CHAPTER 7
HOLLYN
I’ve been walking around and exploring Storyville for most of the morning and I’m a little shocked no one has asked me why it looks like I’m floating on cloud nine.
People really should be more curious, but instead of probing questions, people have simply smiled and waved.
Can they not see how I’m levitating over here?
It’s all because of Elwood. The man woke me up in the middle of the night last night with his mouth traveling down my naked body before he buried his face between my thighs. It was disorienting with the darkness still surrounding us, but I didn’t mind at all.
Trust me, it didn’t take me long at all to become fully awake and for my fingers to tunnel into his hair and hold him in place. Not like he was trying to escape or anything. Still, I wanted to make sure.
It was only after the second orgasm when he crawled up the length of my body, pushed my knees up to my chest, and plunged his rigid length into me.
Desperation was swirling in his eyes, and I could see just how on edge he was.
The relief that crossed his face when he was buried inside of me made me feel wanted in a way I’m not used to.
Part of me hopes I never get used to the feeling. I want the freshness of it. I want the newness of it. I want the passion.
By the time I fell asleep for the second time last night, I was exhausted. And I’ve never slept better. Was it being in Elwood’s arms? Was it the orgasm?
I don’t know and I don’t care.
What I do know is that I woke up in the morning with lips being pressed to my forehead and a contented feeling flowing through me.
Elwood murmured, “I left breakfast for you, all you need to do is heat it up. Everything here is for you to use. Please make yourself at home.”
When all I did was let out a contented purr, he chuckled and pressed another kiss to my forehead. Then he was gone.
I should have been embarrassed or self-conscious about being in a man’s home I hadn’t even known a whole 24 hours. But I wasn’t. There was something natural about it that I wasn’t ready to recognize or question.
Now, hours later I’m still not ready to examine why this feels so right.
Finding a set of keys, a handwritten note, and a parchment wrapped breakfast sandwich—which was delicious by the way—didn’t even make the whole thing awkward. It felt sweet. It felt intentional. It felt like acceptance.
And the feeling hasn’t faded as I’ve meandered through Storyville to check out all the little nooks and crannies.
It’s a beautiful town and everyone has been friendly with a big side of curiosity.
I’ve walked into the shops to check everything out and I’ve eavesdropped on conversations.
If you want to really learn about a town, listen in on the conversations going on around you.
People don’t always realize what they’re saying.
But nothing scandalous has come out in Storyville so far.
When I see a sign for Green Mountain High, I’m curious. Elwood told me his sister is one of the owners. The moment I step into the lobby, I’m instantly comfortable with the chic rustic vibe. It’s not overly feminine and very cozy.
I can’t say I’ve been in a lot of dispensaries, but this isn’t what I was expecting at all.
Even the holiday decorations have a homey feel to them without being too over the top. It’s a nice blend of industrial and farmhouse which appeals to me. I would put the metal snowflakes hanging from the ceiling up in my own house and I’m not someone who looks forward to decorating for Christmas.
The woman behind what has been set up as a reception desk looks up at me and smiles. “Hi,” she chirps. When she tilts her head to the side, I can see the wheels turning in her mind.
I’m not entirely sure what conclusion she’s come to, but I swear her smile gets wider as she sets whatever is in her hands down and starts to round the end of the desk. My eyebrows pull together as she steps closer.
“You must be Hollyn,” her voice is bright, and the curiosity is clear to read on her face.
“I’m Greylin?” The name sounds familiar but before I can say anything, she blurts, “I don’t know if my brother mentioned me or not and hopefully this won’t make you run, but your arrival hasn’t exactly gone unnoticed in Storyville. ”
I can’t stop the small groan from escaping my lips.
Instead of being offended, Greylin grins.
“Sorry,” I wave my hand dismissively with my apology.
“I’m Hollyn, but it seems like you already know that.
” My voice is teasing and I’m relieved when her smile grows a little bit wider.
“It’s nice to meet you. I don’t know how often something like this happens to him, but Elwood was very quick to use you as a character witness and told me about the business you opened with your friends. ”
“Hopefully he didn’t spill too much tea,” she teases.
I shake my head, unable to help the small smile on my face. Her attitude is infectious. “He’s very proud of you.”
Her eyebrows pull together, and she presses her hand to her chest. “That’s so sweet. I’m glad he’s in my corner. Not everyone has been thrilled about us opening Green Mountain High, but we’re here to stay.”
I look around the lobby area and notice the signs above a few doors indicating different areas of the business you can enter. I’m intrigued, especially by the café.
Look, the breakfast sandwich and coffee I had this morning before attaching Elwood’s keys to my own and heading out was delicious. It was cheesy and hit the spot.
But am I going to pass up at a chance to enjoy a tasty treat? Nope. That would be a crime.
“What do you mean that not everyone was thrilled about you opening? This place looks amazing.” I can’t help but look around again.
Everything is very inviting. If every area is like this then it’s the kind of place I could see spending some time in.
“He mentioned there are different areas you can enjoy here. A dispensary, bakery, and event space?”
Greylin lights up and exclaims, “Yes! It might have been easier for us to just open a dispensary, but we wanted to create a business that was a little bit more while utilizing our skills.” She must see the confusion on my face because she explains, “For example, Meadow is an amazing baker. She’s in charge of the bakery side of things, including working with our grower to get the best product she can to infuse into her baked goods.
She’s very precise about dosage and purpose when it comes to her infused foods. ”
I’m intrigued by the way they’ve set up the business. It’s an amazing idea and I’m a little jealous I didn’t think of it myself. The trick to a customer spending more money is keeping them in your building.
“What about you,” I find myself asking, “what are you in charge of?”
Greylin smiles and points toward the door that says dispensary above it.
“I’m in charge of the dispensary. It’s my domain and I take great pleasure in knowing the details of every strain and product we carry on our shelves.
I’m not the only one who works behind the counter in there, but I am in charge of ordering everything and training my employees. ”
“You must be super organized,” I murmur with appreciation.
She giggles softly and nods. “I’m organized and I love to examine customer trends, but I’ve got nothing on Mayer.
She’s a high-strung, super organized type A person.
It’s why she oversees the business in its entirety.
She keeps all of us on the same page, which we need since we’re basically running three businesses out of one. ”
“What about the third space?” I nod my head toward the door that says it leads to the event space.
“Oh,” her words are bright as she waves a hand in that direction, “Gemma runs the event area. She’s in charge of the events we host and the calendar along with providing decorations for private events.
The best nights are the Puff and Paint nights she puts together. They’re so much fun,” Greylin gushes.
It’s hard not to be swept up in her excitement and, honestly, it does sound like a lot of fun. It’s something I would do. Smoking couldn’t make the awful painting I would do any better, that’s for sure. But it would help me not care as much about trying to make everything perfect.
Before I can say anything, the front door slams open. I jump and turn toward the sound and catch the way Greylin rolls her eyes. I think she might mumble, “Here we go.”
A brunette who looks like she’s about to blow smoke out of her ears storms into the reception area. Her hands are fisted at her sides and every step she takes reminds me of when a rattle snake shakes its tail. It’s all venomous warning; one I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of.
“That asshole,” she hisses, “can’t just let it go.”
I look over my shoulder at Greylin who pulls her eyebrows together and shakes her head while waving her hand as if this is normal, everyday behavior. Maybe it is.
The woman waves around a piece of paper. “You’ll never guess what I found in our mailbox.”
“Another citation,” Greylin doesn’t pose it as a question. No, it sounds like a forgone conclusion.
To say my curiosity is peaked would be an understatement.
“Another citation,” the woman answers her own question without acknowledging Greylin spoke at all.
I look between the two women and bite my lower lip.
“Can you believe it? For the extra Christmas lights we put up outside and the big red bows on the windows.” Her lip curls up into a snarl.
“For Christmas decorations. The citation says it violates some town ordinance. But have you seen the other stores decorated for the holiday season? I bet they didn’t get a citation. ”
“You know the mayor has it out for us,” Greylin’s voice is neutral, and I turn toward her with wide eyes.
She’s far too calm about the whole thing which tells me this isn’t a new problem for them. I can’t imagine it’s easy to keep a business going if the mayor—one in charge of a small town mind you—doesn’t like it. It makes me wonder if it’s personal.
“Yes,” she hisses while turning from where she’s been staring out the front door as if she’s about to storm City Hall itself.
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 text him. 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.