChapterTwelve
HOLLY
You’d think given the week I’ve had, I’d be all shocked out by now.
And all blushed out.
