Page 65 of Small Town, Big Storm

Those fingers tighten further, sending my pulse racing.“I’ve got it, baby.”

That’s all it takes for me to crumple, and yeah, I’m aware it’s pathetic.That it’s dumb.But for some reason, I still just nod and let him move over to where Holly is sitting on the bench, standing back and listening as he explains about the sharp blades and how the skates should feel once they’re on right, watching as he puts actions to words and laces her up.

“Skating!”she yells when he’s done, jumping to her feet and then immediately almost falling.

“Whoa,” Storm says as he catches her.“It’s going to feel a little strange at first,” he says.

Holly bites her lip, practices a couple more steps, growing steadier with each one.

“Good.”He nods toward me.“Why don’t you and your mom take a lap around the benches while I get my skates on?”

“’Kay!”

Then my determined girl does exactly that, holding my hand and starting with slow, shaky steps that grow sounder and more confident.

By the time we complete our slow circle, she’s pulled her hand from mine, and Storm is standing, towering over me in his skates, and?—

Fuck, why is he even hotter in skates?

And…God, why haven’t I learned my lesson by now?

He’s here now.He clearly wants to be in Holly’s life.

But there’s no guarantee that’ll be permanent.

He could walk away tomorrow and not look back, and we?—

“Ready?”he asks.

Holly nods briskly, waits as he snaps a helmet onto her head, then slides her hand into his with a trust that makes my heart pulse.I watch them move toward the rink, fighting the urge to yank her away from him, to run home and slam the door.

To keep myself—no, to keepHolly—safe.

Right?

It’s Holly I have to keep safe.

Ihaveto.

Closing my eyes, I exhale, gird my loins.Then I open them again, see that Storm is crouched in front of Holly again, giving quiet instructions.My daughter’s expression is fierce, clearly trying to commit each and every one to memory.

And I know that fierceness is from Storm himself.

There’s a reason he made it to the NHL when so many others didn’t.

They move toward the rink, and then he’s stepping on, guiding Holly up next to him?—

And supporting her when she goes full Bambi.

He laughs, says something that has her grinning, and then I’m watching them make a slow circle of the ice.

First, Storm is all but supporting her as she takes tiny, slipping steps.Then, gradually, her strides get longer and his support is reduced.And then she’s doing it herself, making halting progress with him just moving slowly beside her.

It takes ages.

So long the cold air is biting at my skin and I’m wishing for those extra layers.

Then…it happens.