Holly and Ed decided they would leave for Cliffhouse when she was done working on Thursday thus giving them three fully days to enjoy the time away. He was scheduled to work until 4:30, and Holly would be ready to go at 5. She threw her bag in her car and went to work, anxious for the day to end before it fully began.

At 4 p.m. her phone rang. As she was used to Blake never being at her desk, she picked up her extension.

"Holly Lindsey" she said absently while continuing to review a revenue report.

"It's me, please don't be mad." It was Ed.

Holly leaned back in her chair. "I think I already am and I don't know why you're calling yet."

"You're going to have to go up to the Cliffhouse without me tonight."

Holly dropped her glasses on the desk with a thud. "Why? What emergency is there now?"

"It's not an emergency, I screwed up. I gave my fellow tomorrow off so that he could work Saturday and Sunday, and put myself on the schedule. So, there is a bright side here."

Holly rubbed her forehead with her hand. "Really? What's that, Ed? I'm off tomorrow and you're not."

"Well, I am off Saturday and Sunday. I'm only working until 3 tomorrow, so by the time I leave the hospital and get up there it will be 4:30 at the latest."

Holly sighed. "Well, I suppose I could work tomorrow then too."

"Actually, I have a better idea. You've been so tense lately. Why don't you go up tonight. Enjoy some peace and quiet. There is a lovely fire pit on the deck. Take a book and a bottle of wine and enjoy the solitude. Michelle and I will follow you up tomorrow evening. I will pick up steaks and corn."

Holly pondered the idea for a moment. "You said there is a hot tub too, right?"

Ed smiled. "Yep."

"Alright Dr. Bauer, you're forgiven. I will see you tomorrow at 4:30. Don't be late."

Holly hung up, put her paper work in an orderly fashion before shutting off her desk lamp. When she closed her door to her office, she was surprised to see Blake at her desk.

"I'm leaving for the weekend honey" Holly said, stopping at the corner of Blake's desk.

"Have fun Mom. Tell Ed I said hello."

Holly nodded. "I will. Tell Ross the same. You know you don't have to come in tomorrow, right?"

"Correct. I think I'm going to do some wedding planning."

"Well, have fun. I will see you on Monday."

When Holly disappeared into the newsroom Blake wasted no time in picking up the phone.

"Hello" Jenna's British accent greeted Blake.

"Put my father on the phone, now." Blake demanded.

"It's always a pleasure, Briella"

"It's Blake, you buffoon" she said under her breath as she waited.

"Chrissy, well, this is a surprise" Roger answered happily.

"Mom is on her way to Cliffhouse. I suggest you pack a bag and get there, pronto"

"What kind of emergency is it?" Roger asked while looking dire as he looked at Jenna.

"Jenna's there isn't she? Watching you closely I bet. I really hate that tart."

"I'm aware Chrissy, but tell me what the emergency is so I can decide how to proceed please." He raised his eye brows.

"Mom and Ed were to be at the Cliffhouse tonight for the weekend, but Ed can't go until tomorrow at 3:30. If you play your cards right you can have Mom all to yourself tonight."

"Well, that does sound like it needs my immediate attention. Now you're sure your mother has already left and won't have cell service?"

"Oh Daddy, you're good. She has a half hour lead on you. Go!"

"Alright honey, I will take care of it. Thanks for calling"

Wearing a satisfied smirk Blake hung up the phone and turned off her desk lamp, hopeful that come Monday she would no longer be Holly's assistant.

The Cliffhouse Moniker was deceiving. It wasn't just one house; it was multiple dwellings owned by the same company built into a mountain overlooking a deep ravine with a river below it. Holly and Ed's unit was on the end of a drive that was a dead end. She parked her car out front and grabbed her bag from the back seat. Slowly, as she was wearing her heels from her work day, she navigated the steep stairs on the side of the house that would lead her to the deck and sliding glass door leading into the unit. She stopped on the desk and took in the view. It was as Ed promised, romantic.

Holly let herself inside and stripped out of her work clothes. She had intended for Ed to be with her for the duration so she only packed sexy, though appropriate for Michelle to see clothing. Even her bathing suit which she intended to use in the hot tub wasn't scandalous. As she was alone however, she decided on her robe as she was naked underneath. She slid it on and tied it around her waist. She went to the kitchen and found a cork screw for the wine she brought, just one bottle as Ed would join her tomorrow. She opened it and poured. Grabbing her book, she went to the desk and sat in a chair, her back to the stairs with her feet up on the desk.

About ten paged in she heard footsteps on the stairs. She laid the book and the wine on the table beside her chair and listened, hand on her cell phone.

"Hello" she called out but got no response. When she heard the footsteps again, she dialed the number for the management company but instead of ringing she was greeted with silence. When she looked at the display, she was mortified to see NO SERVICE emblazoned across the top. She looked along the deck for something to use as a deterrent against the person coming down the stairs but there was nothing.

"I'm calling the police!" She called out again when she saw him. Her brow immediately knit. "Roger? How in the hell did you know I was here. Why are you here?" She screamed.

He was carrying a box in one hand that seemingly blocked his vision, and a duffel bag in the other. When he hit the deck, he did so breathlessly. He set the box down and looked around. "Holly? What are you doing here?"

Holly pointed a finger at him. "Ed's inside, I suggest you march back up those stairs before he sees you"

Roger looked stunned and then confused. "There must be some mistake." He said convincingly. "We booked this unit for Jenna and me for the weekend. What are you doing here?"

"Ed booked us this unit for the weekend."

Roger looked confused. "Well, this is awkward. When Jenna booked this, she was told this one was ours. She can't come up now until tomorrow but thought it would be nice if I got a head start, Spaulding keeps her pretty busy you know. Darn it, she has the paper work too."

"Well, I suggest you get back in your car and go home. You can come back once she gives you the proper information of where you're staying." Holly sat back in her chair, ignoring him.

"That's a good idea. Tell Ed I'm sorry for busting in on you two. Take care, Holly"

Holly held her breath until she heard his footsteps echoing and then ending as he reached the top. She slowly drank the remainder of her wine and went inside. She searched the living room, and the master bedroom for a land line phone but there wasn't one. She pulled the brochure out of her robe pocket and read it carefully.

"In an attempt to allow our renters, the opportunity to get away from it all we do not supply telephones in our homes. As our property is built into the cliff should you need emergency assistance there is a call button to summon emergency personnel. We ask that you only utilize this service in the case of a true emergency such as fire, or a medical issues only."

It went on to outline contact for maintenance issues, or problems related to the stay, but those involved driving into town for cell phone service.

"Take a deep breath, Holly" she said to herself, pouring another glass of wine. "Roger gone, and Ed will be here tomorrow."

She let herself back out on to the deck, surprised to see Roger sitting on the bottom step.

"You were supposed to leave!" She screamed, her voice echoing through the canyon below.

"I know, but I don't have cell phone service and my car won't start."

Holly rolled her eyes. "Fine, take mine. I will have Ed drive me home after he gets here" Her hand flew to her mouth. She gave away that she was alone.

"About that, I parked behind you, and as you now it's a dead end street."

Holly closed her eyes and silently swore. "Of course, you did."

"Look, I didn't plan this, Holly. I didn't know you were going to be here. If I did, I would have told Jenna to book somewhere else. I'm sorry, really, I am." He brushed his hand through his hair. "Tell you what. How about I cook something on the grill. We can have a little dinner, then I will try the car again. It's temperamental. Maybe if it has time to sit and cool off it will start."

Holly could hear noise from the house to the side and slightly below hers. She heard male voices. She had to admit, she'd feel safer with Roger around, even if it was for a little while.

"Alright, you can stay, but as soon as we eat, you're leaving."

Roger nodded his head. "Great. Let me go wash my hands, and then I will start dinner."