Holt nodded. “I know I am.”
“Is that why you’re datin’ her? Because you’ve got it all figured out?”
That was a damn good question. Holt didn’t know how to explain Bailey because she was unexpected. And he wasn’t lying when he said he loved her. He hadn’t meant for it to happen, and he damn sure hadn’t anticipated it, but it was true. He’d fallen in love with her in a matter of days. And now he had a decision to make. They all did.
“Are you gonna tell her about us?” Rafe asked.
“I thought therewas no us,” he countered, mocking Rafe.
Rafe didn’t respond, but Holt hadn’t expected him to.
“I guess that depends.”
“On?”
“Whether or not it matters anymore.” Holt put his hand on Rafe’s hip.
They stood there, staring at one another for several heartbeats. When Rafe didn’t immediately shove him away, Holt knew that it did matter. He wasn’t the only one who’d been emotionally altered that night. He couldn’t pinpoint what had happened, but their time together had changed him. Meeting Rafe had changed him.
“Tell me it matters,” Holt insisted, leaning in until they were practically breathing the same air.
Rafe grunted, but he didn’t pull away.
“Tell me.”
“Fuck you,” Rafe hissed right before he kissed Holt.
The shock of his mouth had Holt tightening his hold on Rafe’s hip. He held him there as his lips parted and their tongues thrashed. He groaned, and every fiber of his being came to life with memories of that night. Unfortunately, it was over as quickly as it started.
“No matter what I feel for you,” Rafe said softly, “what I feel for her is ten times stronger.”
“Ten’s a big number,” Holt said, breaking some of the tension.
“Yeah, well. You’ve met Bailey Weber.”
Yes, he had. Which was why he fully understood.
***
“Hey, Mom,” Bailey greeted, putting her phoneon speaker so she could finish wiping down the tables and chairs in the dining room. “I can’t talk long. I’m doing chores.”
“I thought you said you were hiring someone for that.”
“I’m interviewing people for the position,” she corrected. “Rex would like to keep the hire local, and I agree, so I’m doing what I can until I find someone here or the perfect out-of-towner comes along. What’s up?”
“So … um … I thought you said you were dating Holt. You know, the writer who’s staying there.”
Bailey grinned. “Yes, Mom. I know who Holt is.” Relaying the details of her love life to her mom didn’t thrill her, so she kept it simple. “And yes, we’ve gone on a few dates. Why?”
“Well, honey…” Her mother took a deep breath.
Bailey picked up the three-tiered tray she used for food in the mornings and carried it and the phone to the kitchen. It was clean, but she wanted to polish it now that she had a few minutes to do so. She set the phone on the counter and grabbed the silver polish and a rag.
“What, Mom? Don’t tell me you’re jealous. I mean, Holt is a catch and all.” Bailey chuckled. “But he’s—”
“Honey, I just saw Rafe and Holt outside Shelf Help.”
Some of her amusement faded, but she responded without a hitch. “Yeah. And? They’re friends.”
