A Reclusive Heart (Hollywood Hearts #2)(64)

Holly.

She was already packing her bags and heading home. The moment she came back without Jamie he knew she’d done something. It wasn’t until his sad little recluse came back and began greeting fans and looking close to tears that he knew the woman had caused problems for him. When he explained how Jamie was acting and how the woman was beyond incompetent since she couldn’t seem to do anything without his help Rick had demanded that she be sent home.

He knew Rick wasn’t pissed because a woman had put him in the doghouse with Jamie, but that the woman had screwed with one of their clients. Their job was to ensure their clients were well represented, handled properly, looked after and were presented in the best possible light to readers. Having an author who looked close to crying every time someone asked for her autograph was the last thing any of them needed on this tour.

When he asked her what the hell she said to upset Jamie the woman tried to play innocent with him. She even had the audacity to suggest that they talk things over in her room. It wasn’t until he sent her packing that she lost that cool facade.

She’d glared at him before storming off, but still didn’t tell him what the hell she said to Jamie.

There was no doubt in his mind that whatever she said to Jamie was making Jamie think twice about being with him. An hour ago when he spotted her near the front desk he knew without a doubt that she was there to get her own room, but he wasn’t having that. He convinced her to come upstairs to work and then he’d been at a loss as to what to do. Thankfully he remembered the chocolate he snuck in his bag for her and used it to confirm his suspicions.

She was leaving him, which normally wouldn’t be a problem except that he didn’t want her to leave him. He wanted her to stay with him and he’d do whatever it took to make that happen.

“What the heck are you doing?” she demanded as he pulled her laptop away from her, yanked her to her feet and threw her over his shoulder.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he demanded, standing perfectly still as he waited for her to make this easy for him and just tell him what the hell was wrong so that he could fix it. Of course she didn’t.

“Nothing’s wrong,” she said, wiggling in his arms.

“Then I guess I can’t put you down,” he said, heading for the door.

“Where are we going?”

“To check off another item on your list,” he said with a shrug that unfortunately shifted her forward and scared the hell out of her. He shifted her back to where she belonged as he made his way down the dimly lit hallway, relieved that she didn’t start screaming for help. Then again he probably should have known that she wouldn’t make a sound. She did hate being the center of attention after all.

He took the back elevator all the way down to the first floor and then followed the signs for the pool. When he came to the locked door and peeked through the glass door he noted that this was also dimly lit and apparently off limits until tomorrow morning. Not that it mattered to him since the manager had given him the master key for the pool area as a favor. He just hoped the manager remembered to make sure that all of his employees stayed clear of this area or he was going to have one embarrassed recluse on his hands.

“Why are we down here?” Jamie asked as he opened the door and made damn sure to lock it behind them.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong!”

Since she was being so damn difficult he decided to do this the hard way. He walked over to the pool. “Do you by chance have your cell phone on you at the moment?” he asked, walking towards the deep end.

“No, why?” she asked, sounding confused.

“No special reason,” he said even he shifted her off his shoulder and tossed her into the pool.

Chapter 25

“What is wrong with you?” Jamie sputtered once she came to the surface.

“You wouldn’t answer my question,” Nick said accusingly as he gestured towards her with his leather shoe before he tossed it over his shoulder.

“So that means that you have to throw me in the pool?” she asked in disbelief as she moved to swim to the other side and climb out.

“Damn straight,” Nick said, not bothering to try and stop her, she noted as she awkwardly climbed out of the pool and stormed towards the door. She just made it past the corner of the pool when Nick came after her, naked, hard and determined.

For a second she was so stunned by the sight that she couldn’t move and it cost her. Before she could make a run for it she found herself thrown back over his shoulder, but this time he was pulling her shoes and socks off.

“What are you doing?” she demanded as he put her down.

In answer he practically ripped her slacks off. When she let out a surprised squeal and went to stop him she stumbled back and fell in the water, sans pants.

This time when she resurfaced she didn’t hesitate in trying to make a run for it, but unfortunately for her, Nick was quicker.

Just as she was moving to climb out of the water he yanked her back in and had her blouse off within seconds. Her bra quickly followed after that. When he went for her panties she somehow managed to shift away and swim but not before she felt her panties rip and then she was left na**d in the pool, a public pool where anyone could see, she realized with dismay.

“What is wrong with you?” she practically screeched as she swam to the deep end and moved into the corner to hide.