Page 102 of Small Town, Big Storm

“For the record, I’m making Kitchen Sink for dinner.”

He frowns.“What’s that?”

I grin.“It’s a surprise.You’ll have to come to dinner to experience the full gloriousness of all that’s Kitchen Sink.”

“Am I a pussy if I admit that I’m scared?”

“All feelings are valid,” I say pertly.“Except about my Kitchen Sink.”

He laughs…right as we emerge from the trees.

“Glad to see you didn’t forget the time,” Gertie says as she lugs her paddle board up the shore.

Storm pauses, his head tilting back, his eyes on the sky for a heartbeat.Two.

Then he exhales, lightly squeezes my hand before releasing it.

“Here, Gertie,” he mutters, reaching for the board.“I’ll carry this to your car for you.”

She beams, pats his shoulder…then strokes it.“Such fine muscles you have there.”

He glances over at me, rolls his eyes.

“Want me to carry the cooler?”I offer.

A shake of his head, those eyes warming.“I’m good, Poppyseed.”Then he tucks the board beneath his arm and takes off for the parking lot.

I pause, watching him walk, all lean lines and brutal strength…not to mention that gorgeous ass.

And seriously, but hockey players have thebestasses.

Gertie sighs and when I manage to tear my gaze off of Storm’sass-ets, I see she’s enjoying the sight of him walking away just as much as I had.

She winks, trails after him, and I start to do the same.

Then pause and feel laughter bubble up in my throat.

Because Karen—that being thegoosenamed Karen—is snatching a trio of hot dogs off a grill, swallowing them whole, one after another.The couple barbecuing makes a token effort to shoo her off, but she doesn’t budge, just eats her fill before lazily waddling off.“Gerald would be proud,” I say to myself, turning away, knowing that her mate definitely would.

Bubblegum ice cream and hot dogs.

Grinning and shaking my head, I murmur, “The Cedar Hollow Mafia strikes again,” then hurry to catch up with Storm and Gertie.

He’s just finishing securing her board and paddle when I reach them.

“Such fine muscles,” she says again, practically petting his chest and shoulders.“Thanks for using them for my benefit.”A sly smile before she waggles her brows at me.“What I would give to be thirty years younger.”

“Try forty,” Storm mutters.

“What’s that, dear?”Gertie asks, her expression sharpening.

Biting back a laugh, I close the distance between us, bend and give Gertie a hug and kiss on the cheek.“I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll see youtonight,” she corrects and this time I do laugh.

Then I link my arm through Storm’s.“Bye, Gertie.”

We watch her get in her car and pull away.