“But I could ask Pinkie’s Diner to sponsor something culinary, like a MasterChef: Pleasant Hollow.” Maybe?

“And all the profits from the entry fee can go toward planning the Christmas parade!”

“What Christmas parade?”

“There’s no Christmas parade? Is there at least a tree-lighting ceremony in the town square? Have mercy on me and lie if you have to.”

“Yes, of course. There’s also an ice sculpture contest and a town-wide snowball fight.”

“That’s more like it.”

I laughed for a beat, until a negative thought popped my amused bubble. “How am I going to convince the town to do any of this? They don’t know me.”

Silence filled the airwaves between our phones, and then Kate yelled, “Got it!”

I braced myself for what I hoped was pure genius.

“You can take the floor at the next town hall meeting and propose the ideas.”

My shoulders dropped. “I don’t live here, and honestly, I’m not sure there even is a town hall in Pleasant Hollow, or any meetings for that matter.” Kate still hadn’t accepted this wasn’t a movie town. “I’ll check, though.”

I heard the sound of tapping on a keyboard. “You’re right. The town is too small for its own mayor, but there is a town legislator. Her name is Lorraine Jenkins.”

“Did you say Lorraine?”

“Yes, why?”

“That’s the name of the woman who runs the B&B.”

“There you go.”

I fell back on my bed. “She doesn’t like me.”

“Everyone likes you.”

“Honestly, the only people who’ve been friendly to me, besides Finn—”

“Ooh, Finn! The hottie from the B&B. Do tell. Who is he? The town sheriff? Vet?”

“Not quite. He’s actually not a local at all. I’ll get to him later.” I stood and paced the room. “But I met two women my first night who might agree to be the town faces for these activities.” Monica could take the lead on the exercise program. Jennifer might be able to help me convince the cousins to host an Oktoberfest. They already had picnic benches. It would be perfect. “I’ll have to sort out the details later. Maybe I can call in favors with friends at New York Fitness Club to come up for the day and teach yoga or Pilates in the park before it gets way too cold.”

“This all sounds great, Adi.”

I bounced lightly in place. “Thank you for dropping everything to help me. Are you still at work?” Her job often required long hours.

“I’m home. And no need to thank me. You know I live for this stuff.”

I grinned. I did know that.

“Besides, it was a great distraction.”

“Distraction from what? What’s going on with you?”

“Oh, nothing.” She sneezed.

My Spidey senses went up; Kate had a tell when she lied. “You sneezed.”