His Old-Fashioned Love (Old-Fashioned Series) by Laylah Roberts Page B

smile.
    He snorted. “Young girl like you shouldn’t be stuck here having dinner with me.”
    “Well, I happen to have enjoyed myself. I’m just going to go to the ladies room. I’ll be back in a moment.”
    He waved her off. “Take your time. I’m in no rush.”
    Holly walked towards the toilets, which were down a long passage at the back of the building. She used the toilet then washed her hands, staring at herself. Soon she would have to go back to her hotel room. Alone. With too much time to think.
    He hadn’t called her. Hadn’t text her. Hadn’t come to see her.
    This was ridiculous. He wanted to be friends. She wanted more. She wanted Brax. But there was no way she was going to make a fool of herself over him any longer. She’d thought to change his mind and she’d failed. It was time to move on. If space is what he wanted, it’s what he would get.
    “Where’s my money?”
    She stilled at the familiar voice. Where was it coming fro m? For a moment, she thought someone was in the toilets with her, but all three stalls were empty.
    “You haven’t finished the job yet,” another voice replied, this one quieter and also vaguely familiar.
    Holly looked up . A long, thin window ran along the length of the bathroom. It was currently open.
    “I did everything you said. It’s not my fault they don’t scare easy. What else do you want me to do?”
    Suddenly, she recognized the first voice. Mason Philips. She needed to see him to be sure, though. Moving into the stall closest to the outside wall, she lowered the toilet lid carefully then climbed on top to peer out the narrow window. She peered to her left where two large men stood in the dark alley.
    “You’ll get paid when they’ ve shut down the site and not a minute before,” the other man said quietly. “You need to up your game. I want Brax Jamieson gone.”
    The other man was smaller. He had his back to her and his head was covered in a hat. His husky voice was quiet, but she was sure that she had heard his voice before.
    She strained to hear more.
    “Then you’ll get your money. Don’t forget, we’re both getting what we want. Brax Jamieson off the Ashdown job and preferably ruined.”
    Holly put her hand over her mouth to hold back her gasp of shock.
    “Yeah, all right, all right,” Mason replied peevishly. “I’ll get the job done.”
    “Make sure you do.”
    Both men turned and walked away. Holly would have loved to catch a glimpse of the other man, but she’d never make it outside in time. She lowered herself carefully off the toilet then sat on it, breathing deep. Her whole body shook.
    Who was that other guy? Why would he want to ruin Brax? Should she tell Brax? But what did she really have to tell him? She didn’t know who the other man was. The one person who did know was Mason Philips and he wouldn’t tell. If she told Brax, he’d go after Philips again. The last time he’d done that it had nearly ended in disaster. She didn’t want to risk Brax getting hurt.
    No, s he needed to figure out who the other man was and then she could go to the Sheriff or Derrick. But what would Mason do next? How could she stop him?
    She needed to keep an eye on him. Starting tonight. Except there was that promise she’d made to Brax. But this was business, that promise had been personal. She was Ashdown Industries representative, she had to do this.
    That was her story, anyway, and she’d stick to it.
    Mind made up, she moved from the bathroom.
     
    *****
     
    A few hours later, feeling defeated, she drove back to the hotel. She was so tired her eyes felt gritty and it took every ounce of concentration she had to keep herself awake. No wonder, it was now four in the morning. She’d been watching Mason Philips’ house all night, wanting to catch him out. But he had obviously been peacefully sleeping while she had been holed up in her cold car, struggling to keep herself awake.
    She park ed and climbed out of the car. Limping slowly, her leg