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  A smile bloomed on her still-pale face. “Anything else?”

  “I know you can be passionate—about causes you believe in. And sometimes you push too hard if you think it will help someone else.”

  She eyed him up. “You really believe all of that nice stuff about me? You’re not saying it because you feel sorry for me, are you?”

  Was she hunting for more compliments? He searched her eyes and found a gleam of uncertainty. He had to wonder, if only to himself, how someone so talented and sure of herself when it came to business could be so insecure behind closed doors.

  “Yes, I meant everything I said. You’re very talented.”

  Holly worried her bottom lip. When his gaze met hers, she glanced away. What did she have on her mind? Something told him whatever it was he wasn’t going to like it. But they might as well get it over with.

  “What else do you have on your mind?”

  She blinked as though considering her options. Then she sat up straight, letting the sheet pool around her waist. He inwardly groaned as her nightie was not exactly conservative, and that was not something he needed to be contemplating at this moment.

  Stay focused on the conversation! Don’t let your eyes dip. Focus on her face.

  Holly lifted her chin. “I would like to know if you’d write me a personal recommendation.”

  “Recommendation? For what?”

  She visibly swallowed. The muscles in her slender neck worked in unison. “I have an inside source who says a prime opportunity is about to open up and I’d like to apply for the position.”

  “No problem. Just tell me what department it is and I’ll make it happen. But I thought you liked working in the legal department.”

  “I did—I mean I do. But you don’t understand. This job isn’t within Lockwood.”

  He had to admit that he hadn’t seen that one coming. And for a man that prided himself on being able to plan ahead, this was a bit much to swallow. “But I don’t understand. You like your job, so this has to be about us.”

  Her slender shoulders rose and fell. “It’s too complicated for me to stay on at Lockwood.”

  “You mean the kiss the other evening, don’t you?”

  Her gaze didn’t quite meet his. “It would just be easier if I were to work elsewhere.”

  “When would you be taking this new position?”

  “At the beginning of the year. So you don’t have to worry about Project Santa. It will be completed before I leave and I’ll be out of Lockwood before you return to New York.”

  “Sounds awfully convenient.” His voice took on a disgruntled tone.

  He didn’t like the thought of Holly going to such lengths to keep her path from crossing his. Up until this trip, they’d done so well avoiding each other at the office. He had to admit a few times he’d hoped to bump into her in a hallway or the elevator, but that had never happened.

  Holly was smart for wanting to get away from him. When his ex-fiancée hadn’t been able to deal with his moods and distance, she’d left. He’d never blamed her. It was what he’d deserved. He should be relieved that Holly wanted to move on, but he couldn’t work up the emotion.

  He told himself that he didn’t want to see her go because she was a good worker. She was smart and a go-getter. She wasn’t afraid to think outside the box. His company needed more innovative people like her.

  Holly smoothed the cream-colored sheet as though sorting her thoughts. “Listen, I know this comes as a surprise, but I really do think it would be for the best. It isn’t like either one of us wants a serious relationship. You have your company to focus on.”

  “And what do you have?” He knew there was more to this request than she was saying, perhaps something even beyond what was going on between the two of them. Because if her reasons extended beyond the attraction between them, then he could fix it and she would stay, he hoped.

  “I have my work, and this new position will help me to grow and to take on greater responsibility.”

  “And you can’t do that at Lockwood?”

  She shrugged, letting him know that she’d already dismissed that option.

  Without Holly to liven things up, he would return to a downright boring existence. Before he handed over the golden ticket to another position, he needed more time to think this over. Surely there had to be a way to persuade her into staying.

  “You’ve caught me off guard. Can I have some time to think over your request?”

  “Of course. But don’t take too long. Once word gets out about the opening, the candidates will flood the office with résumés.”

  He could see she’d given this a lot of thought and her mind was made up. “Just tell me one thing and be honest. Is this because you’re trying to get away from me?”

  Her gaze met his. “Maybe. Partly. But it’s an amazing opportunity and I don’t want to miss out on it.”

  “Would you be willing to tell me what the position is?”

  “That would be telling you two things and you said you’d only ask one thing.”

  “And so I did.” He sighed. “This isn’t over.”

  “I didn’t think that it was.”

  “I’ll go get you some ginger ale and crackers.”

  “You don’t have to do that. You have a business meeting to attend.”

  “Not before I see that you’re cared for.”

  And with that he made a hasty exit from the cabin, still digesting the news. It left an uneasy feeling in his gut. And this was why he never got involved with employees of Lockwood. It made things sticky and awkward, not to mention he couldn’t afford to lose such talent.

  CHAPTER NINE

  IT WAS SO good to be back on solid ground.

  The next morning Holly stood on the balcony of Finn’s beach house that was more like a mansion. He’d just escorted his last guest to the helipad. Their sailing trip had been cut short due to the rough waters. She thought for sure Finn would be upset, but he took it all in stride.

  She shouldn’t be standing here. There was work to be done on Project Santa—work that could be done from anywhere in the world, including New York.

  The sound of footsteps caused her to turn around. Finn stopped at the edge of the deck. He didn’t smile and the look in his eyes was unreadable.

  “Did everyone get off okay?”

  “They did.”

  The silence between them dragged on. Finn obviously had something on his mind. Maybe this was her chance to broach the subject of her leaving.

  She turned to him.

  “I was thinking I should get to work. You know, there’s no reason I can’t complete Project Santa in New York. I can make my travel arrangements and be out of your way shortly.”

  “You’re not in my way.” His voice dropped to a serious tone. “Have I somehow made you feel unwelcome?”

  “Well, no, but I just thought that, ah, well, there’s no point in me staying on the island. That is, unless you still need my assistance.”

  “You’re right.” His voice was calm and even. “Any work from here on out can be done via phone or the internet.”

  His sudden agreement stung. She knew she should be relieved, but she was conflicted. His eagerness to see her gone almost felt as though she was being dismissed—as though she hadn’t quite measured up as his PA. Was that what he was thinking? Or had he merely grown tired of her like the other men in her life had done?

  “I’ll pack my bags and leave tomorrow.”

  She moved swiftly from the large deck and into the cool interior of the house. The sooner she got off this island, the better. She’d forget about Finn and how every time she was around him she wanted to follow up their kiss with another and another.

  A new job was just what she needed. It’d give her the time
and space to get over this silly crush she had on Finn. Because that was all it was, a crush. Nothing more.

  * * *

  So much for Holly’s departure and having his life return to normal.

  She was sick again.

  Finn paced back and forth in his study.

  He didn’t care what Holly said, it obviously wasn’t seasickness any longer. Her illness could be anything, including something serious. He hadn’t gotten a bit of work done all morning. At least nothing worthwhile. And now that lunch was over and Holly hadn’t shown up, he wasn’t sure what to do. He’d never been in a position of worrying about someone else.

  When his brother had been sick, it had been his parents who’d done most of the worrying and the caretaking. And then there had been his great-aunt who’d taken him in after his parents’ deaths, but she was made of hearty stock or so she’d liked to tell him. She’d barely been sick a day while he’d known her. Even on the few times she’d gotten the sniffles, she carried on, doing what needed to be done until her final breath.

  But he couldn’t ignore how poorly Holly looked. And her appetite at best was iffy. Then a thought came to him. He’d take a tray of food to her room. There had to be something she could eat.

  When he entered the kitchen, Maria, his cook/housekeeper, glanced up from where she was pulling spices to prepare the evening dinner. “Can I get you something?”

  Finn shook his head. “Don’t let me bother you. I’m just going to put together a tray to take to Miss Abrams.”

  “I can do it for you.”

  “I’ve got it.” There was a firm tone to his voice, more so than he’d intended. He just needed to do this on his own. “Sorry. I’m just a little worried.”

  Maria nodded as in understanding before turning back to her work.

  Finn raided the fridge, settling on sandwich makings. It was what he ate late at night. And then he thought of something that Holly might enjoy. It was something his aunt swore by. Tea. “Maria, do we have some tea around here?”

  The older woman smiled and nodded as though at last happy to be able to do something to help.

  Between the two of them, they put together an extensive tray of food plus spearmint tea. And just to be on the safe side, he added a glass of ginger ale and crackers. As an afterthought, he snagged one of the pink rosebuds from the bouquet on the dining room table, slipped it into a bud vase and added it to the full tray. Hopefully this would cheer Holly up.

  He strode down the hallway, up the steps and down another hallway until he stopped in front of her door. He tapped his knuckles on the door.

  “Holly, it’s me.”

  Within seconds, she pulled open the door. Her hair was mussed up and there was a sleepy look on her face. Her gaze lowered to the tray. “What’s all of this?”

  “It’s for you. I noticed you missed lunch. I thought this might tide you over until dinner.”

  “Till dinner? I think that amount of food could last me for the next couple of days.”

  He glanced down at the sandwich. “I wasn’t sure what meat and cheese you prefer so I added a little of everything. I figured you could just take off what you don’t like.”

  “And the chips, fruit, vegetables and dip. Is there anything you forgot?”

  He glanced over the tray and then a thought came to him. “I forgot to add some soup. Would you like some?”

  “I think I’ll get by with what you brought me.”

  A smile lifted her lips, easing the tired, stressed lines on her face. His gaze moved past her and trailed around the room, surprised to find that her laptop was closed. And then he spied the bed with the wrinkled comforter and the indent on the pillow. She’d been lying down.

  “I’ll put it over here.” He moved toward the desk in the corner of her room. When she didn’t follow him, he turned back to her. There were shadows under her eyes and her face was void of color. “Holly—”

  She ran out of the room. She sent the bathroom door slamming shut.

  That was it. He was done waiting for this bug or whatever was ailing her to pass. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and requested that the chopper transport them to the big island where there would be medical help.

  He didn’t care how much she protested, this simply couldn’t go on. There was something seriously wrong here. And he was worried—really worried.

  * * *

  “Finn, don’t forget your promise.”

  “I won’t.” He stared straight ahead as he searched for a parking spot on the big island.

  Before they flew here, Holly had extracted a promise from him. If she agreed to this totally unnecessary doctor’s appointment, he would help her catch the next flight home. She was certain whatever was plaguing her was no more than a flu bug. No big deal. She had no idea why Finn was so concerned.

  Being an hour early for her appointment, Holly took advantage of the opportunity to meander through the colorful shops and the intriguing stands along the street. And in the end, it was a productive visit as she bought a few gifts.

  When it was time to head to the clinic, Holly pleaded that it wasn’t necessary. She was feeling better, but Finn insisted, reminding her that they had an agreement. And so they did. It also meant that she was almost homeward bound...just as soon as this appointment was concluded. She’d even packed her bag and brought it with her.

  In the doctor’s office Holly completed the paperwork and then they took her vital statistics. An older doctor examined her. He did a lot of hemming and hawing, but he gave her no insight into what those sounds meant. When she pointedly asked him what was wrong with her, he told her that he’d need to order a couple of tests.

  Tests? That doesn’t sound good.

  She was feeling better. That had to be a good sign. But why was the doctor being so closemouthed? Although she recalled when her mother had suffered a stroke, trying to get information out of doctors was nearly impossible until they were ready to speak to you.

  So she waited, but not alone. With her exam over, she invited Finn back to the room so he could hear with his own ears that she was fine. She was certain the doctor was only being cautious.

  In the bright light, she noticed that Finn didn’t look quite like himself. “Are you feeling all right?”

  His gaze met hers. “I’m fine. It’s you we should worry about.”

  She studied him a bit more. His face was pale and his eyes were dull. There was definitely something wrong with him.

  “Oh, no, have I made you sick, too?”

  He waved away her worry. “I’m like my great-aunt. I don’t get sick.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Finn’s jaw tensed and a muscle in his cheek twitched, but he didn’t argue with her. Okay, so maybe she was pushing it a bit. Doctor’s offices made her uptight.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean anything by that. I guess I don’t do well with doctors.”

  The lines on Finn’s handsome face smoothed out. “Why? What happened?”

  She shrugged. “You don’t want to hear about it.”

  “Sure, I do. That is, if you’ll tell me.”

  Oh, well, what else did they have to do while waiting for the test results? There weren’t even any glossy magazines in the small room. So while she sat on the exam table, Finn took a seat on the only chair in the room.

  “It was a couple of days after you and I, you know, after—”

  “The night we spent together?”

  She nodded. “Yes, that. Well, I got a call from my mother’s work. They were taking my mother to the hospital.” She paused, recalling that frantic phone call when life as she knew it had come to a sudden standstill. “I’d never been so scared. I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew an ambulance had been called for my mother. That’s never
a good sign.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I...I would have done something.”

  She glanced at him. “There was nothing for you to do. Remember, we agreed to stay clear of each other.”

  “Even so, I would have been there for you, if you’d have called me.”

  Holly shook her head. “I was fine. But thanks.”

  “I’m sure you had the rest of your family and friends to keep you company.”

  Holly shrugged. “I was fine.”

  He arched a brow. “When you said that the first time, I didn’t believe you. And I don’t believe it this time, either.”

  “Okay. I wasn’t fine. I was scared to death. Is that what you want to hear?”

  “No, it isn’t what I want to hear. But I’m glad you’re finally being honest with me.”

  Her gaze met his. “Why? It isn’t like there’s anything between us. At least, not anymore.”

  “Is that the truth? Or are you trying to convince yourself that you don’t feel anything for me?”

  She inwardly groaned. Why did everything have to be so complicated where Finn was concerned? Why couldn’t things be simple, like her life had been before she’d walked into his office all those weeks ago?

  CHAPTER TEN

  NOW, WHY HAD he gone and asked her if she had feelings for him?

  Finn leaned his head back and sighed. It wasn’t like he wanted to pick up where they’d left off. It didn’t matter that they had chemistry and lots of it. In time, he’d forget about her sweet kisses and gentle caresses. He had to—she was better off without him.

  He’d tried having a real relationship once. Talk about a mess. He wasn’t going to repeat that mistake. Not that Holly was anything like Meryl. Not at all.

  “Holly—”

  The exam room door swung open. The doctor strode in and closed the door behind him. He lowered his reading glasses to the bridge of his nose. His dark head bent over a piece of paper. When he glanced up, his gaze immediately landed on Finn.