The phone rang several times until Holly’s voicemail picked up with a generic message. Adam looked at the display and confirmed that he had punched in the right digits since there was nothing to identify it as Holly’s voicemail—a common but inconvenient safety measure.

Suddenly, he realized he had no idea what to say. As he listened to the computer-generated voice, he ran through and dismissed the first couple things that came to his mind.

Hi, Holly, it’s Adam. Sorry I panicked and ran out of your house last Friday.

Hi, Holly, it’s Adam. I saw you at the Y tonight and you looked really hot. I couldn’t hang around for you, though, because a crazy stalker caught sight of me first.

Hi, Holly, it’s Adam. I can’t stop thinking about you.

All were true, but probably not the best messages to leave on her voicemail.

The monotoned instructions ended, followed by a muted beep that told him he was out of time.

“Hi, Holly, it’s Adam. There’s a big expo this weekend over in Dalton. Lots of great ideas for renovating, if you’re interested. My number is on the card I left at your place, but just in case ...”

Adam hung up after leaving his number and frowned. Where was she, anyway? It was nearly eleven o’clock at night. He didn’t feel bad about calling so late; she had confessed to often working into the wee hours of the morning. It was when she wrote some of her best stuff, she had said.

Had she gone out with her friend after the Y? That had been hours ago. Maybe she was in the shower. Or outside with Max. Yeah, that was probably all it was. She would call him back in a few.

After seeing her earlier, he wanted to hear her voice again. Thanks to Eve’s untimely arrival, he had missed the opportunity to speak with her in person; she must have slipped out while he was occupied. He would have to make do with hearing her voice over the phone.

He couldn’t get her out of his mind. It had been five days—more than enough time to convince him that whatever this thing was between them, he wanted to pursue it. No woman had ever managed to affect him so thoroughly or so quickly, and that had to mean something, right?

He waited until midnight, checking his phone every few minutes, but she didn’t call. Maybe she figured it was too late. He had told her that he liked to get an early start. Yeah, she was being considerate. She would call him back tomorrow.

* * *

THE MOMENT HIS ALARM went off, Adam pulled out his cell and checked again. Nothing, except for one text that had come through somewhere just before dawn: Thanks, but I can’t.

That was it. No further explanation. No “I’ll call you later,” or implied invitation, or suggested alternatives. Four words that seemed strangely distant and impersonal from the woman who was anything but.

He tried again Thursday night. Holly had been free last Thursday. Logic suggested she might be again this week. He frowned when her voicemail picked up again.

“Hi, Holly, it’s Adam. Got your text. Sorry you can’t make it to the expo. Are you interested in grabbing a coffee or something? If you give me a list, I can check out some things for you while I’m there.”

Adam ended the call and shook his head. Way to go, Romeo. Why didn’t he just bite the bullet and ask her out? Instead, he had to hide behind some lame business excuse. Yeah, the expo was cool, but more importantly, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to spend the day with Holly. A nice, long car ride, walking around the half-million square foot indoor arena, maybe impressing her a little bit with his knowledge. Then he would casually suggest dinner, and when he took her home, she would invite him in. And this time, he wouldn’t panic when he got her in his arms.

* * *

HOLLY BIT HER LIP WHEN her cell phone lit up and Adam’s number appeared on the screen. She let it ring, waiting to pick it up until after she saw the voicemail icon pop up. For a few moments, her heart stuttered with hopeful possibilities.

Unable to wait, she listened to his message, her heart dropping a little more with each word. Certain words and phrases echoed long after she ended the call. Coffee, not dinner, not take-out Chinese or sausage, pepperoni, and cheese. Give me a list, not “let’s get together.” There was no mistaking those signals; the back-off message was coming through loud and clear.

Yeah, she had definitely been an idiot for thinking Adam was interested in her as something more than a potential client.

She waited until much later to respond, not wanting to give him another reason to think she wanted more than that. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

Sorry, can’t.

Despite the fact that it was three in the morning, Adam replied almost instantly. Why not?

Shit. She couldn’t pretend she wasn’t awake, not when she had just texted him a minute earlier. So much for her brilliant plan.

Tight deadline. It was sort of true. She had promised herself she would finish up the paranormal she was working on by Sunday. There was no need to tell him that she had already submitted a completed draft of her alpha SEAL novel to her editor a full month ahead of schedule.

I understand. Can you take a break for dinner tomorrow? I can pick something up.

Now he mentioned dinner? Obviously, he sensed his fat payday drifting away and was willing to go the extra mile.

No, but thanks, anyway.

* * *

ADAM STARED AT THE screen, the last of his doubts fading away. She was definitely pissed. He should have called her over the weekend.

Instead of texting, he called her number. She knew that he knew she was awake and responding, so unless she was really angry, she would have to answer.

“Yes?”

Adam flinched at the sound of her voice. Instead of her smooth, musical tone, her voice was devoid of feeling. Cold. Very un-Holly-like.

“Holly, I’m sorry about what happened.”

“Me, too.”

That threw him. What did she have to be sorry for? She wasn’t the one who panicked or didn’t call even after she said she would.

“For what?”

He heard a soft but weary sigh on the other end. “I’m sorry, Adam. I just don’t have the money to put into the cottage right now. I’ll definitely keep you in mind, though. Thanks.” Holly hung up before he could respond.

Adam stared at the phone for several minutes.

What the hell?