Say I Do by Rachel Hauck

Author:Rachel Hauck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2021-01-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Holly entered Das Lokal, restaurant number ninety-one in their Year of Restaurants. Sam followed her inside, as did Holly’s neighbor Rob. A rush of warm air greeted her as she unwound her scarf and hung her coat on the rack.

Das Lokal enjoyed its status as a town favorite. People, the clink of silverware, and the mouth-watering dinnertime smells of steak, frites, and apple strudel packed the small pub-like interior. Holly scanned the space, looking for an empty booth on the far side—

Her gaze collided with Josh, who’d already caught sight of her. “Oh.” He and Ben sat at the bar, a plate of buffalo wings between them. Josh’s vision remained steadily leveled on her. Solemn and glittering. Her heart thumped, then skittered into a fast rhythm.

“ ’Oh’ what?” Sam asked.

Holly didn’t want Rob to hear, so she leaned near Sam’s ear. “Josh is here.”

“Your high school love turned billionaire?”

“The very same.”

“What? I’ll be subtle, but I demand that you take me to him immediately. Immediately! Make haste.”

Holly threaded through the crowd toward Ben and Josh’s position. Running into Josh around town unexpectedly, outside their scheduled meetings? Fine. She was cool with it. She could handle it. No problem.

He had on a simple white business shirt with the collar open one button at the neck. He always looked at ease in his clothes, even though his garments had likely come straight from an expensive French clothier. The Texas sun had lightly tanned his strong, masculine features. As usual, his hair looked sexily finger-combed.

She’d really like to finger-comb that dark hair with her fingers—

“Holly!” Ben hugged her. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” Holly stepped aside to include her friends in their circle. “Do you both know Sam and Rob?”

“Sure, sure.” Ben smiled and shook hands. He knew everyone in town. If he ever decided to run for mayor, he’d win.

“This is Josh,” Holly said to Sam and Rob, hoping the he’s-an-extremely-cute-math-genius-and-my-first-love part didn’t show in her expression.

“Nice to meet you,” Sam said, then, bless her, adeptly steered the conversation toward Ben and Amanda’s wedding. She gave no indication that she knew or cared anything about the intimate details of Josh’s history.

Rob gently bumped Holly’s shoulder with his. “I see a booth opening up. I’ll go grab it for us.”

“Okay, thanks.”

The rest of them watched Rob’s progress as he commandeered the table. He took a seat, then gave them a salute.

“Does he work at Donovan’s?” Ben asked.

“Yes,” Holly answered. “He’s a sous chef.” Holly and Rob had become friends when he’d moved into her building. He was twenty-four, rarely missed a workout, wore his shoulder-length blond hair in a ponytail, and could panfry a mean salmon. Rob had yet to ask Holly out, despite Sam’s predictions that he would, and soon.

“Rob’s more than a sous chef.” Mischief lit Sam’s smile. “He’s a handsome sous chef. And luckily for Holly and me, he’s off tonight.”

Josh frowned.

Ben chuckled. “You’re married, Sam Sullivan.”

“I’m not the one Rob’s interested in, Ben Hunt.” Sam gave Holly a pointed stare.

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