Page 70 of When We Were Young

“You do realize this sounds incredible, right? It’s perfect.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks. “I try. But you did also have me include literally every service we offer. So…”

His eyes linger on mine a second too long. Not creepy, just intense.

I clear my throat. “I should probably grab the quiche before LouAnn comes in and tells me I let it rest too long before cutting it. She’s very particular about her quiches.”

He laughs, and I escape to the kitchen.

The second I’m alone, I pull out my phone and text Georgie.

You need to get to LouAnn’s now. This man is gorgeous and ridiculously charming. Perfect for you.

Her response comes almost immediately.

Or maybe he’s for YOU.

Absolutely not. I’m happy being single.

Liar. I’ve seen the way you and Holden look at each other.

What? We don’t look at each other in any particular way.

Okay, whatever you say.

I stare at my phone for several seconds, and I have no response, so I shove it back into my pocket.

When I carry the food out, I nearly trip over my own feet when I see Brian. At some point while I was gone, he removed his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt.

Good Lord.

“I hope you don’t mind,” he says. “It’s unbearably hot today.”

“No, of course not. I’m mostly shocked you lasted this long.”

He grins.

By the time we’re halfway through eating, he’s moved his chair closer, and we’re shoulder to shoulder looking through furniture options on my tablet.

“Oh, definitely these,” Brian says, pointing to the exact tables I wanted.

“Yes!” I laugh. “That’s what I said. A friend disagreed.”

“Then your friend is wrong.”

We’re both laughing when the front door opens. I glance up, and every muscle in my body tightens.

Holden.

Hayden walks in beside him with LouAnn trailing behind, but I barely notice because Holden’s eyes lock on me.

And it’s immediately obvious when he notices Brian sitting close enough that our shoulders almost touch. His facial expression tightens, and he glares at Brian, who appears unaware of the venomous look aimed at him.

LouAnn cheerfully bustles toward the kitchen while Hayden says something to Brian about the bathroom renovation upstairs, but Holden never stops staring.

Brian, apparently oblivious, smiles at Hayden. “So did LouAnn successfully set either of you guys up with her nieces?”

I almost choke on my tea. No one answers. It’s the definition of awkward.