dad on Saturdays and getting to pick out penny candy to bring home to my little sister.”
“That’s a sweet memory.”
“Ha, no pun intended, right? All my memories of the store are sweet, and I really do love it. It’s just that I’m not sure I want to spend my whole life working there, you know?”
He knew all too well. “I get it. I’m expected to join my family’s business, too.”
“What’s your business?”
“Commercial real estate.”
“That sounds more interesting than a country store.”
“You might be surprised to hear I have zero interest in it. I’m giving myself this summer and next year in England to work up some enthusiasm.”
“What’s in England?”
“Oxford. I’m doing a postgraduate year there, which is a dream come true. I have a little thing for the Beatles, and it’s been a longtime goal to spend a year in England.”
“A little thing for the Beatles,” she said, laughing. “I have a feeling you might be understating it if you’re going to spend a year in England because of your love of a band.”
“I might be understating it a tiny bit.”
“Tell me the truth. You’re obsessed, right?”
“What’s the next level above obsessed?”
“Sociopathic?”
“That might be about right.”
Her laughter sent a strange shiver of sensation darting through him, filling him with an acute awareness of another human being that was all new to him.
“Which Beatle is your favorite?”
“Like… you want me to choose one of them?” He glanced over at her to see her smile.
“Yes. Just one.”
“Oh God, how do I choose?”
“Come on. Surely someone has asked you this before.”
“They have, and I’ve always refused to pick one, but something tells me you aren’t going to let me off the hook that easily.”
“You’d be right about that. Man up and choose.”
Linc groaned loudly and dramatically. “Do you promise never to tell the others I picked one of them?”
“I solemnly swear.”
“John,” he said through gritted teeth.
Cupping her ear, she said, “What was that? I didn’t quite hear you.”
“John! Are you happy now?”
“Not until you tell me why you chose him.”
“You’re killing me here, but I chose him because he’s not just an amazing musician. He’s also a poet. His lyrics are just… They’re life.”
“What’s your favorite Beatles song?”
“I can only have one?”
“In this instance, yes.”
“Are you sure you didn’t just graduate from law school? I feel like you might’ve missed your calling as a prosecutor.”
Again, her laughter touched and delighted him.
“If you’re going to force me to choose, then I’d say, ‘Let It Be,’ even though Paul wrote that one and John allegedly hated the song.”
“You’re going to think I’m lying, but that’s my favorite, too. Although, I’m not all that into the Beatles.”
“Wait. What did you just say? You’re not that into the Beatles?”
“You heard me right. I’m more of a Rolling Stones kinda girl.”
“At least they’re still British.”
“You really have a thing for the Brits, huh?”
“I’ve always been fascinated by the monarchy and British history, which was my double major in college along with business, so I guess it stands to reason I’m into British music, too.”
“Who else besides the Beatles?”
“I love Queen, the Stones and the Who. I’m digging the Clash lately, but the Beatles will always be my number one.”
“What do you think of Wings?”
“I like them, but not like I love the Beatles.”
“I’m sensing a pattern here.”
“You’ve already decided I’m a sociopath.” He couldn’t recall the last time he enjoyed a conversation so much.
“That’s true.”
“Tell me more about Vermont. I’ve never been there.”
“It’s the prettiest place you’ll ever see. Mountains and trees and beautiful lakes. And when it snows, it’s magical. Sometimes, the snow is hip-deep, and even then, I still love it. A lot of people hate the snow, but not me. I don’t think I could live somewhere that doesn’t get snow, but then again, I’ve never wanted to live anywhere but Vermont.”
He could hear in every word she said how much she loved her home state.
She watched the world go by outside the passenger window as they drove through the area he’d seen before, made up of houses in need of repairs. “It’s a little overwhelming to see up close.”
“It is. It makes you realize how important the construction project is to so many people.”
“We’re going to leave here wishing we could’ve done more.”
He already liked her more than just about any woman he’d ever met, but after she said that, he suspected he could love her.
“We made some incredible memories that summer.” Molly picked up the story, smiling at him the way she had