Mia kept walking toward the farmhouse. A warm breeze carried the scent of pine, cut wood and whatever spices still clung to her from the kitchen. Tonight, Emelia had invited her and several other friends to be part of the audience for the first episode of her new cooking series on YouTube. Mia wasn’t sure what to expect but was excited to see what Emelia had planned and to cheer her on. Plus, Emelia promised the girls a new cocktail and nibbles to enjoy.
It sounded perfect after a day of juggling knives, deadlines and barn-building. And if she were being honest, it meant alittle distraction from staring out her window at a fine specimen of a man. Caleb had removed his shirt, and she couldn’t help ogling the rippling muscles and six-pack every time he carried something heavy. She shook her head at herself, smiling.Get it together.
Her phone buzzed with Emelia’s reminder text that the doors opened at six and to wear something cute since they’d be on camera.
Mia laughed. “No pressure there.”
She pushed open the farmhouse door, already planning what she’d wear. Her father and Roy were in the kitchen talking and stopped mid-conversation. The pause lingered a fraction too long.
“You look happy,” her dad said.
“I am. I have a fun evening planned with friends,” she replied, then looked at Roy. “How’s everything going at the barn?”
He huffed. “Not the way I’d build it, but…” He shook his head. “It’s fine.”
Mia arched a brow. “Fine?”
Roy’s mouth flattened like he was holding back an opinion he couldn’t share. “It’ll hold.”
Her dad shot him a look. “It’s a good start. Those boys know what they’re doing.”
Roy shrugged and didn’t argue, but he didn’t agree either. His fingers tapped against the counter, restless.
Mia decided to let it go. Typical Roy. Bad-mouthing anything he didn’t do. “Well, it sounds like progress to me.”
He gave a half-hearted grunt. “Just keep an eye on things, that’s all.”
“Why?” She frowned. “Is something wrong?”
He didn’t meet her eyes. “Probably nothing. Just a feeling.”
Her dad waved it off. “Roy gets fussy every time something changes on the farm. Don’t overthink it.”
Mia tried to laugh it off, too, but something in Roy’s voice nagged at her. A tiny prickle she couldn’t name. Unease settled between her shoulder blades.
Her dad smiled. “Well, have fun, kiddo.”
“I plan to.” Mia squeezed his shoulder on her way out of the kitchen.
But as she headed upstairs, she couldn’t shake the unease sliding down her spine. Roy’s “feeling” lingered longer than she wanted it to. Like a warning without words.
It didn’t takeMia long to drive outside town to where Emelia and Titus’s house was. Several cars were already parked in front of the sunny yellow farmhouse. She followed the trail of laughter to the barn out back. Emelia had mentioned that Titus and some of the guys had renovated it to her specifications.
Inside, the space looked like a cooking show sprung to life. Rows of gleaming pots and pans hung from the ceiling, potted herbs lined the windowsills, and a long butcher-block counter was set up for filming. The air hummed with anticipation.
Tessa was perched on a stool talking to Lainey; Joy was adjusting the ring light; Isabelle and Felicia were plating the first round of sample bites. There were a couple of women she didn’t know who wandered near the prep table soaking in the chaos.
Emelia pulled her into a hug. “Come meet the others.”
“Mia, this is Dani Ward and Naomi Fields,” she said. “They’re married to Ryker Barlow and Chase Maddox from the Brotherhood.”
She turned. “And this is Nicki Vanderdorf, she owns Petals to Go.
Mia remembered Nicki’s creative arrangements from a fundraiser and made a mental note to ask her to do some upcoming events. She also met Mallory Chapman from Spiritual Bliss, who immediately invited her in for a massage, and Jessie West, who owned Little Sprouts, a nursery school in town.
She spent a few minutes chatting before Emelia clapped her hands. “Ladies, it’s time for the unveiling of tonight’s program:One Cocktail, Three Nibbles. So grab a seat. Tessa, help me with the cocktails.”
Emelia and Tessa moved through the room, setting down the drinks. Each glass was topped with toasted coconut, the scent warm and slightly sweet, and finished with a fresh pineapple wedge perched on the edge.
