Page 34 of A Christmas Auction

“Absolutely not!” I said at the same time Colin did.

At least we agreed on something.

“We’ll go back to the hotel so I can take care of you…” he attempted.

I was just about to lose my fucking mind on him when Holly shook her head. “No, I think I need to be on my own.”

“Actually, with a head injury, my medical suggestion is for you to be watched at all times. Even if you didn’t pass out, you were hit pretty hard and that’s a nasty bump. I need someone to keep an eye on you all night, waking you every two hours to ensure you don’t have a concussion. Unless of course you’re amenable to going to the hospital and being checked…”

“Jesus, this situation is getting worse by the minute, Colin,” said a dark-haired woman I hadn’t seen before. She was wearing a black satin strapless gown. “We’ve already got the press all over the woman attacking your date and then you being tackled by your security team while women act like piranhas having just been fed a juicy steak for the first time. We have to get on topof this. You don’t have the time to play nursemaid to some gold-digger,” she snapped.

“Who the fuck are you?” I stood, putting myself between Holly and this bitch.

“I’m Carmen Deetz, his manager. You must be the date’s security. Can you get her out of here without anyone seeing her?”

“Gladly,” I rumbled as Holly stood and put her hands on my back.

“Bruno, please don’t make the situation worse,” Holly pleaded in a low whiney voice I hated.

I changed the subject. “You said there was a back private entrance?”

“Carmen, I need to make sure Holly’s okay. She’s my date, and this is all my fault,” Colin explained.

“No, you need to get out there, make sure you’ve met the expectations of your movie producers by making a speech, donating a million dollars to the charity you chose, and soaking up all the good press. You need it more now, after that debacle out front.” Carmen glanced at me and then at Holly. “Besides, it looks like she’s being taken care of just fine to me.”

“Agreed,” I shifted to put my arm around Holly. “Let’s get you settled in our room where I can keep an eye on you.”

“Our room?” Colin blurted. “I booked you a separate one on the floor below us.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to work for me. Read your contract. Security stays in the same suite, or in this case, room, as the candidate.”

“Candidate?” Carmen asked.

“You’re her security guy, not her boyfriend. Don’t you think that’s overdoing it a bit?”

“After what you just put her through, I’m not about to take any chances with her life. And since you just put her on themedia’s radar, and that of your deranged fans, the closer I am to Holly, the better. Now get out of my way.”

“Bruno…” Holly dug her nails into my bicep. “Don’t be rude.”

“This is me being nice,” I snapped and dragged her past an agitated Colin, who was raking his fingers through his hair and looking at Holly as though she was his long-lost puppy. One that had somehow found a new owner.

“I’ll call you when this is over, Holly, I swear. We’ll work it out!” Colin called out.

“Don’t hold your fucking breath,” I grumbled as I followed the hotel attendant to a back exit. There was a shiny black limo already waiting.

I scanned the street and was relieved when I didn’t see a single photographer. Quickly, I hustled Holly into the limo, slid in beside her, and told the driver to get the hell out of dodge.

We were off without anyone being the wiser.

Chapter 12

Bacon Cheeseburgers and Home Alone

HOLLY

My forehead throbbed so hard I swore I could feel the beat within my eyes. Bruno hadn’t said a word on the limo ride back to the hotel. Fury pumped off his frame in tsunami level tidal waves. I was almost nervous to interrupt the cataclysmic brood he was stewing in, for fear of him going off like a volcano blast, but that wasn’t who we were. We would be talking about all of this, but I, too, needed some quiet time to pour through my feelings on all that occurred.

When we made it to the room Colin had reserved for me, Bruno didn’t ask to stay. He simply ushered me inside and locked the door. I ignored him, found the shopping bags Colin had left for me with essentials, and slipped into the bathroom. I pawed through the items finding a dress for tomorrow, a makeup kit from some designer I’d never heard of, likely because I bought my makeup at Target, and sandals. Another smaller bag held a brand-new bra and panty set. When I thought about it, buying lingerie for someone you haven’t even kissed yet was rather weird.

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