Page 141 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

If I didn’t stay, I knew I’d regret it.

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Okay?” His brow creased with concern. “Are you sure? This has to be your decision.”

I nodded and another tear fell over the edge. His thumb wiped it away. “It’s my decision. I want to stay with you. We’ll figure everything out and it’ll be okay.”

I’d remember the smile he gave me until my dying day, the look of total adoration, relief, and elation that the uncertainty between us had vanished. He leaned down and kissed me hard, and my hands threaded into his hair.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” he told me in between kisses. “I was hoping it so hard. I love you so fucking much, Sadie.”

The dam broke inside me and I laughed with relief against his mouth. It felt sogoodto lean into his love and let it happen. I sighed.

He pressed one last kiss to me before pulling back and grinning at me. “Let’s eat.”

We sat down at the bar counter and dished out the pasta while Holden told me about the process to build the treehouse. He designed it with the help of his dad and the hardware store owner. He had a local company fabricate the panels in their shop and everything was stored at the Rhodes Construction warehouse. Avery and Elizabeth and even Olivia helped during the day, putting up wallpaper and arranging glassware. I flushed with pleasure at the idea of everyone helping to build it for me. Like I was special to them.

“You didn’t go to work?” I asked him.

He shook his head. “I took three days off.”

I gaped at him. “Who are you?”

The pride on his features warmed me down to my toes.

He sat back in his chair, thinking. “I’m trying to cut back. I like spending my weekends with you.”

I offered him a soft, wistful smile. “I love our weekend adventures.”

“Good.” His eyebrows tilted up. “Let’s keep doing them.”

I beamed at him and ate a bite of pasta. “Deal.”

After we had finished dinner, I took one last look around the space, glancing out at the twinkling lights. I bet those old trees had never seen something likethisin their lifetime.

Holden watched me with that smile I had grown to love.

An idea rushed into my head and my mouth fell open. Holden quirked his brow at me.

These past few weeks, I had been struggling to paint, but now, inspiration hit me like a freight train.

“Holden, when we get home, can I paint you?”

He was silent for a long moment.

“I want to remember this night forever, and I’d like to paint your portrait.” I studied his face. “Please?”

He shot me a crooked grin. “Sadie, you don’t even have to ask. I’m yours to do whatever you want with.”

“Good,” I whispered.

Tonight, I’d show Holden Rhodes I loved him.

53

Holden

Sadie flickedthe light on when she stepped in the front door and the familiarity of it, her reaching for the light switch, knowing where it was, made my heart ache. I closed the door and reached for her, pulling her against me, kissing a slow line down her neck with her back pressed against the door. Her head fell back and she closed her eyes, humming with approval. Her hands found my hair and she sighed.

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