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“They’re good men,” Ruby said, reverence coating her words. “They don’t bother a soul and they help me with anything I need during the wintertime since Pauly’s back has been messed up.”

The mention of her husband made me smile. I’d never seen the man without a tobacco pipe hanging precariously from the corner of his mouth or a smile on his face.

“Good boys,” she added fondly, rocking back and forth on her heels.

I nodded, not at all surprised Sincere, Lorenzo and Rome were good in Ruby’s book. Everybody in Bliss Peak was so damn nice it still gave me pause from time to time. Not that peoplewere inherently cruel where I came from in New Hope, but they weren’t like this.

Then again, I guess Bliss Peak hadn’t earned its reputation as the safest place in the state for nothing, either. Before I arrived, the idea of a quaint, all-Black mountain town blew my mind. Especially since it was only five hours away from my hometown.

But life here felt like I’d been transported to another world.

I saw why my grandmother couldn’t shut up about the place my whole life. So much so that I thought it was some fictional land she thought up to keep me entertained with her countless bedtime tales. But it was very much real and the place was so enchanting I wanted to bottle some of its essence and keep it for a rainy day. In case I didn’t always live here. In case I ever forgot what it was like to be surrounded by love no matter what.

When I was growing up, money had been too tight for my grandmother and I to ever make the roadtrip to visit. And now that I had the money to travel wherever I wanted, she wasn’t here to enjoy it with me…

Funny how life worked.

“You a’ight, honeybee? Look like you thinking about something mighty serious,” Ruby called, breaking me out of my thoughts.

Her sweet, weathered voice broke my reverie and I looked around, remembering I was on the side of the road. I took a minute to recenter myself, taking in the familiar surroundings. The mountains served as a perfect backdrop for Ruby’s yellow pickup truck and a smile tugged at my lips.

“I’m okay,” I assured her. “I have a meeting to get to, so I’ll see you later.”

“You come around the house later if you want a plate. Pauly been waiting all year to pull out his grill and he ain’t stopped all week. And I’m thinking about making a cobbler with some of these nectarines.”

My mouth watered at the thought.

“Yes ma’am. I’ll come by.” I was fully aware she invited me over so often because she knew I didn’t have many friends here yet.

And as much as I loved my own company, I couldn’t resist basking in the older couple’s wisdom and friendship. There was something addicting and comforting about their presence and I made a mental note to pick up a bottle of wine or something after my meeting to bring to dinner with me.

“Good luck at your meeting, honeybee,” Ruby called as I climbed into my van. “I’m praying for you.”

I’d known Ruby long enough to know that her saying thatwasthe extent of the prayer. And something about that made me happier than it should have. With my fruit haul secured on the passenger seat, I smiled out of the windshield at her until she was out of view.

Instead of heading straight to my appointment, I took a detour through the town square, intent on scoping out my dream storefront for good luck before going to the bank.

I slowed my van to a stop and perked up when I saw the empty commercial unit. It’d been my dream to convert it to a bookstore lounge since I moved here, and the fact that it was still empty made me feel like it’d been purposely set aside for me.

As always, I imagined the awning I would put up, the flower boxes I’d install and the little bistro table for two I’d place just outside the door on the sidewalk.

Before I could zone out too long, a now familiar violet BMW parallel parked in front of a shop, half a block up and caught my attention.

Romeo.

Had I conjured him up by asking Ms. Ruby about him? As many times as I’d been to his shop, I never saw him coming or going. And now…

Before I could second-guess myself, I threw my van in park, checked my reflection in the visor mirror and grabbed a basket of nectarines from the passenger seat before hopping down.

I still had half an hour before my meeting, and I knew how I was spending it.

I walked in Soulstice and immediately calmed when I inhaled the aromatherapy blend of the day. The calming scents of sandalwood, jasmine and lavender bathed the small shop.

Aside from the attendant at the register, I was the only person inside, and even though Romeo was at the forefront of my mind, he was mysteriously out of sight.

“Hi, Lottie,” I said to the pretty dark-skinned woman up front.

Her face split into a welcoming grin, putting all her teeth on display. “Hey, pretty girl. Weren’t you just here a few days ago? What you need?”