Unwrapping Holly: by Lisa Renée Jones

“And that’s what I was trying to tell you. Cole’s a menace in the kitchen,” he added, obviously overhearing the entire mess. “A downright danger. Always has been. Get him the hell out of there before he burns it down.”
    Holly’s chest filled with barely contained laughter because it appeared so true, but now wasn’t the time to jest with Cole. Still, it was quite comical that with the steely tough exterior and firm resolve Cole radiated, a kitchen skillet had him grumbling in pain.
    “I will,” she vowed to Abe. “I’ll get right on that.”
    Cole surveyed his wound as she watched and, with a grimace, he shoved his hand back under the water. “Tell Abe the meeting is pushed back to four o’clock.”
    She started to repeat the message. “Cole says—”
    “I’ll be there,” Abe said. “But do your womanly, kiss the-wound-and-make-it-better thing and have him call me back. We’ve got trouble with that guy who Jacob scrabbled with at the bar. He came up to us at a gas station last night and tried to start something. I held Jacob back, but I was damned tempted to pop the guy myself.”
    Holly cast Cole a concerned look. “Yes, okay. I’ll make sure.” She ended the call and set the phone aside.
    “Once I sign the final papers on the bed-and-breakfast, I want you to come see the place,” Cole said as Holly grabbed a towel and filled it with ice.
    It pleased Holly that Cole wanted her to see the bed-and-breakfast. “I’d love that.” She stepped to his side at the sink and turned off the water. “Wrap this around your hand and call Abe back. You’re going to want to talk to him.”
    He ignored the ice and studied her. “What’s that look you’re giving me? What’s up?”
    She sighed. “That guy who Jacob tussled with at The Tavern tried to pick a fight with Abe and Jacob last night at some gas station.”
    “That son of a bitch,” he said, ignoring the towel, the burn apparently forgotten as he reached for the phone. He dialed Abe and then glanced at the towel. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”
    She tried to hand him the towel again, but Abe answered and Cole launched into conversation, towel forgotten again as he paced and talked. Holly sighed and set the towel down, shoving a hand through her sleep-rumpled hair, before digging in to try and save breakfast. By the time Cole hung up the phone, she’d concluded it was a hopeless effort. The eggs were watery and the bacon burned and greasy.
    Cole set his phone back down, hands on his lean hips, his lips a thin, hard line. He was clearly not happy. “You’re meeting Sheriff Jack today about those research questions, right?”
    “Yes,” she confirmed. “This afternoon. Hopefully, before my sister gets in. She’s already on the road. Should be here by dinner.”
    “Good,” he said, his tone firm, decisive. “I’ll ride along. We can get some food on the way. I want to talk to the sheriff before this situation with Jacob gets any more out of hand.”
    She shook what felt like cobwebs from her head. “Wait. You’ve spent a week-plus hiding me away in your house, and now suddenly you decide we’re going public? You think you might want to ask me?”
    A dark challenge flickered across his handsome features. “You have a problem with people knowing we’re dating?”
    That drew her up short. “What? Dating? Are we dating? Is that what this is?”
    He picked her up and set her on the counter, gently but firmly, nudging her legs apart to step between them. “You got a problem with that?” he challenged, his deep-chocolate eyes daring her to answer wrong. “Because I have to tell you, Holly. I’m done pretending this is nothing. And if you think I’m letting you hide me away any longer, you’re wrong.”
    “Me?!” she demanded. “You’re the one who hasn’t suggested leaving the house.”
    “Because you have a gossip phobia,” he countered.
    “I don’t!” she said. “I didn’t want to get caught