Page 49 of Small Town, Big Storm

“Great.That’s all settled,” Clem says before I can bring us back to the most important topic at hand—the complete and total improbability that Storm will ever agree to raise money for a town he left and never wanted to come back to.“Paige and her father have committed to the catering?—”

Paige nods, but does it looking like she swallowed a lemon.

And her presence in the room finally makes sense—her dad, who owns the riverfront restaurant, Harbor & Flame, is making her participate.

Something else that never changes.

“—and Daisy and Gertie, could you work on some of the other downtown shops to secure donations?If we pair them with Clover’s arrangements, we can have some awesome silent auction items.”

“On it,” Gertie says.

Daisy nods.“Of course,” she says.“And Happy Tails will be happy to donate some pet sitting and dog walking vouchers too.”

“Great,” Clem says.“Now, unless there’s anything else?—”

“Actually,” I begin.

Clem talks over me.“—we’ll adjourn until next month.”She closes her notebook and stands and so do the rest of my so-called friends, thus giving me no out on the whole asking-Storm-to-do-something-he-most-certainly-won’t-want-to-do thing.

Ugh.

I stifle a groan and get to my feet.

Clearly, I’m not going to get to voice my objections here.

I’ll just make themveryclear the next time Clem comes into Sully’s.

The next time she wants her favorite, The Fine Print?Instead of whisky in it, she’s only getting water.

For the foreseeable future.

Feeling better, I let them adjourn the meeting and start gathering my things.

“So,” I hear.“Are you going to ask him?”

Turning, I see Clover standing beside me, her eyes gentle.

“Because if you really don’t want to,” she says.“I’ll talk to Clem and get her to back off.”

I sigh and shove a hand through my hair.

Shewouldtalk to Clem.

And shewouldget her to back off.

Clover may be quiet and sweet, but the woman has a backbone of steel the likes of which I’ve never seen in another person.

No one does stubborn like Clem.

“It’s okay,” I tell her, squeezing her arm.“I’ll ask him.”I sigh.“He’ll say no.”A shrug.“And then we can all move on.”

My friend looks like she doesn’t quite believe that, but to her credit, she doesn’t push.

“How are you doing otherwise?”she asks as we walk outside.

“Fine, Holly’s at camp.The bar is busy.”And Storm is…

Storm.