Except for one problem.
Mia hated being in politics.
Being an active, informed voter? Yes, she was a big proponent of this. Being directly inside the beast? Disappointedly, it wasn’t as great of a fit as she had hoped.
Her father wanted her to follow in his footsteps and practice law. He did not make his preference a secret, pushing down on the scale in hopes of convincing her of the correct path. In a single act of rebellion, completely out of character for her, Mia stuck to her guns and went against her father’s wishes. The family already had a brilliant lawyer-turned-judge. Wouldn’t a genius political advisor expand the family’s impressive portfolio to a new arena? Unfortunately, she hadn’t known then how it was all going to turn out. Perhaps if she had listened to him, there would be a timeline where she was a customer of Pony Expresso instead of a prospective employee.
This might have been her first mistake.
Her one big venture into the job world, the one listed on her thin resume, was working for a third-party mayoral campaign in Sacramento as a social media manager. The guy was an ass, and his knowledge in regards to civic duty was close to nothing.
Taking a job, any political job, might have been her second mistake.
As everyone predicted, the underdog candidate failed to win enough votes, despite his wealth and high level of arrogance, and, on election night, Mia found herself unemployed and disenchanted.
Her hopeful and expected love affair with the political world never came because it had never existed in the first place. (She came to suspect that her AP government teacher was so good, she confused enjoying his class for real interest in the subject.) In fact, Mia hated every minute of campaign work. It wasn’t anything like she imagined. Her job scratched the outer surface of her shiny dream and revealed nothing but dull reality underneath. She had thought she’d be accomplishing things, helping her community, getting great people, like her father, into positions where they could do a lot. Instead, all she did was beef up the asshole’s image and help scrounge the depths of people’s pockets for campaign funds, which in turn were used for more publicity and more campaign money-making opportunities. Her skills and ambition meant nothing if they were only being used to help the wrong people.
But this was all the experience Mia had. And in a small, sleepy place like Old Hangtown, there weren’t many paid opportunities for an expert in political science or a social media manager. Regardless, her father was sure she’d be able to land a position with a law firm as a clerk or legal assistant. Mia was more than confident she’d be able to land a job as well. But, for whatever reason, it didn’t happen, not even for the position of receptionist or file clerk.
Overestimating her perceived workplace value based on education alone might have been her latest mistake.
This was how she ended up at Pony Expresso, a place chosen over the other, bigger chain coffee shop in town because it was her mother’s favorite. She was now vying for the coveted position of an early morning, minimum-wage-making barista who shared her tips. Even after the interview was finished, she remained at the table on the off-chance Natalie might find herself inspired and offer her a job. This and perhaps she could bask in the presence of Brawny’s handsomeness for a few minutes longer until he noticed her.
And notice her he did, because this was, after all, their destined meet-cute moment and Mia couldn’t be wasting all this time and energy for nothing. Perhaps being a down-on-her-luck, future-coffee-slinging barista wasn’t such a bad thing if it meant meeting her potential soulmate. Especially when the soulmate came inside a package featuring a chiseled jawline, stormy gray eyes, arms the size of tree trunks, and—
Okay. Stop. Get a hold of yourself, Mia, before figurative drool turned into literal gross, dribbling saliva.
The point was, perhaps all this job searching and bar lowering would be worth it in the end.
With their eye contact made, he smiled and leaned toward her. “Hi. I didn’t mean to listen in, but I was curious what drink she was going to pick for you. It’s a little disappointing she didn’t come up with anything. But you did really well in your interview. I hope you get it.”
She released a warm smile at his words of encouragement. “Thank you. I hope she gets back to me. I could really use the money.”
Brawny shifted in his chair before his gray eyes flitted away in apparent shyness. “I know this is weird, but would you mind doing me a huge favor? I could pay you”—he made a quick survey of the contents inside his bifold leather wallet—“twenty-seven dollars.” His scent wafted in her direction. It was a delicious mixture of leather wallet and pine trees. No doubt, it was the same trees he felled with the help of his massive biceps and plaid shirt.
“I guess it depends on the favor. It’s the only way to determine if twenty-seven dollars is too much or too little.”
“The perfect amount isn’t an option?” He grinned a winning smile with dazzling, flawless teeth, and her stomach flopped around like a caught fish.
Mia attempted to play it cool, at least as much as her stomach fish would allow. She pulled a strand of hair behind her right ear, sliding her hand down her jawline in a single, graceful motion. “You might be able to convince me that perfection is indeed a possibility.”
No one was more eager than Mia to hear Brawny’s exciting scheme. Her imagination whispered in her brain the various impossible, romantic situations which could occur in the near future and were inspired by too many Hallmark movies. The one she hoped for was the favor where it would be necessary to portray herself as the loving and lovable fiancée to his family, friends…or ex-girlfriend. The same ex-girlfriend, who was, of course, getting married. And his name would be Ethan or Cody or Jack. Although her nickname for him would be Brawny, of course. The daydream ended with him presenting her with a ring he purchased for twenty-seven dollars. She’d continue to wear it for sentimental reasons even after getting a major glittering upgrade.
“Great,” he replied, “it’s actually very simple. You see, I wanted to buy my girlfriend a special gift, but I’m not good at making decisions and the guys in the office aren’t exactly helpful second opinions. It wouldn’t take very long, and the jewelry store is just next door.”
“Oh.” If her smile faltered at all, he didn’t seem to notice. Okay, well, there’s a girlfriend.Of course,there’s a girlfriend. But the Hallmark fueled imagination whirred around in her brain once again. This meet-cute could still happen. Maybe Brawny was the put-upon, lovelorn boyfriend with a materialistic, snobbish girlfriend unworthy of his affection. Later, when Bethany or Michelle or Tonya acknowledged his gift with a dismissive wave, his mind would click to the funny, delightful woman he met at Pony Expresso. Brawny would become determined to do whatever it took to find Mia again. It could happen.
“Don’t you think your girlfriend would appreciate any gift regardless? I know I would if someone was nice enough to buy me jewelry.”
His lips pressed together in thought. “Maybe. I would feel better having a woman’s opinion at least.” Okay, he said,maybe. Mia’s impression of Tonya and her dismissive hand waving could be right on the money…maybe.
She smiled. “I think I can handle that for twenty-seven dollars.”
“Great! I’m Bob, by the way.”
“Mia.”
Mia and Bob left the shop, their destination: El Dorado Jewelry.
