“Oh, here, let me help you with that,” I said with a laugh.

He looked as if he wanted to say something but instead looked past me. I turned to see Mia standing there, looking a schoolgirl holding a notebook and pencil to her chest.

Before I could say anything, Ashland spoke. “You must be Mia. I recognize your face, even though your bio picture looks very different. Can’t change those eyes.” He gave her a half smile and extended his hand for a shake.

She took his hand slowly and rubbed her pencil eraser against her lip. I felt uncomfortable, mostly for Ashland. With a grin and a low voice, she said, “I am Mia. I suppose you are the Master of this Plantation, Ashland Stuart?”

“I’m not anyone’s master, but I am the boss.”

Mia playfully slid on top of a nearby desk and tapped it with her fingers. “So, boss, is this where you want me?” I couldn’t believe my ears or eyes, and I felt my face flush bright red. I had seen her use the direct approach before, but never on a client or someone she barely knew.

I jumped in. “Um, over here, Mia. This is your spot, I believe. Right, Chip?” Changing the subject and hopefully the trajectory of the conversation, I asked, “Chip, is the wireless printer online yet?”

“Should be, but let me print a test page just to be sure. If you and Mia could do the same from your computers, that would help.”

I nodded, too embarrassed to look at Ashland until he tapped me on the shoulder. “Got a minute?”

“Sure, I can spare a few minutes. What’s up?” I spun around in my chair to face him.

“I want to show you something, but you’ll need to put your tennis shoes on. Did you bring them?”

I nodded and went to my desk for my gym bag. I pulled on some socks and my Nikes and was ready to go.

I repositioned my ponytail on the way out of the Blue Room, purposefully avoiding Mia’s stare. What just happened? Did Mia think Ashland would be won with a little awkward flirting? He was certainly not her type. Usually, Mia’s guys were quirky—sometimes handsome, sometimes plain, but always quirky. There was nothing quirky about Ashland Stuart.

He didn’t mention Mia’s show or what he thought about her, and I was too professional to bring it up. “Have everything you need? For the office?” he asked. “Matthews promises me that you do, but if you need something else, please let me know.”

“Certainly, I will. I think, so far, we’re doing all right. I expect this place will be like a beehive for the next few months with remodeling the house and setting up the museum.”

“Yes, it will be, but that’s the fun of the whole process. You know, I minored in history in college. I love the history of Mobile, but there is so much we don’t know. I feel honored that I get the opportunity to help others remember it like it should be remembered.” I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded.