Emeralds, Rubies, and Camouflage (7 page)

Wrung out from all the emotion she just nodded. If Myra ever wanted to be worthy of her daughter’s respect she had to take control of her life again. Stop being a victim and start taking
charge.

Her new job had been the first step and finding Bobby was the second.

‡

W
hen Myra entered
the office the next morning Holt was already there, head down over his laptop, a muffin and coffee at his right hand. After all she had revealed last night she wasn’t sure how to act. He knew some pretty personal things now and it created a vulnerability
within her that she wasn’t sure she liked.

She decided that not mentioning it at all was the way to go so she scuttled to her desk and began working through the pile of correspondence. As a wealthy man Holt was much in demand on the charity event circuit. He’d given her a list of his usual donations but he never attended the functions. It was her job to RSVP but soften the rejection with a check
of varying sizes.

Looking up from his laptop he pointed to the work on her desk. “Leave those for another day. We’re going on a business trip. The jet is fueling up right now.”

“I can’t leave Amelia overnight,” Myra protested, not sure how she would deal with spending the entire day with him in such close proximity after the tenderness he’d shown last night. It had only served to make her admire
him even more.

“You won’t,” Holt assured her with a smile. “We’ll be back this evening, I promise. Bart will pick Amelia up at preschool like he does every day and Fiona will watch over her.”

“Where will we be?”

“In the Keys. I’ve been thinking about buying some property down there and my real estate agent called this morning and told me about a couple of homes that tick all the boxes. I want
to take a look before they get sold out from under me.”

That explained why he was going but not why she was.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Take pictures of the properties and any notes that I might need. That way I can just concentrate on looking them over. Getting the vibe, so to speak.”

It made perfect sense and she’d never been to the Keys before. She’d always wanted to go although this
was hardly a vacation. This was purely business.

“I’ll need to tell Amelia.” Myra had left her daughter eating smiley-face pancakes in the kitchen with Fiona.

“We’ll both go. I need more coffee and you need to eat some breakfast before we leave.”

Myra pulled a face. “I’ve been trying to lose a few pounds.”

Holt closed his laptop and stood, his face covered in a scowl. “Why? You look fine just
the way you are.”

Myra stood as well and smoothed down her cream-colored slacks. “I put on weight when I had Amelia, and Bobby said–”

Holt didn’t let her finish. “Christ on a pogo stick, I can only imagine what your narcissistic ex-boyfriend said.”

She felt a flush crawl up her face and neck. “Bobby had good qualities too.”

If he was a total jerk it didn’t say much for her or her intelligence.

Holt scraped his fingers through his short dark hair and groaned. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you had good times and that he has many redeeming qualities. I know how I sound but I’m just so pissed off about what he’s pulled. You and Amelia deserve better treatment. I need to get my PI on this as soon as possible, by the way. Can you write down everything you know about where he is and his employer before
we go?”

“I can. And it’s okay. I get mad too. I’ve just had longer to get over it. You’ve only had since last night.”

Funny how time and distance had healed the hurt. She wasn’t in love with Bobby anymore although he was Amelia’s father so he would always have her affection. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. She hoped he’d be happy in his life but she also hoped that Amelia could
be part of that life, if only sometimes.

“Then go give Amelia a hug and then we’ll head off to the airport. I’m anxious to get down there. By the way, I’m going to change into something more casual and you can too if you like. It’s going to be a warm day.”

A casual day with her sexy as hell boss. This was going to be dangerous.

*

“Will
you bring
me something from your trip, Mommy?” Amelia asked on the way to preschool. The little girl, Myra, and Holt were sitting in the back of a luxurious limousine that seemed to glide down the road. Somehow in all the hugs and goodbyes it had been decided that Amelia would ride to school with them so Myra could spend a few more minutes with her daughter.

Just one more way Holt was always
thinking of others.

“I’ll be working. I’m not sure I’ll have time.”

The one thing Bobby had been good at was bringing Amelia little surprises back from his road trips.

Holt chuckled and looked up from his phone where he was tapping out a text. “We’ll make time. But your mom will be back for dinner.”

Myra had already given her daughter the “be good for Fiona” lecture and Amelia had promised
to behave. Fiona had been all smiles and assurances that everything would be fine and Myra was sure it would. But this was the first time business had taken her away from her daughter even for only a few hours. It would take some getting used to.

“Fiona said we could watch a movie when I get home from school.”

Myra sincerely hoped Fiona enjoyed the movie
Frozen
because Amelia had seen it approximately
six hundred times and didn’t seem to be tired of it yet.

“That sounds like fun. I’m going to miss you but you can tell me about your day when I get back.”

Amelia was having a much easier time with the separation than Myra apparently. She nodded and then continued to pepper Holt with questions about the Keys and Florida in general. She was making it quite clear that Myra hadn’t taken her daughter
any farther than the park or the beach.

“Maybe I’ll get to go to the Keys sometime,” Amelia said wistfully as the limo smoothly pulled up to the front door of the preschool.

“I’m sure you’ll go someday,” Holt laughed. “But there are lots of places even more fun.”

“Like where?”

Myra gathered Amelia’s lunch and backpack as the driver opened the door.

“Thousands,” Holt replied. “The world is
a big place. Maybe we can do some research when we get back. You can make a list of all the places you want to travel to in your life.”

“Yes!” Amelia did a mini-fist pump in jubilation. Having Holt’s attention was the perfect panacea for Amelia missing her father. She was blossoming under his sure and steady personality.

Both Holt and Myra were recipients of big hugs as she ran into the school
where a stream of children were entering. Her daughter quickly met up with a few friends and was giggling all the way to the classroom.

“She’s growing up too fast,” Myra sighed as the door closed and the limo pulled away from the school. “Soon she won’t need me anymore.”

“She’ll always need you,” Holt assured her, patting her hand with his much larger one. “My mother was here last month baking
me cookies. We always need our parents, if only a little bit.”

That made Myra feel slightly better. “You’re so sweet to her. If you’re not careful she’ll con toys and vacations out of you. You’re a softie.”

Holt burst into laughter and even the driver glanced into the rearview mirror. “I don’t think anyone has ever said that about me. In fact, most of the opposing attorneys call me much more
colorful names. But I like Amelia and she told me she has a birthday coming up. I’d like to take her someplace special.”

Warning bells sounded in Myra’s brain. That would make them seem like…a couple.

“Holt, you don’t need to do anything like that. She’s likes you so much she’d be happy with anything you gave her. Maybe a book or a doll.”

His brows shot up in surprise and a smile curved his
lips. “I’d love to do something really special for Amelia, but only with your permission of course. If you think it’s too extravagant then the subject is closed. You’re the boss.”

Funny how she didn’t feel in charge. She’d admitted the night before that she’d given up her power with Bobby letting him call all the shots in the relationship. She hadn’t exactly been assertive with her own parents
either. It was time to grab the reins and drive.

“What did you have in mind? I don’t want you doing anything expensive, Holt. I don’t want her spoiled.”

Holt stroked his chin in thought. “Let me think on this a little bit. There has to be something that you’ll approve of. I just know it.”

“At her age pretty much everything we do can become special in some way. Add ice cream to a trip to the
grocery store and she’ll be your best friend for life.”

Sitting back in the leather seat, Holt stretched out comfortably. “Then I guess it would be bad to admit that I don’t remember the last time I was in a grocery store. Fiona takes very good care of my household.”

Myra slapped her forehead with her palm and giggled at his sheepish expression. Holt had been born with money so he probably hadn’t
done so many everyday tasks that others took for granted.

“That is pathetic. First thing we’re going to do when we get back is take a field trip to Publix. There’s a whole world out there, Holt, and you’re missing it.”

“I can’t wait for you to show it to me. I’m in your hands.”

Except that he wasn’t. Not really. But the idea certainly had merit.

*

Myra Burke was
seriously cute. And fun. Not to mention gorgeous. In fact, Holt had barely been able to drag his gaze from her all damn day so he could look at the real estate. He’d caught himself several times watching her instead of listening to the agent drone on and on about the features of the homes.

Before they’d left she’d changed into a flowered sundress that showed off just enough leg
to make breathing a little more difficult. Her long copper-colored hair had been tamed into a ponytail that accentuated her pretty face and bared the nape of her neck which begged to be kissed.

“So which was your favorite?” he asked her as they settled at a table for lunch. They’d taken the ferry over to one of Holt’s favorite restaurants on a little island. The view was fantastic and the weather
had cooperated fully – sunny and warm but not too humid.

“Are you kidding? Both houses were amazing. But if you made me choose just one I guess I’d have to say the home on Eaton Street.”

He’d had a feeling she’d liked that one the best by the way her eyes had lit up as they’d toured the home.

“It’s smaller than the other,” Holt countered. “The house on Eaton only has five bedrooms.”

“How many
do you need to sleep in?” she giggled as the waiter stopped at their table to get their drink order and recite the specials. They both ordered iced teas and the young man bustled to his next table leaving them alone again.

“It wouldn’t be just for me. If I bought this house I’d invite my friends to come down for fishing or diving. It would be filled with houseguests.”

Close friends. Like Dane
and his wife. People that knew him and didn’t judge or shy away.