In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes: Chapter 8

THAT AFTERNOON, I unpacked the rest of my suitcase at the inn.

The cash I had from pawning my engagement ring was dwindling fast, and I was spending on credit cards. I could make it another three or four weeks, depending on how much rice and lentils I ate.

Even if I wanted to start my own design firm all by myself, I needed clients, which took weeks, sometimes months. I didn’t have that kind of time.

Until I found Holden Rhodes his dream date, I needed a job.

I lugged the last of my stuff from the car. Bringing my painting supplies seemed like a dumb idea back in Toronto, especially since I only used them for client work these days, but I couldn’t bear to leave them behind. Katherine had bought some of these brushes for me that summer. I still remembered how thrilled she was when I chose to do a fine arts degree before completing my interior design program.

That was when I used to paint for fun, though, and I hadn’t done that in years.

Something occurred to me, and I frowned. Katherine had bought the painting I did for my year-end project when I graduated, but I didn’t see it when I wandered through the inn.

I snorted. It was probably at a thrift store or in the trash, where it belonged.

Upstairs, in Katherine’s old bedroom, I set my paint supplies down on her desk before picking up a tube of paint to study it. I picked through the colors, studying them one by one. A lick of excitement got me right in the chest at the idea of painting mockups of the inn.

Grant may have taken every dollar I had, but I still loved interior design. I loved changing a space and making it shine, seeing the way clients’ eyes lit up when they saw the sketches or final products. No man could take that away from me.

Holden’s handsome face appeared in my mind and my stomach twisted. I couldn’t believe he liked my sketches. The guy didn’t like anything, and now I would have to work with him on the inn project for months.

And find him a wife, I reminded myself.

I laughed out loud.

How the fuck would I do that? Frankenstein had a better personality than Holden Rhodes. Yes, he was smoking hot. His body was incredible and I hadn’t even seen him naked. I bet he had a six pack. His face was gorgeous, too. All broody and handsome.

He was so good looking, I could probably trick someone into marrying him.

I snorted, but then I realized, that’s what Grant did to me, and my lip curled.

After all this time, I still didn’t understand why Grant asked me to marry him. The detectives said he had stolen money from two other women, but hadn’t proposed to them. His proposal felt like a cruel joke.

I dropped the tube of paint back into the bag and shoved him out of my head.

While unpacking my clothes into the closet, Holden’s face kept appearing in my head.

God, he was handsome. This must have been a test from the universe. Keep my hands off the very, very hot mean guy and I would be rewarded with my debt paid off.

I could keep my hands off him. I had self-control.

I stared at the empty suitcase and remembered I left my vibrator back in Toronto. My trip out here was only supposed to last a couple days. It sat in a box in my best friend Willa’s storage unit.

I chewed my lip. This might be a problem. The only way I could come was using a vibrator.

I’d just order a new one.

I tucked the suitcase into the closet before I got to work on the paintings of the proposed inn renovation.

Sometime later, there was a knock on the front door. I opened it and gave Elizabeth Rhodes a big smile. “Hi.”

She lit up. “Sweetheart.” She held her arms out and I stepped into them. She squeezed me in a warm hug.

How did Holden turn out the way he did with Elizabeth as his mom?

Her eyes sparkled when she pulled back. “What an interesting turn of events.”

The deal I had struck with him this morning flashed into my head and I bit back a smile.

“You have no idea,” I told her with a grin.

I led her into the kitchen and put the kettle on while we chatted about Katherine’s celebration of life.

“We have some good news. Hannah is expecting.” Elizabeth flushed with delight. “Are you staying in town for a bit? I’d love for you to meet her and Avery.”

I poured the hot water into the mugs. “A couple months, I think.” I remembered the part about keeping the deal a secret. “We’re going to be dealing with the probate stuff.”

“You’ll have to come for family dinner.”

I snorted. “I bet Holden will love that.”

Elizabeth’s eyes glittered with amusement. “I bet he would.”

I rolled my eyes. “Respectfully, Elizabeth, your son is a dickhead.”

She laughed and blew the steam off her tea. “Especially when it comes to you, my dear.”

Something occurred to me and I straightened up. “Hey. If I wanted to find a job in town, where would I go?”

“The bar. Olivia’s working on her thesis this year and needs help.”

Right, I remembered Olivia. She was best friends with Holden’s brother, Finn.

A bar, huh? The tips would mean I’d be making money right away. I’d never worked in a bar or restaurant, but how hard could it be?

I grinned at Elizabeth. “Excellent.”