Page 45 of Clumsy in Love

“What’s the signal? For if I see somethin’ fishy?”

“Just honk.”

Larry saluted and started the engine.

A deputy approached them, carrying a vest.

“Hey, Holly,” Cole said. “Come here a sec.”

She walked to him, looking down at what he held. “Is that really necessary?”

“It can go under your jersey. No one will know it’s there.”

“It’ll make me look fat,” she protested.

“Since when do you care what people think?”

“Since I got humiliated on my wedding day.”

“That was because you were too tall, not too fat.” He smiled.

“Iknewyou overheard that.” She snatched the vest from his hand. “Fine.”

She whipped off her jersey, revealing a slim-fitting tank top. Cole clapped his mouth shut, not wanting to be caught ogling her.

“You dodged a bullet, by the way,” he said, helping her with the Velcro straps. “That guy is a tool.”

“Amen,” Alex said, overhearing his comment.

Cole stood next to the car while the floats in front of them slowly moved out. “If I say duck, do it immediately. You too, Alex.”

They gave him crisp, sarcastic salutes and put their heads back together to continue their hushed conversation.

The parade route was short, maybe half a mile through town, but the sidewalks were lined with people—some sitting in lawn chairs, others standing behind them, and kids running every which way.

Cole felt like an idiot but pushed that aside and focused on the crowd. At least Holly had insisted he wear red. Otherwise, he would have really stuck out.

Midway through the route, his bad guy radar went off as he spotted something ahead—a lone Hispanic male with facial hair. A man all by himself at a parade didn’t feel right, and as they got closer, he recognized Edwardo.

Cruz had no idea who Cole was, or that he was here to protect Holly, so that was an advantage. Also, the only way he had to identify Holly was by her driver’s license, so he would have to wait until they were very close to figure it out.

The purposeful way Cruz watched the parade made it seem like he expected Holly to be in it. Which would have been easy to find out, considering how hung up the town was on Holly’s team’s win.

“Holly,” Cole said. “He’s here. Get down in the seat. Now.”

Thankfully, she and Alex both slipped down into the backseat without argument. Cole kept pace with the car and positioned himself between Holly and Cruz, making it impossible for him to get a good look at her. Unfortunately, they were coming up on the grandstand, and as they passed, the announcer introducedthem as the only team from Green Valley Falls ever to win a state championship. And then, one by one, read off their names.

Cruz’s eyes lit up at Holly’s name and narrowed when he finally locked in on her. He pushed his way through the spectators to keep pace with Holly’s ride but didn’t make any move toward her.

Not wanting to tip his hand yet, Cole walked casually, like he was just some schmuck helping with the parade. He didn’t think Cruz would attempt anything surrounded by so many people, but they were approaching the end of the route. And as the crowd on the sidewalk thinned, the risks got higher.

There was no way to know when or if Cruz would try something. Perhaps his plan was just to ID Holly and then follow her until he caught her alone. For the next block, he watched and waited.

Cole saw in Cruz’s eyes the moment he decided to act, pulling out a gun and pointing it in Holly’s direction.

Larry laid on the horn, but Cole was already in motion.

“Holly! Duck,” he yelled, taking off at a dead run toward Cruz, whose eyes widened in surprise at the six-two, two-hundred-pound man barreling down on him.

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