Page 66 of Call It Serendipity

“Don’t get used to it.”

A deep, amused laugh rumbles in my chest. The kind that only she seems to bring up for me. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” I assure her.

My hand slides down to cup her cheek, and she presses into my palm. “How long will you be gone for?”

Bear whines, nudging Lucy and causing her to sway into me. “As short a stint as humanly possible. I’ll fly in and out of Buffalo so I can leave tomorrow and be back the next day.”

What I don’t confess is that I’d tell Richard Carpenter to shove off and handle the meeting on his own. She would only need to say the word.

“And that won’t be too much for you?”

“Not at all.”

Her mouth presses into a tight line as she studies me, not wholly convinced by my plan. I don’t blame her; it borders on irrational.

“I’ll be fine, really. This vendor deserves better treatment than he’ll probably get from my dad, but I don’t want to waste a minute of the time I have here.”

“It must be hard,” she murmurs, allowing me to guide her up against the counter.

I drag my hands down to her waist, holding her in just the right spot that I notice makes her eyes flicker a fraction brighter at me. “What’s that?”

“Being torn between two places.”

“I’m feeling less torn by the day.”

I’m prepared to share more, but her lips are on mine in an instant, and then everything else melts away.

37

With Halloween tomorrow, the coffee mug cartoon on Jitter’s window has been transformed into Dracula. It boasts the addition of a dark, billowing cape and fangs, and is still holding its own mug. But this time, the drink inside is a dark red and there is a quote bubble above it that says I want to drink your brew.

“Clever,” Jake says, admiring the art.

“Thanks, man.”

We turn together to find Mack a few steps down the sidewalk. One of Levi’s good friends, he also picks up various bar tending and serving jobs around town. Like the seasonal pop up at Pumpkinville. He approaches us with the crunch of leaves beneath his boots.

“Did you paint this?” I ask him, unaware he had such talent. “Do you paint all of them?”

Mack is a large, burly man, and the last person I’d expect to shrug shyly as he admits, “Yeah, Jenny and I usually plan together, but I make them.”

“I always love them,” I say quickly before turning to introduce the men to one another. “But I’m sorry, Jake meet Mack. You might have seen him⁠—”

“At Gin Mill,” Jake says, reaching out and shaking hands with our local bartender. “He’s served me quite a few times over these last couple months.”

“It’s good to see you,” Mack replies. “You’re the travel writer, aren’t you?”

Jake’s hand returns to my back, his fingers giving me a squeeze at my hip. “Sure am, word seems to travel around here.” He’s got his lopsided grin on full display, clearly amused by this.

“Pretty common in Ellicottville, I’m afraid. But I’m glad I ran into you—you’ll have to come by Gin Mill in a couple days, experience our big Halloween bash.”

I had completely forgotten about the Halloween event they host every year. It’s not my thing since it’s far too crowded and far too loud. But if the goal is to give Jake a taste of community around here, it would be a good thing for him to see.

“Thanks for the invite,” Jake replies smoothly without confirming or denying his attendance.

They exchange a nod before Mack bids us farewell and continues down the street. Jake is ready to move on, too, his hand reaching for the door to Jitters. But I’m frozen by what I’m about to suggest.

“Luce?” he asks, turning back to me. “Everything okay?”