Page 57 of Small Town, Big Storm

“She really does,” I say quietly.“Rattlesnakes aside”—he grins—“both their summer and after school programs are great.They’re affordable and she learns a ton.But the best part is that she has fun.”

He nods.

And for some reason…I keep talking.“Our funding from the state was cut a couple of years ago, so we’ve been making up the difference with fundraising.The biggest of which is the Home Ice Classic.We sell tickets and crafts and food and have a silent auction and of course, there’s the hockey game.The whole town makes a day of it.”

“Sounds fun,” he murmurs.

“It is.”I sigh.“But we need to make itreallygood this year.Our donations are down and if we can’t make up the difference…” I shrug, not wanting to finish in front of Holly and her big ears.

Storm seems to realize that, his gaze drifting between us before coming back to mine and lingering.

Studying me.

Making my pulse speed and worry begin to bloom in my belly.

Or maybe longing.

For his hands to be on me again.

For his mouth?—

“I’ll play.”

I blink, the air rushing from my lungs.“Y-you will?”

“Sure,” he says.“It’s always good to get some extra ice time, especially in the summer.Do you want me to call some of my friends?See if they might play too?”

My mouth opens.

Closes.

Opens again, my voice a squeak.“You’d do that?”

“It’s clearly important,” he says softly.“And not just to the town.To you and to Holly.So yeah, I’d be happy to do that.”

Confusion ripples through me.

Because he’s sincere.

I see it in his face, hear it in his words.

But…who is this man?

Certainly not the angry one from moments ago.Nor the boy I once knew.He’s not even the man who was in my kitchen the other night, though that one is closer.

He’s…all of them and none of them and?—

It makes me leery.

Because I wantthisversion of Storm to stay.

“You must be a really good skater,” Holly says.

Storm smiles.“I’m pretty good.”

“Will you teach me?”she asks.

I watch that hit him—and do it hard.“You want me to teach you to skate?”he asks a moment later, his voice a little raspy.