Page 4 of A Christmas Auction

A lovely name for knockout of a woman.

She blinked a few times, her brows furrowing as she assessed Alana. “It was you who stopped?”

Alana smiled and patted Holly’s arm while nodding.

“You saved me?” she croaked, her bottom lip trembling.

I gritted my teeth, hating seeing the emotional turmoil that flooded Holly’s face. Her eyes pooled with unshed tears.

Alana shook her head. “No,chérie, Bruno saved you.” She smiled and then shifted her body so Holly could see me better.

“Bruno?” Her tone sounded confused as she sought me out. The moment our gazes met, my heart started to pound an unfamiliar staccato beat.

I lifted my chin in recognition but didn’t dare approach. She’d been roughly attacked by two men. Seeing another unknown male could make her feel unsafe. Just witnessing her uncertain and fragile, lying in a hospital bed after being terrified and assaulted made me want to pound my fist into that drunkard’s face all over again. This time until he had no recognizable face left.

Holly shifted her body, wincing as Alana helped her raise the back of the bed, maneuvering her in a seated position.

“Thank you,” Holly said, her voice a bit raw. “For everything. I can only imagine what could have…” she shivered, and I could see her mind spinning with what might have been, had we not intervened.

“No,” I clipped, raising my hand in a stop speaking gesture. “No thanks needed. I’m glad you’re okay Miz…”

“Holly Knight. And you are?”

“Bruno Castellanos.” I filled a cup of water at the sink and handed it to Alana, still keeping my distance.

Alana offered Holly the cup, and she drank swiftly.

“Why were you on my side of town so late at night anyway?” Holly asked.

That’s when Alana’s lips shifted into that impish grin. I could already see the gears turning.

“Funny you should ask,chérie. I had planned on making a visit to your establishment tomorrow in fact.”

“To see me? Why?”

“To discuss a matter of great import. You remember when we first met, and you told me about your dreams to own your own bar in the heart of Las Vegas proper?”

Holly frowned, brought her hand up toward her forehead then stopped mid-air, seemingly noticing for the first time her hands were bandaged. She carefully lowered them to her lap.

“Um, kinda. Then you came in with your husband and we…”

“Discussed how all you needed was a large loan from the bank, but they wouldn’t approve you because you were unmarried with limited resources,” Alana finished.

Holly’s cheeks flared the prettiest shade of pink as her gaze flicked to mine, clearly embarrassed at Alana’s candor. Though she needn’t have been. Starting up a new business venture wasn’t easy. Especially when trying to go the bank loan route. Most banks wouldn’t take a risk, especially with a single individual without a proven track record for success.

“I couldn’t accept a loan from you. We barely know one another,” Holly countered.

“Agreed. However, I am willing to offer you a very coveted position within my own business that will provide you with all the capital you need to make your dreams come true. Call it a Christmas miracle if you wish.”

“I’m confused. You and your friend here, saved me from two men who wanted to hurt me in a way I likely would never recovery from, provided they didn’t kill me, and now you want to offer me an opportunity to make enough money to see my dreams come to fruition?” She looked at the medical equipment and the IV hanging above her bed. “They must be giving me the good drugs. I think I’m hallucinating.”

Alana chuckled, and it sounded like whimsical chimes blowing in the wind. “I assure you, you are not hallucinating.” She pulled out a matte black business card and set it on the end table nearest the bed. “I’m going to leave this here. When you are feeling better tomorrow, give me a call and we can discuss this further.”

“But I…”

“Oh my God! Holly!” a woman that looked almost identical to Holly screeched as she raced into the room. A stout man with grayish-blond hair followed not far behind, his face drawn in what could only be sorrow and fear.

The parents.

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