Page 81 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

‘Hey, this is a tribute to Jackson Pollock. At least I’m being patriotic.’ He pointed to my white polo and khaki shorts. ‘Where are your stars and stripes?’

My worries about Piper were on the tip of my tongue, but he’d just tell me again that she had to live her own life. It was the truth but I still couldn’t figure out that instinct to hover. To always want to protect her.

I grabbed my keys and wallet off the desk. ‘Fine. I’m leaving.’

‘Going to see that girl of yours?’

I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. ‘Yes. Ivy Falls has a habit of turning Fourth of July into a spectacle. They have a parade down the center of town followed by a barbecue and fireworks show.’

‘Sounds like good, clean fun.’ Pete smoothed a hand over his mouth. That sad, faraway look colored his face again.

‘What do you have planned for today?’

‘Thought I’d take a ride on my Harley with Bogie in the sidecar. Maybe grab a burger and a beer in Leiper’s Fork. Catch the fireworks along the Cumberland.’

‘Alone?’

Pete shrugged. ‘My brother is busy with his own life in Atlanta. And my mom.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘She’s probably off on another one of those silver singles cruises.’ He slumped into the chair in front of my desk. ‘It’s times like these I wish I had my own family. Not spent so much time working on my career. While I appreciate this business we’ve built, I’d love to have some other focuses in my life besides this agency and Bogie.’ He reached down and gave the dog a little head rub. ‘No offense, bud.’

An idea quickly formed in my head. ‘Do you like berry cobbler?’

‘That’s a turn in the conversation,’ Pete joked.

‘Answer the question.’

‘I’m pretty sure they’d revoke my “good southern boy” card if I said no.’

‘Glad you said that.’ I snatched his keys out of his hands. ‘I think it’s time I officially introduced you to Ivy Falls.’

Chapter Thirty-Six

TORRAN

As Usual, My Father Has Crappy Timing.

Sounds of the twelve-piece band tuning up in the gazebo floated through the muggy air. The once empty lawn in front of town hall was now awash in colorful blankets, picnic baskets and squealing children sugared up on popsicles and cotton candy. The scent of barbecue from the Ivy Falls High School band fundraiser filled the air.

Tessa and Manny sat beside me on the blanket while Iris, Rose and Lou chased a butterfly they’d spotted. Their hair stayed matted to their sweet little foreheads after the long ride along the parade route.

Around us other families started to settle in for the afternoon, tossing around footballs and flying kites. I scanned the crowd for the one face I ached to see.

When we were alone after tonight’s festivities, I was going to tell Beck I loved him. I’d been fighting it since I’d first seen his legs dangling from the ceiling, but now with the house nearly complete, I wasn’t sure what would happen to us once it was done. All I could do was be honest about my feelings and hope he felt the same way.

‘Looks like there’s about to be a party around here.’ Beck hovered behind me. I jumped to my feet and quickly slid my arms around his waist.

‘I was wondering when you’d appear.’

He placed a warm kiss on top of what I was sure was a very sweaty head. He wound me in closer like he didn’t care. ‘I kind of got kicked out of the office.’

‘Kicked out?’ I said.

A man wearing a ridiculous paint-splattered shirt, a day’s worth of dark stubble and a wide grin walked up to the blanket. Trotting alongside him was the cutest black-and-white dog I’d ever seen.

‘Torran, this is my partner, Pete,’ he said.

We shook hands before I was pushed out of the way by Iris and Rose.

‘Puppy!’ they squealed, asking simultaneously if they could pet the dog.