Sam nodded while Stella gushed over the food. Then, conversation flowed easily from talk of Romano’s to talk of the Duke Saloon and Alma. Sam went hunting with Alma’s husband every fall, though he never actually caught anything.
“I like being out there with him, but I’m a lousy shot. I mostly just help him carry supplies, and he rewards me with some of his deer jerky.”
When Georgia and the Baldwins came up in conversation, for the first time, Stella didn’t feel even a flicker of jealousy. Everyone in the family had done everything in their power to make this date happen, and it was clear Sam was happy to be here, too. If there were ever romantic feelings between him and Georgia, they’d long since dissipated, and there was no sense in being upset about them now.
Sam had a warmth in his voice when he talked about all of the Baldwin kids—a warmth that evaporated at even the hint of Richard Baldwin’s name. It was clear that Richard’s betrayal of Georgia had affected more people than just his immediate family, but Stella was still too nervous to press Sam to talk about it more. So, they talked about Tasha’s play instead.
“I still think Meet Me in St. Louis should be a Christmas play.”
Sam shook his head and held up his hands. “I refuse to get into it.”
“Are you afraid of Tasha Baldwin?”
“Yes!” Sam laughed. “If you were smart, you would be too. That woman is determined. Once she sets her mind on something, nothing can stop her. So, I won’t be the one to stand between her and doing this play in the fall. Plus, I’ve never even seen it.”
Stella’s mouth fell open. “What?”
He shrugged. “I’m not much for musicals.”
Her mouth opened further, and she was surprised it wasn’t dragging on the ground. “You don’t like musicals? Like, any?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen very many.”
“Singin’ In the Rain?”
He shook his head.
“An American in Paris? Seven Wives for Seven Brothers? Oklahoma?”
Movie after movie, Sam shook his head, and Stella stared on in horror. “Please tell me you’ve seen The Wizard of Oz.”
Sam snapped his finger and pointed, a triumphant grin across his face. “Yes, I’ve seen that one. Tasha loved it as a kid, and it was on the television every time I went over to the house to see Richard.”
Again, the mention of Richard dimmed some of Sam’s shine, but the memory of Tasha forcing Melanie and Drew to dance around the room with her as Dorothy and the two of them as the Scarecrow and the Lion made him smile again.
“Who played the Tin Man?”
He smirked and pointed at himself. “Every time I was at the house, it was me. She said it was because I was tall, but I think it’s because my dance moves were stilted and robotic.”
The image sent Stella into a fit of laughter, and she begged to no avail for him to reprise his performance.
As they finished their entrees, the conversation circled back around to the delicious food.
“Giuseppi’s family is from Turin, Italy. His mom taught him everything she knows.”
“Bless her,” Stella said between bites. When she finally ate her breadstick, she shook her head in disbelief. It had a chewy crust on the outside with a light texture inside, and it was coated in decadent garlic butter and salt. “I’ve never been to Turin, but now I don’t think I need to go.”
“I’ve never been out of the country,” Sam admitted. “Matter of fact, I haven’t left Maine in years. It’s hard to get away from the shop.”
“Well, how could you get away when you have tourists breaking down on the highway and requiring your immediate help?” Stella teased. “What would all the damsels in distress do without their white knight?”
Stella couldn’t tell for sure, but she thought Sam might be blushing. He asked, “Do all white knights wear greasy coveralls?”
“Only the best ones.” She was being forward, but the combination of the food and the wine was going to her head, even though she certainly hadn’t had enough to even be tipsy. It was just all so delicious and perfect that she couldn’t help but feel swept up.
“Well, in case it isn’t already obvious, I don’t usually treat the other damsels to dinner.” Sam glanced up from his plate, and the way his lashes brushed against his cheeks made him look much younger than he really was. He shrugged. “Actually, you could say that I’ve never treated any of them to dinner. Until now.”
Stella already knew Sam didn’t date, but him admitting it confirmed her theory that tonight meant something to Sam. It wasn’t just a way to kill time; it was an admission of his feelings. Before, the thought had filled Stella with dread, but looking into his eyes now, she couldn’t feel anything besides the butterflies flitting around in her stomach.
“Car repair and dinner? It sounds like I’m getting the royal treatment, then.”
Sam’s expression shifted for a moment. His eyes turned downcast, and he wriggled in his seat before taking another large bite of lasagna.
As he chewed, Stella worried she had said something wrong again. That she’d spooked him the way she did at their picnic on Saturday. But before she could be consumed by her worries, Sam swallowed and pushed his chair away from the table. “You think this is royal treatment? Wait until you see what else I have.”
He went into the kitchen and pulled another takeaway container out of the fridge. This one had a clear plastic top, and Stella could see the perfectly golden cannoli shells with white, fluffy cream coming out of both ends before he even set the box down.
“I’ve heard so much about these that I’m almost afraid to try them. What if they don’t live up to my expectations?”
Sam shook his head and popped the lid. “Impossible. Trust me.”
Stella did, and she reached for the delicate
