“How’s the writing going?” she asked, ignoring how hot her ears had gotten.
That seemed to relax him because Holt leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table and giving her his full attention.
“I’ve got the first chapter written. But now that I can envision the story better, I’m not sure it’s the first chapter.”
“So, what is it?”
“I think it might be the prologue.”
“How do you know which it’ll be?”
“In this instance, it feels more like backstory, providing a glimpse at what set him on his path.”
Kinda like your history with Rafe. Thankfully, she kept that to herself, but she knew there was a reason Holt was here in Coyote Ridge, and it had everything to do with Rafe. Sure, he might be staying because of her, but Bailey couldn’t help but wonder what could’ve happened between them that would have Holt coming here in the first place after several years had passed.
Wanting to keep the subject of Rafe in the dust-riddled corner, she tried to come up with a question related to his fictional character’s motivation, but before she could, she saw a familiar face.
“Crap. He’s comin’ over here.”
Holt frowned and glanced over his shoulder. “Who?”
“My ex-boyfriend.” She met Holt’s gaze. “I apologize in advance for anything he says.”
Holt reached across the table and took her hand. Her gaze snagged on the move, watching as he rubbed his thumb over her fingers. He had really nice hands. Big and strong and—
“Hey, Bailey.”
She forced herself to look at him. “Hi, Seth.”
A deafening silence descended as Seth stood there, glancing between her and Holt. Bailey figured he was waiting for her to introduce him to her date. If that were the case, he would be waiting a long damn time.
Finally, he turned to Holt. “I’m Seth.”
Holt acknowledged him with a nod of his head.
“You’re Holt Callahan, aren’t you?”
Holt briefly looked up. “Tonight, I’m Bailey’s date. And I don’t mean to be rude, but you’re interrupting.”
It took everything in her not to laugh. The expression on Seth’s face was priceless. Almost like he’d never been dismissed before. And clearly, he wasn’t impressed.
“How long’s this been going on?” Seth asked her when he pulled himself together.
Holt was the one to respond. “Since the moment I laid eyes on her because only an idiot would meet a woman like Bailey and not want to spend time with her.”
Bailey chewed on her lips to keep from grinning.
“Are you callin’ me an idiot? Because Ispenttime with Bailey.”
“You didn’t let me finish.” Holt canted his head and stared at Seth. “Only adumbasswould ever let her go.”
That wasn’t what Bailey expected as a response, and she could tell Seth hadn’t expected it, either. Especially the emphasis on dumbass.
“Not tonight, junior,” Holt said before Seth could launch into a tirade. “You’re interruptingus. Not the other way around. I’d appreciate it if you’d move along.”
She had to give Seth props for attempting to be somewhat civil. The last time she saw him he’d been on the phone with what she assumed was his side piece, so Bailey didn’t care to have this conversation at all.
Luckily, the waitress returned with their drinks and gave them a brief reprieve. But then the awkwardness intensified when the bells over the door jingled, and Rafe walked in.
