Page 64 of The Inn Dilemma

“I do,” I whisper. “But I promise you, Nova, there is a God and He does have your best interests in mind. You just need to seek Him and then you’ll find Him.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Maybe someday. But until then, I’ll be living life on my own terms.”

It pains me to hear her say that, but I don’t know what more I could say. I’m already raw from Dad’s death, and like Nova, my dad wasn’t exactly the best example of a father.

We stare down at my father’s fresh grave. Nova slides her arm around my back and rubs up and down my spine. No words are needed. It doesn’t matter how many times people told me Mom’s death wasn’t my fault; it’s something I’ll always believe. Nova knows it, and she knows what to do to help soothe the pain that’s never gone away. She’s here. That’s all I need.

How many nights did we spend together in our childhood, similar to this? Side by side, watching the clouds or stars with Christian. Finding solace in the quiet. She was my best friend’s little sister, but she’s always been special to me.

Chris and I would go “camping” in the Prices’ backyard with a tent and two sleeping bags. Many of those nights, Kent and Amanda would fight like cats and dogs. Nova would sneak out and ask if she could hang out with us until it was time for her to go to bed. Usually by ten, the couple would have finished their fight and be sleeping in separatebedrooms.

Nova would sit between us, and Chris would put his arm around her as she trembled, but she never let a tear fall. There were some nights I wanted to shake her and tell her to just let go. That it was okay to cry and let all those pent-up emotions out. But I never did because no matter what I said, it wouldn’t matter. It was drilled into her that tears were a sign of weakness, and no child of Kent Price would be viewed as weak.

Something drips on my arm, and I turn to look at Nova. Her eyes are wet.

“Are you crying?” I ask.

Her nostrils flare and she rolls in her trembling lips. “My heart hurts for you, Holt. You went through so much with him…” Her eyelids flutter closed and she looks away.

“I don’t want you crying for me. You don’t even cry for yourself.”

Something unspoken passes between us, a long beat of silence that crackles with the unspoken truths between us. What those truths are remain a mystery to me. Or maybe I’m just refusing to accept it. Like I ignored the way my pulse took on a new rhythm when she turned to look at me after Dad’s funeral. She’s no longer a girl; she’s turned into a painfully gorgeous woman. But she’s Christian’s sister, six years my junior, and living in Rocosa while I’m away serving my country. My team is at the ready and can be deployed at any moment for anything we could be needed for.

“I hurt for the ones I love.” She gives me a sad smile. “And I love you, Holt. You’re like a—a—” She stutters, unable to say the word that would nullify the tension between us. It would stop the unexplored emotions slowly growing by the second. But she doesn’t let theword fall. So I do my best to stuff down the turmoil and ignore our shifting dynamic.

I avoid Nova for the rest of my brief trip home and instead spend all my free time going on rides with Chris or working around the inn. On my last night home, I run into Claire, a girl I graduated high school with. Over the next few months, I try to convince myself to fall for Claire in an attempt to get Nova out of my brain. One weekend home, I do the most stupid thing I’ve ever done—I propose to Claire.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nova

The Holt admirers are out in full force tonight at Brokedown Tavern. Originally, I was supposed to ride here with Holt. But I asked if it’d be okay if I came with Reese and Maya since Maya was working late and Reese is apparently meeting a guy she’s been talking to online.

Reese said she’d drive so Maya and I could take the bikes home with the guys. I’ve asked Reese a dozen times if she was okay with it because the last thing I want is for her to feel uncomfortable—especially at a bar.

She’s sitting at a table with her date, and Maya and the rest of the crew stay at their booth. Holt motions wildly with his head for me to come save him. A tall, busty blonde has been eyeing him all night. For some reason, my belly burns every time she scoots her stool closer to him. Holt has been waiting for our root beers for a long time, and considering the bar is packed tonight, we don’t want to burden the waitresses any further for something as simple as that.Even if it gives the blonde extra time to try and snag Holt’s interest.

The blonde ignores Holt’s clear disinterest as he faces away from her. His brow is scrunched in discomfort until he sees me sashaying my way toward him. Because, yes, I am laying it on thick to finally put this woman in her place.

“Hey, handsome,” I say as I reach him. I walk my fingers up his biceps to his shoulders, then circle both arms around his neck.

His Adam’s apple bobs, and his good eye dips to my lips. “Hey, beautiful.” His voice is thick and gruff. He tugs me forward with his attention fixed on my lips. “Kiss me.”

My eyes widen while my heart pounds wildly. “Are you crazy?” At the mere thought of kissing Holt, warmth pools in my core.

“No. Kiss me,” he practically begs. “It’s the only way to drive my disinterest home,” he finishes in a whisper.

“Holt, I—” But the next words die on my lips as I see the look on his face. “Fine.” I lean in and press my mouth against his.

At first, it feels awkward, unsure. But then I remember that this is fake. We’re playing pretend. It’s all for show to push away the thirsty woman who has refused to leave him alone. But when his large hand splays against my back and pulls me against his firm body, I ignore the warning bells going off in my head that tell me how very bad of an idea this is. That I should not be kissing Holt Graves. He’s my brother’s best friend. A war hero. And I’m the prodigal daughter. But as he deepens the kiss, I put those alarms on silent and enjoy the feel of falling into the best kiss of my life. Who knew Holt would be such a good kisser? I probably should haveexpected it. Holt puts his full heart into everything he does…including this kiss.

But this kiss. Good gravy. My toes curl and my heart flutters as a low growl vibrates beneath my fingers. That’s when I realize my hand has found its way to Holt’s chest. Holt’s very warm, very firm, very broad chest. He slides one hand into my hair and tilts my head back to deepen our very real kiss. Without reservation, a low sound escapes from my lips. One I’ve never made before. My cheeks heat, but there’s no point in being embarrassed because instead of chuckling as I’d expect, Holt drops both his hands to my hips and pulls me firmer against him. My body is officially pinned between his thighs. As my arms slide back up and tighten around his neck, I’m pressed completely against him, and my very world tilts on its axis. Everything I believed about myself tumbles out of gravity into the black hole of oblivion.

My firm stance of staying on my dating sabbatical slowly shrivels up with each brush of his lips. All the belief of never being truly cherished by a man is completely obliterated as Holt’s hands tenderly cup my face, then slowly, oh so slowly, he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. I’m too revved up to open my eyes, but when he whispers the nickname he gave me in that gravelly tone, I open them.

“SuperNova. My SuperNova.”

He gazes down at me as both of our chests rise and fall with exertion. Apparently, my body desired Holt’s lips more than oxygen for those few blissful moments because my lungs are screaming for air and I didn’t notice until now.

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