Page 31 of Three Days of Holiday

I couldn’t waste my opportunity when she’d finally given me the chance.

“Jack, you’re in charge,” I said and then followed her footsteps through the hallway and slipped into the women’s bathroom.

Holly was at the sink washing her hands, and I bent over to make sure no other feet were in the stalls before turning around and locking the door.

She turned off the water with wide eyes as they met mine in the mirror. “What are you doing? This is the women’s restroom.”

“I know. We need to talk.”

I took a few steps toward her and then pulled her to me. Holly didn’t fight. “This is kidnapping.”

I grinned. “It’s false imprisonment at best.”

She crossed her arms, trying to make space between us, but it didn’t matter in the least. I was in the same vicinity as her and that’s what I cared about. “It’s still a prison term.”

“Only if you turn me in.”

She huffed, a piece of her brown hair falling back behind her shoulder. “Maybe I will.”

We both knew she wouldn’t.

“Holly, we need to talk,” I said, reaching out and placing my hand on her upper arm.

She jerked away. “No, we don’t.”

“I feel like I keep messing up with you and having to explain, but it wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t jump to the craziest conclusions.”

Her eyes widened as large as saucers and she hit my arm, but not hard enough to hurt. “Did you just call me crazy again?”

Mental Note: not impressed with the word crazy. Makes her crazy.

“Diane and I did date, but it was over a year and a half ago. She still works at the orchard, so I have to play nice, but there’s nothing between us.”

Her expression softened. “Really?”

“I promise.” Her shoulders relaxed, so I took a step closer, wanting to be as near as possible.

She shook her head, and her gaze focus on the floor. “I’m not sure I can trust you.”

Her words were so full of sorrow. I wanted to comfort her, but how did I make up for my mistakes? “I understand not being one hundred percent truthful with my name put us on the wrong foot, but could you give me a second shot? Let’s try again.”

“I don’t know how. What can you do?”

A plan formed rather quickly. “Come with me to where I’m staying and give me the afternoon. We’ll talk.”

She looked at me skeptically. “Tomorrow’s the big day. Don’t you have things to get ready?”

There were a few unimportant details to finalize, but we’d been up most the night before and taken care of the big stuff. “Nothing so important I can’t give you a few hours this afternoon.”

Holly blushed. “Fine, but like three hours and that’s it.”

I wanted the world, but if she’d willingly give me three hours, I’d take them and hope it was enough to win her over completely.

11

HOLLY

“My brother is going to kill me,” I said as I exited Will’s car in his friend’s driveway. Rather than run the other way, I lied to Hale about needing a quick trip to the bakery and promised I’d see him later. Then I hoped into the passenger seat of Will’s car and gave him three hours to convince me he wasn’t the worst person on the planet.

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