Page 64 of Ink and Ashes
You know, you’re probably right. I’ll check the inn.
BEAU
Be sure to report back
I roll my eyes, but sure enough, fifteen minutes after that text came through, Dom sent another.
DOM
Confirmed - his truck is in the lot at The Scarlet.
BEAU
Fucking knew it
I flinch knowing Dom saw my truck here. I know he’s still upset with Holland for lying about who she is, and I’m not sure what he’ll think about me jumping to her rescue.
I type a text back to them.
ME
I did stay at the inn last night, but only because Jimmy confirmed her car was tampered with. Get your heads out of the fucking gutter.
And Beau, get back to work.
BEAU
Go boss someone else around, Lieutenant Killjoy ;)
DOM
Hero complex in action
Not a second later, another text from Dom comes through.
DOM
Wait, her car was tampered with?
Beau, you didn’t tell him?
BEAU
Slipped my mind. Sorry, brother.
DOM
Tell me what?
I ponder how to respond for a moment before deciding it’ll be easier to do it in person. Besides, Dom is the one firefighter who has never doubted Holland, and despite his anger toward her, I know he’ll look past it to help get to the bottom of this.
Come by the inn this afternoon. We’ll fill you in.
With a head shake, I shut off my phone and stand from the bed. There are only a few minutes until breakfast, so I dress quickly in a pair of grey sweatpants and a simple black tee. Then I make my way out to the dining room to join Mary and Emmett—and hopefully, Holland—for a meal.
I swing my room door open at the same time the door across the hall opens too, and I’m met with the view of flaming locks. A pink tinge rushes to Holland’s cheeks as her eyes trail over my body, her bottom lip catching between her teeth. She’s dressed in a pair of creamy linen shorts with a matching flowy T-shirt, her face dusted with light makeup and her hair pulled back in what looks to be a French braid.
The sun shines in the back window of the house at this time ofday, and the yellow glow hits her perfectly. She looks absolutely radiant.
