What He Didn't Say Read Online Free PDF Page A

point in the lobby where he could keep an eye on both the outside and the bank of elevators.
    â€œYou named it in your mother’s honor.”
    If Sam had read one of the e-mails he had sent when he had first conceived of the event… Holt rolled his shoulders to ease the building tension. “That’s right.”
    â€œAmanda would have been proud of you, Holt.”
    And what about you, Dad? He wanted to ask but knew it was pointless. After all, no matter how many times he had brought home straight A’s on his report card or scholastic awards, Sam had always reacted as if such accomplishments were expected. The word praise wasn’t in his vocabulary.
    â€œThanks, Dad.” Out of the corner of his eye he spotted an elevator opening. Emma-Lee, carrying her bag, exited with several others. A man said something to her and she laughed, the warm, silky sound rippling along his nerve endings.
    She was leaving. Suddenly, Holt realized that he had to spend more time with her. Today. He didn’t want to wait until next weekend. He needed to come up with a plan and quick.He knew her car was here, so he couldn’t offer Emma-Lee a lift home. However…
    As an idea formed, his mouth kicked up at the corner. The jet would go wherever he needed it to.
    â€œDad, I’m sorry, but I have to go. Something’s come up.”
    â€œBut—” There was a second of silence. “Sure, son. I know you’re a busy man.”
    Rather than hitting the disconnect button, Holt hesitated. His father sounded weary. “Dad, you okay?”
    â€œI’m fine. I’ll speak with you later.”
    â€œSure thing. I’ll e-mail you when I get back to Atlanta.”
    â€œBye, Holt.”
    The moment his father had hung up, Holt was texting his assistant. He prayed Ted wouldn’t pick this inopportune moment to emerge from the restaurant. Instructions delivered, Holt clipped the phone to his belt and moved on a diagonal to intercept Emma-Lee. As he rounded the last group of people separating them, she saw him and a smile lit up her face.
    There. Holt experienced the same kick of anticipation he had whenever he jumped from a plane or raced a bike or had a breakthrough on a computer program. This was what he had been waiting for all morning.
    Never before had a woman been the source of such an acute rush.
    That realization alone should have given him pause, but Holt never backed down from a challenge. He closed the last few feet as Emma-Lee pulled a ringing cell phone from her purse.

CHAPTER THREE
    H OLT WAS HERE.
    An awareness so intense that it bordered on pain jolted Emma-Lee’s nerve endings. He moved toward her with easy masculine grace. Today his hazel eyes took on the cast of the dark gold shirt he wore along with jeans hugging his lean form and a bomber jacket.
    Those serious eyes held her own almost against her will as he drew closer.
    Phone. It was ringing in the tone that signaled her mother was calling. She wrenched her gaze away, set down her bag and answered the cell.
    â€œHi, Mom. Happy Sunday.”
    â€œHi, honey. Are you all right? I know you were doing that insane jump yesterday. When you didn’t call, your father was practically frantic with worry.”
    Oops. While she had called her friend Sandy last night to regale her with details of the day and the fascinating man she had met, she had forgotten to call her parents. Guilt pricked her. That was so unlike her not to call. She knew her parents were concerned about her riskier leisure activities.
    In the background on Shirley Dalton’s end of the line, her father’s muffled voice protested. “Oh, hush, Buddy,” her mother ordered. “You, too, were worried about her.”
    â€œMom, I’m fine. I just forgot to call you. I’m sorry.”
    â€œNothing broken? No cuts or bruises?”
    Emma-Lee laughed. “I’m fine. Not even a scratch.” Shewouldn’t mention the