She relaxed, and if he wasn’t mistaken, that was a sigh that escaped as she moved her leg and his hand caressed smooth, bare skin.
Perhaps they should’ve gotten the meal to go. At this rate, his perfect gentleman routine was going to fizzle out before they made it to dessert. He wanted this woman with a passion he hadn’t felt in a damn long time.
Chapter Twelve
Monday, August 15, 2022
The weekend passed in a blur ofexcitement and energy. Every ounce of it contained within the walls of the B and B.
Bailey barely had a minute to take a breath, much less to spend with Holt, although, after their date on Thursday, she was eager to spend some time with him. Even though their dinner hadn’t been exactly smooth, the night ended with Holt kissing her until she was sure fireworks were launching behind her eyelids. To her dismay, he’d left her in a state of arousal that rivaled anything she’d ever felt before.
That arousal had translated into her dreams, filling them with erotic encounters that would start between her and Holt but end with Rafe there with them. One of those subconscious fantasies had even involved Rafe and Holt exchanging a heated kiss. Needless to say, when Bailey woke up, she was both ashamed and incredibly turned on. Somewhere along the way, her subconscious mind had started writing the story of the past. She had no idea whether their history involved the two of them together, but evidently, her hormones thought,why the hell not?
Yes, she was both embarrassed and horny thanks to those ridiculous dreams, but there wasn’t much she could do about it because here she was, cleaning up the Monday morning dishes after a full house had consumed every bit of food she’d prepared. Every single room they had was booked for the entire week, and for the first time, there were two families of four checked in, so there were even little mouths to feed.
Rex had warned her that they usually had an influx of guests right before the new school year started. Bailey figured the families were out and about trying to get in some last-minute summer fun before they had to buckle down for nine months of learning. Also, the fact that the town was setting up a mini carnival in the park didn’t hurt business.
Bailey dried the last dish and tucked it into the cabinet before pulling off her apron and setting it on the counter. She took her first breath of the morning and peered over at the coffee pot. Enough for one last cup and she was going to take it for herself.
As she was pouring the last drop from the carafe, she heard footsteps behind her. She glanced back in time to see Holt coming her way.
“Good morning,” he greeted in that throaty growl that she found obscenely sexy.
“Mornin’.” She held up the cup. “I’ll split it with you.”
He chuckled. “It’s all yours. I’m gonna stop at the bakery before heading to the sheriff’s office.”
Bailey turned around and leaned against the counter. “Is somethin’ wrong?”
His blue eyes raked over her from head to toe and then back up. “Definitely not.”
“I meant because you’re goin’ to talk to the sheriff.”
He met her gaze. “I’m doing some research. Thought if anyone could give me facts, it would be law enforcement.”
“Of?”
“Kylie Walker’s death.”
A lump formed in Bailey’s throat, and she suddenly didn’t want her coffee. She turned and set the cup on the counter. When she turned back, Holt was watching her.
Hoping to have this conversation without tears, she swallowed past the knot in her throat. “Why are you researchin’ that?”
“I came across an article when I was digging into the town’s roots.”
“Oh.”
Kylie’s death wasn’t something people around here liked to talk about. It’d been a year and a half since it happened, but it felt like just yesterday. Bailey hadn’t known her well, but they’d interacted enough that the woman’s death had impacted her.
Holt moved closer. “What areyouup to today?”
Bailey appreciated that he changed the subject. And that he moved closer. “I’ve got to do laundry and clean rooms. We’re booked, so it’ll take all day.”
“You don’t have help?”
“Rex said he’d pitch in, but I’m interviewin’ someone this afternoon. He tried tellin’ me I would need help maintainin’ the place, but I didn’t listen. He said I could hire a full-time housecleaner.”
“Mmm.” Holt stepped directly in front of her and put his hands on her hips. “Will that mean you’ll have more free time?”
