WOULD-BE CHRISTMAS WEDDING by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

residence on a bar stool where he could clearly observe Cecelia.
    Isely’s teams were nothing if not well trained. They were always in pairs, which meant at least one more man was waiting outside or in the kitchen, ready to take Cecelia off Holt’s hands. Tonight was the wrong time to kidnap her, but Isely seemed determined to do so. What had accelerated his timetable?
    Turning off the phone had clearly been a mistake. He should have anticipated the active response. Men like Isely, who were used to having every order obeyed out of blind fear if not devotion to the cause, didn’t take it well when they were ignored.
    “Dessert?”
    “Not for me,” she replied. “But I’ll have a cup of coffee if you want to give the chocolate torte a try. It’s marvelous.”
    He could tell she wanted to check her watch or her phone for word from her daughter. “I probably shouldn’t keep you out so late,” he said. “Your family is in town and tomorrow’s a big day for you.”
    “Our walk-through this morning went well. Everything is in place and tomorrow is just a matter of the finishing touches.” As if to emphasize the word, she touched him again. “I’m glad you’ll be there.”
    “Me, too.”
    He hoped they would both be there. If Isely succeeded tonight, Holt’s survival would be in the hands of the director. He didn’t maintain much hope that that particular source of judgment would end in his favor.
    “Let’s take pity on the waiter and get out of here.” He signaled for the check while she polished off the last bit of wine in her glass.
    Times like this reminded him a lack of family was a good thing. Enduring a few lonely holidays was no real hardship if it meant there was no one to get hurt on his behalf. He knew these threats against Cecelia were harder on the director than any of the missions he sent Specialists out to salvage.
    Business was one thing. Specialists were trained and willingly stepped into dangerous situations. But knowing an old mission and a current teammate had breached security to put a target on his sister’s back? That would have any decent man twisted up and ready to shoot first and ask questions later.
    It was one reason Director Casey’s recent marriage baffled Holt. The man’s personal philosophy of remaining a loner had been a solid foundation he’d adopted long before joining Mission Recovery. Covert operations just didn’t mix well with family dinners, piano recitals and summer vacations. Even dating was a serious minefield when it got tangled up with the job.
    “You look troubled,” she said, pulling her hair from under the collar of her coat.
    “Then it’s my turn to beg forgiveness.” He raised her hand to his lips and winked as he pressed a light kiss to her knuckles before she could put on her gloves. “Can I walk you back to your car?”
    “You could walk me back to the hotel. I’m staying there through the weekend.”
    “You don’t look all that happy about it.”
    “It was a last-minute decision. We moved gifts and a few other things in today to make tomorrow easier.”
    There was more to it. His instincts warned he needed to know. “But?”
    She opened her mouth to answer, but her phone interrupted them this time. Her smile when she checked the message led him to believe all was well with her daughter. Then it faded and she paled.
    “Is something wrong?”
    “Nothing serious.”
    He wasn’t convinced, but he wasn’t sure how hard to push. They were supposed to be new friends. “If there’s something I can do, say the word.”
    “Thanks, but I’m sure it’s just a mix-up.” She shook her head, her blond hair swinging, but the smile on her lips didn’t reach those stunning blue eyes. She tucked the phone into her pocket rather than her purse this time. “I’ll just be glad when it all comes together tomorrow night.”
    “I’m sure everyone will have a great time.”
    She raised her crossed fingers. “And drink enough champagne to write big