Page 81 of Small Town, Big Storm

My heart rolls over in my chest.

I am.

Iama Dad.

Except…it’s just in name right now.

“I’m going to fix that,” I whisper.

“What?”Shep asks.

I shake my head, focus.On buns…of the space variety.And finally process what nonsense Shep is spouting.

Or not nonsense.Just?—

“Clover,” I say.

“Huh?”

“That’s Clover.With the purple hair and the buns?—”

“SpaceBuns,” he corrects.

I sigh.“Whatever.Clover’s got theSpaceBuns.Blossom’s next to her—she’s the one with the dark hair.The woman with the blonde streaks is Clementine, or Clem as she prefers.And Daisy has the braids.”

“I heard nothing beyond Clover,” he tells me, downing the rest of his drink and standing.“And I’m going to go talk to her.”

“Shep,” I begin.“Clover is?—”

But before I can warn him that Clover is shy—like really fucking shy, so much so that she really won’t appreciate his special brand of flirting—he’s off, striding across the bar with his typical swagger.“Ladies,” I hear him declare before he grabs a chair and drags it right next to Clover’s.

“Should I worry?”I hear.

“No,” I tell Poppy, whose gaze is on the table full of her friends.“Shep is more annoying than dangerous.And if she’s not interested, he won’t push.”

Not seriously, anyway.

He’ll tease and flirt shamelessly and work his ass off for a smile.

But he won’t cross the line.

“Blossom and Daisy will kick his ass if he so much as tries.”She grins.“Though, no one has ever—and I meanever—made Clover do something she doesn’t want.”A shrug.“Plus, she’s got a black belt.She can totally take him.”

“That she could,” I agree, remembering her fierceness on the playground.

Don’t mistake shy for weak or you’ll pay the price.

Shep’s talking, and the women are laughing and smiling.

All except Clover.

I smother a smile.Serves the fucker right.

“Want another?”Poppy asks.

“Nah.Those go down too smoothly, and Rain’s going to be up at the ass crack of dawn working on the house.The last thing I need is to be hungover as he hammers away.”

Her eyes on mine, a thousand questions in the green depths.