Holden: A Mountain Man Curvy Woman Romance (Brothers in Arms in Alaska Book 9) by Kali Hart

Author:Kali Hart [Hart, Kali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-09-23T16:00:00+00:00

7

RACHEL

“You’re wearing an extra bright smile today,” Charlotte Montgomery says to me as she sets several tubes of paint on the counter before going back for a few more. I met Charlotte when she first moved to town and used to come to the store to buy paint supplies. Now, I also sell some of her paintings on consignment. “Anything exciting happen to you recently?”

“No, not really.” I’m thankful her back is turned when I answer, because she’d most definitely see through my lie. Plenty of exciting things happened to me just last night. All of them involved Holden’s very talented mouth. But I can’t breathe a word about any of it if I don’t want to risk losing everything.

“How’s your moose coming along for the competition?” I ask, eager to change the subject. “Are you going to make the cutoff?”

“I hope so,” she says, setting the last of her supply haul on the counter. “Brooks took Alison to the zoo in Anchorage today so I’d have the house all to myself. I love my little girl to pieces, but I definitely have a new respect for quiet.” She fishes her card from her purse. “I never knew a little human could ask so many questions. I swear that girl never runs out of breath.”

Hearing Charlotte talk about her daughter makes me yearn for a child of my own. Something I hadn’t dared to want for years. But for the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel renewed hope that I might someday have the family I’ve always wanted.

“Thirty-three nineteen,” I inform Charlotte as I fill a shopping bag with tubes of the same paint colors she bought two days ago.

“I can’t wait to see how your moose design turns out.”

“If I make the cutoff. I might’ve bitten off more than I can chew. But you know it’s all go big or go home for this competition.”

Today is the last day for contestants to work on their designs. Whatever moose entries aren’t submitted by the end of the day are disqualified. Which is why I don’t expect to see Holden until after midnight. I was tempted to take a peek inside his garage last night, but I know it’ll be more fun to look at all the entries tomorrow and try to guess which one is his.

“I have faith you’ll get it done.” Though I have no idea what Holden’s design will look like, I know I’ll recognize Charlotte’s painted moose. She’s incredibly talented, and I know her finished product will be a contender for first prize.

“You sure you’re not seeing someone?” Charlotte asks as I hand her a shopping bag.

“Nope.” I’m not sure if my plastered smile fools her, but I’m relieved she can’t feel how quickly my pulse races. Though I trust Charlotte, I know better than to risk breathing a word of my secret romance with Holden until the store is mine, free and clear. Becky lived in Three Rivers all her life and might’ve already heard rumors about a military vet hanging around the store several days in a row.

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