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But I’m glad she can already see the charm.

Overhead, the wooden beams crisscross, and you can see all the way to the highest peak of the ceiling. The floors are smooth wood, sanded down even more over time by boots and tires. The walls are also raw wood and will certainly need painting, if not drywalling.

“There’s so much we could do with the space. But there’s plenty of room.”

She looks up at me again, a crease between her brows. “Lawson, what’s going on?”

“I think this would make an awesome dance studio.”

Her pretty lips part and her blue eyes get even wider. “What?”

I can’t contain my excitement. “You need more space. Your class is already overflowing our living room. I started thinking about where you could go and hold classes. Then George and I were talking, and he mentioned the barn just sitting here. He loves the idea.”

“You told George about the dance studio idea?”

“Yeah, and of course mentioned you.”

“What does that have to do with it? George is into dance?”

I laugh and give in to the instinct to reach up and cup her cheek. “George is into you. Like everybody else in this town.”

“I don’t even know George that well.”

“But he knows you. You’ve grown up here. You’re involved in every single activity and event. He’s attended festivals and shows and clubs just like everyone else and knows that you are behind helping make them wonderful. He’s had such a good time at so many activities because of you. The idea of you using this space for something like that made him really happy.”

She frowns and looks around, and I have to drop my hand even though the last thing I want to do is stop touching her.

“It’s outside of town,” she says. “I could just use the community center or something.”

“It’s barely outside of town,” I say. “It’s right on the edge. People take a right at the statue and go past the general store. Everyone knows where this place is. Besides, we can put up big signs and all the twinkle lights, remember?”

She looks up at me again. “How do you know about twinkle lights?”

I laugh. “I had a little sister, remember? And I too have been to a number of activities in this town. I have absolutely seen the magic of a twinkle light.”

That finally teases a tiny curl to the corner of her mouth. She looks around again. “Still, the community center makes more sense, doesn’t it?”

“You’d have to pay to rent the space.”

“I’m sure Nora would give me a deal.”

I’m sure she would. Nora would no doubt let Sutton use it for free. “You’d have to schedule around all the other activities. This place could be all yours.” I take her hand and tug her further into the room. “Imagine it. The line dancing, ballroom dancing, little kids in here learning everything from tap to hip-hop. You could have recitals. You could host dances where people could come out and just dance for the evening and enjoy what they’ve learned. You could have all kinds of themes. You could have a Regency English Christmas. A spring fling. And of course, a barn dance.”

She’s looking at me, completely puzzled.

“I’ve also picked up a thing or two about themes since being a part of bonkers hockey,” I tell her dryly.

“A good theme is really fun,” she says.

“I was talking to my sister the other day and⁠—”

“You were?” she cuts in. “She called?”

“I called her. I realized I missed her and wanted to see how she was.”

That’s what finally gets a full smile, and my heart squeezes.

“She told me that when you are teaching someone to dance, you should always be working toward a show. The dancers need to have a goal to work on and then a chance to show off what they’ve learned. She also mentioned in Brewser’s case—and yes, I told her about him, but she’ll keep it a secret⁠—”