Heating Up

by Stacy Finz

  Take care of yourself!

  Dana

  Chapter 21

  Gia got into Nugget on Thursday. She’d had to take a red-eye Wednesday and although she’d gained three hours in California was groggy from the all-night flight. Thank goodness the Lumber Baron had a room ready, even though check-in time wasn’t until two p.m. They were kind enough to make an exception, although she got the impression they were big on customer service here and light on adhering to the rules. Her kind of business.

  The good news was they had no idea who she was. She’d checked in under her mother’s maiden name and wore her hair tucked up under a baseball cap and big sunglasses. The young man at the front desk didn’t seem the least bit fazed when she kept them on during the registration process. He’d left her with the sense that he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. He carried her bags up the impressive staircase and opened her door with an old-time key, and the sheer tranquility of the room, with its Victorian accents, made her go instantly Zen. It was like a million pounds had been lifted from her shoulders. The relief was so intense that as soon as the young attendant left, Gia cried. Just sat on the bed and bawled her eyes out.

  They were good tears. Tears that said I made the right choice by coming here.

  She unpacked, hung up what few things she’d brought, and filled the claw-foot tub with hot water, desperately wanting to wash away New York and the last few weeks’ fallout. A baptism of sorts.

  On the vanity she found a complimentary bottle of bubble bath and poured it under the spigot, watching the liquid foam, spreading a froth of bubbles across the tub. She stripped and gingerly got in, letting herself grow accustomed to the heat. It felt so good that she sank in until the water came up to her chin. For the next half hour, she lay there, letting her mind go numb and her body relax.

  While her nightmare was far from over, she was here now. Safe.

  As the water cooled and Gia’s skin shriveled, she got out of the claw-foot, dressed in a pair of loose shorts and a tank top, and called Dana’s cell phone.

  “I’m here,” she told the real estate agent’s voice mail. “If you want to go out later and look at a few places, I’d be up for that.”

  It was still early and Dana probably hadn’t started her day yet. Starved, Gia decided to walk across the square to that Bun Boy place and get something to bring back to the room. Unfortunately, she’d missed the inn’s divine breakfast. On her way downstairs, she bumped into the innkeeper. Gia remembered her from last time but unfortunately had forgotten her name.

  “Hello,” she greeted Gia, and unlike the front-desk clerk, glanced at her Jackie O sunglasses warily.

  “Hello,” Gia said back, and tried to brush by her without seeming rude.

  “I’m Maddy. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “I was just on my way to the Bun Boy to grab a bite.”

  “The Ponderosa is also good, if you’re looking for a sit-down place.”

  That was the last thing Gia was looking for. Sitting indoors, eating with her big sunglasses on, was bound to draw attention. “The last time I was here I ate at the Bun Boy and really enjoyed it.”

  “It’s good,” Maddy agreed and smiled. “When were you here last?”

  “A few weeks ago.” Then Gia had worn the scarf getup.

  “Welcome back. We love getting return guests. Are you here on business?”

  Gia thought it was better to go with partial truths. “I’m looking at real estate with Dana Calloway.”

  “Fantastic,” Maddy said. “Have you found anything you like yet? I’m sure Dana mentioned Sierra Heights.”

  “Mm-hmm. I have horses, so I’m in the market for property. There have been a few places that piqued my interest. I’m back to take a second tour.” Not too much of a lie.

  “That’s wonderful.” Maddy was definitely one of those nosy types, Gia could tell. “Would this be your full-time home or a vacation place? Nugget is supremely family friendly. Safe from crime, decent schools, and everyone looks out for their neighbors.”

  The woman might want to get a job with the chamber of commerce. “Full-time,” Gia said. “And it’s just me.”

  “Oh.” Maddy seemed surprised. “Well, I originally came up here single to open the inn with my brother, Nate. I’m married to the police chief now and we have a baby girl.”

  “Nice.” Gia smiled. Maddy really was a lovely lady. Under different circumstances, Gia would’ve been more engaging. She liked mixing with other businesswomen, especially ones who built thriving hotels in the middle of nowhere, because that’s what Gia wanted to do. Not a hotel per se, but she wanted to build something useful and beautiful.

  “Well, I’ll let you get that breakfast,” Maddy said. “Remember, we have a wine and cheese service in the afternoon and breakfast from seven to ten.”

  “Thanks. And I’m sure I’ll see you later.” She walked out into the hot sun and felt the heat of the pavement through her sandals. At least it wasn’t humid like New York.

  She got to the fast-food window, put in an order, and only waited a short time before someone called her name. Instead of taking the food up to her room, she decided to eat at one of the shady picnic tables. The air smelled fresh and clean and the square had come alive with people. Evidently, it was farmers’ market day. Organizers set up tables, canopies, and colorful banners, and soon the green was transformed into a thriving bazaar. Not just food but furniture, wool, and even some crafts.

  Gia ate her egg sandwich and hash browns, washed it down with a cup of coffee, and began to wander the aisles. Homemade goat cheese, fresh eggs, every kind of produce imaginable, even packaged beef. Everyone seemed to be friends. The vendors chatted with one another and the customers carted around their market baskets, going from stand to stand. Closer to the inn, someone sold the most gorgeous rocking chairs Gia had ever seen. They were made from pine logs and reminded her of something you would see on a Western porch, on the Rosser Ranch porch in particular. One of these days soon, when she had a place to put them, she planned to buy a few.

  “How much are the chairs?” she asked, and when the man told her the price Gia had to keep from asking him to repeat himself. In New York City, custom craftsmanship like that would go for three times the amount he wanted. “Are you the artist?”

  “I am.” The burly guy gave off the vibe that he was wholly content with life. “Here’s my card.”

  She took it and stashed it in her purse, continuing to cruise the rows of purveyors. No one gave her a second look, though she stuck out like a sore thumb with the fashion glasses. Maybe she’d pop into the sporting goods store and buy some Ray-Bans or something else a little sportier.

  But before she got the chance her phone rang. Her hands shook as she pulled her cell from her purse. These days she never knew who was calling. Most of the time, reporters trying to get her to commit to an interview, the FBI, or a death threat. She had no idea how her number had gotten out there. It was futile to change it; she’d tried. The number always went public.

  She glanced at the display with trepidation and let out a sigh of relief. “Hi, Dana.”

  Dana must’ve heard the noise in the background because she asked, “Where are you?”

  “The farmers’ market in the square.”

  “Oh . . . really? You think that’s a good idea?”

  “No one has noticed me so far.” Maybe she was pushing her luck, but it felt wonderful to be normal again. “What’s the plan?”

  “I have a couple of places to show you. If you don’t like any of them, I thought we could cast our net to other parts of the county.”

  “Okay. Would you mind if we took another tour of the Rosser place? Maybe it’s not as great as I remember.” But they both knew it was. She just needed to see it again.

  “Absolutely. You want to go right now?”

  “Sure. I’ll just put on some jeans. Should we meet in front of the Lumber Baron?”

  “I’ll be there in fifteen minu
tes.”

  Gia quickly returned to her room, checked her email, and changed. In the mirror, she adjusted her hat and glasses. Boy, did she look ridiculous. As soon as she got back, she planned to get those new sunglasses. At least when they got a distance out of town she could lose the disguise and let her hair down.

  Like clockwork, Dana pulled up as Gia came out the door. She hopped into the front seat and Dana whisked them away.

  “You settled in?” she asked.

  “Yep. The inn is so comfortable. I’d much rather be here than my oppressive penthouse.” She hadn’t always felt that way about the opulent apartment. When she’d first purchased the penthouse it had been a great source of pride—tangible proof that she’d made it, her own personal rags-to-riches story. But now the walls felt like they were closing in on her, just like everything else.

  “Why don’t we go to Rosser Ranch first?” Dana said. “I’ll warn you, though, these other properties I’ll be showing you aren’t as refined. They’re more like blank canvases you can put your own stamp on. They’re also a lot less money.”

  “Okay, fair enough.” Gia gazed out the window. The scenery, which changed on a dime from woods to pasture to high desert, would never grow old. It was like a beautiful interactive painting, she thought. “Tell me about these fires I’ve been reading about in the Nugget Tribune.”

  Dana recounted the arsons, starting with the sporting goods store and ending with her own office building.

  “That’s crazy,” Gia said. “Do the police have any suspects?”

  “I live with the lead investigator. I think he has someone in mind, but he’s kind of tight-lipped about the case.”

  “Is he your boyfriend or is it a roommate situation?” Gia would’ve thought Dana was way too successful—and too mature—to have to share a place with someone.

  She told Gia about her house burning down, how few rental properties there were in Nugget, that a big, brawny firefighter/arson investigator had agreed to share his house with her, and now she was dating him.

  “Although there’s an ex in the picture who wants him back,” Dana said.

  “Does he want her back?”

  “I’m not sure.” Dana grew quiet. “I have a rule about not getting too personal with clients. It’s not that I’m super private; I just think it’s highly unprofessional when an agent goes on and on about herself.”

  Gia laughed. “Dana, you have enough material on me to write a tell-all. I think we’re past the point of a sterile agent-client relationship. I was hoping we could be friends. You’re the only person I know here and you’ve proven to be trustworthy, which after what I’ve been through . . .”

  “I’d very much like us to be friends. But don’t be angry with me if this deal doesn’t go through. I’m doing all I can.”

  “I know you are.”

  Dana got off the highway and zipped onto the paved road that would take them to the ranch. They passed the cowboy camp and hooked a right, where the view suddenly turned to verdant fields that went on forever and mountaintops that seemed to reach the sky. Gia felt her breath catch.

  “Wow, it’s even more beautiful than I’d remembered.”

  “I was afraid of that,” Dana said and continued to the ranch house.

  As soon as the sprawling log-and-stone home came into sight Gia’s heart raced.

  “It’s spectacular!” She hadn’t realized how the house was angled to take advantage of river and mountain views from nearly every room. “Oh, Dana, what do I have to do to make this happen?”

  “I don’t think there is anything you can do. We just have to hope Ray Rosser can’t come up with the cash to pay his legal bills.”

  “What do you think the likelihood is of that?”

  “I don’t know. I get the impression it’s a lot of money, but Ray Rosser has a lot of contacts.”

  “What if I offered more?”

  Dana looked at her. “I don’t think it would matter. This is Ray’s history, his heritage, his life’s work. I don’t think it’s about money . . . he won’t be needing much of that in prison. He wants to leave the land to future generations.”

  As Gia took in the house that had more character than a weathered face and sweeping vistas that made her want to weep from the sheer beauty of them, the place called to her. She belonged here; she could feel it in her bones. If luck would only smile on her, Rosser Ranch could be her destiny. The problem was ever since she’d met that no-good Evan Laughlin, her luck had gone straight to hell.

  * * *

  After a long day showing Gia places that didn’t hold a candle to Rosser Ranch, Dana dropped her client at the inn and headed home. She hoped that by now Aidan had returned from the fire in Sierra County, safe and sound. A day after she’d texted him, he’d responded that he was taking all precautions and that cell reception was sketchy. No declarations of how he felt about her or even that he missed her. She hadn’t heard from him since.

  From what she’d seen on the news, it was one hairy fire. Only 30 percent contained, which meant Aidan and the rest of his crew had to be inundated. She got that. But she was also impatient to know where they stood.

  She passed the firehouse and searched the small lot until her eyes fell on Aidan’s Expedition, which meant he was still away. Instead of going straight home, she took a detour to her old house. Pat and Colin had gotten her building permits and were planning to break ground this week on the new construction.

  Both their trucks were in her driveway, so she parked at the curb and went looking for them.

  “Hey.” Colin waved to her from a row of hedges. “Glad you’re here. We want to take these out so when the concrete guys get here tomorrow we can expand the foundation. That okay?”

  “Yeah, sure.” She would have Carol’s husband put in new landscaping. “So foundation tomorrow, huh?”

  “Yep. That, and the framing should go fairly quickly. It’s the finish work that takes time. We’ll need you to start picking out appliances, vanities, fixtures, and cabinetry soon.”

  Originally, Dana had looked forward to making selections for her new house. Everything would be exactly to her taste. Now, however, the idea of living alone in a big, empty house depressed her. “All right,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “I have a good idea about the appliances. I’ll get a jump on the others ASAP.”

  “How’s work going at Nugget Realty?” Colin asked.

  “Good. The roofers are done and those subcontractors you sent us to rebuild the back of the office started today.”

  “That must be tough for dealing with clients.”

  “We’ll live.” She glanced around the site. “Where’s Pat?”

  “He jogged down the street for a second to give one of your neighbors a bid on a new kitchen.”

  “Which neighbor?” She wasn’t tight with any of them but was curious.

  “The Hatchers.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know them that well. I think he’s an engineer for Caltrans.”

  Her phone rang and her heart jumped, hoping it was Aidan. She quickly checked the display and tried not to act disappointed.

  “It’s your wife.” She showed the phone to Colin and answered, “Hi.”

  “Want to meet us for happy hour?”

  “Uh, sure.” Better to kill time at the Ponderosa than wait for Aidan to walk through the door. Plus, she had friends. Friends. That was a novelty Dana didn’t want to screw up. “Should I meet you there now? And would you like me to invite your husband? We’re at my old house, talking construction.”

  “Nah, just us girls. Hurry on over.”

  She put her phone away and asked Colin, “Did you get all that?”

  “I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it had something to do with you meeting her and Darla for happy hour.”

  “Yep.”

  “You better get going.” He chuckled, and she watched his face turn gooey. “Tell her I’ll see her at home.”

  Seeing how much Colin adored his wife onl
y added salt to the wound. A glutton for punishment, she got in her car and headed back to the square via the street where the firehouse was. Aidan’s truck was still there, so she kept on going. At the square she found a parking space in front of the Ponderosa. Inside, Jerry Lee Lewis’s “I’m on Fire” blared. She’d heard from Carol that ever since the arsons, Tater had snuck a sampling of fire songs onto the jukebox and whenever the mood struck him played one or two.

  Harlee and Darla waved from the back of the dining room. They had a pitcher of margaritas, three glasses, and a plate of fully loaded nachos waiting. For a second, Dana was tempted to call Gia, who could use the camaraderie right now. But Harlee was a reporter and Darla was related to Owen, the biggest mouth in the Sierra Nevada, so Dana quickly scrubbed the idea. Someday soon, though, she hoped they could all be friends.

  “Hi.” She grabbed a chair, and Harlee didn’t waste any time pouring her a sugar-rimmed glass full of strawberry margarita.

  “Potato skins are on the way,” Harlee said.

  “Perfect.” Dana tried to sound enthusiastic, but even though she’d skipped lunch showing Gia properties all day, she couldn’t eat a bite. Not knowing Aidan was going to choose Sue over her.

  “I might get a burger, even though I’m supposed to be on a diet.” Darla toyed with the menu.

  Harlee shook her head. “You don’t need to be on a diet.”

  “I do if I want to fit into my mother’s wedding dress.”

  Dana gasped. “Are you and Wyatt getting married?”

  The hairstylist held out her left hand and waved her ring finger in the air. Dana grabbed for it and held a honking diamond ring under the light.

  “Holy cow. Congratulations.” Now Dana truly felt sick to her stomach. She certainly didn’t begrudge Darla her happily ever after, but when was Dana going to get hers?

  “Thank you, although you’re not supposed to say that.”

  “Congratulations? Why not?” Dana asked.

  Darla lifted her shoulders. “I read it in a bridal magazine. It’s kind of an insult, like, congratulations, you finally snagged a groom.”