Page 137 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

The inn was almost over, so why was I clinging to this idea that renovating it was my purpose?

I glanced across the front seat of the truck at Holden, driving with a faraway look in his eyes, like he was also lost in thought.

It was time to admit to myself I didn’t want to leave Queen’s Cove, and I didn’t want to leave Holden. My knee bounced as the truth became clear.

If I stayed, what would I do for work?

In the cup holder between us, Holden’s phone buzzed and I watched as he glanced at the caller before ignoring it.

“You can take that if you want,” I said, watching his face closely.

He shook his head. “I’ll call them back tomorrow.” He glanced at me. “Next week, I need to have the drywallers come back to the inn for a couple days.”

I frowned. “For downstairs?”

He shook his head, staring out the windshield. There was a glimmer in his eyes. “For the window upstairs. It’s cracking and I want them to redo it. I don’t think they supported it enough.” He cleared his throat and shot me a quick glance before turning back to the road. “So you should give them some space to work. They’ll be there Monday through Wednesday.” His throat worked as he swallowed.

My stomach dipped again. “You’re acting weird.”

His gaze shot to mine, eyes wide. “Am I?”

“You’ve been taking a bunch of calls and it’s like you don’t want me to overhear.” I shook my head, dragging air into my lungs. Tension pinched me again. “I have a bad feeling.” My hands came to my cheeks and I winced. “I feel like this is Grant all over again. Holden, I’m freaking out. I’m feeling crazy.”

He blew a breath out. “Shit. Okay. I wasn’t thinking. Yes, I’ve been taking calls I didn’t want you to overhear.” He shot me a tentative glance. “I have a surprise for you, but it’s not ready yet.”

Oh. A few knots in my stomach loosened. A surprise. I cocked a grin at him. “Is it that you’re going to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from me?”

He snorted. “No. You already told me you don’t have any money.”

I laughed. “I don’t.”

His eyes were warm on me. “Honey. It’s a good surprise, I promise. Do you trust me?”

I dragged a long breath in, closing my eyes for a moment before opening them. His gaze alternated between me and the road. The tension in my stomach unwound by half. “Yes.”

He reached over and squeezed my hand. “Good.”

See?I told myself. I was overreacting. I had been burned and now I was searching for Grant in Holden, when Holden couldn’t be more different from him.

Holden squeezed my hand again and I squeezed back. A surprise, huh? I bit my lip with excitement as butterflies flitted around in my stomach.

“Can you give me a hint?” I asked him.

He laughed. “No.”

I sighed. “I had to try.”

I smiled out the window, wondering what my surprise could be.

51

Holden

I stoodoutside my front door, bouquet clutched in my hand, pulse pounding in my ears.

Here we go. This was the night I had been putting together for weeks. I hated keeping things from her, especially when she broke down in the car last weekend and I could see how stressed she was that I was keeping something from her.

The look on her face would be worth it, though.

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