Page 47

Five Million Dollars

Holland

I wake up with a smile on my face, even though it’s still dark outside. Last night comes back to me in a flash. Taking Mallory to the tree house. Talking with her. Opening up to her. Reading to her. Dancing with her. Kissing her.

I absently touch my lips, wondering how soon I can do that again.

My phone starts vibrating on my nightstand. The only reason I reach for it is because it might be Mallory on the other end of the line. If it’s not her, I’m not answering.

I see Noah’s name come across the screen, and I silence it. No offense to my agent, but right now, I want to stay in my daydreams about my new girlfriend.

I still can’t believe she—

My phone blares, and I frown down at it. It’s Noah again.

I sigh. I guess it won’t be so bad answering. Not when my life is actually better than a dream at the moment.

“Hey, Noah, what’s up?”

“Holland.” Noah’s voice is grim, and I sit upright in bed.

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t want you to panic…” Noah trails off.

“Okay, well, that’s making me panic.” I fling my legs over the side of the bed. My mind is going to worst-case scenario here. Something happened to someone in my family. Or to Mallory. I stand up. “What is it?”

“There were some incriminating pictures leaked last night. ”

“Incriminating how?” I’ve never sent anyone anything promiscuous.

“You and Mallory. Together. In the rain…embracing.” He says the last word like a wince.

“Oh.” I sink down on the bed. “Okay. Yeah. We went out last night.”

Noah sighs. “This isn’t good, man. I thought I told you to stick to the show’s rules.”

“Well, sorry.” I’m not sorry at all. I wouldn’t change anything, because everything brought me to a place with Mallory that has all the makings of the love story I had all but thought I’d never have.

“I actually was going to call you today to talk about the show. I want to be done. Mallory is it for me.”

I hear tapping on the other end of the line. “It’s not that simple, Holland.”

“Seems that way to me.”

“Just…” Noah grunts. “You need to come to the inn. The producers are not happy. They’re threatening some pretty hefty fines for breaking your contract. And not just for you…”

Mallory .

A memory of a number from the meeting after my tournament win in South Carolina pops into my head. Five million dollars.

“They wouldn’t.” I scramble out of my bed. My foot gets caught in my sheet, and I careen to the floor, landing with a thud. “They can’t do that. Can they?” I add.

I can picture Noah rubbing the skin of his forehead as he responds, “Technically, they can.”

My bedroom starts spinning. Five million dollars is a lot of money. To anyone. I know how hard Mallory has worked. I know the sacrifices she’s made to get where she is, to provide for her parents, to ensure her mom is taken care of. My vision blurs, and it’s getting harder and harder to breath.

“Holland. Holland!” Noah’s voice cuts through the fog.

“What? Yeah. I’m here. ”

“Get to the inn, okay? MEM execs are conferencing in with Vivian, and they want to speak to you and Mallory. I’ll be there, and I’m bringing one of your lawyers. Figure it’s best to have someone on hand, just in case.”

“Okay. Yeah. That’s good. Thanks, Noah.”

“You got it, man. Hey, listen. It’ll be fine. We’ll work it out. We’ve got your back.”

“Mallory too?”

“Of course.”

“Good. I will take the fall for this, if it’s the last thing I do.” I blow out a breath. “Thanks, Noah. I owe you big. I’m sorry for the extra trouble.”

He lets out a short laugh. “This is why you pay me the big bucks, right?”

“Something like that.”

After we disconnect the call, my body moves out of habit. I throw open my closet doors and find jeans and a button-up shirt. I have a one-track mind. Get to the inn. See Mallory. Reassure her everything will be fine.

I’ve got Noah and my team on it, but what must she be feeling like? She took a chance, opening herself and her reputation up to me, and for what? A tabloid scandal and a potentially crippling fine.

I make the drive down Main Street and over to the inn in half the time it usually takes.

I park along the side yard, closest to Candace’s house.

There’s no sign of Noah’s car yet, so I decide to cut in through the kitchen entrance.

I figure Daisy won’t mind, and I don’t want to face anyone from MEM alone.

Besides, I need to track down Mallory, make sure she’s okay.

I pull open the door, and Daisy is standing in the kitchen, her arms wrapped around Mal. At the sound of the creaking hinges, both women turn and face me.

Daisy’s face is drawn with concern, and Mallory’s tear-streaked cheeks make me feel like someone is taking a saw to my intestines. She’s got her hair pulled back into its usual ponytail, and her creamy white skin is two shades too pale to look healthy.

I step forward, and Daisy releases Mallory in time for me to scoop her into my arms. I inhale the scent of her shampoo as she clings to me.

“I’m so sorry about all of this. It’s going to be okay.”

A sob escapes her, and my heart cracks.

“It’s my fault.” I rub her back. “I will take the blame, and any fines will come to me. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Mallory pulls back, shaking her head. “I’m as much to blame for what happened between us as you are. I broke the contract same as you. If you’re on the hook, then I am too. But there’s more.”

Tears pool in her eyes, and one slips down her cheek. I use the pad of my finger to wipe it away. “What is it? Talk to me?”

“It’s my mom.” Mallory’s voice breaks, and she presses her lips together.

My heart stops. “What happened?”

“She fell last night. She was home alone. She must’ve tried to do the stairs and lost her balance. She’s unconscious.”

A sob escapes her lips, and I pull her back into a hug, letting her cry into my chest. I wish I had words, but nothing I could say would be right or enough.

I guess the best thing I can do is shut up and be here for her—however I can be—and hope it’s enough.

So much of my life has been filled with unnecessary chatter.

I’ve surrounded myself with people who will praise me and champion me, puffing up my pride and self-worth using their words.

Those words are empty when it all comes down to it.

They’re meaningless. I don’t want to offer pithy platitudes to Mallory right now.

I want to show her, with my presence, that I’ll walk with her through this valley.

“Gosh, I’m a mess.” She pulls back and wipes her nose on the back of her wrist.

“You’re not a mess.” I take a tissue Daisy is holding out and hand it to Mallory. She takes it and blows her nose .

“What do you need? What can I do?” I ask when she tosses it in the trash.

“I have a flight booked. I’ve got to leave for the airport, like now.”

I nod. “Good. I’ll take you.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

We turn at the sound of Noah’s voice. He has an apologetic grimace on his face.

“Hi. Sorry. Mallory, I’m so sorry. I overheard, and I’m sorry to barge in on you like this, but Holland, if you leave now, that does not look good to the network. You’ll come across as flakey and disrespectful.”

“I don’t care what the network thinks of me. I care about Mallory and making sure she’s okay.”

Mallory slips her hand into mine and squeezes.

“I know. I know.” Noah holds up his hands.

“I get it. I’m saying we need to look at the big picture here, and this is a serious financial situation you’re both in.

Mallory, you obviously need to go home. Be with your family.

Holland, you should be here to try to lessen the blow of the fallout. Help with negotiations.”

“Noah’s right. I’ll be okay,” Mallory says, squeezing my hand again.

“I don’t like the thought of you traveling alone. Or…any of it.” What I don’t say is I don’t like the thought of her having to face whatever happens with her mom alone. All I want to do is be there for her. Being on the hook for all the money in the world doesn’t change that.

I’m also afraid of what this turn of events might do to our fledgling relationship. Mallory didn’t say she loved me back. She’s a couple steps behind where I’m at, and I would hate for her to turn in on herself when all I want is for her to turn to me and let me bear some of her burden.

I blow out a breath. It’s not about you, Holland. I need to trust Mallory. I need to trust the foundation we’ve built. If she needs space, I’ll give her space. If she needs hands-on support, I’ll figure out a way to give her that. I’m not going anywhere.

“I can handle it.” She stands up a little straighter, and I don’t know if she’s trying to convince herself or me, but either way, I give her credit.

Mallory has always been a take-charge type person.

She’s falling apart, but at the same time, she’s putting one foot in front of the other and doing what she has to do.

I didn’t think it was possible for my admiration for her to grow, but here we are.

I pull her into a hug. “I know you can. I wish you didn’t have to.”

“I want to get home,” she admits. “It’s worse being here and not knowing what’s going on there.”

As much as it pains me to let her go, I understand. The waiting and the unknown is the hardest part. “You should go, then.”

“I’m driving her to the airport in Green Bay. I’ll make sure she gets through security.” Daisy makes eye contact with me over Mallory’s shoulder, and I offer her a nod of thanks. “I’ll take good care of her for you.”

Mallory steps back, but I keep my grip on the tops of her arms, holding her in place in front of me. “Call me. Text me. Keep me updated. I will do whatever you and your family need. Promise you’ll tell me what that is.”

“I will. Thank you,” she whispers, her eyes glassy. “I’m sorry to leave you with the mess here.”

“Don’t think another second about it.” I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter, and we’ll get it sorted out. Trust me to take care of this for you.”

She chews on her lip and nods. “I’ve got to go.”

I lean toward her and place a featherlight kiss on her lips and then on her forehead. She shudders and wraps her arms around me for one last quick hug, and then she’s trailing Daisy out the door of the kitchen.