Page 121 of Small Town, Big Storm

I jerk.

Because that isn’t Clover’s voice.

Her buns bounce as her head whips to the side, and I can almost picture her scowl before she exclaims, “Shep, no!”

Then those buns are in full view.

Because Clover’s scowling face is in full view too.

Shep’smischievousone is also visible as he hefts her up.“What are we looking at, tiny Harrison?”

“I’m not tiny…” Holly frowns.“And what’s a Harrison?”

“Your dad’s last name is Harrison,” he says, ignoring Clover’s protests as he somehow maneuvers them both up and over the fence.

“But my last name is Baker,” Holly says as his feet hit the ground.

Shep’s eyes flick to mine for a heartbeat that speaks volumes, then he turns to Holly, Clover still protesting and pushing against his arms.“What are we looking at, tiny Baker?”

Holly grins.“The pool!”

Shep makes a show of looking around.“Excellent.I love swimming.”

“Me too!”Holly bounces on the balls of her feet.

“What about you, darlin’?”he asks Clover.“Do you like getting…wet?”

Her cheeks flush, but she just glares at him.“If you don’t put me down, I’ll show you exactly how I got the nickname The Enforcer.”

Those deep brown eyes of his hit mine, and he lifts his brows in question.

“She’s not lying,” I offer.

“Yup,” Holly says, skipping around the invisible boundary we decided would be the best place for a pool (and waterslide and diving board and—my suggestion—a hot tub).“Auntie Clover told the big, mean football player to stop.”She keeps skipping.“But he didn’t listen.”

“He didn’t?”Shep asks curiously.

But he still doesn’t release Clover.

“Nope,” Holly says, still prancing about.“So Auntie Clover”—she spins to face us and does a surprisingly accurate impression of a professional wrestler: expression screwed up, voice deepening, fists clenched tightly in front of her—“took him down!”

Shep looks at me again.

I nod.“He was twice her size.”I shift closer, whisper to avoid little ears from hearing, “And Cedar Hollow legend says his balls have never recovered.”

Slowly, Shep settles Clover on the ground, backs away.

“Or his pride,” Clover says.

“Maybe that’s why he moved away and never came back,” I finish lightly.

She grins.“Nah, it’s because I’m a black belt in jujitsu.”

“Damn, that’s hot,” he says.

Clover’s mouth falls open.But only for a second before she clamps it closed and shakes her head.“Then why,” she hisses, “are you holdingyourball?—”

I clear my throat.