Lou quickly gave up staring out of the window and pretended to read, watching Mia from under her lashes. There was a gracefulness about her that could only be described as effortless. When you looked at Mia you could tell she was one of those people who didn’t care much about what others thought of them, someone with confidence to spare, not the kind that bordered on arrogance, but the kind that came with simply being okay with herself.

It had been that exact attitude that had ticked off Lou so much when she’d first seen Mia turn up at the Pink Bean. It didn’t matter that their troubles had happened fifteen years ago. How dare this woman walk around with such a self-assured gait, such a charismatic smile, such a jokey way with everyone who crossed her path?

Now, Lou saw it in a different light. When she set her own grievances aside, and saw Mia as just another Pink Bean patron, she understood why she’d heard a customer flirt with Mia uncontrollably once, even though there were people in the line behind her. Mia’s open demeanor invited that kind of behavior. She had a flirty smile. She had the clear eyes and straight-toothed kind of grin that made people warm to her easily. Even Lou was beginning to.

When Mia had flirted with Lou right after they’d met, perhaps, if they had been complete strangers, Lou might have flirted back. That was the kind of person Mia was. And that was also why all the others couldn’t help but sing her praises, even Micky, who knew all about Mia’s past. Even Amber, who strongly believed people could change for the better. Leaving only Lou behind with her grudge to hold.

Mia was walking toward her now. It had only been ten minutes since their conversation but she’d probably struck a deal with Josephine. She was the Pink Bean golden child now, she could get away with anything.

“I’m all ears.” Mia put her hands on the back of a chair, waiting for Lou’s okay to sit.

“Care for a walk?” Lou asked.

“Sure.”

They were escorted out of the Pink Bean by a wave from Jo, then they stood on the sidewalk. It was up to Lou to determine the route and to raise the subject she wanted to talk about.