Page 146 of Small Town, Big Storm

“No,” I order softly.“Enjoy the night.Keep an eye on Holly.And then come to me when things wind down.”

Gray eyes searching mine.

I touch his jaw, smile.“I expect a full brief on all the Shepnanigans.”

Amusement drifting into his eyes.“And also about the Rainmaggedon?”

“Good one,” I tease.

“You sure you’ll be okay without me?”

I lean closer.“It makes me happy that you’re here, that you’re able to have this.Plus, I know if I need you all I have to do is call.”

He nods.

“So let me keep giving this to you, yeah?”

“Fuck, I—” But he bites back the rest of what he wanted to say, closes his eyes for a heartbeat.An exhale as he rests his forehead against mine, whispers, “Okay, baby.”

I hold him for another moment.

Then manage to pull away so Cassie and I can get to work.

It’s not long before the party transitions from the beach over to Sully’s, but I manage to find time in the rush to pack a bag for Holly and get my snuggles in before she, Chloe, Finn, and Rhodes take off with the promises of plenty of pictures and text updates.

Then she’s gone and I’m busy mixing drinks while Cassie is delivering them.Storm and Rain come in alongside Shep and the others, but my girls don’t (though Clem sends me a text saying that Riley and Clover have had enough of “annoying men” so are heading to Clover’s place).

I demand regular updates from them too, but that’s as much time as I have to spend on my phone.

Because we arehoppingall the way up until closing.

Good for the bank account, tough on the feet.

Eventually, Storm and I fall into our old pattern of mopping and sweeping, cashing out and locking up, and then we’re slowly making our way upstairs, brushing teeth and doing our evening routine.

But when he crawls into bed, much as he has the last two weeks—that being without any inclination that he’s going to jump my bones and leave me limp after multiple orgasms, I decide to take matters into my own hands.

I disappear back into the bathroom.

Squeeze myself into my tiny red bikini.

Then walk back into the bedroom.

Thirty-Nine

Storm

I’m pluggingin my phone when the sound of her footsteps has me looking up.

And then nearly passing out as I take in the sight of Poppy…

In a skimpy red bikini.

No.Intheskimpy red bikini.

I jolt, my phone falling out of my hand, dropping to the nightstand and thenthunkingto the floor a moment later.

Not that I give a fuck.