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Tommy
"Hey there!"The familiar voice of Mr. Johnson called out from across the street as Tommy patrolled the snow-covered sidewalks of Snow Hill. "You think all this prep is gonna be for nothing?"
"Nope," Tommy replied without pause.
"Eh, I don't know... They say that every time."
"Better safe than sorry," Tommy replied with a wave, adjusting the collar of his department-issued coat against the biting wind.
The air had a distinct chill, a harbinger of the impending storm. As he walked through the small town, he couldn't help but think about the night before—the way they'd kissed, then argued, and then kissed some more.
He was Italian. Wasn't that proof that they had the real thing?
But even though everyone in Snow Hill seemed shocked that this storm was actually going to hit this time—save Mr. Johnson, perhaps—Tommy wasn't. It made perfect sense that this would happen after last night's ordeal. Sure, he'd known he was taking a risk in telling Grace how he felt. He'd known there was a chance she'd shoot him down. But after the kiss that'd started in the hallway and ended with him breaking out the big L word, nothing could surprise him more than her rejection.
He'd thought their connection was undeniable.
And now…
Well, at least he had a blizzard to keep him busy.
"Need any help boarding up your windows, Miss Connie?" he asked the elderly woman as she struggled to carry a stack of plywood.
She gratefully accepted his offer, and he got to work.
And it wasn't just about duty. Tommy truly cared for the people in his town. His hands moved with practiced efficiency, securing each board in place as worked to keep his thoughts from drifting back to Grace.
"Thanks, Tommy," Miss Connie said, patting his arm with a warm smile. "You're always looking out for us."
"Of course, Miss Connie. Stay safe and warm," he replied before continuing on his patrol.
A few hours later, he was more than ready for something hot to drink, and thankfully, the next stop on his storm-preparation tour was the inn. He'd been tasked with making sure the staff and guests had everything they needed, and when he slipped through the door and stomped the excess snow off his boots, he frowned when he saw a familiar set of glittery snow boots. They were hard to miss since the soles were lime green, clashing horribly with the shade of the golden glitter. Not that he was an expert in such things, but still.
He looked around, searching for the owner of the boots. His eyes landed on Lena, the persistent travel writer who'd bugged Grace when she'd first gotten to town, and the back of his neck tingled with suspicion.
"Tommy!" Lena exclaimed when she caught him staring. She practically bounced up to him where he still stood in the foyer, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Hey… What are you doing back in town?"
"Joan called me about a last-minute cancellation, so I just had to come back and see everyone," Lena replied with a giggle, batting her eyelashes at him. "Apparently whoever canceled was a little too nervous about the storm to come up, but I figured, hey, what's a little snow? I have family in Maine, so it's no big thing for me. Ya know?"
Tommy shifted his weight from foot to foot. "Uh-huh."
Why would Mrs. P even try to fill that vacant room at a time like this? The people who canceled their reservation probably made a smart decision, and yet Mrs. P thought it'd be a good idea to invite someone else into the fray to take their place?
Odd.
But he couldn't dwell on it now. The safety of the guests was his priority, and there'd be plenty of time for the rest when the storm cleared.
"...especially since there's a certain someone who caught my eye last time I was here.”
Tommy hadn't even heard half of what she'd said before that final comment, but that part stuck out like a sore thumb. He felt a twinge of unease at her flirtatious demeanor. "Uh, great. Well, listen, make sure you stay inside during the storm, Lena," he warned, trying to maintain a professional tone. "Let Mrs. P or Nick know if you need anything."
"What about you? Will you be here in case I need anything?"
He swallowed, annoyance flaring as he batted her eyelashes at him and tucked a piece of her bright green hair—nearly the color of her boots, now—behind her ear.
But the gesture only served to remind him of Grace, and that darkened his mood even more.
