Colters' Woman (Colters' Legacy #1)(48)

Holly chuckled then blushed.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

Holly nodded.

Jolene shook her head. “Lordy. You have to tell me how you do it. I’d give my eyeteeth for two, much less three men who looked like that.”

Holly stared at her in amazement. There was no shock or outrage in the woman’s voice.

“Well, never mind, honey, you’re obviously telling the truth. Would you look at the way they’re looking at you? Like they could eat you up for lunch.” Jolene sighed wistfully. “There was once a time when a man looked at me like that.”

“What happened?” Holly asked, curious at the longing in the other woman’s voice.

“Oh, we wanted different things. Or at least I thought I did. I just couldn’t accept what was staring me in the face. Lean back, honey, let me get this cotton around your forehead.”

Holly dutifully leaned back and waited for her to continue.

“He finally got tired of waiting, I guess. Took off on his Harley and I never saw him again.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Holly said. “You don’t know how to find him?”

Jolene looked startled. “Well, I never considered trying to find him. Of course, that was years ago. He’s probably married with a passel of kids by now.”

“Maybe,” Holly murmured.

Two hours later, Jolene whirled Holly around in her chair to face the mirror.

“There you go, honey. What do you think?”

Holly stared back at her reflection. “It’s me,” she whispered. No streaks of blonde shone in her light brown hair. The ends had been trimmed and the tresses gleamed in the soft light.

Jolene beamed back at her. “I thought you’d like it.”

Holly stood and impulsively hugged the older woman. “Thank you.”

Jolene steered her toward the waiting room. “Go see how your young men like it.”

Holly walked over to where the brothers sat. Adam stood and reached for his wallet.

“You look beautiful, baby.”

She smiled and ducked her head. She glanced over at Ethan and Ryan who also nodded their approval.

“Want to hit the shops and buy you some clothes?” Ethan asked. “There’s several down this street.”

“I’d like that,” she replied.

She’d also noticed a boutique specializing in lingerie. A small smile curved her lips and she bit the inside of her cheek so as not to betray her thoughts. She’d love to buy a sexy new outfit and surprise them.

Ryan held out her coat for her and she slipped it on. As they walked out, Holly caught Jolene’s eyes, and the hairdresser threw her a saucy wink and a thumbs up.

At first, Holly hurried through the shops, sure that the men would be bored silly watching her clothes shop, but she soon realized they enjoyed seeing her try on new things.

Her last stop was the lingerie store, and she made the excuse that she needed bras. Inside, she picked out two sexy outfits and grinned in delight at the idea of surprising them when they returned home.

When she stepped back out, Ryan and Ethan reached for her bags.

“Adam’s gone over to warm up the Rover,” Ethan explained as they stepped out to cross the street.

They hurried forward. Out of the corner of Holly’s eye, she saw a sedan pull out from where it had been parallel-parked. She blinked in surprise when it barreled out into the street. Straight for them.

Ryan and Ethan were a step in front of her, and she threw all of her weight into their backs, desperate to shove them out of the way. In the distance, she heard Adam shout.

Ryan and Ethan stumbled forward just as the car careened by. Pain exploded in her hip as she felt the hard bumper glance off her leg. She went sprawling, her hands out to brace her fall.

Chapter Nineteen

Adam watched in horror as the car struck Holly and sent her spiraling to the street. He yelled her name again as he ran for her. Ryan and Ethan knelt beside Holly, and he shoved his way in. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her beautiful eyes open and stare up at him.

Her face contorted in pain, and she struggled to get up.

“No!” he shouted. “No,” he said in a lower voice when she winced at his tone. “Stay there, baby. Oh my God, are you okay?”

He yanked his cell phone out of his pocket and punched in 911.

“No, Adam, don’t,” she protested, holding her hand up. “I’m fine, really. It’s just my hip. The car mostly missed me.”

Mostly. Jesus. Was she trying to give him a heart attack?

“What the hell was that idiot doing?” Ryan demanded, his voice shaking as he stroked over Holly’s hair.

Adam shot Ryan a quelling look. The hit-and-run was no accident, and he didn’t want Holly more afraid than she already was.

“Holly, we need to call an ambulance,” Ethan said gently. “You could be hurt.”

By now a small crowd had assembled up and down the street. Adam heard the wail of a siren.

“I don’t want to go to the hospital,” Holly said, her eyes pleading with Adam. “Let me get up. I’m only a little banged up.”

He wavered a moment, his concern for her overriding all else. She moved against Ryan’s hand, trying to squirm her way up.

“Easy, baby,” he cautioned.