Page 108 of Small Town, Big Storm
“A little,” I say.“But I’m more worried about Holly.I didn’t really get to talk to her and reassure her before we left.”
“Shep texted me this a little while ago.”He taps at his phone screen then passes his cell over.
I glance down…
Then laugh outright.
Because Blossom and Clover definitely distracted Holly with flower crowns.
It’s just…
They apparently also distracted Shep with them too.
“That pink really goes with his coloring,” I say lightly.
“I was thinking it’s the ribbon that really ties it all together,” Storm adds dryly.
I laugh again, pass his phone back.
He takes it, shoves it in his pocket, then comes close.“Are you hurting?”he asks, gently winding his arm around my waist, his fingers lightly brushing over my hip.
I shiver, and when he clearly mistakes that for me being cold and tucks me closer, I don’t fight the contact.
I lean in.
Evening has fallen and the temperature has dropped and…
Frankly, it’s kind of nice having someone take care ofmefor a change.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he murmurs as we reach my car and he helps me in.
“About what?”
“Whether you’re hurting.”
I pause, consider that.“I’m a little achy, but they gave me the good stuff earlier.I’m fine.”
He bends down, buckles me in, and it sends my pulse racing, same as it did the first time he did that for me.“You’ll tell me if that changes?”It’s phrased as a question, but it’s most definitely an order.
I wrinkle my nose.
A grin and he taps the end of it.“You’ll tell me,” he says confidently.
“Storm,” I warn.
He straightens, closes the door, and even though I glare at him as he rounds the hood and climbs in, he just smiles at me.“You’re beautiful even grumpy and with a broken arm.”
“I’m grumpybecauseof the broken arm.”
“Yeah,” he mutters, backing out of the stall and driving out of the stall.“Shep definitely has it coming.”
“I—”
But he just turns on the radio.
I glare, but it’s not long before the soft rock music soothes the edges of my temper and the last hours catch up to me.
My lids grow heavy.
