Page 26 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

When she returneda few minutes later, I was tapping out an email response on my phone to a contractor. She slid into her seat, no trace of tension on her face anymore.

“Hey, uh,” I started, putting my phone away. “Sorry about that. I shouldn’t have asked about the engaged thing.”

She waved a hand, not meeting my eye. “It’s fine.” She glanced around with amused suspicion. “Holden. Are we in a gay bar?”

“Yep.”

She threw her hands up with a laugh, and I relaxed. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Wanted to see how it played out. What tipped you off?”

“A woman in the bathroom said she loved my eyeshadow and then asked for my number.” She smiled. “No wonder it has such good vibes.”

The server appeared with her tacos, margarita, and water for me.

“Thank you so much.” Sadie beamed at her. “Oooohhhhh.” The server left and Sadie’s head fell back. She nodded at me. “I get it now. See you nextTuesday.” She leaned in. “Like, cunt.”

“Yep, got it.” I slugged back half my water. That bubbly feeling clawed up my chest again.

“I guess I did sayIwas looking to meet women,” she mused. “Good tacos.” Her thumb came up to wipe the corner of her mouth before her tongue darted out. The motion fascinated me.

She tilted her head at me with a little frown as she chewed. “So, why do you work so much?”

I arched an eyebrow at her. “I run my own company.”

She took another sip of margarita. “The company won’t collapse if you take a weekend off, right?”

My shoulders hitched and I frowned.

She played with her paper coaster. “Your special lady may not like you working so much.”

My stomach tensed. I didn’t like this conversation. “How’s bathroom demo going?”

She rolled her eyes. “I see what you’re doing.”

I sat back, watching her.

She let out a sigh. “Fine. It’s going great. Thanks for having that bin delivered.”

I jerked a nod. I had called a company and rented a construction waste container for the inn.

She pulled out her phone to show me her progress. She had smashed out and removed the shower tiles, bathroom mirrors, and cabinets in one of the bathrooms.

“Jesus,” I murmured, scrolling through the photos. “You got a lot done in two days.”

She shrugged. “I like this stuff. I have a lot of repressed anger I need to get out.” She flashed me a pretty smile and wiggled her eyebrows.

“Yeah?” I arched an eyebrow, the side of my mouth doing that weird twitching thing. “From what?”

“You know.” She shrugged, and her mouth twisted in a funny way. Her eyes lost a fraction of the humor. “Men. The universe. Etc.”

I frowned at her.

“So, the bathtubs. I can’t get them out myself. What do you suggest?”

I stared at her for a long moment. Her gaze flicked up to mine and my pulse picked up. Something happened and I wanted to know so, so fucking badly, but I also wanted her to tell me because she wanted to, not because I demanded it.

I hated that I wanted her to trust me.

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