Page 67 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

She blinked. “Really?”

I jerked a nod. “Yep.”

“And you’re not even going to fight me on it?”

I fought the urge to smile. I shouldn’t be spending so much time with her, but I wanted to. The annoying little voice in my head told me to stop this while I still could but I ignored it.

“You’re right. I need to start making time for people in my life.” I cleared my throat.

She gasped in mock-shock. “You’re agreeing with me?” She raced to the window to peer at the sky. “Is the world ending?”

A grin curled onto my mouth. “It must be.”

She laughed and walked over to me, beaming with bright eyes. “This is going to be so fun, Holden. I promise.”

My chest warmed. I knew it would be.

She looped her arms around my waist and hugged me.

She pressed her warm body against mine, her head leaned on my chest, and her hands squeezed around my waist.

I melted, and every problem I ever had floated away into the sky.

“Holden,” she murmured against my chest.

I grunted, fighting the urge to drop my mouth to the top of her head.

“A hug is where you wrap your arms around someone.” She patted one of my arms.

My arms wrapped around her back and my soul evaporated into the atmosphere.

This was nice. This was so fucking nice. I could smell her shampoo, light and fruity. She fit so well under my arms, and her head on my chest was the best thing I had ever experienced.

Sadie wasn’t leaving my fantasies any time, and now we’d be spending every Sunday together?

I was fucked, but I didn’t care.

I wanted to keep hugging Sadie. I wanted her to keep telling me she was proud of me.

She pulled back to smile up at me. “Has anyone ever told you that you give really good hugs?”

I shook my head, studying the mesmerizing greens and flecks of brown in her eyes as my hands rested on her back.

“You should put that on your dating profile,” she said with a grin, still leaning against me.

The thought of another date made my stomach twist.

I tried not to be hyperaware of her breasts pressing into my chest. “I don’t want to do the whole dating thing for the next few weeks.”

Concern washed over her features. “Why not?”

Because I just wanted to hang out with her, and the idea of dating anyone right now repulsed me.

I heard Katherine’s words in my head, and the promise I made her.

I couldn’t just give up.

“Let’s try your Sunday adventures for a bit, and then I can try again in a month or so.”

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