Emeralds, Rubies, and Camouflage (11 page)

Lily threw up her hands and groaned. “No, it is not all your fault. I’m no angel. This is what you do, Myra. You let people off the hook too easily. Bobby, your mother, your future mother-in-law, Holt, and now me. It’s okay to hold someone’s feet to the fire. If Holt gave you a bucket of bullshit about why you
two shouldn’t be together, then call him on it.”

“You and Holt?” A smile was playing on Dane’s lips. “Lily thought you would be good for him and him for you. She’s a smart cookie.”

Lily elbowed her handsome husband. “Holt had a few morning after regrets.”

“If he’s broken your heart, I’ll put a hurt on him,” vowed Dane with a grin. “In fact, I’ll go over there right now and punch him in the
nose for you. I just need my car keys.”

Not sure if he was serious or joking but fearing the former, Myra grabbed his arm and vigorously shook her head. “Don’t you dare, Dane Braxton. I can handle this.”

Dane stroked his chin and nodded. “Fine, I’ll hold off on decking him. Just what are you doing to handle this?”

“I’m going to look for another job. I think it’s best.” Myra choked a little
on the words as her throat clogged with emotion. Leaving Holt wasn’t going to be easy.

“If you’re looking for a new job you need to network more,” Dane offered. “That’s why you should definitely go with us to the charity ball. Lots of people to meet and greet. Lots of opportunities to talk to influential people who could really open doors for you.”

Myra had effectively been cornered with logic.
Getting a good job was all about connections and she didn’t have any unless you counted the guy at the pizza place who always gave her extra cheese and didn’t charge her for it.

“I’ll go,” she sighed in resignation. She wasn’t going to win anyway. Not with Lily grinding away at the subject. “But I won’t let you buy my dress. I mean it.”

Lily and Dane smiled and nodded in agreement, not that
Myra actually believed they agreed. They were placating her for later. Lily especially was sneaky but Myra adored her friend anyway. Lily was only trying to help. She was so happy with Dane she wanted everyone around her to be that happy too.

Dane left them to return to the children who wanted someone to push them on the swings. Lily wrapped her arms around Myra and gave her a big hug.

“I know
I’m a pain in the ass but I just want you to find a man like Dane. Someone who will really love you and put you and Amelia first for a change. Bobby was nice but you were never a priority with him.”

“I know. I made a lot of excuses for him for a long time. Maybe it’s all for the best with Holt though. Honestly, I need to make some changes in my life. You’re right about me not demanding respect
from people. I didn’t with Bobby and now I’ve let Holt throw out some lame ass excuse as to why we can’t be together. I have to find a backbone. I don’t want to be this pathetic forever.”

“You’re not pathetic, you’re just nice. Too nice. For someone with a temper to match her hair you don’t let it fly near enough. Let it go once in a while.”

That wasn’t bad advice. The letting go part. She needed
to let go of the tension and resentment she’d been holding onto this week. When next she saw Holt she was going to be a whole new woman.

A calm, cool, rational woman that could take rejection.

*

“What are we
going to do?” Lily asked Dane as Myra’s car disappeared into the horizon later that day. “They’re perfect for each other.”

Dane
put his arm around Lily’s shoulders and guided her into the house. His normally down-to-earth wife was acting out of character when it came to Holt and Myra. It was important to Lily that her friend be happy, but she was going to have to lay off a little bit.

“You’re pushing too much. When you push people it’s their instinct to push back. Especially Holt. He’s one stubborn son of a bitch. He
had to be to recover from injuries the way he did. Myra’s getting there, sweetheart. She sees what needs to be done. You’ve got to trust that we’ve planted the seeds. But if something is going to grow it’s up to them.”

Shutting the front door behind them, he planted a kiss on top of Lily’s head. She had such a loving heart and this situation with Myra and Holt was killing her. Lily plopped down
into a chair and growled with obvious frustration.

“I thought they’d be head over heels for each other by now. Holt needs someone like Myra and she needs someone like him.”

“Let it go, Lily.” Dane put some edge into his voice so she would know he was serious. “If they’ve slept together there is something there.”

His gorgeous wife was tapping her chin as she plotted. “The question is how can
we get them to do it again?”

Dane bent over and placed his hands on the arms of the chair getting face to face with Lily.

“How about we get out of their way and let them fall in love? We didn’t need anyone pushing us together, remember? And we sure as hell didn’t have it easy. If Holt slept with Myra then he has feelings for her. That much I know for sure.”

Lily’s hands slid up his arms and
looped around his neck. “We did have a few things against us. I love you, Dane Braxton. Now kiss me.”

He was happy and eager to oblige. If their baby girl Emily would cooperate, he’d be happy to carry her upstairs and do much more.

“Dad, Emily is trying to climb out of her crib and Ace just got sick on the floor of the family room.”

Inwardly groaning, Dane turned to his son who was growing
up way too fast. “What did you feed Ace, Nick?”

“Just some cheese, Dad. Honest.”

“Dog or daughter?” he asked his wife who was openly laughing at him. He’d have to wait until the kids were in bed to do all the naughty things running through his mind.

“I’ll take the daughter. You take the dog.”

Heading into the kitchen for a roll of paper towels, Dane hoped that Holt could get his shit straightened
out. He was missing this. He didn’t have a family that made his life crazy but interesting. He didn’t have a partner in life that he could share the good and the bad.

After everything he’d been through, Holt deserved that and so much more.

‡

“S
o what’s going
on between you and Myra?”

The question came from Holt’s brother Beck as Holt was trying to fix his damn tie for the charity ball tonight. His fingers had turned into ten thumbs after Fiona had stuck her head in a few minutes ago to tell him Dane Braxton
was on the phone. It appeared Dane and Lily had a small domestic emergency with an overflowing toilet. Their toddling daughter Emily had tried to flush a doll and they were waiting on a plumber.

They were going to be late to the party and could Holt drive Myra there?

Just the thought of being that close to her without touching had turned him into a fucking mess. The last three weeks of avoiding
her had taken their toll and he was grouchy, exhausted, and in a very bad mood. He was also about to take it out on his brother who was leaning on the dresser with a gigantic smirk on his face.

“You’re an asshole,” Holt growled, pulling the knot free to give it another try. He could usually tie these damn things in his sleep.

It was all Myra’s fault.

No…it was his. He was fucking chicken shit.

“Probably.” Beck nodded, completely unperturbed about the slight. “But you’re no saint either. Myra’s moping around like a kid who found out there’s no Santa Claus and you’re snapping at everyone if they don’t read your damn mind. So what’s going on? Maybe your big brother can help you out.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Holt tried to concentrate on tying his bowtie but his brother still
had the shit-eating expression on his face.

“Fuck, let me do that.” Beck’s fingers brushed Holt’s out of the way and in less than a minute had it tied perfectly. “You’re a mess, brother. I’ve never seen you like this.”

“I’m fine. And what are you doing here anyway? You’re not even dressed for the charity function tonight. Are you bailing?”

“I’ll be there,” Beck said with a lazy grin. “As to
why I’m here, Fiona called me. Said you were acting like an ass and I needed to come straighten you out.”

It was embarrassing that Holt’s behavior had become so bad that Fiona had been forced to call Beck. Holt was a grown man but he’d been acting like a jerk.

“Lucky you. Now you’ve done your duty and can tell Fiona that I’m just fine. I’ve been working too much, that’s all.”

“I’ll ask again.
What’s going on with you and Myra?”

Beck sat down on the edge of the bed and appeared to be waiting patiently for an answer. It was clear that Holt wasn’t going to be able to get rid of his brother until he answered the damn question.

“Nothing,” he grated. “Nothing is going on between me and Myra. We’re just boss and assistant.”

Beck’s face split into a grin. “You crafty old dog. You slept
with her, didn’t you? And knowing you, you made a complete mess of it afterward with some speech about keeping things casual and told her not to fall for you because you’re some fucking lone wolf or some shit like that. Am I right?”

Beck was too close for comfort. But then they’d been able to read each other’s emotions since they were children.

“Something like that,” Holt admitted gruffly. “A
relationship is out of the question.”

“Why?”

“You know why. She deserves someone who isn’t damaged. I come with a lot of baggage and you know it.”

Beck shrugged carelessly. “Everyone worth being with has baggage. When you look in the mirror all you see are those damn scars. I’m here to tell you that no one who means anything sees them. Not really. So stop playing the violin music and get over
yourself.”

Myra had said much the same thing.

But letting someone in meant being vulnerable. Taking a chance on being hurt. Hiding away was easier. Safer.

“Your charm this evening leaves something to be desired, big brother. I get your message loud and clear.”

Beck stood and moved toward the door. “But you’re not going to do anything about it? You’re going to stay locked up in this house until
you rot from loneliness.”

Beck had a few secrets himself. “This is a case of pot and kettle. You’re more alone than I am, even with a different woman every night. Who is the lucky lady this evening?”

Rebuttoning his blue suit coat, Beck grinned. “I’m stagging it tonight but I’m sure I’ll find a beautiful woman on my arm before the clock strikes midnight and I turn into a pumpkin.”

Before Holt
could reply his brother was out the door and down the hall. Beck’s heavy treads on the staircase grew faint as Holt contemplated their conversation. Holt had never been all that lucky in love even before the bombing. He’d dated women but had never felt any real emotional connection with them. The kind of connection he’d felt with Myra. He didn’t know if he was brave enough to take that chance and
put himself out there. Until he was sure he needed to continue keeping his distance.

It was going to be long evening.

*

“If you keep
looking around I’m going to think that I’m terrible company,” Beck whispered into Myra’s ear as they danced. The charity ball was in full swing and the large room was crowded with everyone who was anyone.