Sweet Hill Homecoming (Sweet Hill 1)

“You know I think Mia on this event is a good thing. Annie said it’s kind of what she did in Seattle. She already has me donating five cases of apples and Annie is going to make pies for some kind of contest and to sell. Mia seems to be on the ball.”

Tate nodded. He’d heard something along those lines too. Of course it wasn’t a surprise that Mia made a living at throwing parties. But if there was one person to get people on board with her ideas, it was Mia. Tate knew firsthand how persuasive she could be.

“It’s going to be a long few weeks,” Tate said.

“Will it? Looking at her on a daily basis can’t be that bad, since every time she’s around you can’t seem to look anywhere else.”

Speaking of “looks” Tate shot Luke a clear “shut the fuck up” glare and went back to cutting.

“On the bright side, if she can handle most of this event stuff, you can focus on your campaign more.”

“There’s nothing to really campaign.”

“But this event is the one thing you have going that will show the town a physical reason you’re the best choice for sheriff.”

“I’m the only choice,” Tate said dryly.

“Yeah, but I’ve heard you talk. You worry about the town adjusting to you being the new Sheriff.”

That was true. He’d gotten flack, mostly from the older generation, that Tate was too young to be Sheriff, at least as good of a Sheriff as Branch. Tate wanted his town’s support.

“If you’re tied to this event and it’s a success, it will help show everyone that you care about the community, work hard and are ready to take on the position of Sheriff. All those people straddling the fence will see that you can handle taking Branch’s spot.”

Tate thought for a moment and Luke did have a point. While he’d helped in the past with Santa’s Sleigh Drive and was set to help this year, it could be the thing he needed to prove his competence to the town.

Most of the town turned out for this event and if he could make it good, really show that he genuinely cared about the community to put in extra effort, it could help get voters.

But if Santa’s Sleigh Drive was a total flop?

Then Tate would be seen in a negative light and put a bigger divide between him and the people that he was trying to convince he was Sheriff material.

“This event has to go well,” Tate said. “Because if it doesn’t, it will have the adverse effect of getting voters.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” Luke

said. “So you’ll just have to play nice with Mia.”

If only Luke knew how difficult that actually was.

“That reminds me,” Tate said. “I still need to beat you for all those damn posters you put up around town.”

“What?” Luke smiled. “Gotta nice big shot of your ugly mug in my lawn right now. That’s support!”

“Yeah, right,” Tate mumbled.

He had several trees to get done before they called it a day and all he could think about was the way Mia looked in that skirt, ready to take on anything in her path, and demand from the world.

He smiled. There was something about that woman…

~

With her scarf around her neck and coat buttoned up, Mia locked up the café, and picked up the small crate of apples Annie gave her to take home. Though it was dark and the shops on Main Street were closed, it was only a mile walk. She started her trek down the side walk.

“Good evening, ma’am.”

Mia didn’t have to look up to know who said that.

“Deputy West,” she acknowledged as he kept pace beside her in his cruiser. “You’re either a Ninja or a stalker, but is there a reason you’re following me?”