Mia let the moment settle and then turned toward the barn.
Inside the kitchen was warm, sunlight streaming across the butcher-block counters. The faint sweetness of lemon and yeast lingered in the air, making it feel warm and homey. She set the crate of produce and bags of crabmeat on the counter and stared at them for a long moment. Arugula, not microgreens, some dill and just enough edible blossoms so it looked finished. But the good news was that she was able to get all the crab she needed. It only took driving to two stores.
She took a deep breath and started in on the creamy dressing. A sprinkle of dill brought the dish together. She picked through the crab, then added diced celery, minced dill, chives and tarragon and then folded the crab and dressing together. It would be refrigerated until the party and served on tiny brioche buns topped with arugula.
Mia sighed with relief as she looked over the trays lined up and waiting.
She did it. Not perfect but finished. Better than she’d expected after the morning she’d had. That counted.
Her phone buzzed. Another message about Saturday’s event. She ignored it for now. She needed five minutes to gather her thoughts. Just five.
Now, all she needed to do was take a shower, pack up the van and drop off the food. The party wouldn’t wait. Life wouldn’t either.
But she’d keep moving. She always did.
CHAPTER 7
Woof!
Caleb glanced over just in time to catch Ranger’s nose practically glued to the passenger window. It was a perfect day. A clear powder-blue sky. A few puffy white clouds sweeping by. The green trees rippled in the soft breeze.
They rolled past a couple of small farms, and the dog stared at the cows grazing in the pasture as if they were the most fascinating creatures on earth. They’d spent yesterday getting to know each other, and somehow, they’d clicked fast. Faster than Caleb expected, faster than he deserved.
Ranger was curious and smart, the kind of dog who watched everything and missed nothing. He barely left Caleb’s side, shadowing him almost as if he was afraid Caleb would return him to the shelter.
Not a chance in hell.
Today, Caleb planned to stop at Mia Whitmore’s place and figure out exactly what she wanted. The Whitmore property was just outside town, a few miles from the Brotherhood campus.
He eased by the old Creek church tucked beneath a pair of old oaks along Whisper Creek, its bell tower catching the early light. He followed Fox Hollow Road and turned in when the redbarn and a white farmhouse came into view. There were no cars in sight.
A long gravel driveway followed the bend, then cut through the open land toward the shimmering pond. An old green truck was parked down by the water, and a man crouched beside the half-finished line of pavers. Caleb shut the engine and didn’t move right away.
For a second, he wondered if the guy was more than just hired help.
Mia always kept her distance, and he spent more time than he wanted admitting he had a crush on her. Maybe this was why. She already had someone. It would explain the polite smiles, the quick exits, the way she always stepped back when he found himself stepping forward.
He didn’t want to walk into a mess or step on another man’s toes before the job even started.
Caleb parked. “Stay.”
Ranger huffed, not at all happy he couldn’t get out and sniff around.
Caleb headed toward the man, giving him a slight chin lift. “I’m looking for Mia. Is she around?”
The man nudged a paver into place and shook his head. “Haven’t seen her. She took off earlier.”
Okay then. Not exactly Mr. Sunshine.
Caleb offered his hand anyway. “Caleb Jennings.”
The man hesitated, then wiped his hands on his jeans before shaking. “Roy Spencer.”
Caleb glanced at the half-finished path stretching around the pond. “Looks like a big project.”
Ray snorted. “Ridiculous waste of time if you ask me. But Mia wanted it done, so here I am.”
Caleb nodded, filed that little flare of attitude away for later. No sense pushing. The guy radiated irritation. He thanked Royand told him he’d check back later, hopefully catching Mia when Roy wasn’t around and the air felt a little less prickly.
