Page 36 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

I walked into the bar and a wall of noise hit me. Classic rock played, people talked and laughed, and Sadie and Olivia cackled at something behind the bar.

My spirits lifted and my conversation with Emmett faded to the background.

“Sasquatch sighting,” Sadie called, pointing at me, and a few people laughed.

“You’re really dragging that joke out, huh?” I took my seat, slinging my laptop bag onto another stool.

She leaned forward with a teasing glint in her eyes. “I’m going to milk that joke.” Her gaze lifted to my hair and she raised an eyebrow. “Your hair is getting long.”

I blew a breath out and raked a hand through my hair. “The barber closes at six and is only open on weekdays.”

She rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Small town shit.” She shrugged and her gaze returned to my hair. “You can pull it off. You have nice hair.”

Warmth curled in my stomach and I tried not to smile. “You like my hair?”

She arched an eyebrow, amused. “Don’t be vain, Holden. That’s my thing.” She winked at me and my heart flipped over. She reached for a pint glass and poured a beer without asking.

She handed me a beer and I thanked her. She leaned on the counter and my eyes dropped to the neckline of her t-shirt. Her skin looked so soft, and this t-shirt hugged the swell of her tits.

Fuck, she had nice tits. Her dress at the boat party had dipped low and I had been picturing her cleavage for days.

My cock stirred but I ignored it, dragging my gaze up to her face.

“You’re wearing makeup.” I frowned. Her lips were more red than normal. “Lip stuff.

She shrugged. “I read on the internet that people get more tips when they wear makeup.”

Sharp discomfort twisted in my stomach and I frowned. “It’s a bunch of old married guys here.”

A grin pulled on her pretty mouth and I watched, fascinated. She glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “Maybe we can ask them for some pointers for you.”

I glowered at her and she bit her lip and grinned bigger.

I pictured her pretty mouth wrapped around my cock while she gazed up at me with those dark green eyes.

Oh fuck, that was a good image. Too good. I gripped my beer as blood rushed to my cock. I was half-hard, right here in the bar. I turned away, dragged in a sobering breath, and shoved the image out of my mind.

“When are you going out with Liya?” she asked.

Nerves twisted in my gut at the idea of a date.

“Wednesday night.”

She arched an eyebrow at me. “Nervous?”

“No.” I drank half my beer in one go.

She snorted. “Right, sure. Even if you’re not nervous, I have an idea.”

I shot her a wary look.

She wiggled her eyebrows at me with a big grin. “Practice date.”

“What?” My heart stopped.

“Practice date,” she repeated with more emphasis. “We’ll go on the date you’re going to take Liya on, and it’ll make you more comfortable for the real thing. You can practice conversation skills.”

My pulse sped up. A date with Sadie sounded… dangerous. And too good to be true.

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