“Ladies, Holland.” Chad beams his megawatt smile around the room. “I hope you’ve all been enjoying your time in Cashmere Cove. Isn’t Holland’s hometown beautiful?”
The ladies cheer their agreement.
“I know,” Chad goes on. “And a part of me is sorry to steal you away from this magnificent town, but I think you’ll be excited about where we’re heading next. Drum roll, please.”
Jennah plays along and taps her hands against the mantel. The rest of the girls smile good naturedly, butugh,the forced production of it all is starting to wear on me…especially now that I’m pretty certain none of these other women are ever going to hold a candle to Mallory…and she doesn’t want me. So what am I supposed to do?
I suppress a sigh. I need to focus on golf for the next week anyway. Then I’ll figure it out.
“Holland, let me turn it over to you so you can share the next stop on your journey to find love.” Chad sweeps his arm in front of himself and gives me the floor.
I step forward. “As most of you know, next week marks the biggest golf tournament of the year so far—theGrand Masters. I’m the reigning champ and am hoping to defend my title at Augusta.”
“You will!” Zelda calls out.
I dip my chin, grateful for her confidence in me, even though she has no idea about me as a golfer. She admitted as much when we were mini-golfing. Said she’d never paid the sport much attention.
“Thank you.” I smile. “The Grand Masters provides an entire week of festivities leading up to the golf tournament, which happens Thursday through Sunday. I’m thrilled that you’ll all be along for the ride, and I can’t wait to give you a peek inside this part of my world. Who’s ready for a little field trip?”
The ladies cheer and start chatting and hugging each other—and taking turns hugging me. I catch Mallory’s eye amidst the hubbub, and she nods at me. Whatever romantic feelings I have for her are about to be tabled for the week ahead. She’s got her game face on, and so do I. She’s been working as hard as I have to make sure my golf game is ready for the Grand Masters, and now it’s time to finally get out there and play.
I can hardly wait.
23
Garden Intervention
Mallory
After filming three takes of the announcement about the Grand Masters trip—each one growing cringier and cringier, in my not-asked-for opinion—Vivian and Callen gave us the go-ahead to go back to our rooms. I don’t know where Holland went. Off to do Holland things, I’m sure. I don’t need to know. I don’tcareto know, thank you very much.
What I do care about is getting rid of the zinging feeling in my pinky finger. What the heck was that in there? Why was my body going all haywire at the mere brush of a phalange? It’s not right.
I need some air.
I need to clear my head.
I need to put Hollandoutof my head.
I leave through the front door of Daisy’s Inn and walk down the steps, along the cobblestone path, and to the side yard, where Daisy’s flower garden is bursting with a rainbow of tulips. I roll my shoulders a couple times as I wander along the path, taking a few deep breaths for good measure.
“You’re okay. Everything’s fine,” I mumble the words to myself. My own personal anthem. “Do the next thing right.”
The next thing for me is the Grand Masters. I need to think about Holland solely in terms of my golfer for the upcoming week. Game face on. Competitive edge, locked and loaded. Emotions shut down and stored away. I can do that. I’ve been doing it for years, and it’s been working for me.
But my mind flashes back toPinkygate. And before that, to the way Holland placed those pills on my tongue with such gentleness it makes me feel a little melty.
Daisy has a stone fountain in the corner of her garden. It’s a little cherub angel perched on the corner of a basin with water pouring out of her hands. I stare at the stone angel for a second, and it stares vacantly back at me.
“It was nothing. None of it meant anything,” I tell the statue.
“Who you trying to convince, young lady?”
I whirl around to find Candace Patchcab sitting on the bench on the other side of the garden.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”
Candace sticks up her nose and makes a grunting sound.
