Page 144 of Small Town, Big Storm

Clover’s buns bounce as she exhales heavily.“No,” she mutters.“He’s harmless.”Her voice drops.“And notthatannoying.Plus, Holly loves hanging out with him.”

I almost say,I think you might too.

But something about the set of her jaw has me biting back the teasing sentiment.

No need to take on The Enforcer today.

“Gather round, gather round!”Gertie calls, clapping her hands and herding us all toward the sheet-covered object.“Poppy!Poppy!”It’s a screech followed by frantic waving.“Come up here!”

Storm lifts an eyebrow in question.

“Heaven help me,” I mutter.

But there’s no stopping Gertie, so I just shuffle my way through the crowd and move to her side.

“We have our wonderful Poppy Baker?—”

“Gonna be PoppyHarrisonsometime soon,” someone says, making the crowd titter.

I sigh, shake my head, though my cheeks go hot.

“—to thank for this illustrious occasion,” Gertie goes on without missing a beat.

“Oh, God,” I whisper.

But she’s pulling at the sheet, whipping it off with a flourish, and?—

Yup.It’s as bad as I thought.

TheWelcome to Cedar Hollowsign has been refinished…and is now also emblazoned with:

Love is the only currency that matters.

Clover giggles.Storm is grinning.Smitty is clapping and whooping, alongside Holly, whose pride for me shines brightly on her face.

And God, it’s cheesy and embarrassing and even now pictures are being snapped to send off to the Cedar Hollow Gazette, and…

Hell, I don’t care.

Because this is my town, my family, my?—

Storm’s gaze connects with mine.

My love.

Maybe itisthe only currency that matters.

Not that I’ll tell Gertie that.

But I do pose with the sign, take the obligatory pictures, and give a quote for the Gazette.

Then I cash in some of that currency, take Storm’s hand, and walk down to Cedar Hollow Beach.

Clem plunksher hands on her hips, taps her cowboy-booted foot on the ground.“You’d all better be playing in the Home Ice Classic!”

I grin and lean back on the towel Storm snagged from The Shack, my belly full of hot dogs and nachos and perfectly crispy fries, my head a little fuzzy from the second beer I had, but I’m sobering up enough to appreciate the fact that Clem is doing her thing…

And to know that I’ll need to leave to open Sully’s soon.