Holiday in Danger Read Online Free PDF

Why am I here? Holly eased the knife through the cake and glanced around at all the party debris. From the way the cars filled the driveway and the empty bottles covered the counter, this wasn’t a small get-together. It was a house party, Midnight Cove style.
    She should have known what it’d be like. A small party for a billionaire wasn’t a handful of friends, a chick flick, and cheap wine. It was over the top and showy and everything she wasn’t. Everything she never wanted.
    With a flick of her wrist, she plated a hefty slice of the cake. The chocolate fudge filling oozed onto the plate and she handed it to Trent with a fork.
    He smiled and took a bite before his eyes rolled back and a groan slipped from his lips. “Oh, Holly. This is good. Damn good. No wonder you’re a chef.”
    She tucked a curl behind her ear. “I’m just a dessert chef, that’s all.”
    “A talented one, too. I can see why Hillary wants your help.”
    “Really?”
    “Mm-hmm.” Trent shoved forkfuls of cake in his mouth as Holly watched. The man could eat, that was for sure. From the look of his muscles beneath that T-shirt and the washboard abs she’d glimpsed earlier at the pool, he worked it all off, too. And then some.
    “So how’d Ian get so rich?”
    Trent coughed on a bite of cake and thwacked his chest. “Excuse me?”
    “Ian. How’d he end up—” She waved her hand around. “Like this?”
    “Shipping.”
    “I see. And what about you? Are you a billionaire now, too?”
    Trent’s lips twitched. “I do all right.”
    “In what?”
    “Maritime security.”
    Holly raised an eyebrow and waited.
    “I keep shipments safe. Owners, too.”
    “So you’re a bodyguard.”
    Trent wrinkled his nose and ate the last bite of cake. “Maybe.”
    “Does Ian need protection?”
    “I don’t want to talk about business.”
    She leaned against the counter. “You don’t?”
    “No. Let’s talk about you.” He set the plate down and eased closer.
    “Why?” She glanced down at her black dress and shook her head. “I’m boring.”
    “No. You’re beautiful and sexy and you baked one damn good cake.”
    Holly sucked in a breath and clamped her lips together. He did not just call me sexy. “The chocolate’s going to your brain.”
    “Other parts, too.”
    She snapped her head up and Trent grinned. Oh my God. Is he hitting on me? He can’t be.
    Trent slid closer until she could see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes and the scar on the side of his temple from all those years ago. She reached up and traced the jagged white line with her finger.
    “Do you remember that day? We were jumping the tide pools after school.”
    “You fell.”
    She smiled. “You caught me.”
    He reached out and grabbed her wrist and her heart skipped a beat. He turned the soft flesh of her inner arm toward him and kissed her skin. She wondered if he could feel the rapid beat of her heart.
    As he lifted his head, the door burst open.
    “There you are! Trent, quit hogging that gorgeous woman all to yourself.” Ian strode up in gray wool slacks and a white button-down. His hair was pulled back low and tight and he looked every bit the businessman. The shipping mogul.
    Holly tried to smile. “I thought you said it was a small party.”
    “It is. I only invited half the neighborhood. Come on, I want to show you off.” He looped his arm through hers and before she could say a thing, Holly was leaving the kitchen and Trent and their almost…kiss.
    She turned back as the door swung open in time to see Trent turn away with a frown.

C HAPTER F OUR

    IAN

    “J UST ONE FOOT in front of the other. There you go.” Ian held the tipsy woman by the waist, escorting her to the open front door and waiting cab.
    “But it’s sooooo early, Ian.” She sagged against him and Ian shook his head.
    “It’s time to go Chelsea. Time to go.” He angled them both out the front door and toppled her into the backseat. Finally . He turned back to the house as