Too-Perfect & Stranded by Cami Checketts

CHAPTERFIVE

Navy clutched her flashlight and wished she dared close her eyes and drift off to sleep. The wind and rain assaulted all the windows in the room. Hours ago she had loved the light and exposure to the outside world the windows provided, but not anymore. She wanted to trust Holden that this house was built securely and the storm would pass, but part of her agreed with Alecia and Ryan and wanted off this island. She was terrified. She’d acted tough when truly she had wanted to ask Holden to hold her all night.

Most storms didn’t bother her, but when she was young her family had taken a cruise and the weather had been vicious. Being surrounded by the vast ocean and the ship rocking violently had never left her mind. Then she’d had her parents and brothers. They had spent one night all huddled in her parents’ suite on the king-sized bed. Her mama had sung to them until they fell asleep.

It was silly really. Colt and Kaleb had both been violently ill, but besides that nothing had happened but a miserable vacation. Yet she still didn’t like being in a storm this vicious surrounded by water with no escape. Holden was right that it would be suicide to take his yacht out in this.

Holden. Why did he have to be so great, pull her in so completely, when she couldn’t be with someone who had hurt her brother like he had? Especially since Colt had asked her not to date him. Navy’s mama had adored her boys and Navy’s daddy had spoiled and loved her, but as the oldest sibling she took her responsibility to protect her brothers seriously. Colt hadn’t given her nearly enough details. Maybe she could talk to Holden and hear his side of the story. That would be the mature thing to do, but who knew how he would slant his side. Her stomach churned thinking about Colt being cheated on and then turning into the master womanizer he was.

She curled into a ball around her flashlight and let her mind wander back to those kisses she and Holden had shared. They were beautiful and she couldn’t find it in her to regret a second of them. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, hoping she wasn’t being as stupid as Alecia.

Time passed miserably slow with the wind, rain, and her thoughts all in turmoil. Navy didn’t think she’d slept, but she must have dozed at some point as the sky lightened perceptibly outside her large windows. She clicked the flashlight off and set it on her nightstand. Standing, she forced herself to look out the windows, and had to clap her hand over her mouth to hold the scream in.

The rain was still slashing at them, but it was the waves that were horrifying. The Caribbean was generally a calmer ocean, but these waves looked to be twenty feet high. The house was built up on the bluff above the ocean and the beach, but the monstrous waves were almost reaching the gardens close to Navy’s window. She knew late summer was hurricane season, but they had been reassured the weather would be mostly calm this week.

She stepped closer to the window, fear and awe racing through her. Mother Nature was nothing to mess with and suddenly she was a little girl, clinging to her brothers in that king-sized bed on the cruise ship as the wind howled against the boat and it rocked violently.

“Navy!” She heard the shriek from behind her as her bedroom door banged open. Alecia stood there with her hair poking out at odd angles and her face pinched and white. “We’re going to die!” She ran and flung herself at Navy.

Navy awkwardly patted her back. “We’re safe. Calm down.”

Alecia continued to wail and cling to her. Navy wished Holden was here to help, but she didn’t want the young lady clinging to him either. Navy pushed back and grasped Alecia’s forearm. “Let’s go find everybody else and get some breakfast.”

“How can you think of food at a time like this?”

“I always have to be on the lookout for food, I was raised with five brothers and would have starved to death if I didn’t fight for my share.” Navy tried to tease, but it was lost on Alecia.

She directed Alecia out of her room and down the hallway. As they approached the kitchen, raised voices made Navy’s stomach churn with apprehension. The storm was bad enough, they didn’t need to be fighting about it as well.

As they walked into the large open room Navy registered that it was really only one raised voice: Ryan. He was screeching about the storm and how much trouble they were in and gesturing madly at the windows.

Holden was facing away from the hallway, his broad back tight with tension. He must have heard them approach as he turned and smiled at Navy. “Good morning.”

Navy smiled back. How could those deep brown eyes staring at her and that perfect smile make her forget all about the miserable night and the storm?

“Holden!” Alecia screeched and ripped away from Navy to fling herself against Holden’s chest. “Please save me!”

Navy rolled her eyes and didn’t care who saw.

Holden held Alecia back from him, grasping both of her forearms. “We’re going to be fine.”

“How can you say that?” Ryan demanded. “Look at this!”

He gestured at the windows that yesterday had given an amazing view of the gorgeous tropical island. Today the view was terrifying. Branches whipped in the wind; the leaves were being torn from them and littered the pool. Navy had noticed all of the patio furniture was bolted down. It was a good thing or it would be banging into the windows. The waves were crashing high and fierce, some rising over the ledge of the plateau the house sat on and rolling onto the pool deck before mingling with the overflowing pool water. If the waves got any higher they would flood the house.

Ollie had his camera out and was getting footage of the storm. Only Ollie. The guy wasn’t as cut and lean as Ryan or Holden but he was built and real-world tough. Seeing him film made Navy calmer somehow. They would get through this and it would be a great story for the show.

“I’ve already told you this house can withstand any storm. If you’re concerned, you could go down to the storm shelter and wait it out.” Holden’s voice was patient but Navy could see he was getting more and more annoyed.

“If the Coast Guard doesn’t come in the next hour I’m taking your yacht and getting out of here,” Ryan yelled.

Holden shook his head. Navy wondered if Ryan realized how ridiculous he was being. The Coast Guard shouldn’t go out in this.

“You wouldn’t survive in those waves,” Holden said.

Alecia started bawling and tried to cuddle into Holden’s chest. He strong-armed her away. “Alecia, please. I need to help everyone.”

“Help me first,” she begged.

A branch ripped off a nearby tree and slammed against a window. The window held just like Holden said it would, but Alecia still wailed and fell to the ground sobbing. Taya cried out. Michael cursed. Ryan stormed up to Holden and slammed his fist into his jaw. Holden reared back but held his ground.

Ollie’s camera swung to capture the action, but nobody else moved.

“Don’t ever touch me again,” Holden said in a deathly quiet voice.

“Let me take your yacht or I’ll pummel you into the ground,” Ryan threatened.

Holden arched an eyebrow and leaned toward Ryan. “Try it.”

Ryan growled and threw himself at Holden. Holden dodged and Ryan’s momentum drove him into the closest window. Holden sprang after him, whirled him around, and jabbed him solidly in the abdomen. The breath was knocked out of Ryan and he leaned forward. Holden gave him a swift uppercut and his head flew back. Another jab to the jaw and Ryan folded onto the ground.

Navy gasped and silently cheered. Ryan was out of control and out of line. He needed a lot more than a few punches to get his brain working again.

Holden ripped him to his feet and pinned both his arms behind his back. He glanced around at the group. Everyone was staring at him with slightly open mouths. Their ever-patient boss had lost it. Holden caught Navy’s gaze and gave her a grim smile. “I told you hockey players were tougher than football players.”

She laughed, despite her fears of the storm. “Looks like you’re going to need new trainers with me quitting and Ryan obviously being fired.”

He lifted one shoulder. “I keep hoping you’ll rescind your resignation.”

Navy tilted her head to the side. “You keep on hoping.”

“Hoping and praying,” he said in a throaty voice. He gave her his full grin and her knees went weak.

“Divine intervention might help you,” she quipped back.

“We’re going to die and you two can’t stop flirting,” Ryan said with disgust.

Holden simply tightened his grip on Ryan’s arms. Ryan winced and didn’t say anything else. Navy started. She’d been so invested in Holden she had forgotten they weren’t alone. Ryan looked surly yet defeated with his arms pinned and blood dripping from his nose.

“I’d like some divine intervention with this vicious storm,” Ollie muttered, still videoing.

“I’m going to take Ryan to his room to cool down and then we’ll discuss the day,” Holden said to the group in general.

He gave Navy one more devastating grin and then pushed Ryan in front of him. Navy turned to watch him go. The storm might turn into a hurricane, heck it might already be a hurricane, but she felt comforted that Holden was watching out for all of them. Maybe this storm was the divine intervention. Instead of her quitting and leaving mad, maybe the two of them would have time to work out their differences and she could finally learn real and personal information about Holden as they cuddled and listened to the howling wind and thundering waves.

* * *

Holden shoved Ryan into his bedroom. The guy sprawled against the bed and cursed at him. Ryan stood but didn’t move to come after him.

“You forget I played hockey?” Holden asked. What a loser trying to pick a fight with him.

Ryan spit. “Just leave me alone.”

“Gladly. Stay in here and stop making stupid comments about taking the yacht.” He pointed out the window. Ryan’s suite, and the south side of this wing of the house, had a view of the sheltered bay. His yacht was securely anchored and was moving with the dock up and down with each wave. Even though the bay was sheltered, the waves were still doing their share of destruction. Water crashed violently against the decks and Holden was certain there would be damage to his yacht. It didn’t matter. As long as Navy was all right. How great was she that she could joke in a situation like this? He needed a lot of time alone with her. Time to kiss and then to talk. Had he finally met the woman he could share his past with without fear that she’d go spew it all to the media? He envisioned his mama in her wheelchair staring dejectedly at Callie’s grave. He would have to be very sure he could trust Navy before he spilled any secrets.

Ryan didn’t answer, stalking into the attached bathroom and slamming the door. Holden closed the bedroom door behind him and wished he could reverse the locks and keep the idiot in there.

Holden hurried back down the hallway, in awe of the viciousness of the storm. There was no way he was fixing the generator in this. When he’d gotten back to his room last night he’d found multiple warnings on his computer and phone that must have come in before they lost power and the internet server. Each message said the same thing—a severe storm was coming at the island, but they would be fine as long as they stayed indoors and kept the house buttoned down.

The storm had better calm down soon or Zack’s beautiful house would have to prove that it was immune to water and wind. If it flooded, Holden would have to deal with Alecia shrieking about how they were all going to die, and he might have to knock Ryan down again. Actually he wouldn’t mind knocking Ryan down again. The idiot had always been too flirtatious with Navy.

The group watched him apprehensively as he walked back into the main room. Ollie had finally set down his camera. He had probably gotten enough footage of the storm, and without Ryan here he knew the fireworks would settle.

Only Navy didn’t appear terrified, but there was something deep in her beautiful blue eyes that told him she was acting tougher than she was actually feeling. Of course she was. She was Navy Quinn.

“Can you all help me check that the windows and doors are securely fastened?”

Several of them nodded and they spread throughout the house testing latches and locks. When they reconvened in the main room Holden explained the situation:

“Before the storm knocked out communication I received warnings from the national weather service that had originally been directed to Zack Tyndale. They explained there was a severe storm coming but felt our safest path was to wait it out and not risk being in the open ocean.” He tried to say everything analytically and hopefully avoid everyone getting emotional.

They all stared at him. Finally Ollie said, “Excuse me, sir. You knew this level of storm was coming and didn’t warn us?”

Holden shrugged his shoulders. He was used to being the boss and telling team members how situations would proceed. “They originally said it would pass in twenty-four hours. Then they cautioned that the hurricane had grown in power, but knew we would be safe in this waterproof and hurricane-resistant house. I followed the instructions of the experts to stay put.”

“H-hurricane?” Alecia whined.

“You should have told us how bad it was going to get,” Michael said.

“And what would that have done? Make everyone … more upset?” His eyes flickered to the quivering woman on the floor.

Alecia glanced up at him, as if she knew he was talking about her. Her lower lip trembled but at least she wasn’t sobbing. “I thought you would take care of me.”

“We’re all going to be fine,” Holden said for what he was sure was the twentieth time. He ignored Alecia’s look and request. He would treat her exactly like he’d treat anybody, except for Navy. His gaze swung to her. She wrapped her arms tightly around her chest and glared at him. “Navy?”

“I understand not telling … some people.” She lowered her voice and looked wounded. “Couldn’t you have told me?”

He didn’t know how to point out that he would have but he hadn’t really had the opportunity. Tropical storms hadn’t been on his radar or of much concern when he was kissing her or when Alecia was shrieking for help. Then late last night her door had been shut tight and he hadn’t dared push his way in.

“I apologize,” he started.

“Don’t apologize,” she interrupted him. “Don’t keep things from me, I mean us.”

Holden wondered if this had more to do with her brother and Kim than it did the storm. They needed time to talk that situation through. He kept messing up with Navy and now it felt like he had lost her trust again. Yesterday they had finally broken through barriers that had been up for a decade and now it was all a mess. He would deal with getting everyone settled about the storm and then he was getting Navy Quinn alone and they were going to talk—and possibly kiss. No, the kissing was a definite.

He knew how to run multiple businesses, keep board of director meetings progressing smoothly and on time, manage his vast resources, deal with media scrutiny, and remain elusive and untouchable, but he was honest enough to admit he had no clue how to have an intimate relationship. His own parents were no example. His dad had withdrawn into his work and his mama into her illness and grief after they lost their daughter.

As he looked at Navy with her tight posture and narrowed eyes, he suddenly felt apprehensive and unsure, as if he were a freshman playing against the Minute Men on the ice. This small fireball had the power to take him under.