Dark Horse, page 7
“You don’t understand.” Her mum’s tone was resigned. “She was just so much trouble. No one could reach her. And now she’s back, to cause God-knows-what trouble.”
“Oh, right, so because she was a wild child, she can’t possibly be a good person now? I thought she was really nice from what I saw of her. I think you’re being very unfair assuming she’s out to cause trouble again. You don’t know anything about the person she is now.”
Her mum took a step back and smiled wanly at her. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” She took a couple of deep breaths. “How did you get to be so much smarter than me all of a sudden?”
Holly smiled in relief. “I was brought up right, I guess.”
Her mum’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, you were,” she murmured. She straightened up. “God, I am being grossly unfair to her, aren’t I?”
Holly nodded and pulled her mum in for a quick hug. “You always told me never to prejudge anyone until you’d got to know them.”
“All right, missy, point taken.” She pulled out of Holly’s arms. “I’ll be sure to apologise to her later, I promise.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
* * *
Sadie marched up the street, her mind reeling. That woman—great, Holly’s mother—had looked at her with such…contempt. And Sadie didn’t even know her. What the hell had people been told about her? God knows what shit her father had spread to justify his actions in kicking her out. Was she going to meet that kind of venom everywhere she went this trip? Maybe she should just pack up and go. Maybe it had been a stupid idea to come back here.
But then she thought of telling her gran that, and her mind calmed. Elsie would be so disappointed in Sadie, and she couldn’t bear to do that to her. No, I’m here now, and I’ll see it through. But clearly she needed to harden up a little in anticipation of the reaction of other people to her presence. She hadn’t known that was how it was going to be. It would take a lot out of her, but better that than let her gran down.
She needed a run; after she picked up her groceries, she’d get out and work out a nice five-kilometre circuit round the local streets to soothe her soul. And then a call with Nicole, who would be outraged at how that woman had talked to her but would make her laugh about it in some way, Sadie was sure.
The supermarket had all she needed—bread for toast, a small tub of butter, peanut butter, and a bottle of orange juice. She noted the bottle shop next door; she’d come back later to get some beers to keep chilled in the fridge.
She walked back to the hotel in a calmer frame of mind than when she left it, taking her time to make sure she had hardened her armour in readiness for returning through the brass-handled doors of the hotel. If Holly’s mum was still at reception when she returned, she had to brace herself for the possibility of yet more vitriol.
Pushing through the doors with some trepidation, she was careful not to bash the glass with her groceries. She didn’t need to give that woman any more fuel to hate her. She flinched when she saw Holly’s mum walking across the reception area towards her, but then she took in the apologetic smile on the woman’s face and paused her steps.
“Sadie, I want to apologise for the way I spoke to you earlier. It was very wrong of me to make any kind of assumption about you based on the past. I think it’s admirable that you are back here to visit with Christine, given what did happen in the past.”
Sadie blinked. God, she hadn’t seen that coming. She swallowed and noticed Holly hovering behind the desk, listening in.
“Um, thanks. I really appreciate that,” she said quietly, pleasantly surprised at this turn of events.
“We didn’t even properly meet.” Holly’s mum extended her hand, smiling and blushing slightly at the same time. “Judy O’Brien, owner of the hotel.”
Sadie quickly put down the bag she’d been carrying and shook Judy’s hand. Their handshake was firm, and Judy held her gaze the entire time.
“Nice to meet you, Judy,” Sadie said, still stunned at this change in atmosphere.
“Holly tells me you only arrived this afternoon. Are you settling in okay, have everything you need?” Her smile was considerably warmer than half an hour ago, and Sadie relaxed in this new ambience between them. She nodded and gestured to the bag of groceries.
“Just got all stocked up for brekkie, so yeah, I’m good, thanks.”
“Well, you must be tired, so I won’t keep you. But again, I’m very sorry for earlier and if there’s anything we can do, just let us know.”
“Thanks, Judy.”
She watched Judy turn and walk off towards an office area at the back of reception. Sadie met Holly’s eyes across the reception desk. She noticed Holly’s held the same level of relief she was sure her own were carrying. Holly smiled then, and Sadie couldn’t help the broad grin that spread across her face.
“Sorry about that,” Holly said quietly. “And I’m really sorry to hear about your mum. Mum told me a little about…everything, while you were out shopping.”
Sadie’s back stiffened, and her armour came crashing into place. The idea that Holly knew anything about her past was uncomfortable, to say the least. “Oh, right,” she said, picking up the grocery bag and walking towards the doors that led to the annexe. “Thanks, I’ll see you later.”
“Wait!” Holly called, darting out from behind the desk. Sadie gazed expectantly at her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that. Please don’t be offended.”
“Okay,” Sadie replied, knowing her tone was a little less than friendly but not caring enough to do anything about it. She really didn’t need to know what Holly knew about her. The fact that she knew anything about Sadie’s past would presumably have already tainted her in Holly’s eyes, and she suddenly couldn’t bear that.
“Look,” Holly continued. “I get that we don’t really know each other. But would you like to go for a drink tonight? I’m going for a run after my shift finishes at five, but I could meet you back here around six thirty, and we could go to a great pub I know not too far from here. It’s got a nice garden we could sit in. You know, if you wanted to talk about anything.”
Sadie cocked her head in astonishment. The last thing she thought she’d get out of the drama of the last half hour or so was an invite out for a drink from the gorgeous Holly. Judging from the rapid blinking of Holly’s eyes, it wasn’t quite what Holly had anticipated either.
“Oh,” Holly murmured when Sadie didn’t immediately reply. “Sorry, I guess I should have known you probably have plans for tonight, don’t you? Sorry,” she said, her face flushing. She started to turn back towards reception.
“No, wait.” Sadie finally found her voice. “You said something about a run?”
Holly turned back to stare at her, wide-eyed. “Yes?”
“Well, I run too. I was thinking I needed one today, to loosen me up after the long ride. Would you mind if I joined you? You could maybe map me out a route around here?”
Holly’s smile lit up the hallway they were standing in and sparked a small warm spot somewhere in the centre of Sadie’s chest. She wanted to make Holly smile like that again. And again, and again.
“That would be great—I haven’t had a running partner in a while. I normally do about six kilometres on the streets around here. Does that sound okay?”
A little longer than she normally ran each day, but something told her she’d cope if she was running it alongside this beautiful woman.
“Sounds great,” Sadie replied, and grinned. “I’ll meet you back in reception at what, about five fifteen?”
Holly nodded. “Perfect. See you then.” Her smile then was a little shy, and Sadie felt her insides do a flop.
Oh, God, what was she getting into here?
CHAPTER 7
Holly shuffled papers around the desk and rearranged the placement of the stapler for the fifth time. She gripped the desk edge and forced herself to stand still. She was nervous about seeing Sadie later, true. But there was no need to get this worked up about it, was there? Sure, it had been a tad unlike her to be so bold and ask Sadie out. But it wasn’t a date. Not really. Oh God, what if Sadie thought that’s what she meant?
Her mum appeared moments later to take over the desk, and her presence interrupted Holly’s panicked musings. She exhaled slowly as she headed off to change, willing her whole body to calm down. As she slipped out of her suit, she sighed. Why, oh why, had she agreed to going running together? God help her if Sadie wore anything skintight to run in. Holly wouldn’t know where to look if that body was revealed in all its muscular glory. She herself ran in a loose tee shirt and shorts, and she prayed, desperately, that Sadie did the same.
At five fifteen, she found her prayers had been answered and mentally sent a word of thanks skyward. Sadie appeared in a sleeveless but loose tee shirt, shorts that didn’t cling and finished mid-thigh, and a pair of well-worn Nike running shoes. Holly was using the reception desk as a stretching bar. Her mum was behind the desk and smiled at Sadie as she appeared from the annexe.
“Holly told me you two were running together. It’ll be nice for Holly to share it with someone. I don’t like her out running on her own,” Judy said, dropping a concerned look Holly’s way.
“It’s broad daylight, Mum.” Holly groaned, rolling her eyes. “I’d be fine on my own.”
“Hey, if you’d rather—” Sadie began.
“No!” Holly interjected, sharper than she meant to. “I mean,” she continued, softening her tone, “it’s okay, I really want to go running with you. I’m just saying that normally I’d go on my own in broad daylight and be absolutely fine about it, safety wise.” God, she needed to get a hold of herself—her reactions were way over the top at the moment.
“Oh, okay. Cool.” There was an awkward pause between the three of them, which Sadie eventually broke. “So, shall we?” She motioned to the door, and Holly gave her an embarrassed grin.
“Yep, let’s do it.”
“Have fun!” her mum called as they exited the hotel.
They stood outside in the late afternoon sun. The day was still pleasant but not overly warm.
“So,” Holly said, looking at Sadie and trying hard to keep her gaze focused somewhere on Sadie’s face and not let it drift down her body. “What kind of pace do you run?”
“Oh, I’m a really easy pace, about thirty-five minutes for a five kilometre. What about you?”
“A little bit faster, but not much. You set the pace, then, and that’ll be fine for me. I’m not training for a race or anything. I just love to be outdoors running at the end of my day.”
Sadie smiled, and it was the first freely open smile Holly had seen her generate since they’d met earlier that day. It gave Holly a gentle glow all over.
“You sound just like me,” Sadie said. “I love my run at the end of the day. Totally works off everything that’s happened and takes me to a different place that’s just about me.” She ducked her head shyly at those last words, and Holly tingled at how adorable it made her look.
Holly dared to poke Sadie in the bicep. Wow. Solid muscle. Inwardly, she tamped down the quiver that started somewhere deep in her belly. “Well, we won’t achieve that kind of time unless we actually start moving, will we?” She hoped Sadie would read the cheekiness in her tone.
“Lead on then, smart-ass.” Sadie smirked, and Holly giggled as she took off.
They didn’t talk too much on the run, keeping their verbal interactions limited to Holly pointing out the route so that if Sadie wanted to run it again on her own, she’d know where she was going. Their non-verbal interactions, however, were constant. Holly found herself flicking glances to her left with alarming regularity, only to be secretly pleased each time she did to find Sadie looking right back at her. They smiled often, and Holly found her imagination leaping away from her, thinking ahead to their drink after. Maybe they’d then go for tea, a walk in the late evening air, and then…
She pulled herself up, mentally, as they turned the last corner before home. What was she doing, getting carried away with this fantasy? Sadie was only in town for a week, and then she’d go back to her life. For all Holly knew, Sadie was straight or she already had a partner waiting for her back home. Why was she torturing herself with ideas about something that had next to no chance of happening?
A few minutes later, they slowed in front of the hotel, and both stood with their hands on their hips, panting.
“Good circuit,” Sadie said between breaths. “And pretty easy to remember, I think.”
Holly inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. “Well, if you want someone to run with while you’re here, I finish work at five and run nearly every day. Well, except one day at weekends. I usually only work either Saturday or Sunday, not both. But then, I guess you’ll be with your family all weekend, won’t you?” To Holly’s ears it suddenly sounded as if she was rambling so she quickly shut up.
Sadie appeared to notice her discomfort and smiled encouragingly. “I’m going there tomorrow, but I doubt I’ll be there all day. Are you working tomorrow?”
“Yes, then off on Sunday.”
“Okay, so how about we run again tomorrow when you finish?”
Holly grinned. “I’d like that. A lot.”
They used the wall bordering the car park to stretch.
“So,” Sadie said, after a moment. “You still want to get that drink tonight?”
“Oh. We really don’t have to, if you have plans.”
Sadie looked at her, her head cocked slightly to the side. “Okay, if you’ve changed your mind, then—”
“No! Sorry, that’s not what I meant. I’d… Well, I’d really like to go for a drink. I just don’t want to impose.”
Sadie smiled. “You’re not imposing. About all I would do tonight is sit in front of the TV, maybe make a couple of phone calls.” She paused, and looked around. “I don’t really remember this area from when I lived here, so I wouldn’t know where to go to eat. And it’s been a long time since I’ve been…home…so I don’t know anyone else in town except my family, really.” She turned back to look at Holly. “So, if you are free, I really would like the company.”
Holly silently admonished herself for the happy thrill that buzzed through her at that moment. “Okay, so it’s decided, then. I need to go home and clean up, but we only live about five minutes from here.” She glanced down at her watch. Six o’clock. “How about I meet you back here in about forty-five minutes. Does that give you enough time to get ready?”
“Well,” Sadie drawled, with a grin. “I mean, I’ll have to set my hair and all, but I guess I could make an effort to be ready by then.”
Holly laughed, and playfully slapped Sadie on the arm. “Okay, now who’s the smart-ass?”
* * *
Sadie stood in front of the meagre collection of clothes she had hanging in the wardrobe. What to wear? It wasn’t exactly a date, but even so, she wanted to make an effort. Holly was…lovely, and Sadie wanted to get to know her, wanted to spend time with her. Yeah, and what else?
Stop being stupid. She’s probably straight, so just take it for what it is—an excuse not to spend the evening on your own.
For some reason, that had been what grabbed her the most about the offer of a drink—the chance to avoid being on her own for the evening. That had been a daunting prospect and she knew exactly why. All the fears would resurface, and she worried she would get very little sleep as a result. So spending some of the evening with Holly, talking about other things, might be just what she needed to avoid delving into her own thoughts too much.
She finally decided on an outfit and headed out to meet Holly.
The reception area was full of a group of elderly couples checking in, keeping Judy busy while Sadie waited for Holly. Judy did catch her eye at one point. She smiled, but there was a small frown hidden behind that smile. It deepened slightly when Holly arrived and greeted Sadie warmly. Sadie tried not to stare. She’d thought Holly looked gorgeous in her suit when they first met, then sexy in her running gear, and standing right there, she looked simply stunning in her casual clothes. Tight-fitting, skinny, cropped jeans, a green V-neck tee shirt that clung to her torso in all the right places, and a black leather jacket slung casually over one shoulder. Her hair was brushed until it shone, and she’d touched up her make-up again. The musky scent of her skin sent all sorts of tantalising signals to Sadie’s brain.
Sadie avoided looking at Judy as she and Holly left, not entirely sure what the frown was about but willing to hazard a guess.
Holly led them to what she called the best pub in the area. The place was buzzing on a Friday night, but they managed to find a table for two out in the garden.
“So,” Holly said, as they sipped their drinks. “How are you feeling after the run?”
Sadie smiled. “Yeah, pretty good. I think I really needed that one.” It was true—although she’d rushed through her clean-up afterwards, her body had been humming with endorphins.
Holly seemed to hesitate, and Sadie knew she was wondering how much to ask. Strangely, it didn’t make Sadie uncomfortable to think about sharing with her. She nudged Holly’s leg with her knee.
“Go ahead, I know you have questions.”
Holly looked startled at the physical contact, and pulled her leg away slightly.
Shit, that clearly overstepped a mark. Note to self—no more touching.
But when she looked up, Holly’s eyes said something different, and the first dawning of awareness sent an unexpected tingle down Sadie’s spine.
“Well,” Holly said into the awkward silence between them. “It’s none of my business, so please tell me if I’m being too nosey.”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Sadie replied, smiling as warmly as she could in reassurance.
Holly cleared her throat. “Your mum?”
Sadie swallowed. “Yeah, dying of a brain tumour. Only diagnosed at the beginning of this week but too late to do anything about it.” She stopped, surprised at the strength of emotion that blunt statement engendered.
