After a moment, she turned toward him. “I need something else from you.”
His shoulders tightened.
“Nothing bad. It’s simple,” she said. “I just need access.”
“Access to what?”
“The kitchen barn,” she said. “A key.”
Roy frowned. “Why?”
She smiled and touched his arm. “Because you and her dad can’t be everywhere at once. Deliveries come early. Clients show up when they feel like it. If Mia’s not there and something needs to be unlocked or a question answered, it’s better to handle it quietly than call her in a panic. And not have her blame you.”
He hesitated.
“You already do half the work keeping things running,” she added. “This would just make it easier.”
He shouldn’t do this. He knew that.
But then he thought of Mia’s accusing eyes. The way she’d walked off, like he was just another problem she didn’t have time for.
“She trusts you,” she said softly.
Roy swallowed. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll get it.”
And for the first time that day, Roy didn’t feel guilty at all.
CHAPTER 33
Mia stoppedat Will’s farm for tomatoes and basil, fussing over which bunch looked best. Tonight she was headed to Emelia’s house, and the knot in her stomach had nothing to do with pastry dough.
Emelia had called a while ago and asked Mia to take over part of her podcast and demonstrate her tomato galette, the segment would be filmed and uploaded to YouTube afterward.
It was a perfect opportunity to get more exposure. She also invited Autumn to photograph the food. Her website was empty, waiting for something real to be put on it.
Mia tucked the bag of tomatoes into the passenger seat, the fruit still warm from the sun. Will had insisted she take a little extra basil, just in case. The stems were wrapped in a damp towel to keep them fresh. Her car smelled of warm earth and spice. And since Isabelle would be there tonight, he cut sprigs of something lemony-smelling.
“What’s that?”
“Lemon verbena,” he replied. “Isabelle’s been using it in her soaps, but we’ve been experimenting with it in drinks. She loves it. Maybe you can use it tonight.”
She leaned in to sniff. The scent was bright and clean, cutting through the heavier smells of earth and tomato vines. “It smells amazing.”
“Right?” Will grinned. “I’m sure between all you girls, one of you can come up with a perfect drink recipe.”
Mia chuckled. “You’re probably right, and I think this will be the perfect accompaniment to the galette.”
He wrapped the herb in paper and handed it to her. “Consider it a bonus. Good luck tonight.”
She placed the bundle beside the tomatoes and basil. It was thoughtful of Will to include it. Mia let her mind drift toward recipes they could use it in. Maybe a lemon verbena spritz or a gin Collins. The possibilities were almost endless, and the drink would pair well with the tomatoes, basil and ricotta, light and balanced.
She hoped so.
Tonight, though, wasn’t about doing more. It was about showing what she could do. One galette at a time. Simple food, done right. No hiding behind quantity. Just skill.
She glanced at the time. Emelia’s place wasn’t far, but she couldn’t be late. Not for this. Not for something that could get her name out there without her having to chase it. She needed more attention, plain and simple. She was tired of having to hunt down new clients.
Emelia’s house was just outside town. Mia had been there before. However, a podcast wasn’t exactly her world. Talking into a microphone while someone filmed it? That was new territory. Her stomach fluttered. But demonstrating the tomato galette she’d built her catering business on, that she could do in her sleep. Good, honest food. The kind of food people remembered.
