Torch (Take It Off #1)(43)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“Seems that way. Right now that money is kind of in limbo. If you die before claiming it, then it’s sort of up for grabs. But once it’s all in your name, it won’t matter if you die because the money will go to whoever you leave it to.”

“You’re right.”

“I know,” he said smugly, sitting back in his chair.

“Can I borrow your cell phone?”

After he handed it over, I dialed the number on the card. Mr. Goddard picked up on the third ring. “Hello, this is Katie Parker. We spoke yesterday?”

“Yes, of course, Miss Parker. How are you?”

“I’m fine, thank you. I’m calling to see if we could arrange a time to sign those documents we discussed?”

“Of course. Would this evening work for you? I have a conference call this afternoon.”

“Sure. Would six o’clock work for you?”

“That would be fine. Would you like to meet here at the hotel? There is a lounge right off the lobby.”

I agreed and then hung up the phone, handing it back to Holt.

“I’m supposed to meet him later at his hotel.”

“So we have all day, then?”

“Seems like it.”

He grinned and made a call of his own, arranging for us to go somewhere.

“Who was that?” I asked after he requested the bill from the waitress.

He gave me a sly smile. “My mother.”

I felt my mouth drop open. He reached across the table and used his finger to snap my jaw closed. “You’re going to catch flies.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I can’t go meet your parents!”

“It’s just my mom. Dad’s at work.”

“No!”

“Why not?” he asked, reaching for his wallet. I snatched the check out of his hand and stuck my tongue out.

“I’ll pay.”

His eyes narrowed. “Fine. You pay. I’m going to pull the truck around. My mother’s expecting us.”

Before I could argue further, he was up and pushing through the exit doors. I let out a frustrated sigh and pulled some cash out of my purse. Anxiety made my hands shake as I counted out the correct amount of change. I wasn’t ready to meet his mother. I couldn’t understand why he was forcing this. We weren’t even dating… We were… Well, I didn’t know what we were, but it didn’t seem like we were at any kid of stage for me to be meeting the parents.

The waitress came back over as the shiny red truck slid to the curb. I handed her the money and told her to keep the change, then stalled by taking another sip of my juice. Over the rim of my glass, my eyes connected with the blonde in the booth.

She was no longer on the phone and she was watching me with an odd sort of glint in her eyes. Uneasiness obscured my thoughts as I returned the juice to the table and stood. I didn’t look back as I left the restaurant, but I swear I felt her eyes follow me until I was out of sight.

20

His parents lived near an inlet, which provided a year-round view of the sea. Their home was a single-story ranch home made up of light-brick exterior, arched windows, and mature landscaping lining the property. The concrete driveway led along the side of the house up to a two-car garage with a walkway leading to the red front door.

Instead of pulling up the driveway, Holt parked out front, at the edge of the street along the green lawn’s edge.

“This is a lovely home,” I said, looking out my window at the small palm trees that grew in the front. The house was neat and tidy. You could tell it was lived in but it was well maintained by people who cared about it. “I shouldn’t be here,” I objected for the millionth time.

“You got somewhere better to be?” he asked, arching a dark brow.

He had me there. I had nowhere to be. At least until six o’clock tonight. “I don’t understand why you’re pushing this.”

He turned away from the steering wheel, leaving the engine running so the air continued to cool the interior of the cab. He lifted my hand out of my lap and held it. “If you feel like I’m forcing you do to something you don’t want to do, then say the word. I’ll take you home.”

Home.

Where was that exactly? With him?

My silence must have unnerved him because he sighed. “I know we haven’t known each other very long and your life is pretty upside-down right now.”

I nodded for him to continue.

“But I want you in my life. Now and after things calm down.”

“What are you saying?”

He smiled. “I’m saying I already know what I want. Who I want. I don’t expect you to know right now. I don’t even expect an answer. I just wanted you to know how I feel.”

He wanted me. All that longing I felt before swelled up inside me again, making it hard to breathe. I think I wanted him too. I didn’t want to have to say good-bye to him.

But I might have to.

If the person out there who wanted me dead had anything to say about it.

How could I promise him a future when I wasn’t even sure I would live through today?

“Holt, I—”

“Hold that thought. We’ve been spotted.”

Panic shot through me and I stiffened, glancing out the back window, looking for some kind of dark car like the one that ran me over or the silver BMW of a lawyer who might have lied.

But there were no other cars on the street.

“I think that was a bad choice of words,” Holt muttered, placing a kiss to the back of my hand. Then he pointed out my window.

A tall woman with short, dark hair and a smile stood on the sidewalk. When I turned to stare at her, she waved at us and motioned for us to come inside.

“That’s your mother?” I asked.

“Yep. See, she’s not that scary.”

I laughed. “Fine, let’s go.”

As he came around to help me leap from the cab, I began to worry about my appearance. I was wearing very little makeup, my hair was loose and likely crazy around my shoulders, and I was dressed really casual in the pair of jeans Holt bought me and a loose-fitting tank top.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered as if he somehow knew about my inner worry.

She was waiting on the sidewalk when we approached.

“Holt!” she exclaimed as he gave her a big hug. “So happy to see you today!”

“Hey, Mom. Thanks for letting us stop by.”

She smacked him in the stomach. “You know you’re welcome here anytime.”

Then her eyes turned to me. They were that icy light blue, just like Holt’s. “You must be Katie.”