Page 49 of Healed Hearts

“No. I need help.”

Roman sits up abruptly, and Beck’s face turns murderous. “What did you do?” Beck asks.

I hold my hands up in supplication. “Um, nothing? I need date ideas.”

Roman smiles at me. “I don’t think Hold’s ever actually been on a date. But he’s simple overall. He won’t want a lot of fanfare or anything crazy. A nice dinner would be best, I think.”

Beck is still glaring at me, and it’s a little unsettling. Holden said he was overprotective, but this seems a bit much given the situation. “Are you the one?” he asks, his eyes narrowed at me.

“The one?” I ask, my confusion evident.

Beck nods like I should understand what that means. “A few weeks ago, he went out and hooked up with someone. Were you the one?”

I’m not sure that I know the right answer, and I really didn’t come in here for this. I want to make a good impression on his friends, but I’m also not going to let them treat Holden like he’s a child incapable of making his own choices. He clearly laid his boundaries out to me, and from what I can tell, has no problem enforcing them. “I was. Is that a problem?” I ask, standing a little taller, crossing my arms over my chest.

Beck’s entire body relaxes, his face going from anger to relief in a split-second. “Thank God,” he murmurs.

Roman turns to him. “I could have told you that, you damn idiot. What are you so mad about?”

“Not mad. Worried, beautiful. But I feel a lot better now.” I allow my stance to relax. Beck turns back to me. “Thank you.”

I have a feeling I know what he’s thanking me for. I also know it’s none of his business, and I’m not going to tell them anything that Holden has told me in confidence. “Well, I’m not going to keep him waiting. Thanks for the tip, Roman. Beck, you were wholly unhelpful, but thanks anyway, I guess.”

I turn on my heel and head down the hallway to the sound of Roman’s booming laughter and his softly spoken, “He’s gonna handle Hold just fine.”

Damn right, I am.

Holden is staring at his menu, but I’m staring athim. Fuck, he’s so… everything, really. His eyes are lined with smudgy black liner, making the green pop against his tanned skin. The white crop top he’s wearing that shows off his belly button ring is a crime against my cock, which is being strangled in my jeans.

He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth as his eyes scan the menu. He does a little dance in his seat, like he can’t sit still. When he lifts his eyes and meets mine, I almost fall out of my chair. “I’ve never been here. The menu is huge. What’s good?”

“Everything,” I say, patting my stomach like it’s proof. His eyes drop to follow the movement and his lips part, his pupils dilating.Oh.He really does like that. Huh.

“Okay. Order for me, then,” he mumbles, closing the menu and setting it down on the table.

When the server comes to the table, she asks what we’d like to drink, offering to get a wine list for us. I look at Holden, inclining my head to silently ask him if he wants anything. “You can, if you’d like, but I don’t drink.”

I did occasionally before I had Wren, but I haven’t since I found out Maya was pregnant, so I shake my head. “Water for me.”

“I’ll have the same,” Holden says.

“Sounds great, guys. Can I get you started with an appetizer?”

I open my mouth to ask Holden if wants one, but before I can, he says, “No, thank you.”

The server walks away, and Holden stares after her. “Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, I wanted her to go away. She couldn’t stop staring at you. She didn’t even look at me once.” His petulant tone is slightly adorable, but his eyes are green fire, burning right through me.

“Interesting,” I muse.

“What is?” he asks.

“You’re jealous.”

His jaw drops open. “I am not!”

“You are a little, though, darlin’, and that’s okay. But you have no reason to be. I couldn’t even tell you what color her hair was.”

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