Page 31 of Small Town, Big Storm

Why part of me always hoped?—

No.

I slam the lid on that thought, on the things I can’t allow myself to feel, and drop my chin to my chest, exhaling silently as I try to figure out what to do.

I need to protect Holly.

I can’t risk exposing her to a man who may—no, who willlikely—disappear again.

But…I know Storm—or Iknewhim, anyway.

He’s not going to just go away, not going to leave.

Not right this moment, anyway.

Once he’s had his fill of Cedar Hollow, of Holly, of me…

That’ll change.

Of course, it will.

Then he’ll go, and it’ll just be Holly and me again.

And we’ll be okay.

Because we always are.

Because we have to be.

I clear my throat, exhale softly.

“We do a thing on Monday nights,” I say quietly.“We try a new recipe that Holly picks out for dinner.”

The storm clouds in his eyes clear.“Because the bar is closed on Mondays.”

Something flutters through my belly.

“You remember that?”I whisper.

A flash of lightning through deep gray irises, and for a second, I think he’s going to reach out and touch me.

I don’t know whether to back away…

Or to lean in.

Especially when he murmurs, “I remembereverything.”

But before I can make a decision on whether to close that final inch between us, he spins on his heel and starts down the hall, disappearing as quickly as mist on a warm summer morning.

I hear the screech of the exterior door being pushed open.

Then him calling, “I’ll see you for dinner.”

Right before it slams closed again.

Ten

Poppy