Page 12 of Love Notes

“Literally!”Haider agreed.“His surname is Caldwell.”

“And you should go to his farm,” Ryan said.“It’s a maple syrup farm, and it’s got a bunch of sharp machinery and stuff you could use for your murders.”

In the sudden silence that befell the booth, I said, “Um, I write books.Murder mysteries.Completely fictional.There’s no actual murdering going on.”

Beside me, Haider flicked a coaster at Ryan.“I thought you’d invited Hannibal Lector to sit next to me!”

The server returned, and we ordered.

I answered the usual question about my books, a little embarrassed when Conor downloaded the first book in the series right there at the table.Put me in front of a crowd of a few hundred people and I was fine talking about my books, my characters, my inspiration, anything, but in a small group where I had to talk about myself, and I was usually terrible at it.But I was surprised at how much I was enjoying this evening.I barely knew Ryan, and his friends were strangers, but I immediately felt at home in this group.They were comfortable with each other in the way only old friends could be, but I didn’t feel excluded at all.I would have been content to listen to the back and forth of their conversation, taking mental notes of small-town life for my book, but I was always a part of the conversation.They talked a lot about the upcoming Founders Day.Ryan, Haider, and Sam all had products to sell.

“And you’re the odd man out,” I said to Conor.“You’re not selling anything.”

He was the odd man out in more ways than one; he towered over his friends.It was easy to imagine him slinging someone over his shoulder and carrying them out of danger.

He grinned and shrugged.“Probably for the best.Customer service is not my strong point.”

I couldn’t imagine it was Ryan’s either, he seemed so shy, but his craftsmanship, I was sure, would do most of the work of selling for him.I smiled at him over the rim of my beer glass and thought of the delicately carved petals of the roses in his workshop and his large, sure hands.And yes, I thought of those hands doing other things too.

“Are you going to be here for Founders Day, Adam?”Haider asked me.

“I’m only here for six weeks,” I said.“When is Founders Day?”

“May the tenth,” Haider said.“so you have no excuses for missing it.”

“Oh, I’m definitely coming,” I said, and not just because it would be the perfect opportunity to get even more of a feel for Caldwell Crossing and the surrounding area but because Ryan would be there, surrounded by carved roses and recipe book stands and an entire menagerie of little animals, and seeing more of Ryan?Well, I wasn’t going to say no to that.

“YOUR FRIENDS AREall nice,” I said as we rattled our way back to the cabin after dinner.

Ryan gave a soft smile.“They’re good guys.”

“They seem like it.”I watched the dark trees slide past my window for a moment and then turned my head to look at Ryan again.“Thank you for inviting me.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d come.”He slowed for a bend in the road.“Becca said you didn’t want to be disturbed.I figured that writing your book keeps you busy and you don’t want to be bothered.”

I snorted, my face heating.“No, I didn’t want to be disturbed because I’m socially awkward and I hate meeting new people.If you gave me the option, I’d barricade myself in a cave and never come out again.”

“A cave?”His mouth curved into a smile.“Really?”

“As long as it had Wi-Fi and grocery delivery, then yes.I wouldn’t even have to think about it.”

“I get that.”

“You do?”

He dipped his chin in a nod.“Does your cave have a workshop?Because if it does, I’d probably move in with you and never leave either.”

“Oh, you’re inviting yourself into my cave of solitude now?”I teased.

“Sure,” he said.“Mostly because I’m guessing you’d also need someone to chop firewood.”

“You can do that?”

He gave me some serious side-eye.

“Oh, of course you can.You even have the lumberjack uniform.”

“It’s New Hampshire.Everyone wears plaid.”

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