Recognition slotted into place. This was why Finley loved living in a small town. Forget six degrees of separation. Approximately one and a half degrees of separation existed between Misty River’s residents. The owner of the Buttercup Boutique, a clothing store, was a fashionable woman in her late forties. She had several kids and fabulous hair. “Of course!”

“I’m crazy about reading, and so I said yes when they asked me to volunteer with Friends of the Library.”

“That’s so kind of you.” Finley explained that she was seeking a book that held special significance. “Dakota at the library suggested that you may store leftover books until the next sale.”

“That’s correct. We set up a booth at the Apple Festival every year and sell books. The community is very supportive, so we never have many books left. At the moment, I believe I have two cardboard boxes full. I stuck them in the storage room in the back of my shop, so feel free to come by anytime during business hours. I’ll take you back there and you can go through them.”

“Would it work for you if we headed in that direction now?”

“Sure! I’ll see you when you get here.”

They disconnected. “Are you up for a stop downtown?” Finley asked Luke. “Friends of the Library books are stored at the Buttercup Boutique.”

His U-turn showed his willingness to make the detour. “You mentioned the Hartwell Library earlier,” he said. “Do you think it’s worth giving that library a call to see if they have the book in circulation?”

“Yep.” However, her call to the library in Hartwell revealed that they’d never had a book associated with that call number in their system.

Luke pulled to a stop in front of Sugar Maple Kitchen.

“What’s this?” she asked. “The boutique is one block down.”

“I don’t want you to miss lunch.”

“That’s thoughtful of you, but I can make do with the power bar and apple I have at Furry Tails.”

“They have a to-go line here. I’ll be in and out in a few minutes. What would you like?”

“The vegan veggie wrap, please.”

He left her in the truck, engine running.

The Luke who’d told her he didn’t want to get involved with her had just stopped at a restaurant to ensure she didn’t go hungry.

True to his word, he came out minutes later. She peeked inside the sack he handed her. In addition to the veggie wrap, he’d bought a package of nuts, a bag of chips, and a turkey sandwich for himself. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I absolutely love this restaurant. I either eat here or get take-out twice a week.” She set the bag between them. “Did you know that Sam, the owner of Sugar Maple Kitchen, is engaged to Genevieve Woodward?”

“Ben told me.”