But I get it. If you’re not feeling it, I appreciate you putting me out of my misery sooner than later. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.” He offers his hand, and I shake it. “It was real nice meeting you, Izzy Sawyer. Take care. You deserve someone nice yourself.”
We stand, and I watch as he takes off into the crowd. A breath of relief streams through my lungs.
It would have been easy to keep talking with Wyatt, to go the beach and watch the fireworks, maybe set off a few of our own—to keep him in my life in general.
I turn toward the bar, and Holt catches my eye.
But there’s already a man who’s stolen my heart, and I think it’s time I let him know how I feel.
I head over to him with my eyes locked over his. Holt freezes with his dishtowel still stuck in a glass. The electric blue lights that trim the bar illuminate him like an angel ready to avenge.
“How did it go?” Holt buries a smile deep in his cheek, and my insides erupt in flames.
“It came and went.”
“So what was his thing? Did he offer to cast a mold of your feet and build a shrine? Find the highest rooftop and repel down using your hair?”
A laugh trembles from me, and, for the first time in a good long while, I feel relaxed, at home. Holt always makes me feel at home.
“He didn’t have a thing. He was smart, thoughtful, kind, and he has an alarmingly normal sense of humor.”
Holt plunks his glass on the counter. His chest pumps as he takes a deep breath.
“So—you think he’s the one?”
I step in with my knees shaking, my throat dry, gritty as sandpaper.
“No, I think you are.”
Holt
All those years ago, when I first laid eyes on Izzy, all I could think about was how beautiful she was. Here we are, almost a decade later, and she hasn’t changed a bit. Only now, I would stake my life on the fact I just misheard her.
“You think I’m the one?” I tilt my ear in her direction in the event she plans on clearing the air right here and now.
“Yes.” She softens toward me. “I’m not interested in anybody else, Holt. I’m interested in you. You’re my pot of gold, and I don’t want to let you go.”
Pot of gold? I can roll with that. A grin breaks loose on my face.
“You want to head to the beach and watch the fireworks? I’ve got a boat we can take out if you want.” It takes everything in me not to hop the bar and scoop her up in my arms.
A smile inches up her face. Her lashes lower seductively. “I was sort of hoping we could see them from your place.”
“Done.” Hot damn. “Cole.” I nod over at him as I make my way around the bar. “Man the fort would you?” It’s pretty much dead right now. The closer it gets to sundown, the fewer people we’ll have. Everyone is out enjoying the evening, sipping cold ones while sitting next to a fire, so I don’t feel too bad about taking off early.
“I got this.” He nods over to Iz with approval. “Have fun.”
“Already am,” I whisper.
Izzy wraps her arms around my waist, and we walk out of the bar like that—like a real couple.
A wave of sweet summer air hits us as we head into the parking lot. I walk her over to her Civic which happens to be parked right next to my truck, and I take it as an omen of good things to come.
Izzy pulls me in tight.
“So”—I land a kiss over her forehead, and my muscles relax for the first time in a week—“what makes you so sure I’m the one?”
“You make me feel safe, Holt.” She shakes her head. “Do you think I might be the one for you?”
“I know it.” I lean in and cover her mouth with mine. Our tongues mingle in a bout of foreplay like I’ve never experienced before, slow and measured as if to prove the point we have all of time to do just this.
I never thought I deserved something this good—still don’t.
But I’m no fool, there’s no way in hell I’m letting Izzy go.
“Whiskey sour?” Izzy offers a restrained smile as I pass her the drink and drop down next to her on the bench swing. I’ve got a pretty decent view of the Hollow Brook skyline