Perfect Secret by Molly McLain
Chapter 5
HOLDEN
And here I thought I made progress with Alana last night at Pony Up. Hell, she’d even laughed a little, not to mention smiled toward the end of our conversation and when we’d parted ways at her door.
Then again, it was no secret she wasn’t happy about me invading her privacy, and now here I am, poaching on her time with her friends, too.
I should feel bad. And maybe a small part of me does. But I’ve been around enough women in my twenty-seven years to know well and good that she’s just as intrigued as she is spiteful. And that’s all I need to know.
“So, how was your first day on the ranch?” Hallie asks after we’ve passed around the serving dishes and loaded our plates.
I clear my throat. “Great. Felt good to put in a full day’s work again.” I almost admit that it’s been a while since I’ve done actual ranch work, but stop short when I remember I’m supposed to keep that tidbit of info to myself. Of course, Wilder knows the truth, but the last thing I need is Alana knowing about my drama and disapproving of me even more than she already does.
“He’s a little rusty,” Wilder says with a grin from across the table. “But we’ll get him operating a full bore again in no time.”
“Rusty?” Alana speaks up from the chair beside me and when I glance her way, one eyebrow is arched curiously.
Dammit, Wilder.
“I told you I was laid off, right?” I ask in what I hope is a pleasant, believable tone. After all, it’s not really a lie. It’s just not the whole truth, either.
She presses her lips together and nods, the suspicion in her expression easing a bit.
“All in all, it was a good day, though. Gonna be a little sore tomorrow, but it won’t be anything a hot shower can’t take care of.”
Alana snorts and Hallie glances back and forth between the two of us like she’s just waiting for something to go down. But, as tempted as I am to goad my pretty new neighbor about our situation, I won’t. Not in front of our friends, who were kind enough to invite us both into their home and offer us this amazing food.
We spend the next forty-five minutes making small talk and eating what is, hands down, the best meal I’ve eaten in weeks. When we’re finished, Hallie and Alana clean up, and Wilder invites me to the front porch for a beer.
“Nice night,” I say, lowering into a lawn chair as the sun sets down behind the mountains in the distance. “Thanks for the invitation, by the way.”
“All Hallie.” Wilder lifts his hands, one of them wrapped around a bottle of Coors. “Same with Alana. I had no idea she was coming and I get the impression you probably would have appreciated a heads-up about that.”
I grin. “Nah, it’s all good. Obviously, she isn’t thrilled with our situation, but I can’t say I blame her.”
“Thought you had dinner with her last night.” He cocks an eyebrow.
“More like I stumbled into Pony Up and forced my company on her, hoping if she got to know me a little, she’d be less skeptical. I thought it’d worked, but I guess not.”
Wilder sniffs and kicks back a bit in his seat, crossing one ankle over the other. “She’ll come around. She might not fall in love with ya or anything, all things considered, but she’ll warm up eventually.”
I snort as I bring my beer to my lips. “Yeah, I’m not looking for love, so we’re good on that front.”
He flashes me a sidelong smirk. “She’s pretty, though, right?”
An instantaneous image of her standing beneath the spray of the shower zips through my mind and my dick twitches. I may or may not have lain in bed last night, listening to the shower and guessing what she’d look like if I snuck in and peeked behind the curtain. I’d never, of course, but that didn’t stop me from imagining her long dark hair and those luscious curves, all soaked and sudsed up.
“Yeah, she’s pretty,” I agree, dropping my voice so she can’t hear me from in the house. “I know it’s not my business, but what’s the story with her, anyway?”
He cocks his head to the side. “I thought Aiden told you.”
“A little, but something tells me there’s more to it.”
“You could say that.” Wilder cranes his head from side to side and stares off toward the sunset, like he’s trying to decide whether or not he should be the one to spill Alana’s secrets. He sucks in a breath and opens his mouth just as the screen door creaks and the ladies stroll out.
“Oh, the sunset is gorgeous!” Hallie gasps, taking a seat on Wilder’s lap with her gaze cast toward the orange and purple streaked sky in the distance.
Alana leans over the porch railing with a sigh. “I swear you guys have the best view in Mason Creek.”
With her back to me, my eyes fall to her ass encased in those snug jeans. At the moment, I’m pretty sure I’m the one with the best view in Mason Creek, but I keep that to myself.
“I should probably get going,” she says, turning back to us. “The fall semester just started this week and I want to get a head start.”
“Al, you work every weekend. In fact, you work every day of the week.” Hallie’s tone is almost big sisterlike. Concerned. Just like the crease in her brow. “How haven’t you burned out yet?”
Alana’s cheeks flush a bit as she stubs the toe of her Converse sneaker into the porch floor. “I’m fine. Besides, it’s not like working at a grocery store is hard work.”
If all she did all day was bag groceries, maybe not. But from what I understand, she does it all. Ordering, inventory, employee issues, etc. That’s a hell of a lot for one person.
“I’ve been thinking about planning a girls’ weekend with Emma and Madelyn,” Hallie says. “I’d really like you to come. Do you think Marty would give you a few days off?”
Alana bites her lip and shrugs. “Maybe. I mean, fall sports are starting up for the kids and they’re going to need time off for games and whatnot once school starts. It’d have to be soon. Before the rodeo, too.”
Hallie’s eyes light up. “I’ll talk to the other girls and we’ll get something pinned down.”
Alana nods, but I’m not buying her agreement. In fact, it strikes me as odd that she’s not jumping at the chance to hang out with her girls, especially if this girls’ weekend is anything like the ones my sister has with her friends. Shopping, the spa, sangria, sunshine…
“Just let me know,” she says, pasting on a smile that doesn’t quite meet those gorgeous eyes. “Thank you so much for dinner. It was amazing and so much better than the Lean Cuisine I would have had otherwise.”
Hallie peels herself away from Wilder and wraps Alana in a big hug that mimics the sisterly vibe from earlier. “I’ll call you tomorrow after I talk with the other girls.”
“Okay.” Alana nods as they break apart, but before she can escape down the porch steps, Wilder pulls her close, too.
“Was good seeing you outside of the store, Alana Banana.” When he lifts her off the porch in a bear hug, she giggles and swats at his back. “And if this guy here gives you any trouble, you know where to find me.” He winks at me over her shoulder and I shake my head before tipping back a swig of beer.
“Oh, I’ll be fine,” she says as he sets her back down. “It’s him you should be worried about.”
“Is that so?” I laugh, pressing the back of my hand to my mouth to keep from choking. “You plan on giving me trouble?”
Her answer is a smart-ass smirk that’s probably the most genuine I’ve seen from her yet. With a quick wave of her fingers and another round of goodbyes, she’s in her car and backing out of the driveway.
Wilder watches after her for a beat before spinning around with a wide grin pinned square on me. Hallie’s is similar.
“What?” I ask, looking between the both of them, puzzled.
Wilder just shakes his head, giving nothing away. “Nothing, man. Nothing at all.”
Yeah, I don’t believe that for a second, but I let it go, because something tells me I already know what he’s thinking. I’m just not sure I’ll be in Mason Creek long enough to prove him right.
ALANA
I’m in the middle of brushing my teeth when I hear footsteps on the other side of the door between the bathroom and the hall. The heavy sound of boots on the creaky hardwood floor pauses for a split second before the handle on the door jiggles, but doesn’t open. Thankfully, I’ve always kept it locked, so doing so now is second nature. Remembering to unlock it, however, is another story.
“Just a second!” I call to Holden after I rinse off the toothbrush and set it back in its holder. There are two holes in the cute little porcelain pineapple, but Holden keeps his toothbrush in a light blue travel holder alongside his toothpaste. I’m not sure why, but knowing he’s pretty much living out of a suitcase right now in a matchbox size room that was never meant for living quarters makes me feel guilty.
“No rush,” he calls back. “I’ll go and take my boots off while you finish up.”
I haven’t seen the inside of the room across the hall since Marty set it up for him, but I’m familiar enough with the old furniture Marty had in storage to imagine what Holden’s space looks like. And the image isn’t a pretty one. Definitely not the kind of place someone could stay in for more than a couple of days, but somehow Holden thinks he’s going to make it work for a few weeks.
The least I can do is quit copping an attitude about the bathroom. Especially, since he doesn’t seem like the creeper I expected him to be, even if he is one hell of a flirt.
Flipping the lock on the door, I pad back into my apartment, closing the middle door behind me as I go. Unfortunately, the lock is on the inside, so I can’t lock it behind me and risk Holden forgetting to unlock it when he’s done. Aside from me forgetting to unlock the door for him this morning, we haven’t had any issues.
As I make my way back through my apartment, I flip off the kitchen light and then the lamp in the living room, heading straight to my room where my laptop is already open on the bed, waiting for me.
I changed into my pajamas as soon as I got home from Wilder and Hallie’s, because I’d eaten so much that the button on my jeans was starting to hurt. My typical tank top and cotton shorts never felt better and, as I crawl onto the bed and adjust the pillows behind me and the headboard, I let out a grateful sigh.
I keep thinking about Hallie’s invitation to spend some time with her, Mads, and the girls, and if I’m honest, it sounds like heaven. The thing is, I’ve never taken time away from the store in the four years I’ve worked there and I’m not sure now is the time to ask. I want Marty to know I’m committed to the store with every fiber of my being, so there’s no doubt in his mind how badly I want the market when he finally decides to sell.
Then again, maybe now is the time to go, because if I do somehow figure out a way to buy the store, there’s a very good chance I won’t get another opportunity for a vacation in a very long time.
Sighing, I grab my laptop and get to work on the first of my two new classes. I’ll think about the girls’ trip once I’m up to speed here.
I finish reading through the syllabus when a noise in the living room snags my attention. It almost sounds like something hit the wall, but it happened so quickly that I can’t be sure.
I don’t move an inch as I listen carefully to see if it happens again when movement in the living room beyond my open bedroom door stills my beating heart.
The bat swoops into my room a second later, going straight for my window and the curtains.
I scream. A blood-curdling, on my feet in a second, slamming the bedroom door behind me scream.
I don’t stop running until I push open the bathroom door and slam it shut behind me, because if there’s one thing I’m scared of it’s bats. Bloodsucking, vampire-fanged bats.
Leaning against the door, I close my eyes and try to catch my breath… only then realizing that I’m not alone. My eyes spring open, falling promptly on the half-naked man standing in front of the mirror.
“Did you just scream?” Holden asks around a mouthful of toothpaste. Where I’m freaking the hell out, he’s the picture of cool and calm and did I mention half naked in his jeans and nothing more?
“There’s a bat in my bedroom,” I pant, trying to look anywhere but at his broad chest and the dusting of golden brown hair covering it. “I am freaking terrified of bats.”
He spits, rinses, and puts his toothbrush back in the travel holder. “I would have never guessed.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“Afraid they might try to make you immortal?”
My gaze flicks to his. “Don’t you dare give me shit about it.”
He laughs. “I take it you’re Team Jacob.”
I glower. “Can you be serious right now, please?”
“Absolutely,” he says, eyes sparkling as they drop from my face to my tank top. “I take rescuing damsels in distress very seriously, darlin’.”
Just when I’d started to think he wasn’t so bad…
“Holden, please,” I beg, the adrenaline starting to subside and give way to fear. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to sleep in my room tonight or do anything in my apartment for that matter, because if one could get in, then surely another could find its way inside, too.
He steps forward, his smirk softening a bit as his gaze sets on mine again. “I’ll take care of it. Just breathe for me, okay?”
I nod and swallow hard before trying to do just that. But I can’t seem to get enough air and my chest feels like it’s weighed down by a pallet of canned goods.
“Hey…” His big hands lift to my upper arms, grasping me gently. “I got this.”
I gulp again and rasp, “Okay.”
His thumb strokes across my bare skin and goose bumps rise in its wake. “How do I get to your room?”
“The kitchen is on the other side of this door. The living room is to the right and then my room is in back to the left.” I can feel his breath on my face, the minty scent tickling my nose and somehow calming me a bit. Or maybe it’s the kind, protective look in his eyes. Or the way he’s still touching me. “It went toward the window. I-I think it’s in the curtains.”
“I’m going to grab a towel.” He gestures toward the stack on the shelf by the shower. “Broom?”
“In the closet in the kitchen.”
He dips his chin, grabs a towel, and urges me away from the door before going in.
Less than five minutes later, he calls to me from inside my apartment. “I’m going to take it outside through your main door. Hold tight.”
My heart still beats a mile a minute in my chest as I drop down onto the closed toilet, hanging my head in my hands.
At this point, I’m pretty much over the bat. The icky feeling coursing through my veins right now is straight-up humiliation. Not only did I almost pee my pants over a stupid freaking bat, I cowered like a baby in front of my new, incredibly hot and surprisingly kind neighbor whom I’m determined not to like.
I no longer have any reason to hate him. Not only is he neat and tidy in the bathroom we’ve been forced to share, he’s proven to be good company on two occasions now, and he just saved me from having to convert my very comfortable bed into a coffin.
The bathroom door opens from the hallway a second later and Holden appears with an empty towel in hand.
“You should have killed it,” I say quietly and he smiles.
“I didn’t want to get blood all over your room and your towel.” He used his foot to open the dirty clothes hamper and tosses the towel inside.
“I’m going to burn that,” I mutter and he laughs, turning back to me with his hands on his hips. The motion draws my attention to his waist and the ridge upon ridge of exposed muscle.
“What would you have done if I wasn’t here?”
“Called Marty or Aiden.”
Another grin tips up one side of his mouth. “You come off like such a tough cookie, but you’re really a softy, aren’t you?”
I snort. “Everyone is afraid of something. Bats just happened to be my thing.”
“I’m not just talking about the bat.”
I glance up at him, frowning. “What do you mean?”
He tips his head toward my apartment. “Your room isn’t what I expected.”
Oh, crap. I hadn’t really thought about him seeing my things when I’d begged him to save my life.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about.” He takes a step forward and I push to my feet, quickly turning toward the middle door, suddenly aware that we’ve been hanging out in the bathroom, of all places.
“I’m not embarrassed, I just…” I don’t like how jittery he makes me. Or how I’m keenly aware of him in a way I haven’t been aware of a man in a long time. “I need to get back to my homework.”
He continues to smile, like he’s reading my thoughts and thoroughly enjoying it.
“Thank you for keeping me mortal.”
He laughs and pushes a hand over his hair, the tension of the moment finally snapping. “No problem. Feel free to beckon my superhero services whenever you need.”
A small smile curls at my own lips, because not only is he sweet and sexy, he’s funny, too.
“Goodnight, Alana,” he says behind me as I open the door.
“Goodnight, Holden.”