Holt met her stare and gave her a sensual look. At least, he hoped that was how it came across. Then he said, “The toy store.”
Bailey huffed a laugh. “You know that place is catered to little kids.”
“I know,” he said for dramatic effect. “I had a great time playing with the Lincoln Logs. I didn’t even know they still sold those.”
“They don’t.” She laughed again. “Well, not like they made ’em back then, anyway. But if there are any around, that’s where you’ll find them. They’ve probably been there since the beginning of time.”
“I think you might be right. And just when I thought I’d created the ultimate Lincoln Log masterpiece, I got schooled by these two little boys. Matthew and Brody. Evidently, there’s a height limit to be a master. Three feet, according to Matthew.”
“Sawyer and Kennedy’s boys. They were there?”
“They were. Brody’s birthday’s coming up. At least, I think that’s what he was trying to tell me. He talked fast, so I didn’t catch all of it.”
“He does talk fast,” Bailey agreed. “Plus, he’s got a potty mouth.”
“I didn’t even know fuckapotomous was a word until he said.”
Bailey giggled.
“Damn, they were cute.”
“What else did you do?”
Holt exhaled slowly and leaned back, relaxing into the cushion and resting his head. “I honestly don’t remember. I spent so much of my day thinking.”
“About?”
“A woman.”
“Really? Someone I know?”
He rolled his head, looking at Bailey. “You probably know her better than anyone.”
Holt saw the color rise in her cheeks, and he found her blush endearing. Hell, he found everything about this woman endearing.
But then her expression sobered. “There’s something you should know about Coyote Ridge.”
“What’s that?”
“The rumor mill is a real thing.”
“Yeah?”
Bailey nodded. “And what happens here spreads fast if there’s someone around to see it. And there’salwayssomeone around to see it.”
Holt got the feeling she was referring to something specific, and he had a good idea what it was. Still, he decided to see how much she’d heard.
“Someone saw you and Rafe havin’ an argument in the diner’s parkin’ lot.”
“We might’ve exchanged a few words.”
Her eyes skimmed his face. “Is there somethin’ between you two that I should know about?”
Holt figured he should come clean about his reason for coming here, but he thought about Rafe’s warning. If she learned he had an intimate history with Rafe, would that be the end of whatever this was? Since he didn’t know her well enough, he was hesitant to be that open, but he decided she did deserve some honesty.
“Rafe and I have history.”
“Romantic history?”
