At the Sight of Holly Read online

  At the Sight of Holly

  Jeannette Winters

  An original work of Jeannette Winters, 2018.

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  About the Author

  Synchronized Series

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Also by Jeannette Winters

  By Jeannette Winters & Lena Lane

  Jeannette Winters

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  Dedication

  This book is dedicated Mary Kayata. Thank you for inspiring me to write this winter novella. I love how our brief visit turned into a story. Let's do it again.

  Also to Vinnie and Jerilyn, a love that's boundless. Hope you enjoy the story!

  Taryn Lawson, my editor you are amazing!

  Also want to thank Jade at jwauthorservices.com for a beautiful cover!

  * * *

  Always make time for romance.

  Hate to say goodbye to your favorite characters? The perfect solution is a Synchronized Series! One world. Three authors. Character cross-over. Triple the amount of books. Binge reading at it’s best.

  * * *

  Each author’s books are full stories you can enjoy individually! But putting them all together weaves an even more pleasurable reading experience.

  At the Sight of Holly

  Vinny Hartman found hiding from the truth difficult, but not impossible. It just meant starting over where no one knew him. He didn’t care how hard the road was, he was free to live his life, his way.

  * * *

  Janet Holly couldn’t pass up a promotion, even one that took her to the other side of the world. This wasn’t just another job, it could be the start of a new career. Without friends or family there to distract her, nothing should prevent her from proving she was an asset to the Hendersons.

  * * *

  Yet when their paths cross, fate seemed to have other plans for them. Vinny’s secret is revealed and Janet finds herself being torn in two. Will they deny their attraction or will they follow their hearts and give into the sparks waiting to ignite and consume them both?

  Chapter 1

  “What a piece of crap.” Janet Holly kicked the tires of her 1996 Dodge Ram truck. “Now I know why it was free.” Since getting it a few weeks ago, it had broken down twice.

  Her friend Isa Fletcher had offered to buy her a new vehicle. Isa had tried saying it was a bonus for accepting a position in Tabiq at the New Hope Resort. Janet never took a handout. But as she stood on the side of the road, with the hot sun beating down on her, she questioned if her pride had stood in the way of making a logical decision. If I had agreed to live at the resort, this wouldn’t be an issue either.

  Back in Connecticut when she worked at High View Falls Casino, she didn’t need a car to get around. The bus was her mode of transportation then, unfortunately, Tabiq didn’t have public transport of any kind. The New Hope Resort was all-inclusive, so the guests didn’t need to leave. Actually, it was highly suggested they stay at the resort.

  Tabiq had come a long way, from what Janet had learned, but it was still a country that had some very questionable people. Janet had told Isa she wasn’t worried. Working as a cocktail waitress for years had taught her how to deal with disorderly people.

  Leaning against the truck, she debated if she should just call Isa and ask for a ride into work. She looked at her watch; she had plenty of time. Janet took her job as head hostess very seriously. It was an opportunity that could lead to manager, if she proved herself. Calling the wife of one of the owners wasn’t the way to accomplish that. Especially when Isa should be home with that sweet baby of hers. Although Isa’s husband Drake and the Hendersons seemed to be more than fair employers, they were also businessmen. They expected their employees to do their job, on time and well. For that, they compensated the staff appropriately.

  That meant, friend or not, this was for Janet to figure out. Right now, walking seemed like the only thing she could do. It was only about five miles. That wouldn’t kill her. The heels on these shoes might.

  Laughing to herself she thought, suck it up, buttercup! It was something she told herself any time she needed a bit of motivation to do what she really didn’t want to.

  Grabbing her purse, she started walking towards the resort. Janet didn’t bother locking up the truck. There wasn’t anything inside worth stealing. And since the thing wouldn’t even start, it wasn’t like the truck was going anywhere either.

  Janet had made it less than a quarter of a mile before a car pulled up beside her. “Miss, do you need a ride?”

  Janet wanted to say yes, but the warning Isa had given her about strangers rang loud and clear. “No thank you.”

  “Was that your truck up the road?”

  Without looking at him she replied, “It is.”

  The man persisted. “What’s wrong with it?”

  Janet stopped and asked firmly, “If I knew, do you think I’d be walking?”

  “You want me to take a look?”

  Janet turned and started walking again as he followed beside her in his car. “I think it needs a junkyard.”

  “Are you kidding me? That thing is great.”

  “You must have seen a different truck, because that thing is old as dirt.”

  “No. They don’t build them like that anymore. Now it’s all computers and plastic. That Dodge is awesome.”

  She wanted to tell him he could have it. But right now, it was her only mode of transportation to and from work. “I’m glad one of us thinks so. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to work.”

  “You work at New Hope, right?”

  “I do.”

  “I’m heading that way. How about I give you a lift?”

  “No thanks.”

  He pulled up a bit ahead of her, then stopped the car and got out. He was much taller than she was, but she wasn’t going to let him know she was intimidated. That would only make her even more vulnerable.

  He said, “You’re not from around here, but you really shouldn’t be walking the streets alone. Most people are okay, but there are some…you need to avoid.”

  Like you? “Thank you for the warning. Now if you’ll let me pass, I’ll be on my way.”

  “I’m not one of those creeps. I just want to make sure you get to work in one piece. Besides, I’m a mechanic. I can take a look at your truck while you’re at work.”

  Janet weighed the risk. Walking on a practically deserted road may just bring yet another stranger stopping. At least this one seemed…genu
inely concerned. Looking him over, he did appear to be what he said: a mechanic. His jeans had grease on them, as though he’d just crawled out from under a vehicle. But no matter what, she still didn’t know him. Here or back home in Connecticut, taking a ride with a stranger was dangerous behavior.

  “I do appreciate your offer, but I don’t know you.”

  He wiped his hand on his jeans, then reached out to shake hers. “I’m Vinny Hartman, and you are?”

  His hand was rough and callused. “I’m Janet Holly. Nice to meet you.”

  “Okay, we’re not strangers anymore. So hop in, and I’ll drop you off at work. Then I’ll come back and see what’s up with your truck.”

  Vinny walked around to the passenger’s side and held open the door for her. Janet was stuck and really, Vinny was offering the best option. Getting in, she said, “Do you know where it is?”

  Vinny laughed. “Everyone in Tabiq knows about the resort. Heck, that’s why I’m here.”

  “You work there?” As far as Janet knew, there weren’t any mechanics on site and she was pretty sure if he worked at New Hope, she would’ve noticed him.

  “Not any longer. I actually came over to help with the building of the place, just general labor. But while I was here, I saw this run-down garage. So I saved my money and bought it. I never thought I’d have my own place, but I do.”

  As they drove, she asked, “Where are you from originally?”

  “Wrentham, Massachusetts. Nice town. But my dad owned an auto repair shop there, and I wasn’t going to become his competition.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t just stay and work for him.” Janet shouldn’t judge, as she wasn’t in the family business either. Her parents owned a dairy farm. Janet grew up around cows, and as soon as she could, she bolted. Everyone told her she’d get used to the smell, but the opposite happened. The older she got, the less she could stand it. Especially on hot summer days. Those were the worst. But right now it was cold back home and there was no place prettier than the farm covered in snow. Not only did it keep the smell down, but each time she saw it, it looked like something that should be on holiday cards, large red barn and rolling hills. Don’t start missing home now. I can’t go back, not this year.

  “My dad has his buddies working the shop with him. They were all mechanics in the military, different branches of service. No room in there for fresh blood, if you know what I mean.”

  Janet laughed. “It sounds like you made a smart choice by relocating.”

  Vinny pulled up to the front of New Hope and Janet was about to get out when he said, “Give me your keys and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “You really don’t need to do that. The ride was enough.”

  Vinny shrugged. “I wasn’t going to fix it for free.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to. But I’m not interested in putting any money into that thing.”

  “You don’t even know what it’s going to cost you yet and you’re already saying no?”

  Janet said, “You may be a good mechanic, but you can’t quote a price when you haven’t even taken a look at it.”

  “I can.”

  Janet crossed her arms and said, “Really? And what might that be?” She worked in a casino, so she knew all about someone trying to hustle another. That wasn’t going to happen to her.

  “When I fix it for you, you go out on a date with me.”

  That wasn’t at all what Janet expected. “A date? You and me?”

  “It’d be dull if I was by myself,” Vinny said with a smirk.

  Janet had been so busy with the resort and learning her new role, that she hadn’t gotten an opportunity to have any fun. Since she was going to be in Tabiq for a long time, she should make an effort to meet people.

  Opening the car door, she said, “Okay, if you can fix my truck by Monday, then you can pick me up here at five o’clock.” Since it was Friday, that gave him a few days. And if he didn’t fix it, that was okay too. She was ready to say goodbye to it anyway.

  “Deal. I’ll see you Monday at five.”

  Vinny pulled away and Janet just stood there wondering if this was a sign as to how the rest of her day was about to go.

  As she turned to head into the resort, Drake was heading out and said, “Hi Janet, Isa wanted to know if you’d like to have dinner with us tonight.”

  “I wish I could, but I…”

  “Have a date?” Drake asked.

  “What makes you think that?”

  “I saw that guy drop you off.”

  Janet shook her head. “I don’t have a date with him. Well, Monday, maybe. It’s complicated.”

  Drake sighed. “I’m sorry I mentioned it.”

  The expression on his face said he really didn’t want an explanation or details. “Sorry. For a minute I forgot I wasn’t talking to Isa.”

  “I’m sure she’d love to hear all about it,” Drake said as he started walking away, “over dinner.”

  There was no getting out of it now. And they didn’t live at the resort either. Thankfully, she knew she could get a ride to their house. Janet was pretty sure Drake would give her a ride home as well. But transportation for work on Saturday and Sunday, that was an entirely different story.

  Making her way into the building, Janet thought, I should’ve negotiated for the truck to be fixed by tonight. But none of it mattered. The odds of Vinny actually fixing it were slim, no matter how long she gave him. The thing is junk.

  * * *

  Vinny didn’t think Janet was ever going to get into his car. Of course, this wasn’t his car. It belonged to one of the managers at the resort. Vinny had just finished doing the repairs on it and taking it for a test drive when he’d stumbled upon that beautiful bombshell. Even from a distance, he knew she wasn’t from Tabiq. Blond hair and fair skin screamed foreigner—an unusual sight on that street. Only when he’d pulled up beside her did he notice the uniform. His eyes might not be great, but damn, she was stunning, and probably would be no matter what she wore.

  It was poor luck to break down on the way to work. But Janet was lucky. The timing was perfect, because five minutes later and he’d have already driven by. This time of year, the weather got hot and sticky. She’d have been a sweaty mess by the time she got to work.

  Those beautiful blond curls of yours wouldn’t be so pretty after walking an hour in this shit.

  He dropped the car off at his garage and grabbed the tow truck. He wasn’t about to attempt fixing it on the side of the road. It might be a quick fix, but Janet hadn’t even given him a hint as to what was wrong. From the sound of it, there may be several things. Then again, she didn’t seem too fond of the truck, running or not. But Vinny had faith, he could change all that.

  Once he got his hands on that thing, he’d have it purring like brand new. He could take apart an engine and rebuild it better than new. All it needed was some TLC. But he needed to get going on it. The weather was supposed to change, and he couldn’t work on the truck in the rain. He wished he could see her again tonight, but really, he wanted to impress her with his skills as a mechanic. It was his trade, after all, and fixing her mode of transportation seemed like a better idea than flowers.

  When he put the key in, he could hear the clicking, but the motor wouldn’t turn over. The starter had to be shot. He knew he had one at the shop, and that it could easily be replaced. But that was the obvious issue. She’d made it sound as though there was more. While he had the truck in his possession, he’d go through it with a fine-tooth comb. If there was anything else, he’d fix it. Good news was, it was old enough that he could fix most things here, without ordering parts. If he didn’t have an exact match, he would weld one.

  The Tabiqian people didn’t drive new vehicles either. They made do with what they had. It was part of the charm that made him want to stay here. They were far from perfect, and so was he.

  He didn’t have a lift, so he jacked it up and put cinderblocks beneath it. Someday he was going to earn enough money t
o get some better equipment here. Ever since New Hope Resort opened, things were changing here in Tabiq. He had to give the Hendersons credit, they weren’t joking when they gave their speech at the grand opening. New Hope was starting to turn the economy around. Of course, it couldn’t get much worse than it had been.

  But the Hendersons were bringing in money and jobs. That meant people were upgrading their lifestyles too. Vinny needed to be ahead of the eight ball. He’d already started to see newer luxury vehicles being shipped in. Right now, it was the Hendersons and their managers who owned them. But Vinny knew that was just the beginning. He was slowly starting to stock up on parts for what he hoped was coming.

  The shop was only part of the reason he’d left Wrentham. Vinny wanted to start over where no one knew him, and Tabiq provided him a chance to do just that. Here, no one asked questions, and people mostly kept to themselves. It meant he could keep his private life, well, private. He knew he couldn’t outrun the truth forever, but at least for now, it was a fresh start. And I’m going to keep it that way as long as I can.

  The roar of thunder said there was a storm heading their way. One thing about this island, the weather changed quickly and without notice. That meant Vinny would need to change the truck starter tomorrow and close the shop early. He needed to get into his house before it got too dark and the sky opened up.

  Vinny locked up the shop, hopped back into his tow truck, and hauled ass down the road. The clouds were almost overhead when he reached his house. He went inside and turned on all the lights, trying to make the house as bright as he could. It was just in time too, as the thunder sounded directly above him and rain pounded on the roof.