Page 43 of PenPal Hero

A series of incoming texts vibrated Holt’s phone. He lifted it to scan them. “Looks like your PDFs made it safely to the sheriff.” They’d made it to K&G Security, too, according to Foster’s latest message.

Jackson’s dark eyebrows rose. “How in the world did you?—?”

“He does some police work on the side,” Bonnie announced. “It’s kind of hush-hush. That’s all I know, and he probably won’t tell you any more than that.”

Though Jackson adopted an appropriate jaw-drop expression, the lack of intensity in his gaze made Holt suspect he wasn’t as surprised as he pretended to be. There was something about the manager of Yates Ranch that he hadn’t been able to put his finger on yet. Not necessarily anything bad, but the guy was definitely hiding something.

Holt waved his phone at Bonnie. “Sounds like the police are hatching a plan to draw your imposter birth parents out into the open.”

Jackson folded his arms. “So long as they don’t use my sister as bait.”

“Actually,” Holt drawled, returning his cell phone to his pocket, “I think their plan is to use both of us as bait.” He waved a finger between him and Bonnie. “At Alice and Zayden’s wedding, no less.” The ceremony would take place in less than a month.

“No!” Bonnie’s voice and expression were adamant. “A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. We’re not bringing our mess into their special day.”

“According to my higher ups,” Holt purposely left his employers’ names out of the equation. “Police Detective Zayden Wolfe has already agreed to it, which means my sister must’ve given them the green light.” Zayden would’ve otherwise nixed the entire plan.

“Lemme guess.” Jackson eyed his sister in irritation. “You’re going to be their maid of honor?”

“Yep.” Holt answered for her, “and I’ll be serving as their best man.” It meant he would get to stick to Bonnie like Velcro for most of the ceremony.

Jackson sat forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “What’s the plan?”

Holt waved his hands like a set of windshield wipers going in opposite directions. “Big, splashy engagement announcement in the local newspaper. And they’re relocating the wedding ceremony to a wide-open public venue — right smack in the middle of Town Square.”

Bonnie shuddered. “Zayden is going to hate that. Alice said he wanted a small, private wedding.”

“But he adores my sister to the moon and back,” Holt reminded, “and Big and Splashy are her two middle names.”

Bonnie gave a titter of agreement. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

He continued describing the updated wedding plans. “Ostentatious pair of white limousines. One for the bride and groom. The other for the rest of the wedding party. That will be us,” he informed Bonnie, in case she’d missed that part.

“So, the sheriff is isolating the two of you.” Jackson sounded furious. “Dangling you like blasted toys on a string, waiting for the cats to strike.”

“Sort of.” Holt shrugged as he prepared to unveil the beauty of the plan. “She and I won’t actually be in the second vehicle, though. A pair of undercover police will be posing as us.”

Jackson was only mildly appeased. “The real you will still be visible throughout the event. You’ll have to be, since it’s a real wedding and you’re really in it.”

There was just no pleasing the guy. Holt met his gaze levelly. “What’ll it take to get you on board?”

“I want a piece of the action.” Jackson’s jaw hardened. “My sister, my problem.”

“Whoa!” Bonnie came out of her seat with her hands raised.

He tugged her back down on the sofa beside him. “You know what I mean.”

“You meant it exactly how it sounded, mister.” She wrestled with him, giggling.

Jackson tossed Holt a long-suffering look. “This is brother abuse. I’ve got a witness.”

Holt pretended to examine his fingernails. “I see nothing, bro.”

Jackson shook his head in disgust. “No wonder they say love is blind.”

You would know. It was clear to Holt that Jackson was wrapped around his sister’s pinky finger. It was more than guilt about their mutual past driving him. He genuinely adored her.

As do I.

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