Page 5 of Wish You Would

“Thought you might need some help with your things.”

I smile. “I don’t have much. Most of my stuff is still in storage.”

I follow Holden to the back of my car, where I watch him pop the trunk then begin lifting my suitcases from the car.

“Let me show you inside.”

“Okay, thanks.” I open the car door and take Bear’s crate from the back seat, then I follow Holden up the driveway to the front door. I follow him inside, slipping off my Converse before setting Bear’s carrier down in the living room.

My eyes drift around my temporary new home. I immediately notice that it’s spotless. Every surface is clean and dusted, everything is put perfectly in its place—though “everything” may be a misleading description.

The place is practically bare. There is a black, oversized leather chair and matching couch in the living room with a single black throw pillow. There are no knick-knacks, no family photos on the bookshelf, no artwork on the walls—none of the personal touches that make a house a home.

Is he a minimalist or something? Maybe he isn’t planning on living here long? Maybe Tucker took most of the décor with him when he moved in with Daisy?

“This is nice, Holden,” I say, because the house itselfisnice. The kitchen looks like it has been renovated, and the large windows reveal a beautiful view of the beach across the street. It’s just lacking character. Charm. Personality.

“Thanks.” Holden picks up my suitcase and nods to the stairs. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”

Up five or six steps is the second level of the house. There is a bedroom on the right which I assume is Holden’s, a bathroom on the left and then another smaller bedroom. He pushes open the door to that room and then steps aside, motioning for me to go ahead.

“We’ll have to get you a bed,” he says, following me into the completely empty bedroom.

“Oh. I didn’t realize your spare room isn’t furnished,” I say, my voice echoing off the walls. “Holden, I really appreciate the offer, but I don’t want you having to buy a new bed. Really, I can get a room at The Seaside.”

“It’s fine, Briar. We can get you one. It’s just won’t be today. For now, you can have my bed.”

Holden looks at me, nodding like he expects me to go along with it.

“I’m not sleeping with you, Holden,” I tell him, and he frowns at me in response. God, he’s still so attractive when he scowls. Broody and arrogant and ruggedly handsome. Why does he have to be so hot?

“What? Why are you scowling at me?”

He shakes his head, his frown deepening. “I wasn’t asking you to sleep with me, Briar. I was offering you my bed until we get you one. I can sleep on the couch.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. “I’m not taking your bed.I’llsleep on the couch.” I grab the handle of my suitcase, ready to drag it back downstairs to the living room.

“You’re not sleeping on the couch. You’re a guest. I’ll change my sheets,” he says, motioning down the hall to his bedroom. “I’ll be in my room for a bit catching up on emails if you need anything. Just make yourself at home. I’m going to turn in early, I need to be at work for 7.”

“What do you eat in the morning?”

“Why?”

“I was thinking I’d make you breakfast.”

The frown returns. “It’s fine. I’ll grab something on my way to the office.”

“I’d just like to do something nice for you, since you’ve been so kind to let me stay here.”

“It’s fine, Briar.”

“Okay, so you don’t like breakfast. Got it.” I say, pushing the handle of my suitcase down to the base.

I’m about to tell him again that I’m not okay with taking his bed, but he’s already gone, stalking down the hallway to his bedroom, closing the door behind him a little harder than necessary.

He hates me.

Dropping my face to my palms, I squeeze my eyes shut,regretting my decision to stay here. I should have thought this through. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe I just need to give Holden a day or two to get used to having me here.

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