Page 20 of The Inn Dilemma (Give a Bookish Girl a Biker)

Chapter Thirteen

Nova

I drop my shopping bags off on my counter before practically running over to Holt’s cabin.

My plan was to change out of this dress into something more comfortable.

But from the moment Holt’s text came through, the need to be with him has overwhelmed me.

He’s my shelter in the storm. My safe place.

I need my safe place more than ever before.

The wood beneath my feet groans as I step to his door. My fist doesn’t even touch the wood before Titan and Tootsie’s alternating barks announce my arrival.

The door swings open, and Holt stands there wearing a white T-shirt that clings to all the right muscles—his broad chest, large biceps, and chiseled waist, to name a few. He’s wearing black sweatpants that look way more comfortable than the wrap dress that’s been slowly suffocating me all day.

Holt widens his stance and settles his hands on his hips.

Even though I’m slightly surprised by his comfy-cozy look, it doesn’t compare to the shock I feel when my gaze lands on his feet.

He’s wearing socks covered in…Sa squatches that say “Gone Squatching.” I stare down at his socks, blinking at the absolutely unexpected hilarity of this situation.

As if he doesn’t even care that I’m staring at his feet, he wiggles his toes.

Slowly, my eyes travel back up his massive form, and the smile he wears shocks me beyond words.

“You, Holt Graves, are full of surprises. I had no idea you believed in Bigfoot.”

“Who said I did?”

Without a word, I point at his socks.

He shrugs, then turns, and I’m left staring dumbstruck at him as he practically swaggers into the house. There’s a tattoo on the inside of his forearm and I see a pattern of what appears to be dots on his inner bicep. Two tattoos I’ve failed to see before. Two tattoos more than I knew he had.

Titan and Tootsie follow me in and make themselves cozy in their doggy beds.

The rustic interior makes the cabin even cozier on the inside than the outside.

Sure, there’s a ton of flannel, but it’s the type of thing that makes me want to curl up on the couch and wrap myself up like a human burrito with a good book and hot cup of cocoa.

It’s homey. I follow Holt into the kitchen and hop up onto the counter next to the stove.

“It’s so cozy here,” I say with sincerity.

Holt grunts in response, and I roll my eyes, mumbling, “Of course you believe in Bigfoot; you act like you’ve been raised by them.”

“What was that?” Holt asks. It, like the rest of the cabin, is rustic. He’s popping old-fashioned popcorn on top of the gas stove. The pop pop pop of the corn fills the otherwise silent cabin.

There’s no need to sugarcoat anything with Holt, so I answer honestly. “I said I shouldn’t be surprised you believe in Bigfoot since you act as if you were raised by them.”

I can see him fighting a smile beneath his three-day scruff as he shuffles the kernels around in the pan.

“Can I help with anything?” I ask, jumping down from the counter and coming to stand beside him.

“Nope, everything is already set up.”

I raise my brow and cross my arms over my chest. His good eye travels down my form, and I’m confused by the warmth I feel at the appreciation I see in his gaze.

“Why don’t you put on something more comfortable?” He motions to my dress.

“Sure,” I say awkwardly. “I’ll just pop over to my cabin and grab?—”

“I have stuff here.” Turning off the stove, he motions for me to follow him to a bedroom. I stand outside the door while Holt pulls a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt out of the laundry basket of folded clothes sitting on a chair.

“Okay,” I squeak, feeling shy all of a sudden.

He smiles at me, then says, “Come outside when you’re ready.”

“Outside?” I tilt my head, reminding myself of Tootsie and Titan when they look confused.

“Yeah.” He gently pushes me into the room, then closes the door behind him. “Come to the back deck when you’re all done.” His words are muffled from behind the closed door.

I change as quickly as I can into the gray sweatpants and long sleeve T-shirt he laid out on his bed.

There is no reason for me to not just walk over to my cabin and put my own clothes on, but these smell like him and are more cozy than any of mine.

So instead of questioning Holt’s suggestion, I enjoy the feel of the soft cotton against my skin and Holt’s comforting scent wrapped into each fiber of these clothes.

I roll up the shirt sleeves and hem of the sweatpants before making my way to the back of his house and stepping through the sliding glass doors.

A gasp escapes my lips at the sight before me.

I do a spin, slowly taking in everything he’s done.

There are twinkle lights twined through the slats of his pergola, two lounge chairs covered with blankets, and a table in between them holding two bowls of popcorn and two glasses of sweet tea.

Against the house is a white sheet set up as a projector screen.

“You did all of this for me?” Playfully, I place my hands on my waist and pop a hip. “Or am I infringing on a hot date you had planned with another girl?”

I’m only joking, but Holt’s Adam’s apple bobs, and any playfulness I was feeling fades away. Maybe he did cancel a date with another girl just to make me feel better.

“Shoot, is that what happened? Don’t cancel your plans for me.” I tug up my pant legs and head back toward the door.

“Nova, stop!”

I turn and face him. His stormy expression takes my breath away. “I did all of this for you. I’m not dating anyone or remotely interested in anyone el—” He clears his throat.

“Oh,” I whisper. “That’s good. I’m sure if you were, she wouldn’t be too happy with this arrangement.”

“Exactly. My woman would know I’m all hers.

” His good eye searches mine intently as if there’s a deeper meaning or maybe even a promise in his words, but I don’t allow myself to dwell on them.

I am on a necessary dating sabbatical and even if I wasn’t, Holt deserves someone better than me. A girl with less baggage.

Nodding, I say, “That’s good. Jealousy is never a healthy emotion to have active in a relationship.” That reminds me of why I texted him in the first place. I try to push away the charged atmosphere surrounding us to focus on the problem at hand. “Speaking of…”

All the previous heat in his expression is replaced with concern. “What happened with your dad?” He motions for me to take a seat, so I do. Holt follows suit.

I dive in and give him the play by play of what happened, beginning with my arrival at Dad’s office and ending with Dad storming out of the restaurant.

Holt is silent for a long pause, then says, “Chris had a suspicion your mom was cheating. He just never knew for sure.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know if they’ve fully infringed on an affair, but…” I grimace. “They looked pretty cozy tucked into a private corner. At a minimum, there’s definitely emotional cheating.” I clench my jaw.

He reaches across the distance between us and takes my hand in his. “I’m sorry. No matter how it’s progressed, none of it is easy.”

“You know what’s sad? When I was a little girl, I wished they’d just get a divorce.

Neither of them were open to counseling.

They basically hated each other. One of the nights you and Chris camped outside because they were fighting, I heard Mom scream that she wished they never got married.

” I shake my head. “It made me believe that she regretted ever having me or Chris.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Holt jumps in. “I think that’s one of the very few things your mom doesn’t regret when it comes to your dad. Actually, I know that.”

“How?”

“I overheard her talking to Aunt Birdie one of the times she came to visit. She’d vent to her all the time about your dad. But one time she said, ‘Christian and Nova are the only two things that make this miserable marriage worth it.’”

“No, she didn’t.” I narrow my eyes, showing all my disbelief on my face.

Holt nods confidently. “Yes, she did. Despite her imperfections and the ways she messed up, she loves you two. And your dad does, too. Both of them are just terrible at showing it.”

A humorless laugh escapes my lips. “Thankfully, I have you to show me genuine care and concern.” I look around once more at all the effort he put into tonight.

“Seriously, Holt. This means everything to me.” Without thinking about it, I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around his neck.

I’m awkwardly perched halfway between his leg and the chair, but not for long.

Holt pulls me fully on his lap and hugs me back so tightly that a few of the shattered pieces of my heart start to stitch back together.

The emotional pain I constantly feel when it comes to my parents relents just a fraction.

Holt rests his forehead against mine once I pull back.

“You will always have me, SuperNova. I promise you that.”