“This is a genuine love fest we have on our hands here tonight then.” Sheryl waggled her eyebrows and, again, kept her gaze locked on Mia’s for a second longer than politeness dictated. Maybe she was just that kind of person, or maybe Mia had been invited here tonight for other reasons than just a celebration. One glance at Kristin and she knew that was not the case. These two were so different—Kristin with her impeccable attire and measured movements and Sheryl in her eternal vests and her easy way—but yet so suited to each other.

“When it’s a good fit, it’s a good fit,” Kristin said drily.

Mia remembered the day of her interview vividly. Kristin had been somewhat intimidating, yet Mia had seen more in her than the business-savvy, always-on-top-of-everything boss of the Pink Bean. Sheryl didn’t ask any questions then, but just sat there observing and, Mia had concluded later, giving off a distinct lesbian vibe. Perhaps she had intimidated some other candidates, but not Mia.

Neither of them had come across as if they would hire Mia solely because of her easy smile and outgoing personality. Luckily, Mia had the right qualifications for the job along with a burning desire to work for a small outfit like the Pink Bean.

She didn’t mind that she would earn less than at the previous company she had worked for, nor that there wasn’t any sure path to promotion. She didn’t care about any of that, as long as she was granted enough independence to work on her ideas to make the Pink Bean an even better place than it already was. Kristin and Sheryl might only have been hiring someone because Kristin needed help with her expansion plans, but Mia was someone with her own ideas and dreams and somehow, after she had walked into the coffee shop and shaken off most of her nerves, she had felt there was something special about the place.

“You should have heard everyone rave about you the other night after yoga,” Sheryl said. “Throw it all together and one would easily believe you’re the second coming of the Christ. Right here in Darlinghurst.” She chuckled.

Mia’s ears perked up at the sound of the word yoga. Did that mean Amber had been there? Amber, who knew about her past.

“Really? Please go on stroking my ego. I’ve been having such a great night of it already.”

“Micky was saying how much you helped them with Glow’s ads.”

Ah. Micky. “It was only a couple hours of my time. And a good chance to schmooze with an ex-employee and loyal customer.”

“I haven’t seen you at any of the classes,” Sheryl said. “Yoga has been a great help with my sobriety and Amber can talk almost anyone into at least giving it a go. I’m surprised she hasn’t swayed you yet.”