Allow me to introduce you all to the wonderful Riley Reynolds, Stuart's older brother and the woman he just can't get out of his head, Holly. This is the first sneak peek at Chapter One of Breaker's Point Beau.
Chapter One
Gripping the picture in his hands, Riley’s heart constricted in his chest at the mere sight of the glossy photograph he’d slid from the large brown envelope.
Spying on her like this wasn’t right, it didn’t feel right to be intruding in a way that wasn’t like him at all. He’d never been the type to butt in where he wasn’t wanted and Holly had made it more than clear that she didn’t want him involved in her business.
But how could he ignore it?
How could he ignore the look of terror she wore in the picture he held?
His breath caught in his chest as he remembered the kiss they had shared that night… The night before it had all gone to hell.
He’d made a mistake and it was high time he set it all straight, that was if she’d allow him.
A quiet knock on the heavy oak door of his office had Riley quickly pushing the picture back into the envelope and sliding it beneath the heaped and colourful cardboard folders that sat atop the polished surface of the heavy desk.
“Come in,” he said, leaning back into his leather winged chair.
The door slammed open, the weight of it carrying it back until it smacked into the wall plaster with a resounding crack.
Holly McCombe strode into the room, her blonde hair streaming out behind her as her grey eyes snapped with anger.
“Who the hell do you think you are, Riley Reynolds? How dare you interfere, I told you, I didn’t want you involved!”
Riley lifted his hands in mock surrender as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
It was one thing to see Holly in a photograph, it was something else entirely to see her in reality.
As far as Riley was concerned she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Of course it was too late now to be having revelations about how stunning she was. He’d screwed it all up a long time ago.
“And I’ve done exactly as you asked, I haven’t interfered.”
“Don’t lie,” Holly hissed, the words struggling to escape from between gritted teeth as she slammed her hands down onto the table and stared him squarely in the eye.
“I’m not stupid, Riley, and I know it was one of your men up there taking photographs…”
Riley shook his head and smiled, a wide smile designed to disarm the situation.
And perhaps with any woman other than Holly it might have worked. But Holly was different.
“I want the pictures, Riley, and I want them now.”
“Holly, you’re mistaken, I haven’t interfered. You told me you could handle this and I’ve left you alone to do just that.”
Something in her face shift, a sudden flicker of uncertainty in her eyes that hadn’t been there before and Riley nearly surrendered the photographs to her then and there.
If there was one thing he had learned since they had broken up, it was that he would do anything to try and help ease her fear and concern.
“If it wasn’t you, then that means it was…”
Holly cut off, her voice choked.
Riley stood and moved around the desk, catching her in his arms as she slumped against him.
The feel of her body so close to his sent his heart thudding in his chest and Riley felt his mouth going dry.
Being this close to her was a bad idea… It made him think of all the things he longed to do… Spin her in his arms and crush her rich and luscious curves against his chest, taste the sweet nectar of her lips…
Riley shook the image from his mind and guided her to the couch in the corner of the office.
Her face was pale and as he crouched down in front of her, he noticed the first tear track down across the apple of her cheek.
“Don’t cry, Holly, please…”
“I was so sure it was you, at least if you’d been the one to take the picture then I wouldn’t have to worry. But if it wasn’t you then… Oh God.”
Riley watched as she buried her face in her hands and started to sob.
“Holly, why won’t you let me help?”
“Because if you’re involved, I’m afraid of what he’ll do.”
“Is Marcus really that bad?”
Riley already knew the answer to that question. The look of terror on Holly’s face in the photograph as Marcus held her by the arm was enough to convince him of that.
“He’s worse…”
She paused and stared up at him, the look in her eyes filling Riley with a hope he’d never dared admit even to himself.
“Holly, leaving you was a mistake, one I’ve regretted every day since I allowed myself to be persuaded to make it…”
She shook her head, her grey eyes a stormy mass of emotions that Riley felt mirrored within himself.
“Don’t say it… If you say it, Riley, it can’t ever be taken back. And I’m not sure what would happen if you said it.”
“Holly, I…”
She leaned into him and pressed her fingers to his lips, effectively silencing him. Riley froze, the touch of her soft fingers against his lips made him want to throw caution to the wind.
“I have to marry Marcus, you and I both know that he’ll kill those I love, the ones I hold most dear if I don’t… He’d kill you…” Holly’s voice broke off but she didn’t shed any tears, despite the fact that Riley could see them trembling along her lashes.
“I have to go…”
She pushed away from him and up onto her feet.
Riley fought the urge to grab her hand, to confess to her that he had been the one keeping track of her. But she wouldn’t understand, she would see it as a betrayal and Riley couldn’t look at it that way.
As far as he was concerned if he could gather enough evidence against Marcus Stark, then Holly could be done with him.
Instead he remained on his knee next to the couch as he watched her leave, the ghost of her touch still tingling against his lips.
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