Page 40 of Love Songs

It had been hard to let him go, especially since my stay in Caldwell Crossing was over and I was heading back to New York City today. A wave of melancholy threatened to drown me. Instead of looking forward to getting home and returning to my regular life, I couldn’t help feeling like I was leaving something important behind. Rather, someone.

I sighed and rose to get on with the day. But I would be back, and with any luck, Conor and I could pick up where we left off.

After a shower, the third one in the last twenty-four hours thanks to one Conor Holliston, I packed my bags and went downstairs to check out of the quaint Lakeside Inn.

“I hope you enjoyed your stay with us, Mr. Blade,” Prescott Davies, the inn owner, said as I handed over my credit card. “We hope to see you again.”

“Thank you, Mr. Davies,” I replied. “I think you’ll be seeing more of me soon.”

“Excellent.” He smiled as he handed my card back to me. “Looking forward to it.”

I went into town before going to the airport because I’d promised Conor I would drop by the station before I left. There was one stop I wanted to make on my way: Harmony Chocolates for Conor’s favorite truffles.

The sweet aroma of gourmet chocolates and candies wrapped around my senses when I entered the shop, and a feeling of comfort draped over me. The brightly dressed, curly-haired man I’d met when Conor and I went on our charity date was behind the counter, leaning on his elbows on the glass top. He was chatting animatedly with a tall man with dark hair standing in front of the counter, who I recognized as another of Conor’s friends who I’d met in the Sugarworks Store. Haider’s eyes widened, and he grinned as I approached, and the other man, whose name I couldn’t remember, turned to face me.

“Hi,” I said with a smile. “Haider, is it?”

He bobbed his head, his curls bouncing, and his eyes sparkling with mirth. “I can’t wait to tell PhilliptheDallas Blade was in my little chocolate shop.”

“As long as that’s because of the band and not the stage fire,” I teased, earning a tinkling giggle.

“Or the outrageous bachelor auction bid,” Haider joked with a wink.

Oh boy. My cheeks warmed. Even if I wasn’t already famous, I’d sure made a name for myself in this little town.

“Hey, Dallas.” The tall man extended his hand for a shake. “How’s your voice? Did the maple candies help?”

I stared at him, speechless for a second. Here was this man I’d just met—Sam, I remembered now—who didn’t know me beyond the celebrity persona, and he was concerned about my voice. Not if I could sign something or take a photo or get him tickets to a show. But genuine concern for me as a person. So, of course, my throat constricted with emotion, and I couldn’t say anything at all.

Sam frowned. “Oh, no. They didn’t help?”

That spurred me out of my temporary stupor. I shook my head and held up a hand.

“No! Er, yes.” I took a breath and smiled. “Yes, thank you. Your candies worked like magic and my voice is back to normal. I never would have thought of melting a lollipop in my tea, but it’s my new favorite thing.”

Sam’s chest puffed out. “I’m glad to hear it. Most people don’t realize there are some healthy qualities to maple syrup. They’re always fixated on the sugar content.”

“Well, to be fair,” Haider interjected. “The sugar content is high.”

“Unlike anything in this shop,” Sam retorted with a grin.

Haider rolled his eyes.

“Touché.” He turned to me, standing straighter. “What can I get you, Dallas?”

“Two boxes of your famous truffles,” I said, grinning at the way Haider preened at the famous comment.

One box was for me to take home, and one was to take to the fire station for Conor and his coworkers.

“Oh my god,” Sam chuckled. “We’re never going to hear the end of that.”

“I hope we’ll be seeing you around again,” Haider said as he rang up my order and slid my purchases across the counter.

I winked at him and said, “You definitely will.”

Haider gasped, and the biggest smile I’d ever seen split his face as he placed a hand on his chest. He looked up at Sam and whispered what sounded like, “I knew it.”

Sam shook his head at Haider and waved at me.

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