Page 39 of Once Upon A Christmas Song

“How so?” I asked him as Nicole thankfully began walking again. The cage was not light, but more importantly, it was awkward, so my grip was not as easy as it would have normally been if I were carrying uniform-sized boxes.

“Nicole is not only a food blogger, but she writes articles for Food & Wine as well.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And everyone is buzzing about your inventive bartenders and your wonderful chef,” she said, giving Cami a smile. “I’ve eaten at La Belle Vie, and your mother is amazing.”

Cami’s entire face lit up. “Thank you.”

Nicole turned to me. “I loved everything I had there, and my friends and I were going to stay longer, but then suddenly a harmonica player took the stage and⁠—”

“No.” Dawson snorted out a laugh.

“I understand,” I assured her, having blocked August Rollins, Augie, from my memory. He had been our entertainment after the terrible brass band I’d hired for a night and before the metal one. “So you were in not too long ago.”

“That’s correct. And may I say, Xola was behind the bar that day, and she made me the most perfect mojito I’ve ever had in my life.”

“She would be thrilled to hear it.”

“I was planning to come and speak to you—well, the owner, who I now know is you—about a story I want to do. Is that something you might consider?”

“Of course. You would be focusing on Georgine’s food and Darcy’s and Xola’s spirits, right? Not my hunt for a house band.”

She chuckled. “You’re not considering the harmonica guy, are you?”

“No, ma’am,” I promised.

“Are you all right to talk about this in the car? Maybe make a schedule for when I can come in and speak to everyone?”

“Absolutely. But you should talk to the ladies themselves. That would be better.”

“Well, I wanted to speak to Cami’s mom anyway before I knew she was Georgine Joseph, so could I come in with you when we drop you off?”

“Certainly.”

Nicole was smiling at me. “I’m so glad we got to meet you today,” she gushed.

“Same goes for us,” Dawson replied for both him and me, “and you’ll be happy to know that Chris has actually taken care of his house band problem.”

“Oh?” Nicole was interested in hearing anything Dawson wanted to tell her.

“Dawson West and the Dregs will be playing there nightly.”

“Are you serious?” She was suddenly breathless.

“I’m thinking between the fantastic food and drinks and, let’s be honest, great music, La Belle Vie will be the place to be.”

“I would agree,” Nicole said, sounding a bit dazed.

“We’re all going to be great friends,” Luke proclaimed as we reached their vehicle, a Lincoln Navigator L in a lovely shade of dark silver. I was glad it was big enough to fit the cage and all of us. I was so done being the rabbit carrier.

“I dunno about that,” Dawson grumbled as he helped me slide the steel enclosure into the back of the SUV and then fill the trunk with gifts.

“Be nice, would you, please? An article about the club would be amazing.”

He shook his head. “Not to blow my own horn, but all you need is me and the band and you’re set, article or no.”

“Yeah, but I can’t count on you to stick around,” I said, walking around the car to the driver’s side back door. I opened it, but just as fast, Dawson banged it shut. “What’re you⁠—”