Lust and Lies 04 - Pretty Maids in a Row

whisper, his words came out in a rush. "We could sneak out of here while the agent's in the other room. We could drive to West Virginia, get married tonight. Then we could go away, maybe a honeymoon in Australia. I've got more than enough money saved up. By the time we came back, this whole mess would be cleaned up and no one would punish you for leaving."
    Philip's face was flushed again, only now it was obviously excitement, not anger, raising his blood pressure. "Philip, please. You aren't thinking clearly. Running away would only make me look guiltier. And what would happen to Earth Guard?"
    He shook his head. "One call to Evelyn and she'd take care of putting matters on hold until we got back." He pulled her to her feet. "We could do it, Holly. It would solve everything. Let's just go. Now. While that agent thinks we're still sitting here talking."
    Holly could barely believe it; he was completely serious. "Sit down, Philip," she said firmly then sat back down herself. He perched on the edge of the sofa, ready to leap up again any moment. "What you're suggesting sounds very romantic... on the surface. But we would both regret it, if not tomorrow, next month or next year. I can't run away from this, and you can't protect me from life anymore. You've done a wonderful job of it up to now, but I'm finally ready to grow up and stop hiding behind you."
    She cut off his protest before he could get it out. "You know it's true. I just never saw how I was hurting you in the process. This is very difficult for me but I don't think it should be postponed any longer."
    Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage. "You are my dearest friend in the world. I care deeply about you. But I don't love you the way you want me to."
    "Holly, we've been—"
    "Please let me finish. I have finally realized how unfair our relationship has been. I've let you believe there could be a different kind of future for us one day, but that was a selfish lie to keep you from leaving me alone. We're friends, Philip, and that's all we're ever going to be. I'm hoping you can accept that truth, but I'll understand if you can't."
    He studied her face for a moment then looked away. "Is there someone else? The reporter?"
    Holly ignored the instant tightening in her chest. "David and I..." She stopped herself from being that honest with him. There was no need to tell him what part David had played in her decision to be truthful about their relationship. It would only hurt Philip worse than he was hurting already. "No. We're not... there's no one else."
    Philip's held breath came out in an obvious sigh of relief. "You're under a lot of stress right now, honey, and I don't want to make it more difficult by arguing with you. I'll leave you alone for now, but I'll be standing by in case you need me. No matter what you've said, it doesn't change the way I feel about you or the fact that I'd still be happy to share any part of your life that you're able to, including friendship, if that's all you want from me."
    After he left, Holly went over his final words. At first she'd thought he had accepted and understood what she'd tried to tell him, but the more she thought about it, the less certain she was. She had the awful feeling she'd just been given another pat on the head by a forgiving father.

Chapter 22

    While Diane spent the next several hours on the phone, Holly hoped the agent was accomplishing more than she was. Papers were spread over the kitchen table, but she couldn't keep her mind on any of it. She made lunch for them both, but that didn't even use up an hour. She was trying to come up with a distraction of some kind when her intercom buzzer sounded. Diane reached the speaker before Holly.
    "Yes?" Diane asked.
    "David Wells is here to see Miss Kaufman," Pete stated in a more formal voice than his usual.
    "It can't be," Holly whispered. "He's in a hospital in Miami."
    Diane held up a finger and said, "Ask for identification."
    The doorman's response was indignant. "I just identified him with my own eyes. He's been here before. Of course, he didn't have half his head bandaged like he does now. The guy with him showed me his ID though. Says he's Special Agent Reese of the FBI. Oh, and he said to tell Diane it's Jim from the Santa Claus case."
    Holly narrowed her brows. "It must be him. What could he be doing here?"
    "Okay. Send them up." Diane switched off the intercom and turned to Holly. "I heard the official version of your connection with Wells