She grinned. “Message received. Only ogle when no one is around.”
Caleb shook his head, a smile tugging at his mouth as he stepped back toward the crew.
Tires crunched down the drive as Mia headed back to the barn. The electrician. Relief washed through her. She was hoping they’d come today. The electrical issues had been gnawing at her. They’d already cost her time and money, and they touched on the one thing she couldn’t afford to gamble with. Her business.
The quote almost stopped her heart, but she agreed without hesitation.
Some things had to be fixed properly.
There was nothing for her to do while the electrician worked, so she drove into town to meet Autumn Bennett. The timing was almost comical. One minute she was sweating an electrical panel, the next she was thinking about branding and pretty pictures. But after the tasting with the mayor’s daughter, she realized she couldn’t afford not to. Josie loved the menu. Her mother practically licked the bowl clean. And she could still hear the mayor’s voice telling her that her menu was thoughtful and polished.
And if they did book her? She wanted everything to look as good as it tasted because this could be the moment things finally tipped in her favor.
Lainey had introduced her to Autumn months ago, promising that she had an eye for food photography. Mia needed that. Not just for social media but also for proposals, for brochures, for the kind of people who decided with their eyes first and rarely gave second chances.
She parked in front of LilyPad Confections downtown and stepped into the light and airy bakery Emelia used to own. The new owners hadn’t changed anything. The walls were still pale pink, the wooden tile floors were light, and there were lots of airy plants tucked into corners. Wide glass display cases lined the front, filled with neat rows of pastel frosted cupcakes, glossy fruit tarts and assorted pastries that all looked yummy.
The scent of espresso hung in the air, competing with butter and sugar and cinnamon. Mia inhaled deeply; it was a heady, comforting combination.
She spotted Autumn waving from a small, round white table near the window.
“Hey,” Autumn said, standing to hug her.
“Thanks for meeting me,” Mia said, smiling, grateful for the distraction.
“Of course.” Autumn pushed back a strand of her chestnut hair. “I’m excited. Lainey said you’ve got some big things happening.”
Mia gave a small laugh. “Big and slightly chaotic, if I’m being honest.”
“Chaotic is fine.” Autumn grinned. “Usually photographs beautifully.”
“You haven’t ordered anything yet?”
“No, I just got here.”
“Well, this is my treat,” Mia said. “Tell me what you want.”
“Coffee,” Autumn said without hesitation. “And surprise me with something sweet.”
Mia nodded. She walked over to the glass case and stared. Everything looked inviting. “Let me have two coffees, a cinnamon roll and one lemon-raspberry tart.
She paid, then glanced back toward Autumn and imagined for a second the new event barn with morning light pouring in, a simple backdrop and her food plated like it deserved to be—clean, confident and unmistakably hers.
Autumn licked her lips as she set the coffee and plates of pastry down. “Oh my, everything in this shop screams ‘eat me.’”
Mia laughed. “I know. It was hard deciding what to choose.”
They sipped their coffee in comfortable silence. Then Autumn asked, “Tell me what you’re hoping to get out of this. Social media? Website? Something bigger?”
Mia placed the cup on the table. “All the above. Although I don’t have a website right now. I have a new space that’s almost finished, and I’d love to shoot there.”
“An event space?”
“A barn,” Mia said, then smiled. “Not rustic but open. It’ll be small but intimate.”
“I love that. Food photographs best when it belongs somewhere.”
Mia nodded. “I’ve got some high-end tastings coming up. The kind where presentation matters as much as flavor.”
