Sweet Hill Homecoming (Sweet Hill 1)

Yeah, Mia could. She had her and Kyle’s future set and nothing was going to stop that from happening. Kyle would have a good year and go off to college and Mia would be the kind of woman she wanted. Respected. Valued. Two things she was taught never to want but still did desperately.

She was tired of being the mistake. Tired of being her mother’s only regret. Tired of being her own regret. No, Mia would do what she wanted, when she wanted. No one had power over her if she didn’t let them.

People here may not have liked her mother. Hell, they might not have liked Mia in her teen years, but she was back now. And she would be seen for something more than the daughter of the town whore. She would be more than a Blake.

“Yeah, I think a drink out tonight sounds good,” Mia said. She pulled out her cell phone. “Right after I make a call and schedule a meeting with the council woman.”

“Good for you!” Jen patted her hand. “I’ll pick you up tonight at nine.”

Chapter Three

“I would vote for you to be the next Sheriff,” Abby McAdams, a local accountant who also happened to be the daughter of the Fire Chief, said and leaned into Tate. She ran her finger along her pearl necklace and titled her head to the side as if examining Tate.

“Well, I appreciate that, Abby.” Tate smiled, wanting to mention for the millionth time that the Sheriff was retiring from his term ea

rly and this election was more a technicality than a “tight race.”

Tate glanced behind the bar at his buddy Matt who insisted he come out tonight.

Matt Everson and his brother Cam bought the bar a while back and “re-vamped” it. The brothers were well liked and their bar was where most folks in town came to blow off some steam.

Tate had a lot of paperwork to get done but after several texts and a few calls from Matt and Luke, saying that he needed to “mingle with the community” more, he abandoned the paperwork and went to The Dust Bucket. Tate was known and liked by the town, but Sheriff Branch had some big shoes to fill and not everyone was excited about Tate stepping up. Mingling wasn’t a bad idea he supposed.

He glanced around. Country music played on the jukebox and everyone from orchard workers to shopkeepers were flooding in. It was a casual good time with a game on the big screen, loud chatter, and draft beer.

“You’re so polite and nice,” Abby said and brushed his chest a little, her other hand closed around her white wine spritzer. “And don’t worry, I’ve been telling all the boys at the fire house that you’re the guy to vote for.”

Tate let out a breath. “I appreciate that.”

“The Santa Sleigh Drive this year is going to be great,” Abby said. “I’m heading up the coat drive for the fire department. You and I always make a good team.”

Tate nodded. The event was a big deal for the town since the anticipated event and all the donations were something that both involved and benefited the town. A lot of local businesses chipped in but the three key players were the fire station, sheriff’s department, and the hospital.

A lot of people turned out in support and looking for a fun time, so this event had potential exposure for Tate. It could be a platform for him to show the town he was ready to take over as Sheriff. The fire chief had the ear of the community—and if he endorsed Tate for Sheriff? That would be huge in making this transition run smoothly. Though Tate currently sat in close proximity to the chief’s ear, AKA his daughter, it didn’t appear that they were interested in talking about the same things. Since her hand was still planted on his chest.

“You can buy me a drink and we can talk more about it,” Abby said.

She was attractive, smart, and driven but she was looking for something Tate wasn’t offering. And she had called him polite and nice. Not that that was a bad thing. Women tended to treat him like husband material first and a man second.

Being respected was a good thing. Especially since he was running for a major position. It kind of came with the territory. It was all about perception, and Tate had a good reputation for being a mild-mannered, fair man. And that was something. But for some reason, he couldn’t get interested in Abby.

He’d been thinking about a curvy, golden haired pain in the ass—who actually had a world class ass herself—for the past twenty-four hours straight. And no matter how many times he kept replaying their interaction, he couldn’t move on.

Mia had wanted a favor? He didn’t even mention that her tags were going to expire this month. There. Favor. So why couldn’t he stop thinking about her smart little mouth and sexy as hell glare that made him want to tap into his primal side.

Because she’s the kind of woman he would never pursue. If she was in a league, Tate would be in fucking T-ball.

He was a public figure. She was a wild card. Didn’t mesh and didn’t look well. Especially to a big chunk of the town that had Tate under a magnifying glass, watching and waiting to see if he was half the man Branch was. Tate should be more into the Abby McAdams types, with her perfectly curled bob and pearls. The kind that was sweet. That kind that didn’t challenge him…

Yeah, Mia Blake was all wrong.

Then stop fucking thinking about her idiot.

“Tate?” Abby said and he realized he had zoned her out. “A drink?”

Tate cleared his throat, trying his damndest to dislodge the Mia thoughts. “Why don’t we chat some other time? I’m sorry, I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

She nodded and smiled. “Oh, yeah, of course. A man like you must be so busy.”