My Deadly Valentine - By Valerie Hansen & Lynette Eason Page 0,59

Risk having him splatter her heart all over the ground once more?

Part of her did. Part of her desperately wanted to believe it. The more cynical side of her flashed warning signs shouting that she needed more proof than the apology he’d offered the other day. And the fact that he’d put his personal life aside to come take care of his father and run the horse ranch.

As she thought about Eli, she knew for certain why she and Alex didn’t work. No one pulled at her like Eli Brodie. She couldn’t get the man out of her head—or her heart.

Even though an examination of the shed showed nothing amiss, she was still bothered. If the doors hadn’t been the sliding kind that had to have human help to close, she might be tempted to think the dogs had gotten trapped on their own.

But it just wasn’t possible.

Someone had shut them in there.

Still pondering, she headed back inside to finish her morning routine.

And then she’d meet Eli at the church. The one man she should probably avoid if she wanted to keep her heart from splintering in two again.

Eli slapped the aftershave on his cheeks and stared at himself in the mirror. Excitement over the upcoming meeting with Holly made him smile. Nervousness made his insides jumpy.

Lord, I know I don’t deserve her. In fact if I were her, I’d probably take off running in the opposite direction and not stop until I was covered in her dust. But I’d really like one more chance. You and I both know I’m a different man than I was before. Holly and I had something special and I messed it up. But this time, with You in the mix, I think we could get it right.

Grabbing his coat from the back of the chair where he’d tossed it last night, he slipped it on, snatched up the keys and headed for his truck.

At the end of his driveway, he took a left and climbed the curving road to the next turnoff. Twenty yards later, he spun into the parking lot.

Holly’s little red truck sat in front of the church.

Just as he climbed out, she came out of the front door of the church and down the steps toward him. She raised a brow in the direction of his vehicle. “That’s quite a load.”

At the sight of her, Eli’s heart thumped a little faster, sweat slicked his palms. She had on denim jeans, her heavy coat, hat and scarf. She looked adorable.

She reached his truck and he leaned over to hug her. At first, she went stiff, then relaxed. He relished the feel of her in his arms. “Thanks for coming to the hospital last night. It was really good to see you. I needed that.”

She placed a hand on his cheek, opened her mouth to say something then snapped it shut when a sheriff’s cruiser pulled into the parking lot.

Alex.

Eli heard her indrawn breath as she pulled away. She muttered, “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that man planted a tracking device on me.”

Eli felt his ire rise. If Alex didn’t back off, he was going to have to have words with him.

Alex climbed from the cruiser.

“What are you doing here?” Holly crossed her arms and leaned back against the truck.

Even though he’d seen the cozy embrace, Alex said nothing. “I got a call about a silent alarm going off.” He nodded to the church.

“What?” She straightened. Instant red suffused her face and she darted back to the building. Thirty seconds later, she reappeared. “Is it off now?”

Alex got on the radio, said something, listened, then nodded. “All taken care of.”

Holly shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“No problem.” He smiled then looked at Eli’s loaded truck. “You need some help?”

Surprised at the offer, Eli studied the man then shrugged. “Sure, since you’re here.”

Thirty minutes later, Eli’s truck bed was empty. Eli rolled his shoulders and decided he liked working as a team with Holly even with the addition of Alex and his determination to compete for Holly’s affection. Her fluid grace made every movement a pleasure to watch.

Alex’s radio crackled and he stepped away from them for a moment.

Holly locked up the church and Eli pulled his keys from his pocket. “We never did get around to eating those doughnuts.”

“Guess I’ll have to take a rain—”

“Holly?”

Eli looked up to see Alex coming toward them wearing a frown. Foreboding hit Eli. “What is it?”

Alex looked at Holly. “Someone spray painted graffiti all