Rex cleared his throat, but Jack was the one who said, “You remember all those cameras we pointed out when you first started working here?”
Bailey felt every ounce of blood drain from her face as she stared at her bosses. “Oh. My. God.”
“It’s recorded for all time,” Jack said. “You and Holt by the pool.”
“We didn’t watch,” Rex clarified. “Het sex isn’t our thing.”
“Oh. My. God.”
“Technically, they didn’t actuallyhavesex,” Jack noted. “Just—”
Rex slapped his hand over Jack’s mouth and shook his head. “No.”
At that moment, the front door opened. Bailey tried to compose herself so she could greet their guest professionally, but then she heard Holt’s voice.
“What’s going on?”
“Uh…” Jack said.
“We were just leavin’,” Rex added, shoving Jack toward the door. “Now, Jack.”
“But.” Jack looked back at her, his bottom lip protruding in a pout.
Bailey managed to get to her feet. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Rex was right. She needed to talk to them about this. Surely it was a mistake. Her mother and Shelly must’ve seen two other men kissing outside Shelf Help. Not … not…
Holt approached, so handsome and charming and sexy. And so … gay.
“Are you okay?”
She said, “Yes,” even as she shook her head.
Holt shifted, attempting to get her to look at him, but Bailey diverted her eyes each time he did. She couldn’t look at him. If she did, there was a good chance those tears were going to burst free.
“Talk to me, little rabbit.”
His use of the nickname he’d given her made her guts twist and her heart pinch. It also gave her the strength to confront him face to face. “Don’t you mean, littlebeard?”
Holt’s forehead creased, his eyebrows angling down. “What?”
She pulled every ounce of strength from her spirit, squared her shoulders, and tilted her chin, facing off with him directly. “My mom just called. You know, the woman who owns the bakery.”
He smiled. Just a small one. “I know who your mother is, Bailey.”
“The bakery that’s perpendicular to Shelf Help?”
Holt appeared even more confused.
“The bakery with a direct line of sight to two men standin’ in front of the bookstore. Kissing.”
“Shit,” Holt muttered and thrust his hand through his hair.
She had to give him credit. At least he didn’t deny it.
“Why?” she asked, hating that her sinuses burned with the threat of tears. “Why would you make me have feelings for you if you’re…you know? I mean, it explains why Rafe never… He didn’t want to break my heart, so he…” Her eyes widened as it all clicked into place. “It makes perfect sense now. Oh, my God. That’s why he never pursued me. Because he’s gay.”
“Rafe’s not gay, Bailey.”
She stopped and stared at Holt. “You understood the part where I said my mother saw you and Rafe kissin’, right?”
