That’s when she looks up and sees me, her eyes go wide as she freezes in place. I can’t help myself and give a little wave while Greylin lets out a peal of giggles I can’t help but join in on. I like her, something about her reminds me of Hillary. I’m surprised that the realization doesn’t make an ache hit my chest; no, it’s a good thing.
The woman slaps her hands over her mouth, but I can still hear her breathe out, “Oops.”
“It’s okay, Mayer,” Greylin chuckles as she steps up next to me. She waves her hand like she’s Vanna White. “This is Hollyn.”
Understanding has Mayer’s eyes widening, and her eyebrows hitting her hairline. “Hollyn,” she chirps, her anger temporarily forgotten, “it’s so nice to meet you and put a name with a face.”
I can’t help but chuckle and shake my head. “That small town rumor mill?”
“No,” Mayer pulls a face, “Elwood messaged us to let us know to keep an eye out for you if you wandered into town today.”
When I glance at Greylin, she shoots me a sheepish look and shrugs one shoulder. That man. It’s both creepy and…sweet.
And it makes me feel warm in the center of my chest. Which means it can’t be a bad thing, right?
“Let’s ignore that for a moment,” I blurt. As I point toward the paper, I ask, “What’s that about?”
Mayer huffs out a breath that says so much. “Mayor Simmons, Bart,” she rolls her eyes with a dramatic flair, “has been against us opening GMH from the beginning.” With a shake of her head, her shoulders slump. “He couldn’t stop everyone from voting to open up the laws in the county back in the day, but he’s made sure to block people from opening dispensaries in town for years. He didn’t care about what new business would mean for Storyville. But he couldn’t stop us, we were determined and being from here helped. We had a lot of people on our side, but that doesn’t mean Simmons is just going to roll over. Then there’s his son,” she growls the words with a level of annoyance that is, frankly, impressive.
Who doesn’t love a little justified—or not—feminine rage?
Mayer has it in spades and I’m here for it.
“Which son?”
When I glance over at Greylin, she’s biting her lip and trying not to look curious.
“York,” Mayer deadpans and flutters her fingers in her friend’s direction. “Not to worry, I’m not talking about your precious cop, Aiden.”
Greylin scoffs, but the corner of her mouth tips up into a small smile she can’t seem to hide. I bark out a laugh at the unconvinced hum that comes out of Mayer.
“Sorry,” I squeak out while trying to swallow down more laughter.
Again, the door swings open with a woosh, and I almost swallow my tongue at the look of panic on Elwood’s face as he rushes inside. Mayer and Greylin both gasp, but Elwood doesn’t even look at them. He’s looking at me.
Intensely.
In a way that has a tingle running down my spine while my entire body wakes up and goes on high alert. My system doesn’t know if I should run, freeze, or lay on the ground and show the man my belly.
All three?
“Elwood?” I find myself questioning as he steps closer, his shoulders relaxing as he does. “What’s up? Is everything okay?”
His hand comes up, and he brushes his fingertips across my cheek with a gentleness that has tears pricking the backs of my eyes.
“Yeah, Sweet Girl,” he murmurs, his icy blue eyes boring into mine, “I’m fine now. I went home to grab some lunch, and you weren’t there. I’ve been looking for you.”
My cheeks heat because I remember how he put his phone number in his note. I put it in my phone, but I didn’t texthim. Honestly, I should have because he left me that delicious breakfast and he deserved some gratitude.
“Sorry,” I whisper, the world around us fading away.
“I know how you can make it up to me.”
The way he smirks down at me while his eyes sparkle with amusement has me grinning up at him like a fool. I don’t know what this man is doing to me, but I like it.
I like it far more than I should.
CHAPTER 8
