Page 18 of The Plan

His fingers sank into her hair—the hair she had pulled up just half an hour before the man had arrived—and he spread her hair over her shoulders. He buried his face in her neck. And kissed her there. Let his mouth linger. Right there…

Oh, she wished… they had a real relationship. Not just him wanting to do the right thing.

Tears sprang to her eyes. She pulled back. “Don’t tease me, George. And don’t lie to me. It isn’t fair.”

“What? I’m not lying to you at all.” He pulled her closer. Ronnie wanted to snuggle right up against him and just… be held… forever. Until the world felt right again. “Why can’t we at least try, sweetheart? That’s all I want in the world.”

Damn him.

He always had the words, didn’t he?

14

Holland pushedthrough the heavy glass doors of the Value Diner, blinking against the glare of the summer sun. The place was busy, too busy for his liking, but it was the only place in town where he could get a meal without drawing too much attention—most days, anyway. He was in there four out of five days a week—and had been for years. He couldn’t deviate too much now. Or there would be questions.

The familiar sounds of the diner made him sick to his stomach today.

There was a man in the back booth. Waiting. For Holland.

Deputy Wyatt Ward. The epitome of scum. He wasn’t going to sit with that bastard today. He rarely did at all—and only when no other seats were available. Holland always made certain Atkins or someone else from the courthouse sat there, too. Just to be on the safe side. Judicial impropriety and all. It was all about appearances now.

Not that that mattered much around here. Not really. Not when money could grease the wheels.

Holland shook his head slightly. And turned. He wasn’t going to sit with Ward today.

Then he saw Hiller.

And damn it all, the day got worse. Instantly.

George Hiller sat in a booth near the window, looking like everyone’s poster boy for perfection. Slick, sophisticated, young, and successful. Perfect. Eyes were drawn in his direction, no denying that. He had that presence that got him attention everywhere he went.

There was a woman with him. That blonde clerk of his. Holland never remembered her name, but she’d been the clerk to stick around the longest, he thought. Smart girl, not a pushover, either.

Holland tried not to be obvious as he watched them. A beautiful girl—blonde, taller, a trim, curvy body, and a beautiful smile. She looked good next to Hiller. But she was far too young for Hiller—Holland wouldn’t put her much past twenty-one or so.

Hiller had been playing with his clerk—Holland would bet on it.

Sanctimonious, hypocritical bastard. Acting all noble and perfect—when Hiller had been screwing his own law clerk all along. Talk about a cliché.

Not that he blamed Hiller. Not at all. A pretty young thing in a man’s bed—well, Holland understood the appeal.

The girl sat across from Hiller, leaning in slightly, as she sassed the man across from her. That asshole looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered in the room. And for a man like George Hiller, that said a lot. Holland gave his regular Tuesday order to the waitress, then listened to the chatter around him. Especially when he heard Hiller’s name.

“I heard Gayle’s over the moon,” Jane Fields said at the booth behind Holland.

Gayle.That was Hiller’s mother’s name.

Holland looked over his shoulder briefly, making it appear he was looking for the waitress.

It was Lettie Giles at the table with Mrs. Fields. He’d thought so. Lettie had been the town gossip for decades. “Of course Gayle is. She’s going to be grandma now. She’s been after George for years—and now he has finally come up to the task, apparently. I wonder how long they’ve been together? They are very beautiful together—and that baby is going to be a pretty one. Gayle and Max will spoil that child rotten, mark my words.”

“Of course they will,” Mrs. Fields said. “Grandbabies are wonderful. I do wish Charlie had had more than one, but… my Jaden is a good boy. Very bright. I suspect he’ll go into medicine, Lettie. He’s fascinated by it. Just like his Uncle Chad.”

“Chantal and Chad have plenty of time to give you more grandbabies, Jane.”

“Hard not to be impatient, though. I’ll call Gayle and get more details. Has anyone said when the baby’s due yet?” Mrs. Fields asked.

Baby.

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