Page 60 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

‘Are we about to have our first disagreement?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Just hold me tighter, doc.’

As we moved slowly to the music, the cumulative stares of Ivy Falls were daunting. Instead of being loose in my arms this time, Piper’s body was wound tighter than a tourniquet.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I know I said to ignore them, but that.’ She tipped her chin to the crowd. ‘Is getting annoying.’

‘They’ll tire of us soon enough. It’s not a big deal.’

‘Really? So when you first went to the Sugar Rush, Susan didn’t tell you to stay away from me? That I deserved a little peace?’

‘How did you know that?’

‘It’s the same speech she gives any guy that comes into the café and stares at me a little too long.’

‘I take it that happens a lot?’ I said, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.

Lazily she tapped at her chin. ‘What’s a lot?’

She loved every minute of making me squirm.

‘Barb and Susan aren’t a worry now. They like me, and I get free donuts and coffee whenever I want,’ I said smugly.

‘Uh-oh, watch out. With that kind of treatment, you’ll never want to leave Ivy Falls.’

She’d meant it as a joke, but a little part of me wondered what it’d be like to stay. To see if she’d let me be a part of her life.

It made me pull her in closer. Hold on to her for as long as she’d let me.