Work Like You Don't Need the Money (30 page)

Damn! She was in a mess. Why hadn't he pushed her to let him help? “Can you take a lunch break when she gets back?”

“Yes.” 

“Call me then and we'll go take care of this.” 

                                                            ********** 

Holly paced the store. It was quiet this afternoon. Of course, it was always quiet when she wanted it to be busy. She wanted to be distracted, to make the time go faster. She wanted to go make the payment and go home. For all her bravado in front of Berto, that man this morning had scared her. It seemed he'd scared Berto too. He'd left for lunch as soon as she'd come back from the bank. He'd hardly said a word to her before he left and was gone for ages. Since he finally came back, she'd swear he was avoiding her. She felt bad. He'd been so supportive, but even Berto had his limits.

She had no idea how she would be able to keep up with the payments if they were going to pull stunts like today. Double the money, just like that? The store was doing well, but it wasn't a limitless source of money. She still had a few thousand left in her savings, but at this rate that would all be gone soon. She didn't dare think what might happen then. The guy from the garage had called a little while ago, but she'd let it go to voice-mail. The car would have to wait. She needed every penny to keep the loan men off her back. She shuddered at the memory of the guy this morning – she needed to keep him off her! She'd leave in half an hour and go give them the money. Then she could go home and figure out how she would cope next week. And the week after.

She looked up and saw the guy from this morning enter the store. Oh, no. What now?

The man walked through the store, heading for Holly. Her heart raced, wondering what crazy demands he was going to make this time. She went to meet him. She may be afraid, but he didn't have to know that. “What do you want now?”

“To give you this.” He held out a manila envelope. 

Holly looked at it, not sure that she wanted to take it. The man shifted from one foot to the other and thrust it toward her. Whereas this morning he'd been cocky and threatening, now he looked ill at ease and eager to be gone. She took the envelope and opened it.

“The boss sends his regards, and his assurance you won't be hearing from us again.”  

Holly stared at the sheet of paper in her hand. A receipt. 'PAID IN FULL.'

She looked at the man, “What the...?”

“Look, lady. It's paid. We're done. You tell your friend we don't want no trouble. We leave you alone, he leaves us alone.” He turned and scurried out of the store, leaving Holly still staring at the receipt in her hand.  

She looked for Roberto, but he was talking on his cell phone. She went into the office and plonked herself down, she was stunned. Pete! It could only be Pete. Roberto peeked his head around the door.

“Is everything alright?” 

She looked up at him, still lost for words. He came into the office, looking kind of shifty, fiddling with his cuff-links and not meeting her eye. “Berto, what do you know about this?”

“About what?” He was a hopeless liar. His cheeks were pink and he was looking everywhere except at her. 

She thrust the paper at him. “This! My debt has been paid off and those people are scared of my friend, whoever that may be! We both know it could only be one person. So what do you know about it?”

Roberto hung his head and said nothing. Holly's phone buzzed in her pocket. She automatically reached for it. It was a text from Pete.

Go easy on Roberto. I'm the one you're mad at. I'm at home.

Holly stared at the text, then at Roberto. “What did you do?”

“He came to the store, Holls. Just after you'd gone to the bank.” 

“And?” 

“And I think you need to talk to him about it. Not me.” 

Holly drew in a deep breath. He was right. She did. Damn Pete! He'd promised her he'd leave it alone. Who the hell did he think he was?! She glared at Roberto. “Can you close up tonight?”

He nodded with a little smile.

“Don't you dare!” She yelled. “I'm madder than hell with you! I'm going to tell him what I think of him too!” 

Roberto grinned now. “Do you want me to call you a cab?”

Damn! She'd have to. It wasn't like the buses ran to Pete's swanky neighborhood. “Yes. Thank you. We will talk about this tomorrow.”

Chapter Twenty-One

The cab pulled in to Pete's driveway. Holly focused on her anger. He was a Bigshot asshole! That's what he was. He had discarded her because she didn't fit his plan. He had no right to interfere in her life. She could handle her own problems! She paid the driver and watched the cab drive away. Well, here went nothing. She started up the steps to the front door, then stopped. Oh no. He had company. There was a blue BMW sitting outside the garage. Damn, she wished she hadn't let the cab leave. What had she been thinking? There was nothing for it now. She'd come to give him a piece of her mind. She was going to do just that, company or not. She continued up the steps.

The front door opened and there he was. He was even more gorgeous than she remembered, wearing a black shirt with gray pants and a gray tie. He leaned in the doorway, frowning down at her, blue eyes blazing. He looked.. angry? What right did
he
have to be angry? She stomped up the steps and stood before him, glaring at him.

“What the hell have you done?” She demanded. 

He raised an eyebrow. His face tight with anger. “Would you like to discuss this inside?”

“Not if you have company, no. I just want you to tell me what you think you're playing at!” 

“I don't have company and I am not getting into this on the doorstep.” He turned and went back into the house. 

She stormed after him. “What do you think gives you the right to interfere in my life? I asked you to stay out of it, remember?”

“Oh, I remember, Sweetheart.” His voice was low and controlled. “I also remember that you made me a promise. You broke that promise, so I took matters into my own hands.” 

“What do you mean? I didn't break a promise!” 

He took a step towards her, towering above her. His warmth permeated her anger. Even in these circumstances, she was grateful to be close to him again.

His eyes burned into her. “You promised me that if there was a problem, if it got ugly, you would tell me. You'd let me help.”

She had promised that. “Yes, but...”

“No. No buts. I will not allow you to be in danger. I took care of it. End of story.”  

The arrogant pig! “You will not allow it?” She couldn't help the bitter laugh. “Excuse me, Mr. Bigshot, but you don't get to say what's allowed in my life. It's none of your goddamned business! You have your plan, remember? I'm not part of it and my problems are none of your concern!” He was so arrogant! She was not a charity case!

He caught hold of her arm. The pulse in his jaw was working overtime. “It is my business. YOU are my business.”

She tried to pull away from him, but he held tight. “No I'm not, Pete.” She could hear the tears in her voice. No! She could not show her weakness now. His warm hand closed around the back of her neck, forcing her to look up into his eyes. They burned into her own as he pulled her against him. She had no resistance to offer as she melted against his hard chest.

“You are my business, Sweetheart,” he breathed. “You will always be my business, because I love you.” 

Holly froze and stared into his eyes. The truth stared back at her from the blue depths. “But what about the plan?”

The corners of his lips quirked up before they found hers. He kissed her so tenderly, deep and slow as he held her against him. She could feel his heart thundering in his chest as his strong arms encircled her. When he lifted his head, he still held her close. “It's time for a new plan. The old one doesn't work anymore because you're not in it.”

She looked up at him, not quite believing she was hearing this. “But... but...”

“But what, Sweetheart? Don't you want me?” 

She was shocked by the doubt and uncertainty on his face. Her arms came up around his neck. “I want you more than I want my next breath, Pete. I just don't know how it could work. How you could change your plan.”

He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “I didn't know either. Until I tried to live without you. That made me realize that nothing is as important to me as you are. I need you in my life. The rest is just detail. We'll work it out. I love you, Holly.”

She really wasn't imagining it. He'd said it twice now. He loved her!

“Tell me one thing, though. Why did you leave the wedding like that?” His eyes bored into hers. She had to tell him the truth. 

“Because I didn't want to say goodbye to you.” She lowered her eyes, but he hooked his thumb under her chin and raised her face to him. 

“Why?” 

Oh, hell! Here it came. “I couldn't stand to say goodbye to you, because I love you too, Pete.”

His eyes were that deep violet color as his face relaxed and he held her close in the circle of his arms. She knew she was back where she belonged, safe and protected in his warmth and his love. She clung to him as he lifted her and carried her up to his bedroom. They peeled each others clothes off and fell into his bed. He pinned her underneath him, spreading her legs with his knees. She held on to his shoulders and pulled him down to kiss her as he thrust inside. He was so hot and hard, filling her as she arched her body up to him. His lips left hers and he held her eyes as they moved together.

“I love you, Sweetheart.” His words took her to the edge. 

“I love you, Pete,” she cried as he exploded, taking her over the edge, flying away to a place where only they existed. 

Pete pulled her closer to him as they recovered. She was his and he wasn't ever going to let her go. He would never be that stupid again. He wouldn't go back to a life that she wasn't part of.

She wriggled around and looked up at him. “I do love you, but I'm still mad at you.”

He tried to suppress a smile, but couldn't manage it. “You could consider it a gift.”

She frowned, “No I couldn't. I don't get gifts like that.”

He propped himself up on his elbow and smiled down at her, tracing her cheek with his finger. “You do now, Sweetheart, you'd better get used to it.” He couldn't wait to spoil her with gifts. There was one he was desperate to give her right now, but he knew she had to get this debt thing out of her system first.

“No, Pete, I'm serious. You can't just bail me out with that kind of money, it's not right. I need to pay you back.” 

He nodded. He'd known she wouldn't just accept it. “I thought you might see it that way. So, I've been thinking. The amount I paid today is actually less than I'd penciled into the budget for consulting on the plaza.”

 Her eyes were wide. “Seriously?”  

“I told you it was a big fee. If you take the project, we'll still owe you some. Will you think about it?”  

He watched her face as she considered it. She nodded slowly, but from the smile on her face he was hoping the answer would be yes.

Holly sat at the kitchen counter watching Pete pour the wine. She was still trying to take all this in. He loved her! She loved him. She didn't know what that might mean, how they would work this. All that mattered was that they would work something out. They would keep seeing each other. That was all she wanted. As he said, the rest was just detail. Instead of bringing her drink over, he took both glasses and went to sit at the table in the nook off the kitchen. She followed and took a seat opposite him. They'd never sat in here, she liked it. It was a cozy little space with a window overlooking the garage. She looked down at the BMW out there.

“Do you know, I nearly turned tail and fled when I saw that car. I thought you had company.” 

Pete gave her a mysterious smile. “Come here. There's something I need to tell you about that car.”

She frowned, wondering what he might mean. He held out his hand and she came around the table to sit in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him. She'd missed his kisses and intended to make up for lost time.

He lifted his head. “Don't you want to know?”

“Know what?” She nuzzled into his neck and felt him shake underneath her as he chuckled. 

“About the car.” 

“Oh. Yes. What?” She really didn't care, she just wanted to enjoy the feel of him. She snuggled closer and rested her head on his shoulder.  

He kissed her neck then whispered in her ear, “It's yours.”

She sat bolt upright, staring at him. “It's what?!”

His shoulders were shaking as he laughed his rich, deep laugh. “I said, it's yours, Sweetheart. For you. From me.”

“Oh my God, Pete! You can't do that! I...” 

He was still laughing as he pecked her lips. “I can and I have.” His eyes were so full of love as he smiled down at her.

She clung to him, “Thank you!”

“You are most welcome, my love. You want to take a look?” 

They went down the back steps. He handed her the key and opened the driver's door.

She sat inside and grinned – it was brand new! “Pete, I've never sat in a brand new car before, let alone owned one! Holy crap, Bigshot!” She got out of the car and jumped on him laughing. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

He spun her around, then put her down. “No, Sweetheart. Thank YOU.” She pinched him and he laughed. “Yep, I'm for real.”

She was struggling to be believe it. “I need to check,” she laughed. “I'd hate to wake up and find out you were just a dream.” She pinched him again, just to make sure.

“Hey!” He laughed. “That tickles!”  

“Nooo!” Her eyes grew wide and she tried to dodge him, but he was too fast. He had hold of her and was tickling her mercilessly. She couldn't stop laughing as she struggled to get away, but he held her fast. “Stop!” she begged, but he just kept on tickling and laughing. “Please, Pete, you've got to stop,” she managed to get out through her laughter. 

He turned her to face him and held her eyes, giving her a breather, his hands poised to continue. “You know there's only one way to make me stop. So, do you?”