Page 9 of Snowed in with the Bodyguard

“That’s far enough,” he commands, his voice cold and unyielding.

I don’t answer. I move on instinct, raising my weapon. The shot rings out before I register the recoil, the gun smoking as the man crumples to the ground.

“Run,” I urge, gripping Holly’s hand tightly as we dart into the cover of the trees.

We need to get off the open trail that makes us easy targets. The snow will reveal our footsteps, but I’m counting on the rough terrain to give us some cover. As we move off the path, the mountainside dips, and I lead us down, hoping to find a spot where we can lose them.

Adrenaline thrums through me, sharpening my senses and fueling my every step. Holly stumbles beside me, her hand clutching mine as we weave through the trees. The uneven ground makes each step treacherous, but the urgency driving us leaves no room for hesitation.

We move deeper into the wilderness, and finally, we came upon a small cave nestled into the side of the mountain. It’s barely large enough to fit the two of us, but it’s shelter.

“In here,” I say, guiding Holly inside.

We duck inside, huddling close to conserve warmth, our breaths mingling in misty clouds in the cold air. Holly trembles beside me, whether from fear or the cold, I can’t be sure.

I shrug off my bag and set it down on the rocky floor. Rummaging through it, I find what I’m looking for: two energy bars. I hand one to Holly, who stares at it for a moment before taking it with shaking hands.

“Eat,” I tell her, unwrapping my bar. “You need to keep your strength up.”

She nods silently and takes a small bite. Her face twists slightly at the overly sweet taste, but she forces herself to chew and swallow. I do the same, the dry, sugary bar sticking to my teeth, but it’s better than nothing. We need the fuel if we’re going to keep moving.

The cave is cold, and the ground beneath us is unforgiving, but it’s a temporary reprieve from the relentless pursuit. I glance at Holly, her pale face illuminated by the faint light filtering in from the entrance.

She meets my gaze, her hazel eyes steady and determined as she whispers, “How long do you think we have?”

I take a deep breath, calculating. “Not long. They’ll figure out we left the main trail soon enough. But this buys us a little time.”

Holly nods, clutching the remains of her energy bar. “Do you think we’ll make it to the cabin?”

I meet her gaze and force a small, reassuring smile. “We will. I promise.”

“Thank you,” she says quietly.

“For what?”

“For not leaving me behind like my father.”

I see the hurt behind her eyes despite her low expectations of her father. Cupping her cheek, I smooth my thumb over her chilled skin. “I’ll never leave you, Hollyberry. You hear me?”

“Hollyberry?” she teases.

I shrug, suddenly uncomfortable. “Seems fitting. You’re tough, like the holly plant—surviving in the harshest conditions. You don’t break, even when things get rough.”

She tilts her head, her expression curious now. “And the ‘berry’ part?”

“That’s the soft, sweet side you’ve learned to hide when everything around you is cold and sharp,” I say, my voice quieter. “It’s rare, and it’s worth protecting.”

Her smile lights up the cave and fills me with more energy than any energy bar ever could. “That’s… surprisingly poetic, Jack,” she teases, but her voice is tinged with something deeper—something genuine.

“Don’t get used to it,” I say gruffly, embarrassed at my raw honesty. “I’m usually more of a ‘grunt and nod’ kind of guy.”

She laughs softly. “Well, I like it. No one’s ever thought of me like that. I’m usually ‘Holly Kemp, the spoiled princess’ or ‘Victor Kemp’s daughter.’ You… you see something else.”

As I look at her, the cold, the danger, and the weight of the past few hours fade. “That’s because I don’t see the labels your father slapped on you,” I say, my voice steady. “I see you.”

Her smile falters slightly, replaced by something raw, something vulnerable. She doesn’t respond right away, but I can see the words she wants to say hovering in her gaze. Instead, she closes the distance between us, pressing her mouth to mine.

I hesitate for a second, knowing I should push her away. But then her flavor explodes on my tongue—citrus, fresh air…and Holly herself. She opens as I lick the seam of her lips, and our mouths meld in a passionate dance. I curl my tongue around hers, stroking, licking, and sucking, consuming her sighs and moans.

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