Sweet Hill Homecoming (Sweet Hill 1)

“No,” Tate said instantly. “You’re making perfect sense.”

He looked down at her and she gave a shaky smile. She didn’t know why she just vented to Tate. Maybe because he seemed like he understood on some level. Maybe because she never talked about her mom or how things changed so suddenly and Mia never got a chance to really deal with it. Whatever the reason, she felt a little lighter.

Though she was feeling less and less steady around the Deputy. Something about him made her a little nervous and a little giddy. Like her powerful persona was chipping just a bit and she felt like…a woman.

“Did you know that several people over the years have applied to be the Community Event Planner? And my mother has never hired a single one,” Tate said and kept his eyes on hers. “There is something special about you,” he said softly. “You must have dazzled her.”

She smiled. The little bit of credit he just gave her made her chest feel full of pride and achievement.

“I’m going to do a good job on this,” she said, feeling the need to inform him of her gumption to make this event a success.

He laughed. “I know.” He looked forward once more. “I know you’re still new to all of this and I have a lot riding on this event. So if you want to hang back this year and just observe and learn, I can take care of this.”

“That’s what this is about?” she asked. “You think I can’t handle this?”

“I think that it’s new territory.”

“I think I can manage,” she said dryly. “And I’m not hanging back. I wasn’t hired for the job of Community Event Planner.” The moment she said it out loud, she felt like a fraud. She had gotten caught up in his one nice sentence and didn’t correct him earlier. But she had to now. “This is a trial position. How I do with this event will determine if I’m long term material.”

“I see,” Tate said and Mia felt like an idiot.

So many emotions were firing and she didn’t’ know how to deal with it. She needed to keep her focus. Find her balls and woman up.

“So you can see why this is important to me too. I may not be the Community Event Planner yet, but this is a real job to me and a shot at a permanent position.”

Ms. Delmore actually looked through her book and valued her ideas. Something Mia wasn’t giving up on.

“I’m staying on this event, Tate. Like it or not, but that’s a fact.”

He glanced down and for a man who seemed to have every aspect of his life together, an air of insecurity came over him. Tatum West was nothing if not determined. From the way he held himself to his commitment to the truth and god knows his stickler ways to the rules…but there was respect in that. Honor. Something that while he irritated the crap out of her on most occasion, she could appreciate.

“I get that, Mia. But understand that nothing can mess up this event. I’m trying to show the town, especially the people that have major doubts, that I can handle being Sheriff. No scandal. Not even a hint of anything that could dirty my reputation. Do you get what I’m saying?”

She looked into his eyes and yeah, she got it. By nothing, he meant her. Nope. No way would she let him and his prick attitude damper her night. Especially when for a moment she opened up and thought they connected.

“So no fucking against the court house then?”

“Jesus, Mia,” he sighed like dealing with an exasperated child.

“What? I just want to understand. Basically you want me to keep a distance so we’re not linked on this event, is that right?”

“I just want this to go well. I have a lot going on right now and me being seen as dating or—”

“First of all, we’re not dating. Second of all, spare me your speech. I know how guys like you work.”

“And I know women like you.”

“Do you? Is that why you keep popping up everywhere I am?”

“That’s because most of the time you or your family is in some kind of issue with the law.”

“That’s because my family can’t seem to crawl out from under a semi-shitty reputation placed on us. You want to judge people on the past? Be my guest, but I’m not who you think I am.”

“Oh? Because I think I’ve gotten a pretty good idea of who you are—”

She cut him off again because he was going to likely insult her. “Do you want to be Sheriff?”

“Yes, I do.”