Page 4 of PenPal Hero

—Bonnie

It was the kindest way she could think of saying no — wrap it in a few compliments and hope he’d take it the right way. Reading what she’d written and mentally proofing it for typos, she pressed the send button.

So much for our pen pal relationship! The sense that she’d just killed something precious made her heart ache. She could only hope that Holt wouldn’t be too hurt when he read her message.

She nibbled her lower lip as she started shutting down her computer. The ping of an incoming email sounded before she could finish closing all the tabs she’d opened.

Her eyes widened at the realization that it was from Holt. She hesitated, not sure she was ready to open it. Then she inwardly chastised herself for being a coward and started reading.

Dear Miss Trouble:

Already met a really nice girl, and I have every intention of talking her into a date.

—Not Easily Scared Away

She caught her breath. Oh, wow! Holt was more serious about snagging that first kiss from her than she’d realized. She finished shutting down her computer and stood, stretching her back a little. It was time to haul her suitcases to his truck and face him again.

As she moved around her desk, she grew still at the sight of her pen pal striding up the hallway in her direction. Though he didn’t say anything, he lightly brushed his fingers against hers as he walked past her. Grabbing her suitcases, two in each hand like her brother had, he headed back toward the rear exit.

“I’ll get the door for you.” She jogged ahead of him to hold it open. Unlike her brother, he let her.

She waited until they were outside in the parking lot before speaking again. “We can’t date, Holt.” She hated the way her breath sounded all clogged in her throat.

“Why not?” He effortlessly swung all four suitcases into the back of his gun metal gray pickup truck.

“For one thing, I work for your sister.”

“So?” He swung back in her direction, looking blissfully unconcerned about the prospect of dating his sister’s administrative assistant.

And potential business partner. She frowned, wondering where that thought had come from, since she wasn’t seriously considering it.

“Wouldn’t it be awkward for us?” Her voice rose to an uncertain pitch.

He stepped closer to tangle the fingers of one hand with hers. “Not unless you keep turning me down.”

“Technically, I haven’t turned you down,” she reminded breathlessly. She was too accustomed to bickering with her brothers not to point out that fact. “You haven’t officially asked me out.”

“I can fix that.” He threaded his fingers more snuggly through hers. “Will you go out with me, Bonnie Yates?”

“I—” She yanked her hand away from his as the back door to the building swung open. Alice stepped outside, glancing their way curiously before turning her back on them to lock up.

Grinning unabashedly, Holt opened the driver’s door and held out his hand to her. “In you go, Miss Yates.”

Her eyes widened. Did he truly expect her to sit in the middle of the seat between him and his sister?

His expression told her that it was exactly what he was expecting.

“You’re crazy,” she whispered, stepping onto the running board without his assistance.

“Crazy about you,” he whispered, giving her elbow a gentle boost to help her finish climbing in.

As he hurried around the hood of the truck to assist his sister through the passenger door, Bonnie gazed after him, stunned. Did you mean that? For reals? She was accustomed to guys flirting with her when her brothers weren’t around, but she wasn’t accustomed to having any of them genuinely pursue her.

She honestly hadn’t seen this coming. What am I going to do about you, Holt Winchester? Her insides were so tangled up over the question that it took her a few tries to clasp her seatbelt.

Alice glanced curiously at her. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes. Everything’s peachy.” Bonnie jammed her seatbelt clasp home at last. Third time’s a charm.

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