“I have something to cheer you up.” I removed Rescue Me from my purse and handed it to her. “A gift.”

She stood in front of where I sat on the edge of the bed and hugged the book to her chest. “For me? Is it steamy?”

“I wouldn’t know. Read the blurb.” I watched her eyes scroll the back cover copy and then widen.

She burst out laughing. “Out of hundreds of romance novels you could have picked with heroes named Josh or Logan, you chose one with Finn. Hilarious.”

I pouted. “The universe is cruel.”

“No worries. I’ll take it off your hands.” She pulled me to a standing position. “Time for my tour.”

Outside the B&B two minutes later, I said, “What do you want to see first, bearing in mind a tour of this town will take all of a half hour and that’s including the residential area?”

“I’m starving. Have you had lunch?”

“I’m hungry too. Now’s as good a time as any to show you Pinkie’s Diner. It’s my favorite spot, which isn’t saying much considering the competition.”

“How do they feel about bringing your own food?”

I froze, just now noticing the brown paper bag in her hand. “What’s that?”

“Nothing. Just bagels from H&H.” She kept walking as if bringing me the holy grail of New York City bagels was no big deal.

I doubled my stride to catch up. “You didn’t.”

“Oh, I did. I assumed you might be jonesing for one.”

“I am. I so am.” I’d been in Pleasant Hollow less than two weeks, but it might as well have been two years where my taste buds were concerned. My mouth watered with anticipation. “I love you!”

She raised her chin high. “I know.”

I led her away from the shops on Main Street toward the river. Kate’s head swayed back and forth as she took it all in, and I tried to see it from her eyes—the flat grassy areas and concrete walking path that ran through it, a small kids’ area with a swing set and jungle gym, benches every twenty or so feet, the statue of Natalie Schull. “It’s pretty! Is there a gazebo?” Hope sparked in her eyes.

“Sorry.” I smile-frowned at her. “Let’s sit here.” I stopped at a park bench, where I relished my scooped-out sesame bagel with veggie cream cheese and tomato, and gave her a status update. “It turns out not everyone in this town is standoffish and completely lacking in passion,” I said, and filled her in on Laura and Grace.

“Yay! I knew you could do it. But what’s the deal with Finn?”

I stopped mid-chew. “McAllister or Adams?”

She gave me a pointed look.

I kicked a pebble at my feet. “He’s probably at work.”

“Are you okay?”