Page 20 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

The flats I had spent a year breaking in were soaked in beer from when I dropped the tray. My yellow cashmere sweater was damp with sweat, beer, and splattered with barbecue sauce. With every step I took, my blisters shrieked in pain, and for one horrifying second, I considered going barefoot on the sticky floor. My makeup had smeared, but there was no time to reapply because people kept ordering more beers.

“I can’t believe you used to do this by yourself,” I gasped at Olivia. “No wonder you hired me on the spot.”

My pants were a Jackson Pollock, splattered with red wine, hot sauce, and chicken wing grease.

Holden Rhodes walked into the bar and his brooding gaze found me like a magnet. He raised an eyebrow and his gaze dropped to my splattered pants.

My face flushed. Of course he’d walk in when I looked my worst. I shook my head at him. “Don’t start.”

He slid onto a bar stool, staring at me with a disgusted expression. “Why are you here?”

“I work here now.”

“So I’m stuck seeing you every night.” He sighed.

“You come hereevery night?” I winced. “Yikes. I wouldn’t advertise you’re a big drinker on your dates.”

He glowered at me. “I’m not a big drinker.”

I leaned on my elbow towards him with a sympathetic expression I knew would piss him off. “Just super lonely?”

Alarm spiked behind his eyes. “I thought you were an interior designer.”

Irritation pinched between my shoulders. “I am, but there are zero interior design jobs on the island.” I shot him a bright smile. “And for six months, I’m also a bartender.”

He regarded me with an unreadable expression. “How’s that project of yours coming along?”

The eye contact with him gave me a little jolt. His eyes were so pretty. “Relax, Bigfoot. I have a plan.”

He scowled. “Bigfoot?”

“Tall, looming, lurking, communicates in grunts. Like I said, meeting people is a numbers game.”

A woman with pale blonde hair and a man in a suit took the seats beside Holden. He jerked his chin hello at them.

“Hi, I’m Hannah,” the blonde woman said with a shy smile. “This is Div.” The man beside her gave me a wry smile and nod. “You must be Sadie.”

“IamSadie.” I shot them a bright smile. “Hi, Hannah. Hi, Div.” I shot Holden a look.What about her?

He frowned and shook his head. “Sister-in-law.”

I deflated. “Oh.”

The two watched us with interest. Shit, this was supposed to be a secret. “Can I get you two a drink?”

When Hannah ordered a virgin drink, I remembered Elizabeth mentioning a pregnant daughter-in-law this morning, and I congratulated her. She shot me a warm, pleased smile. Div nudged her elbow, hiding his own smile. Once I had their drinks set up, I leaned forward on the bar again.

“Okay,” I started, “Say someone wanted to meet a lot of women at once. Where would you do that?”

“Where wouldyoudo that?” Div clarified, pointing at me.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

He snorted. “Easy. Tuesdays is Juicy Taco night at the Rusty Bucket in Port Alberni.”

Hannah choked on her soda water. “Div,” she laughed.

He raised his eyebrows. “What? That’s what it’s called because it’s two for one tacos. Cheap margaritas, too.”

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