Page 63 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

Avery gave me a strange look. “What?”

I froze. I danced dangerously close to spilling the details about the deal with Holden. “Nothing.” I shot them a bright smile before I stood. “Let’s do a tour. I want to show you all the changes we’re going to make.”

They stayed seated.

Hannah shot me a sweet smile. “Sadie?”

“Yes, Hannah?” I shifted, still on my feet.

“Why do you keep going to singles events with Holden?” She asked like she already knew the answer.

I pressed my lips tight into a line. “Because I don’t know anyone in town?”

Avery and Hannah narrowed their eyes at me. Olivia gave me abitch, pleaselook.

“I can’t talk about it.”

Olivia snorted. “It’s because she’s helping him find a wife.”

I gasped. “You knew?”

“I heard you two talking about it. Your voice carries, Sadie.”

“You can’t tellanyone,” I told her, kneeling beside her. “All of you. You can’t tell a soul.”

Avery’s eyes bugged out of her head. “Tell us everything.”

I hesitated. They already knew, so I might as well tell them the details. I explained the agreement to them while Avery and Hannah listened with rapt interest. Olivia just ate chips and listened.

When I was done, Avery and Hannah exchanged a long look.

“Sadie, you can tell me to shut up, but I have a question.” Avery chewed a chip while studying me.

“I don’t love where this is going,” I told her with a laugh. “But go on.”

“Do you have a thing for Holden?”

“No, of course not.” My face turned bright red. Thanks, face.

“Why, of course not?” Hannah asked.

“Because—” I broke off, squirming. How could I explain the mental fuckery Grant had left behind? “I don’t live here.” I shrugged. “And I’m taking a break from men. And Holden wants a lot of things I’m not interested in.”

Marriage. Commitment.

“Do you think he’s attractive?” Avery asked with a sly grin.

I snorted. “Okay, fine, yes, he’s hot. I have eyes. Of course he’s hot.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“It would never work,” I insisted.

She shrugged. “Okay. For what it’s worth, I like you two hanging out. I think it’s good for him. He never does anything for himself, you know?”

Hannah nodded. “Yeah. He’s always doing stuff around the house for Elizabeth.”

Huh. I thought about the coffee and Advil he brought me this morning.

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