Kiss Me, Katie! & Hug Me, Holly!

“Yes?” she said sweetly to Holly.

“Don’t take this wrong, but if you’re going to stay, shut up.”

Dora grinned and mimicked zipping her lip. “I’m shutting up.”

“Okay.” Holly looked at Riley. “Ready.”

He smiled. “Good. But I forgot where I was.”

Holly smacked him lightly on the arm. “You did not! You’re going to tell me about me!”

“Ah, yes.” His smile faded and he looked deep into her eyes. “When you first came, I thought I had you pegged. You put on a good show, princess. You played tough and cool to a tee, but it didn’t take me long to see right through that to the real you beneath, to the woman who hid behind the veneer to protect her heart. I love that woman.” He reached for her hand, entwined their fingers. “You drive me wild, you make me laugh, you make me think, but mostly, you make my heart soar like it’s never done before. For all of that, Holly Stone, I love you.”

She and Dora both sighed dreamily. “Oh, Riley.”

“Now tell me,” he demanded.

She smiled through her tears. “And I thought maybe you came back over here for another chocolate frosting round.”

“Tell me now,” he demanded. “Then chocolate.”

“Okay.” She was shaking. “I love your smile, your easygoing ways. I love the way you calm me, the way you touch me, how you make me feel every single second of every single day. I love how you want me in your life, even when I’m impossible and restless and-”

“And difficult,” he added helpfully, and she laughed.

“I’ve never felt so special, so wanted,” she said. “Because of all of that, I love you, Riley McMann.”

Dora sighed again, her hand on her chest. “Oh, that’s so beautiful. Now don’t start kissing,” she said sharply, slapping a hand between them. “Or you’ll never stop. You’ve got to get out there and ruin those new people’s taste for this place.”

“I nearly forgot!” Holly looked at Riley in panic. “They’re out there wanting to be served. I’ve got to hurry!”

“We’ve got to hurry,” he corrected. “We’re together in this.”

“I want to buy this place for myself,” she said urgently, grabbing his arms. She had to make him understand how much this meant. “I want to stay.”

“Forever.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Forever works for me. Especially if you agree to be my wife.”

Dora and Holly both gasped. They both started to cry.

Riley grinned. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes,” both Holly and Dora said.

“Good.” He didn’t look too steady, either, but he beamed with happiness. “Now let’s go scare off some buyers. Shouldn’t be too hard.”

“Not with my talent,” Holly said, still reeling from the fact he wanted her to be his wife. “Let me start, I’ve got a knack for this.”

ACTUALLY, it was Dora who started off the project nicely by spilling ice water in the lap of the wanna-be buyer.

His wife gasped, stood up and flung her napkin down. “I’ve never!” she said.

Dora popped her gum, leaned close and winked. “Well, you really should. It’s good for the skin.”

“Honestly! You’re talking to one of your customers that way?”

“Sarcasm is just one of the services we offer.”

The woman gaped at Dora until Harry-egged on by Riley-leaped up on their table and sat next to the salt and pepper. With a huge amount of dignity, he lifted his leg over his head and proceeded to clean his…essentials.

And while that had the couple’s eyes nearly bugging out of their heads, Holly knew she needed to take more drastic measures. Still, even she couldn’t have planned what happened next.

From behind the counter where she was getting the drinks, she heard a drip, drip, dripping. Looking around she saw nothing, but when she walked to the corner for more ice, the floor squished beneath her feet.

She tapped at the loose linoleum in the corner and water gushed in.

A leak! They had a leak!

Perfect!

“Look at this,” she said loudly, with probably far too much glee. “We’ll need to evacuate right away before the place floods.”

“Let me see that.” Lap dripping wet from the earlier mishap with Dora’s pitcher of water, the potential buyer came behind the counter. He squatted down, peeled back the flooring and frowned. “This is a terrible mess, it’s coming from-” He went into the kitchen, following the wetness along one wall to the back door, which he opened.

Holly, Dora and Riley all crowded for space in the doorway to watch.

Holly had accidentally left on the hose, hours ago now. Water was pooling against the building, seeping into the foundation.

Holly bit her lip and looked at Riley, who blew her a kiss. She laughed, then covered the sound with her hand.

“Would you look at that?” Dora asked sympathetically. “You know, I used to be a flooring contractor. That’s going to be a mess to fix, trust me.”

The man glared at her. “Expensive?”

“Oh, yeah. Astronomical.”

Grumbling, he stalked past them, out of the kitchen and into the main room again, where he tripped over Buster.

Buster lifted his nose and howled.

Holly would never know why he reacted that way, but she could have kissed him right on his sloppy wet mouth. Inspired, she wrinkled her nose. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, no-what?” the man asked. “What now?”

“I smell rotten eggs.”

“Hey, that’s lunch cooking,” Dora said.

“No.” Holly shook her head, trying not to laugh. “It’s natural gas. We have another leak, folks.”

“Another leak?” he squeaked. “As in you’ve had them before? That wasn’t disclosed to us by the Realtor.”

“At least the gas company always responds to us immediately,” Riley commented. “Especially after the last incident.”

“What?” The man swiped at his brow. “Oh, no. I think I smell it.”

“Evacuate!” Dora screeched into the room.

Bless the hearts of the people of Little Paradise. Every one of them, now Holly’s friends, leaped up and caused a nice little riot trying to get out of the cafe.

Holly watched, pride and love brimming from her heart. From behind, Riley slipped his hands around her waist and hugged her close.

“They like me,” she whispered.

“They love you. So do I.”

“I’ve finally found my home, haven’t I?”

He turned her to face him and kissed her. “Right here in my arms.”

Jill Shalvis