can’t take all of the credit,’ she replied with a smile. ‘But you’re right, it does look great, doesn’t it? Anyway, I need to go and mingle, so I’ll leave you to it.’ Mia headed off to join Pollyanna behind the counter. ‘God, I didn’t realise so many people were coming.’
‘You don’t give yourself and this place enough credit, Mia. Of course this many people were coming; they all love you.’
Mia beamed. ‘You think so?’
‘I know so.’
‘Any sign of Cal yet?’ Mia asked as she cast her eyes about the diner, while at the same time attempting to appear unbothered in regards to his presence. In truth, there was a slight tingle in her fingers whenever she wondered about what he’d look like tonight. Gorgeous, no doubt, even more so with Hannah on his arm. She worked to ensure her expression remained unchanging. ‘He’s bringing Hannah.’
Pollyanna passed a glass of wine across to a waiting guest. ‘Who cares? Was she even invited?’
‘Cal asked if he could bring her as a plus-one. I could hardly say no.’
They giggled together and then, as if summoned by Mia and Pollyanna’s thoughts, the diner door opened and in they walked. Cal and Hannah, looking like they’d been matched as a pair by God himself.
Mia’s knees buckled just a little bit as she took in the sight of him. Even if she’d wanted to look at Hannah, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Cal, with his hair brushed back, the tight black trousers and leather jacket. He looked as if he’d just stepped off the stage after playing a leading role in a 50s movie.
‘Speak of the devil and she may appear,’ Pollyanna muttered beneath her breath. ‘I’m off to find someone to dance with. Catch you later.’ With a last fleeting glare towards Hannah, Pollyanna wandered off to find her victim.
Alone, Mia watched as Cal chatted with a few of the guests as he slowly tried to make his way towards her through the groups of people. Hannah lingered at the side of his body with her arm tucked through his. She looked uncomfortable, as if she couldn’t associate with the people crowding around them, like they were beneath her somehow. Mia shook her head as she helped herself to a bottle of beer. She didn’t drink often but tonight was a celebration and she definitely deserved some enjoyment.
The truth was, she didn’t get out much. With the demands of the diner, it didn’t really leave her with much free time to do as she pleased. In all honesty, choosing to spend her free time getting drunk off her face until the cows came home probably wasn’t her preference anyway. Plus, in three years she’d be turning thirty, and she felt that the time for partying had passed her by. She wasn’t too fussed really. She lived vicariously through Pollyanna, who always had gossip about nights out with her friends when she visited them out of town to share. Sometimes, when listening to Pollyanna talk about her latest adventures, Mia would watch her with wistful longing. She’d never experienced it herself. She’d been too focused on the diner and taking care of Grandma Dolly. She supposed she’d made the decision to not live that sort of life when she’d moved to Sunset Bay.
‘Hello, you.’
Mia looked up and found Cal sitting on the bar stool on the opposite side of the counter. He was leaning in close. ‘Hey, Cal. Great turn out tonight, right?’ She smiled and passed him a beer. ‘Hannah looks great.’
Cal laughed to himself. ‘Yeah, but I think I’m the one that deserves all the praise. I even have the toothcomb poking out of my back pocket. Look.’ He hopped off the stool and turned around, giving Mia no choice but to look at his arse, which looked delectable in those tight, black trousers. Shapely and firm and …
‘Cal! What on earth are you doing?’ Hannah was blinking between the two of them, as if she’d just caught them in bed together. It was obvious she disapproved and Mia had to stifle a snort.
‘I was just showing Mia my comb.’ He sent a wink Mia’s way before returning to the stool. ‘Chill, Hannah. Do you want a drink?’
Hannah made a show of studying what was on offer with obvious distaste while Mia prepared herself for having to tell her that they were all out of champagne. ‘We have wine or beer?’
‘Wine would be great. Thanks.’
Mia got to work, wiggling her knees to the music as she poured wine into a glass. ‘You have toilets here?’ Hannah asked as she took the glass from Mia’s outstretched hand.
‘Yes, just go through the kitchen door and they’re on your right.’
Hannah headed off in the given direction.
‘You look gorgeous,’ Cal said once Hannah was out of earshot. ‘Like, really gorgeous. That colour suits you, brings out your eyes.’ He sipped slowly on the bottle of beer as his eyes appraised her.
Mia glanced down at herself with a shy smile. ‘Oh, thank you. Do you think so? I wasn’t sure what to go for. There were so many choices.’
‘Oh, I definitely think so.’ A sly smirk played at the corner of Cal’s mouth as his eyes finally returned to her face. ‘You look different.’
Mia laughed. It was true – she did look different, probably because she didn’t usually wear as much make-up as she was wearing tonight, and her long brown hair was normally shoved up into a ponytail for work. Tonight, she’d decided to curl it, the ringlets bouncing about on her shoulders every time she moved. She’d taken care with her make-up, too, choosing a specific shimmery shade of green to match her dress, and going along with the eye-flick that Pollyanna had put into play. She was happy with the dress she’d chosen. It wasn’t patterned, but had a sweetheart neckline, capped sleeves and flared out around her legs, reaching just below her thigh. There was a lot of leg on show but she’d felt comforted when she’d seen the length of Pollyanna’s dress, which reached mid-thigh. ‘You look fantastic. I love your hair.’ She giggled as she looked at it again. ‘It actually suits you.’
Cal laughed heartily and smoothed it back. ‘You think? Well, I might have to style it like this more often.’ His eyes twinkled as he looked at her with amusement, and Mia forced herself to hold his stare. ‘You fancy a dance later?’
‘Sure.’ She shrugged, but inside her heart was beating a crazy rhythm.
‘I’ll hold you to that, and don’t try disappearing on me, because I’ll come and find you. That’s a promise.’ He cocked the mouth of the beer bottle towards her with a naughty look in his eye, then hopped down from the stool and pushed through the throngs of party guests.
Mia realised she’d been holding her breath when Pollyanna returned to her side and nudged her playfully in the ribs. ‘Enjoying yourself?’
Mia swallowed and nodded quickly. ‘Yes, definitely.’ She swigged down a mouthful of beer and forced herself back into the moment, forcing her gaze away from where she’d last seen Cal.
‘Go and enjoy yourself, I’ll take over here.’
Mia smiled gratefully and decided to go and chat to some of the guests. It was a party after all. She passed by numerous people, and grinned at the enthusiasm they’d shown. It could have been a complete flop, but thankfully these people, who had known and loved Grandma Dolly just like she did, had taken to the idea with more excitement than she could have hoped for. The dresses were all eye-catching numbers, hairstyles which had
