The moment eased, not friendly but workable.
They got the third anchor in, then the fourth. The morning should have settled into a rhythm by now, but everything still felt off. Roy wasn’t picking a fight anymore, but he wasn’t relaxed either. He kept glancing toward the barn where Mia was working as if he either expected someone to show up or hoped they wouldn’t. Roy’s eyes cut that way again, tension flickering across his face before he looked away.
Something didn’t sit right with Caleb. His training told him not to ignore it. What it was, he had no idea. But he had the sense that it tied back to Mia. And whatever it was, it was already in motion.
Mia was just dryingthe last of the catering trays when someone knocked on the barn door and opened it without waiting.
Dana Cole peeked in, sunglasses perched on her head and a too-bright smile plastered across her face. “Hi, Mia. I was driving by and saw your van. Thought I’d stop in and catch up. We don’t ever have time at the farmers’ market.”
“Sure, come on in. I’m just finishing up here,” Mia said and hoped her voice was upbeat. She really had no desire to go down memory lane with Dana. Not today. Not when she finally felt steady again.
“I heard about your engagement party at the Lakeshore Inn. Everyone loved your food.”
“Good to hear,” Mia replied. “Coffee?”
Dana pulled out a chair at the small table. “Sure. Cream and sugar, if you have it.”
Mia nodded, poured two mugs and placed them on the table. She grabbed the creamer out of the fridge and found the sugar bowl. Heat from the dishwasher clung to the air, mixing with the faint scent of roasted garlic and lemon. The barn felt safe. Familiar. Hers.
Dana glanced around the kitchen. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in here. Did your dad have this barn when you were growing up?”
“He had it built a few years ago. When I moved back, we fitted it out as a catering kitchen.”
“Nice.” Dana fixed her coffee, took a sip and set it down. “There’s a lot of activity going on over by the pond. What’s going on?”
“I’m having an event barn built. The pond is an ideal backdrop for it. It’ll have space for private events, tastings, workshops … that kind of thing. Plus an outdoor space for people to gather for cocktails, conversations, whatever.”
“Business must be good.”
Mia shrugged. “You know how it is. Ups and downs.”
It had been mostly ups this week, but she wasn’t about to hand Dana ammunition to gossip with, especially after what Sarah overhead Saturday night. Mia wasn’t taking anything at face value.
“I saw a couple of hunks out there as well as Roy Spencer. I didn’t know he was still around.”
Mia kept her expression neutral. Of course, she noticed the guys. Dana was the biggest flirt in high school. And she always noticed everything.
“Roy helps around here doing odd jobs.”
Dana nodded, then shifted. Mia felt it before she heard it, the change in tone, the way Dana’s smile stretched a little too wide.
Here it comes. Mia wondered what gossip she was going to hear.
“You know,” Dana began, tapping her fingers on the table, “speaking of business around town, have you talked to Sabrina lately?”
Mia’s shoulders tensed. “Not really. Why?”
“Well,” Dana said, leaning in closer, “Sabrina’s been talking. And Heather’s been eating up every word.”
Mia set her coffee cup down a little too firmly. “About what?”
God help her. She didn’t want to know, but the words slipped out before she could stop them.
“Oh, nothing huge.” Dana gave a little smirk and waved a hand as if it were no big deal. “Just how fast your catering took off after you moved back. How you’re getting all the big events. How other vendors can’t compete.”
Mia took a slow breath and let it out. This again.
Dana lowered her voice as if there were spies hiding outside the window. “Sabrina claims you’re undercutting people. Stealing business.”
