Page 64 of Outside The Wire

“Hey—”

“I had so much work to do and I’m tired and—” She drew in a breath and sobbed hysterically. “—and Noelle had a date and the stupid weather radio didn’t warn me. And my eyes were gritty and I didn’t have the books done and the cat ignored me!”

I nodded, rubbing her back. “Yeah.” That was a bunch of rambling bullshit I didn’t understand, but I had the feeling it didn’t really matter. “It’s okay, baby.”

She sniffled, stepping back as she wiped her nose. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you called. And it’s so late. What are you doing out here?”

“I couldn’t get ahold of you.”

“And you came out here?” she cried. “That’s so sweet!”

“Are you gonna keep crying every time you say something?”

“Yes!”

“Good to know, Holly Bear,” I chuckled, pulling her back into my arms.

I shifted, wishing I could let her go so I could run to the bathroom, but telling her to hold that thought probably wouldn’t go over well. I glanced around the shop, wondering why there was so much stuff moved around. It was so chaotic in here, so unlike Holly.

“Baby, what are you doing in here?”

She finally calmed down and stepped out of my arms and wiped the tears from my face. “I was getting ready for our spring collection.”

“And it had to be done tonight?”

“I don’t like having a messy back room. It looks like a bomb exploded back there.”

“Well…we’re not going anywhere for a while. Let’s get settled in for the night. We should get some blankets together in case the power goes out.”

“Right.” She sighed and started gathering up things while I headed for the bathroom. Along the way, I chucked my winter gear and my boots. Luckily, I always kept a spare set of clothes in my truck.

I found Holly in the living room, laying blankets on the floor and tossing a few pillows out for us to lay on. Everything else had been pushed to the sides out of our way.

“It was the best I could do,” she shrugged as she found me watching her.

“It’ll do. I’ve slept in worse conditions.”

I started to undo my pants and she laughed, pointing at me like it was funny. “Uh…whatcha doin’?”

“Taking my pants off.”

“We’re in my store.”

“I realize that,” I smirked. “But my pants are wet from trudging through the snow. Call me crazy, but that doesn’t sound very comfortable.”

“But someone might see!”

“You mean all the customers you’re expecting to show up at two o’clock in the morning? I’ll be sure to put my pants on before they come knocking.”

She shot me a sarcastic smile and laid down fully dressed. My little Holly Lane was worried about impropriety in her own store. It was hilarious.

I laid down beside her, tugging the blanket over me to ward off the chill, then pulled her into my side. She immediately skittered away, looking at me like I was insane.

“Umm…whatcha doin’, big man?”

“Big man?”

“Yeah.”

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