The Trouble With Love, page 16
Thank You for gifting me with music. Because now I could see my talent wasn’t just a matter of genetics, but God-given for a higher purpose. I wasn’t sure if that meant I had to change genres from pop to Christian, but I knew He would guide me.
“Oh, so you do know her. Well, I thought you guys deserved a special treat.” Applause filled the arena. “Baby girl, would you join me?”
I stepped onto the stage, waving to the crowd as I made my way to my father. Despite my disappointment in him as a parent, I could admire him as a musician. He knew how to entertain the crowd and leave them with an experience they’d never forget. Right now, I was glad he’d included me. Maybe I didn’t have to distance myself from him as much as I tried.
With that thought, I gave him a hug. I felt the jolt of surprise as he stiffened before his body relaxed and squeezed me tight.
“Love you, baby girl,” he murmured.
“Love you too, Dad.”
We pulled back and faced the audience.
“Remember that song, Holiday?” my dad asked.
I gave him a knowing smile. “That one song?”
“Yes, that one. The one I’m sure everyone wants to hear.”
“They couldn’t possibly. I’m not ten anymore.”
“Yes!” the crowd screamed.
“Seems like they do, baby girl.”
“Do you really want us to sing it?” I asked the crowd, smiling as their cheers grew louder. “Well, you know best!”
The shimmering sound of cymbals filled the atmosphere and the low tenor of my father’s voice followed. “No amount of awards or money compares. No amount of fame or fortune compares. The day I laid eyes on you, I knew true love.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. How had I missed the depth of love in this song? I’d always felt slighted or ignored, but truly, in his own way, my father loved me.
“You’re my baby girl.”
“Always your girl,” I harmonized.
“You’re my heart…”
“…outside of your chest.” I smiled, remembering how that line used to seem so incredibly cheesy.
“You’re my true success.”
“A walking legacy.”
“As long as I have you…”
“…I’ll always be loved.” We sang together, hands clasped.
Phone lights slowly lit up around the arena, swaying from side to side. At this moment, I was thankful. What I’d thought would be tedious was turning out to be exactly what I needed. I sat down on the stool that had been strategically placed, front and center. We’d practiced this over and over. The plan was for my father to walk up beside me, place a hand on his heart and sing the final line.
Only everything went horribly wrong.
I stared in confusion at the red dot on my navy dress. What stage light could create that? It was almost like a—
“Gun!” someone shouted.
The music came to a jarring halt as a rush of movement filled my periphery. I watched in horror as Emmett raced across the stage and dove right on top of me, quickly followed by the sound of a gun firing.
Pain jarred my backside as we flew off the stool, slamming into the stage floor. Screams and the sounds of a massive stampede filled the air.
“Are you hurt?” Emmett’s voice strangled on the words.
Why did he sound like that? “I’m okay. Are you?”
“I could use an ambulance.”
“What?” Shock paralyzed me as his gaze met mine.
Pain filled his startling blue eyes, then they rolled into the back of his head and closed.
“Emmett!” I heaved with all my might, but he didn’t budge. “Help!”
Jax arrived, carefully lifting Emmett off me and onto his back. I knelt beside him, gasping as blood seeped from Emmett’s pale blue shirt near his right shoulder. I pressed my hands firmly on the wound as tears blurred my vision. “You have to help him, Jax.”
But I didn’t need to remind him. Already he spoke through his mouthpiece as he tore off his left sleeve. I removed my hands as he placed the wadded material on the wound.
“Hold the pressure.”
I nodded. Please don’t let him die. I just found him.
Paramedics soon pushed me out of the way. An oxygen mask covered Emmett’s mouth as a paramedic hooked him up to fluids. Before I knew it, he was on a gurney and headed for the hospital.
“Holiday.”
I blinked Jax into focused. “Yes?”
“Let’s go. The police will meet us at the hospital.”
“Yes. Right.” I stood, legs wobbling as my mind recalled Emmett’s blood. I looked down at my hands, stained red, and lost the small amount of composure I’d managed to hold onto. Tears fell as blood dripped from my fingers.
Chapter Thirty
Thank goodness for girlfriends.
Tori and Tavia had shown up at the hospital with a change of clothes and coffee from my favorite cafe. After donning my Yankees hoodie and matching sweatpants, I’d curled up into one of the hard-back chairs.
My father had offered to come, but I told him I’d keep him posted via text.
I couldn’t believe Emmett had been shot. That he’d thrown himself in front of me. Saved my life. I almost asked if Tori would ever be able to forgive me. But the way she’d squeezed me tight after arriving at the hospital let me know we were both grieving together. And when her parents arrived, they’d wrapped us in a group hug.
The hospital administration had given us a private room to wait in to stave off the gaping stares of the staff. A shadow formed on the floor in front of me, and I looked up to find Jax a couple of feet away.
“Can I?” He pointed to the chair next to mine.
“Sure.”
He sighed as he sat down. “Holiday?”
“Yes?”
“I am so, so sorry.” He hunched over, placing elbows on knees as he turned his face to me.
The look of utter failure broke my heart. “Blaming you never even crossed my mind, so don’t let it take root in yours.”
Surprise filled his eyes. “But as your bodyguard, it was my job to protect you. I failed, and now Emmet’s in surgery.”
“Did you have any indication that I would be targeted at the concert?”
“No.”
“Exactly. What about the possibility that the bullet was intended for my father?”
He sighed.
“It’s not your fault.” I laid a hand on his arm. “And your quick reaction saved Emmett.” At least, that’s what I’d been praying for since he’d been rolled into surgery.
“You really believe that?”
“I do.”
“Thank you.” He squeezed my hand, then let it go. “I talked to the police and reported to Fox.”
I grimaced. “How is he?”
“Ornery,” he said with a wry grin.
A short chuckle shook me out of my stupor. “I believe it.”
“He’s sending more help and relieving me of duties for now.”
My mouth dropped. “You’re being fired?”
“No. Not at all. A leave of absence is part of his method. To allow us to decompress after something traumatic has happened. I’ll be back, don’t you worry.”
“Tell the girls hello.”
“I will.” He pointed to a man in the corner. “That’s Knight. He’s your guard for now, and Ty took over watching Emmett.”
Relief poured through me. I’d met Ty before. He was solid.
My attention shifted as the doctor walked into the room. Everyone jumped to their feet, breath bated. Well, at least mine was.
“Everything went well.”
A rush of air escaped my lips. He was okay!
The doctor scanned the room. “Which one of you is Holiday?”
I raised my hand.
“He would like to see you.”
I flicked a questioning glance at his parents, who nodded in encouragement. Mouthing thank you, I followed the doctor. He walked forward in a no-nonsense stride and guided me to the recovery room. As we approached the door, he placed a hand on my arm. “He was adamant that he see you. But please don’t excite him. He needs to rest for recovery.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll inform his parents about the surgery. You see to your young man.”
My young man. I liked the sound of that. Moving quietly to Emmett’s side, I took him in. He looked smaller in the hospital bed, a green gown draped over his frame and a bandage peeking out around his right shoulder. A frame I once thought steady and dependable now seemed incredibly frail.
Do not cry. Be strong for him. I sniffed and slid my hand through his. “Emmett?”
His eyes blinked rapidly at my whisper, finally opening and fixing on me. His brow smoothed out as his eyes focused. “Hol, you’re okay?”
“I’m just fine. You’re the one who was shot, not me.” I was alive because of him.
His hand tightened around mine. “I thought my heart had stopped when I saw that laser scope.”
“Yeah, pretty sure mine stopped when you decided to take a bullet for me.”
“You know I’d do anything for you.”
For some reason Bryan Adams’ song came to mind. If this were a movie, I’m sure ladies would be reaching for tissues as the brave, wounded hero sacrificed his life for the heroine. As this was reality, I can tell you, I did not reach for a tissue.
But I did reach for him.
I placed a soft kiss on his lips, pulling back with just enough space to speak. “I love you, Waldorf Emmett Bell.”
“About time.” He sealed his declaration with another kiss.
I pulled back, hating the thought of responsibility at the moment. “Emmett, you’re in recovery. You can’t go using up your oxygen on kisses.”
“Says who?”
“Me.”
He frowned as a nurse came to stand on the other side of him. “Your doctor doesn’t want you to exert yourself. And according to your heart rate, that includes kissing.”
I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing. The nurse was petite and shorter than me, but her bark sounded like a drill sergeant, and the scowl covering her face was reminiscent of one too. Pretty sure I caught the hint of a gleam in her eyes, though.
“Yes, ma’am.” He didn’t look very contrite.
She shuffled away, tossing one last warning look before heading to another bed in the room.
I looked down at Emmett and snickered. “You’re so bad.”
“And you owe me some kisses once I’m unhooked from these blasted machines.”
“Deal.”
A week passed before we got any kind of update from the police, while the media had been spiraling out of control trying to figure out exactly what had been going down. A week of practical imprisonment in our townhouse for all of us except for Tavia, who still had to dance. We kept ourselves busy during our self-imposed confinement with movies, takeout, and great conversations.
The police saw no connections between Tori’s stalker case and the attempt on my own life, but they weren’t ruling out a crazed fan. They cautioned us to be extra vigilant.
Just great.
And on top of everything else, Emmett was moving back into his townhome. It would be weird to not see him on a daily basis—I’d miss his constant presence—but judging from the steam coming from some of our kisses, time apart was needed.
He placed a sweet kiss on my lips, then zipped up his duffel bag one handed. His right arm had been relegated to a sling until the doctor said otherwise. “I’d like to invite you to dinner tomorrow.”
“Dinner sounds great, but does security think it’s a good idea?”
“Sure. I’ve already arranged it with Knight and Ty. They’ll bring you to my place.”
His place? My lips curved into a smile. “We’re eating at your place?”
“I’m cooking dinner for you, yes.”
I frowned.
“What? I can cook, and if it impresses you, I’ll learn how to bake as well.”
I laughed and wrapped an arm around the left curve of his neck to avoid his injury. “Not necessary. I can bake. But should you really be cooking?”
He drew back. “I’ll be fine.”
“Really?”
“Really.” He kissed my nose. “How about you bring dessert?”
“It’s a date.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Baking wasn’t something I did often, but when I did, I went all out. Tonight, I’d consider the effort a labor of love. A thrill shivered through me. I couldn’t believe Emmett loved me. And I loved Emmett. We were in love.
I shook my head at the sappy thoughts while drizzling the caramel sauce on top of the cheesecake. The top of the cheesecake. Hmm. Sprinkle it with sea salt? Nuts? I tilted my head, turning the confection on the cake plate.
A quick glance through my pantry had me shouting with joy. Toffee! I broke up the pieces using my food processor and then shook the crumbles on top.
“What are you making?”
I looked at the doorway, smiling at Tori. “Salted caramel cheesecake.”
“Yum. What’s the occasion?”
“Dinner at Emmett’s.”
Tori clasped her hands together. “I’m so happy for you two.”
I studied my friend. “Are you really?”
“Of course.” She placed a hand on her hip. “I’ve been encouraging you to see him differently. Did you forget that?”
“Sometimes our reality doesn’t look as good as our dreams.”
“Oh, Hol, you two are meant to be. I’ve thought so for a long time. Plus, I knew how he felt.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Wasn’t mine to tell.”
“You’re a good sis.”
She shrugged. Her eyes didn’t have their usual vibrancy and were rimmed with dark circles.
“How are you, Tor? Honestly?”
Her lower lip trembled. “Kind of exhausted.” She tipped her head back, studying the ceiling and trying to keep the tears from coming.
I walked toward her and hugged her. “We’ll get through this.”
“Yeah?” She stepped back. “Before someone else gets hurt?”
“The police don’t even think the shooting’s connected with your stalker.”
“Don’t you think they are? Come on.” She threw her hands up in the air. “What are the odds of us all being targeted at the same time?”
True. Not that I wanted to admit it to her. “Just hold on a little longer. They’ll figure out who the guy is and put him away for good.”
“I hope so. I can’t keep living like this.”
“Do you want me to stay home tonight? I’m sure Emmett would understand. We could watch movies.”
“Oh, please.” She waved a hand in the air. “We’ve done that to death. Go enjoy your night.”
“What are you going to do?”
She shrugged. “Something.”
“That clears that up.” I chuckled and a soft smile peeked through her gloom.
“Don’t worry about me, Hol. Fox is doing enough for a whole army.”
“He’s handy.”
She grimaced. “I guess.”
I wanted to poke and prod and see if there was something there, but I wasn’t about to stick my nose where it didn’t belong—especially after she’d shown me the same courtesy. If a romance bloomed between those two, Tori would tell me when she was ready.
She pointed a finger at me, moving it up and back down. “Are you wearing that to Emmett’s?”
I looked down at my flannel pants and gray T-shirt. “No, this is my baking outfit.”
“Oh, phew. I think it’s way too early in the relationship to be comfortable enough to walk around looking like a homeless person.”
I laughed. “Oh, trust me. I have the cutest dress picked out.”
“Well, have fun.”
“Thanks.” I smiled as Tori walked out.
The cheesecake needed to cool so I slid it into the fridge, smiling at the perfection. I had just enough time to get ready for a romantic dinner with Emmett. Who knew I’d be giddy over something so simple?
By the time I was seated in the back of the Town Car, energy strummed across my nerves like guitar strings wound too tight. What would happen tonight? Our relationship was new and shiny, like the perfect set of heels: Empowering and affirming. Was that normally what relationships felt like? I had nothing to compare it with because Emmett was my first boyfriend.
How odd that sounded to my ears. About as weird as going to his place.
I still hadn’t reconciled that he was no longer in our townhome. There’d been a comfort in knowing he was just a few floors away. Now I’d have to drive to spend time with him, or call him when I wanted to hear his voice.
Mac opened the passenger door, and Ty exited first, scanning the premises. He motioned for me to exit, offering a hand for assistance. I smiled when I saw Emmett standing outside the high-rise building, hands casually placed in his pants pockets. His gray cashmere sweater was a perfect fit and complimented his black pants nicely. The only thing out of place was the sling. Still, I wanted to swoon.
“Hey, beautiful.” He held out the crook of his left elbow, which I gladly accepted.
“Wow, the royal treatment?”
“Just for you, Valentine.”
My lips twitched. “I was beginning to think you’d stopped with the nicknames.” And oddly, I’d missed it.
“I was kind of thinking it was our thing.”
“Our thing?” I paused at the top landing, meeting his gaze.
“Yeah.” His brow furrowed.
I rose up on my toes and kissed his cheek. “Sounds absolutely perfect.”
“Just you wait until you get inside. You haven’t seen anything yet.”
“Oh!” I whirled around, sagging with relief when I noted Mac held the cheesecake platter in his hand. “Thanks, Mac.”
“My pleasure, Ms. Brown. Have a good evening. I’ll see you later.” He tipped his hat and headed back to the Town Car.
Emmett motioned for me to follow him. A doorman opened the door, and Ty led us to the elevators. I assumed he’d already checked the security in the building. When we made it to Emmet’s floor, he led us to his front door.
