Whispers of You (Lost & Found #1)(15)

His fingers trailed up and down my arm. “I say a place with a view of the lake. Far enough outside of town that things are quiet but not as far as my parents’ place.”

I grinned into the dark as warmth spread through me. I loved dreaming about the future with Holt, all the endless possibilities of what our life could be. “That sounds perfect. I only have one requirement.”

Holt chuckled, the new, deeper sound wrapping around me and creating a cascade of shivers over my skin. “Wraparound porch with a swing.”

I turned into him more, nipping at his pec. “Are you suggesting that I’m predictable?”

His chest shook with silent laughter. “Asks the girl who rereads Little Women every single year and can recite the movie by heart.”

I let out a huff of air. “I know what I like. Is that so bad?”

Holt brushed the hair out of my eyes and tipped my face up to meet his. “Not if I’m one of those things.”

My stomach dipped and rolled, three little words playing on my tongue, begging to be set free. “I like you, Holt Hartley.”

His eyes sparked with intensity. “I love you, Cricket. With everything I have.”

Everything in me soared. “I love you, too. I always have.”

He grinned, the devastating kind that always took me out at the knees. “We’re gonna have a beautiful life.”

He said it with such certainty that I believed every word.

“Dessert?” Frannie asked as she approached the table, pulling me out of my memories.

“I couldn’t eat another bite,” I hurried to say before William could say otherwise.

“How about an after-dinner drink?” he prodded.

“I shouldn’t. Driving those mountain roads.”

A devilish smile stretched William’s face, but it was smarmy and forced, not authentic and wild how Holt’s had been. “You could come back to my rental with me.”

Frannie’s brows rose as she pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

“I think I’m just going to head home.” I looked up at Frannie. “Could you split the check for us?”

William whipped out a credit card. “I’d never let a lady pay.”

I guessed he wasn’t a jerk, offering to pay, even knowing he wasn’t getting laid. But it didn’t change the fact that he was a pretentious cheeseball. “Thanks.”

“I’ll get your receipt right out to you,” Frannie said, hurrying away.

“What about dinner tomorrow night? I’m here for two more days.”

“I’ve got plans the next two nights.” It wasn’t a total lie. I was going to take Shadow for a hike after work tomorrow, and Grae and I usually had a movie night at least once a week, and we were due.

A flicker of annoyance flashed in William’s eyes, but he reined it in. “Text me if you change your mind.”

“Sure.”

Frannie hurried back to the table. “Here you are, sir. Make sure you come back and see us.”

He nodded as he filled in the tip, signed, and handed the slip back to her. “Walk you to your car?”

Oh, hell no. I wasn’t giving this guy an opening for a kiss. “You know, I see a friend I need to say hi to. Thank you so much for dinner. I hope you have an amazing rest of your trip.”

William grumbled something under his breath as he got to his feet and headed for the door. As he grabbed the handle, Frannie dissolved into laughter, the lines on her face deepening with the action. “That poor guy.”

“What about poor me? I had to listen to a play-by-play of every real estate deal he’s ever closed, and every car he’s bought. I’m sure he was moving on to his investment portfolio next.”

She snorted and then pulled out a bag from behind her back. “This should soothe the soul.”

I grabbed the sack. “Lava cake?”

“Like I’d give you anything less.”

I stood and kissed her cheek. “You’re an angel.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

“I gotta get home to let Shadow out. See you later this week?”

She shooed me off. “You know it. Go kiss that girl for me and give her lots of belly rubs.”

“I will.”

I moved through the restaurant, waving to people I knew and taking note of the unfamiliar faces, wondering what their stories were. Pushing open the front door, I stepped into the night air. Even though it was spring, it had a bite to it, that little bit of an edge that made you sit up and pay attention. It was the perfect night to sit out on my deck wrapped in a blanket.

I started toward my truck, but a voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

“Hey, Cricket.”





5





HOLT





I knew now why I’d stayed away from photos of Wren. She’d been beautiful when I’d fallen in love with her. But now? It was the kind of beauty that branded you. Looking at her and truly seeing? You’d never be the same.

Heading back to the B&B, I’d frozen as I saw her stepping out of the restaurant. I’d stood in the shadows like a creep, just watching her, drinking in every detail like a man burning from thirst. She’d tipped her face up to the sky and breathed deeply as if taking the whole world into her lungs, not wanting to take a single thing for granted.