“Hiding from everyone because they talk too much,” Eli says with a sly smirk.
The glare on my face fades. I’m not sure if he’s covering for me or if he really thinks that’s what I was doing. Because it is.
“All right, well, now that you’re done sulking”—she says with a pointed look in my direction—“can we get to the nomination part?”
I have no idea what this woman is talking about, but I’m tired of the attention being on me so I nod and attempt to skulk to the back of a crowd that’s gathered around one of the live music stages. I just need this thing to be over so I can ask Eli about the cottages. The ex-NHL player follows me, and when we make it to the back of the group, he mumbles, “Your zipper’s down.”
I quickly fix myself. “And you’re only telling me now?”
He grins. “Figured you wouldn’t want me to point it outin front of Rayna. Oh look, there’s Tally. Wonder where she’s come from?”
It’s clear from the tone of his voice, and the fucking Cheshire cat smile on his face, that he knows exactly where she’s come from. I don’t respond and try not to look at her. Which feels like forcing myself not to breathe. Eventually, I can’tnotturn in her direction, and even with my head remaining forward, my gaze wanders. Tally’s tied back her hair in a long braid that rests on her shoulder. Her green dress is also back in place, leaving no evidence of the way I’d pushed it down while she was on her knees for me in the shed.
Fuck, how is it possible that I’m hard again? She laughs lightly at something Rosie says to her as she joins her best friend and Penny. I want to know what they’re laughing about. I want to be beside her, holding her hand while she talks. I’ve never felt this way, and I hate how fucking needy she makes me.
“And Jesse Walker—” At the sound of my name, my focus snaps back to the scene before me. Fletcher stands next to Rayna on the stage, addressing the crowd.
“What did he say?” I ask Eli out of the side of my mouth as I give a general nod to Fletcher and everyone else who’s now glancing back toward me.
“He was thanking you for hosting the festival along with the Darling girls.”
It feels odd to accept this gratitude when people don’t understand why I’m involved to begin with. Yes, they know I work here, but surely they see this as the Darling’s family farm. And I can’t imagine that Fletcher knows about theagreement Peter and I had. If he does, he would have said something to one of the girls. Though what the hell do I know?
“As you’re all aware, our tradition is to nominate candidates for the grand marshal of the Summer Solstice Parade, which celebrates the end of spring and the founding of our town, at the Daffodil Festival. This is the greatest honor we can bestow on a resident. Nominees must be present at the Spring Fling—which the lovely Rosie has agreed to host at the brewery this year—and present a speech as to why they should be Hope Harbor’s grand marshal. Voting will occur that night, when the winner will be announced. So without further fanfare, Rayna McGovern, last year’s grand marshal, will handle the nominations.”
My gaze roams to Tally, who is needling Rosie, I’m sure over Fletcher calling her lovely. If there’s one piece of town gossip I’ve been unable to avoid, it’s that something weird is going on between Fletcher and Rosie. The two of them do nothing but fight whenever they’re in the same vicinity.
“Thank you for your kind words, Mayor,” Rayna says, taking over the proverbial mic and drawing my attention back to her. “A reminder that the citizens you nominate should be someone who has shown a dedication to our town, who appreciates the significance of our traditions, and who is willing to tirelessly stand up for them.”
I roll my eyes. What is this nonsense? It sounds to me like the grand marshal just walks down the street in a parade.
“Hey, while they’re doing this,” I mumble = without looking at Eli, “do you think you could maybe help get the cottages ready for the the big Hall event?”
Eli’s head whips in my direction, and his eyes light up. “Really?”
Fuck, the guy looks so damn happy. He’s probably going to make this whole process exhausting. I’m about to back-track when I hear Tally’s laugh and I’m reminded of how much this farm means to her. How much the wildflower fields mean to her. I can’t let her lose any of this. And taking any more money from Frank’s loan to finish the cottages will only get us in more trouble. “Yes. Do you think the guys from the fire department can help, too?”
Eli grins. “I’m sure the whole town would be happy to help, Walker. It’s how we do things.”
The chatter around us stops, and we both look up to see what’s happening. “All right, nominations are open!” Rayna says loudly, and the crowd cheers like someone just scored a touchdown.
Then silence takes over again as everyone waits for someone to shout out a name. Rosie’s the first to take the bait. “Eli Davis!”
The man straightens beside me. “Thank you,” he replies with pride.
“Angelina Rhinehart!” someone else screams, and the Liberty Lady beams.
“Stew Garrison!”
More names are shouted and as Fletcher scribbles on a piece of paper. I tune out the noise as I think about what needs to be done at the cottages when I hear a familiar voice over the chatter.
“Jesse Walker!” Tally hollers.
A round of people shout my name, and I try not to growlout aWhat the fuck?but when I look toward my girl, she’s wearing the biggest smile and all that angry energy leaves me in one easy breath.
Eli nudges me. “Looks like we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. What the hell did the woman get me involved in?
