Page 59 of Shelter from the Storm

“Your party is a hit,” he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Gretchen spotted his mom glancing their direction with a pleased grin. She didn’t bother tugging away from him because the horse had already left the gate on Theo’s pursuit of her. She discovered the day after Halloween that gossip was gold in a small town, and apparently the fact Theo had been seen kissing her on the dance floor was big news, the tidbit making the rounds quickly. Too many of the older women in Gracemont, Edith included, wondering if there were two Storm weddings on the horizon. Gretchen had quickly shut that idea down when Edith mentioned it, even though it amused her more than frightened her.

“This is our party,” she corrected him.

“I tossed a couple ideas at you, and you ran with them, putting in the hard work to make it successful. So your party,” Theo countered. As always, he minimized his contributions, praising her efforts. After too many years of constantly hearing only what she did wrong, his kind words never failed to lighten her spirits, make her soul sing.

“Looks like things are winding down,” she observed.

“With the patrons, yes. But something tells me my family is just getting started. My dad is so proud, he could pop. He ordered four more pitchers for the table, and I’ve come to drag you back to help us drink it. You’re too much fun to stand over here like a wallflower.”

Gretchen looked over where Mr. Storm—who insisted she call him Rex—was definitely doing his best to keep the party going. Not that it was much of a struggle, as Levi grabbed a pitcher and started topping up everyone’s glass. She grimaced when she watched him fill hers back to the brim.

She was a lightweight when it came to drinking, and she was already two pints deeper than she should be. It was a foregone conclusion that she’d be starting her morning with a headache. “I think this might be the night I’ll finally need to use Koda’s Uber services.”

Theo twisted her until she faced him, his hands on her waist. “Or you could stay here.”

“Here?” she asked.

“Spend the night with me.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How much have you had to drink?”

Theo chuckled. “Enough. Too soon?”

Gretchen nodded. “It’s way too soon,” she replied, even though her body rejected that assertion. “You and I sleeping together right now would be a bad idea.”

“Maybe so,” he conceded, “but it would be a good bad idea.”

“Theo,” she said, playfully smacking his chest, recalling Edith’s assertion that she should make a bad decision.

“Besides, all I heard in that rejection was right now, which means my future is looking bright.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

Theo shook his head. “Nope. Just stubborn and determined. But I promised we would take this at your speed, and I don’t break promises, so I won’t ask you to stay with me again…until tomorrow.”

Her heart fluttered.

Even though there was another promise he’d offered that had meant more to her. When he swore he would never hurt her, she tried to dismiss the comment as empty, pretty words, but she had played them over in her mind so much this week it drove home how much that vow meant to her.

And how much it would hurt if he broke it.

Theo had the power to hurt her way worse than Briggs. Which meant there was now another reason why she needed this thing between them to go slower. Probably slower than it was, but what could she say? He was an awesome kisser, and there was a part of her that felt as if she’d inadvertently skipped over this young girl/first love thing when she was a teenager.

At eighteen, she’d moved in with a man twice her age, instantly thrust into a committed relationship without taking the time to flirt or date or make some of those bad decisions.

Gretchen crossed her arms. “Well, if we’re going to keep things rolling tonight, I need to grab my sweater from my office. It’s getting chilly.”

Fall was starting its march toward winter, and while it was still warm enough to sit outside, thicker clothing was required.

“I’ll walk with you,” Theo offered.

Gretchen playfully pushed him away with a hand on his face. “If you go with me, we’ll start making out in my office and we’ll never return to the party, and that bad idea of yours really will start to sound like a good one.”

“Then I’m definitely coming with you.”

She laughed and pointed to the large table and his family. “You are most definitely staying here.”

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