Sweet Hill Homecoming by Joya Ryan Page A

can focus on your campaign more.”
    “There’s nothing to really campaign.”
    “But this event is the one thing you have going that will show the town a physical reason you’re the best choice for sheriff.”
    “I’m the only choice,” Tate said dryly.  
    “Yeah, but I’ve heard you talk. You worry about the town adjusting to you being the new Sheriff.”  
    That was true. He’d gotten flack, mostly from the older generation, that Tate was too young to be Sheriff, at least as good of a Sheriff as Branch. Tate wanted his town’s support.  
    “If you’re tied to this event and it’s a success, it will help show everyone that you care about the community, work hard and are ready to take on the position of Sheriff. All those people straddling the fence will see that you can handle taking Branch’s spot.”  
    Tate thought for a moment and Luke did have a point. While he’d helped in the past with Santa’s Sleigh Drive and was set to help this year, it could be the thing he needed to prove his competence to the town.  
    Most of the town turned out for this event and if he could make it good, really show that he genuinely cared about the community to put in extra effort, it could help get voters.  
    But if Santa’s Sleigh Drive was a total flop?  
    Then Tate would be seen in a negative light and put a bigger divide between him and the people that he was trying to convince he was Sheriff material.  
    “This event has to go well,” Tate said. “Because if it doesn’t, it will have the adverse effect of getting voters.”  
    “Couldn’t agree more,” Luke said. “So you’ll just have to play nice with Mia.”  
    If only Luke knew how difficult that actually was.  
      “That reminds me,” Tate said. “I still need to beat you for all those damn posters you put up around town.”  
    “What?” Luke smiled. “Gotta nice big shot of your ugly mug in my lawn right now. That’s support!”  
    “Yeah, right,” Tate mumbled.  
    He had several trees to get done before they called it a day and all he could think about was the way Mia looked in that skirt, ready to take on anything in her path, and demand from the world.  
    He smiled. There was something about that woman…
    ~
    With her scarf around her neck and coat buttoned up, Mia locked up the café, and picked up the small crate of apples Annie gave her to take home. Though it was dark and the shops on Main Street were closed, it was only a mile walk. She started her trek down the side walk.  
    “Good evening, ma’am.”  
    Mia didn’t have to look up to know who said that.  
    “Deputy West,” she acknowledged as he kept pace beside her in his cruiser. “You’re either a Ninja or a stalker, but is there a reason you’re following me?”
    “Just out patrolling.” He leaned a little to talk to her through the rolled down passenger window. “But I like that you think I’m a Ninja.”
    Apparently he missed the part where she also called him a stalker. She glanced his way. His left arm was relaxed as his wrist hung over the top of the steering wheel and his other was on the passenger seat so he could shrug a little to see and talk to her. She caught flashes of his badge from the street lights. He looked so calm and comfortable in his own skin. And that uniform...  
    Mia looked straight ahead again. Clutched the crate of apples tighter.  
    “Where’s your car this evening?” he asked.  
    She didn’t look at him, just kept her eyes forward. “Kyle has it. He’s staying late to run some football drills or something.”
    “And you’re not concerned about walking home alone?”  
    She shrugged. “Kyle’s gear is heavy and he has farther to go. I don’t mind.”  
    She chanced a look at him and his eyes held something almost soft in them. “That’s nice of you.” The way he said it with a hint of surprise irritated her.  
    “I can be nice, Deputy. Don’t sound so shocked.”  
    He chuckled and the deep rumble