All of that added up to a person he would like to get to know better.
The reality was, he would never get to know Kendall Green as well as he’d like, because nothing he said would sway her from selling those properties. Whatever life she left back in California meant far more to her than an unknown past in the Colorado mountains. Which posed two problems: he needed to kill his interest in Kendall while it was still but a whisper, and he needed to come up with an alternative plan for Jasper Lake—which seemed easy enough except for the fact he’d been trying to do that very thing since he was elected. Somehow he thought he’d have no more luck with the former than the latter.
He sighed and twisted the key in the ignition. The truck roared to life, and he pulled slowly onto the deserted street. Two short minutes later, he pulled onto the gravel driveway of his small house and killed the engine. Unlike the B and B’s historic facade with its gingerbread and multiple stories, his house was a low-slung log-cabin type, its long profile and dark colors meant to blend into the forest from which this neighborhood had been carved. He tripped climbing the front steps and wished he’d thought to leave the porch light on. Then again, when he’d left the house this morning, he hadn’t thought he’d be returning home after a full day of showing around the town’s prodigal daughter.
He smiled at that thought as he put the key in the lock. Kendall would probably have a few choice words about that description, not the least of which being that in the Bible story, the prodigal son had actually wanted to come home.
As soon as the door scraped open, the scratch of nails on the hardwood floors and the jingle of metal started in the back of the house. Gabe barely got the door closed before a hundred-plus pounds of Irish mastiff slid to a stop against his legs.
“Oof. Why do I think this is the most you’ve done all day, Fitz?” He reached down to scratch the dog’s shaggy, floppy ears and was rewarded with a lolling-tongue expression of ecstasy from the massive beast. Fitz bumped up against him and Gabe fell to a knee. “Okay, okay. A belly rub it is.”
Gabe laughed as he scratched his dog and then pushed himself to his feet. It was like sharing the house with a good-tempered elephant. When he rescued Fitz from the county shelter, he hadn’t known he was adopting an enormous lapdog who would take over both his sofa and his bed.
“Okay, buddy, let’s go eat.”
Fitz rolled back to his feet, gave himself a shake, and trotted off to the kitchen, about as much speed and enthusiasm as the dog showed for anything. Gabe tossed his keys on the dining room table as he passed and then squeezed through the kitchen door in the little space the dog had left for him.
“Sorry I’m so late tonight,” he said as if Fitz had any idea what he was talking about. He scooped dry food from a large, snap-top bin in the corner of his outdated kitchen and deposited it into the stainless steel bowl sitting in an elevated frame. The dog was so big, if he put it on the floor, Fitz practically had to lie down to eat it. “I met a girl today.”
Fitz cocked his head as if he were really considering his words. Then Gabe realized he was still holding the second scoop of food. He dumped it into the bowl and the dog dug in hungrily.
“She’s very pretty. I didn’t ask her if she liked dogs, but I bet she’d like you, because who doesn’t like you?” It wasn’t far from the truth—his friend Luke had called Fitz a chick magnet for good reason. He was sociable, well-behaved, and handsome—“everything you aren’t.” In fact, anytime he’d walked him through town this week, he’d had to stop for Fitz to be petted every block. Maybe he should text Luke to meet him a little earlier tomorrow, so he could give the dog some exercise before he had to meet Kendall at the office.
He fished his phone from his pocket and pulled up his running text conversation with his best friend. Meet at Main Street Mocha at 6 instead of 7 tomorrow? Bringing Fitz.
A couple of minutes later, the reply came through. Does this have anything to do with a certain woman you were seen with in Pine View Cantina tonight?
Gabe sighed. He should have known that word would travel so quickly, especially given Luke’s connections to just about everybody. I’ll fill you in tomorrow. It’s not nearly as exciting as it sounds.
Is it ever?
Gabe chuckled and tossed his phone on the counter. As much as he’d like to climb into bed and get a decent night’s sleep, Kendall’s challenge still rang in his ears. He had to come up with an alternate plan. This should be easy for him. He had a degree in urban planning and five years of experience in redeveloping depressed neighborhoods, for pete’s sake. It wasn’t like he’d never done this before. It had just never been this personal.
He dumped coffee beans into the grinder on the chipped tile countertop and then transferred the fresh grounds into the basket of his coffee maker. Five minutes later, he had a giant mug of coffee, a spot on the couch with his laptop, and sixty pounds of dog—Fitz’s front end—draped over his legs on the ottoman.
“You know, you’re making it really hard to move,” he said.
Fitz dropped his head on his paws and lifted an eyebrow.
“Okay, lazybones. Stay there.”
Three hours later, he couldn’t blame his lack of progress on the weight of dog on his legs any more than he could blame Kendall for what was going to happen to the houses after she sold them. He wiped a hand wearily over his face and lifted a silent, helpless prayer.
He’d been so sure he’d been brought here for a reason. An urban planner laid off and forced to come back home, just as the town he loved was facing changes that could destroy their way of life forever? It had so clearly felt like God’s hand, His will, that Gabe had never stopped to consider if he could actually deliver on his promises. At the time, it had felt like faith. Now he was afraid it was only hubris. And it wasn’t just he who would bear the fallout from his overconfidence, but the town he loved, the people who had put their trust in him.
It was only a matter of time before Jasper Lake found out the truth: their mayor, the big city planner, the hometown boy made good, was a complete and total fraud.
Chapter Nine
“SO. TELL ME ABOUT THIS WOMAN.”
Gabe dropped to one knee on the dew-covered turf and wrestled the slobbery ball out of Fitz’s mouth, then lobbed it across the park before he dared answer. “You mean Connie Green’s granddaughter?”
Gabe’s best friend, Luke Anderson, raised an eyebrow at him over his paper cup of coffee. “Of course I mean Connie Green’s granddaughter. Unless you had two dates last night and the Jasper Lake grapevine failed me completely. Which it wouldn’t.”
There was a reason for that, considering that on top of his web design business, Luke was also head of the Jasper Lake Chamber of Commerce and the one most often responsible for manning the visitor center in the community building. He checked in with businesses on a regular basis, which meant that he was the first one to pick up any town gossip.
Still, that was fast, even for him.
“It wasn’t a date. I’m taking her to the courthouse in Georgetown this morning to file her claim against her grandmother’s estate.”
“With what, less than two days on the clock?”
“Something like that.” Gabe cast him a look, knowing full well where he was going with this. “It’s just a stay of execution, though. She wants nothing to do with the town. Needs the money.”
Luke shrugged. “Then you’re just going to have to change her mind.”
“You sound like my grandfather.” It was an easy enough thing to say, just like it was easy enough for Kendall to say he had to come up with an alternative to the resort development. The reality was much more difficult. “Hey, she’s single . . . maybe you could change her mind.”
Luke almost choked on his coffee. “You’re pimping me out?”
“You know that’s not what I meant. But you’d have a better chance at convincing her than I would.” Luke was pretty much regarded as the town’s most eligible bachelor—he’d heard some of t
he teenage girls referring to him as “a Hemsworth.” He guessed that was the standard these days, and if he squinted and pretended Luke was a stranger, he supposed he could pass for a Norse god. Kind of.
“Whatever. You’re single too. Amanda Lee is still dropping hints with me, by the way.”
Fitz finally made it back to Gabe, having taken his sweet time at fetching, and dropped the slobbery ball at his feet. Gabe picked it up gingerly and snapped the leash back onto the dog’s collar. “I’m not interested in Amanda Lee.”
By silent agreement, they made their way over to the rustic wooden bench and sat down, Fitz shoving his way between them to be petted by whomever would oblige. Luke reached down and scratched his head automatically. “So what are you interested in?”
“At the moment? Inspiration.” Gabe fell back against the bench. “I spent three hours last night browsing the internet, hoping for some sort of idea that would convince the council we do not need the summer resort. And I’ve got no more than I did when I got elected. Attracting visitors during the summer with festivals and events? They’ve tried it. Two years in a row, the rowing regatta got canceled because of high winds, and the outdoor art festival ended up damaging thousands of dollars of canvases because of a freak hailstorm. To say that the members are jaded would be putting it mildly.”
Luke cleared his throat. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but would it really be the worst thing if they actually did demolish those houses and put in a resort? I mean, yes, they’re beautiful and they’ve been there as long as the town, but if it’s between them and us . . .”
Gabe shook his head resolutely. “It’s not just that. When you build a resort, especially a luxury one, it does bring in taxes and improve tourism. But it also encourages investors to buy up land cheap, build massive houses, and drive up real estate prices. Which is great for those people who want to sell their homes and move. But it raises property taxes and the cost of living for our elderly citizens who are barely surviving as it is. It ends up saving the town but hurting the people. If we’re going to let that happen, we might as well all move to Vail.”
“And that is why you are the person who needs to stop this.” Luke poked Gabe in the shoulder emphatically. “Because you understand the impact on the community. You’re a city planner. Why not build out a model of what the town will look like? Be honest . . . show them the shiny. And then demonstrate how it will hit everyone in their wallets. Most of the council members have been in the high country their entire lives, their families for generations. You hear how they gripe about the flatlanders in their Land Rovers gentrifying our small towns and making it unaffordable for anyone to actually live where they own businesses. It’s one thing to tell them. It’s another thing to show them.”
Gabe stared at him. It was so simple he felt like an idiot for not thinking of it before. “You’re right. You’re a genius.”
“That’s what I keep trying to tell you.”
“Are you willing to put your money where your genius is? I’ve got less than a month to put this together before the next council meeting. I’ve already stalled the vote once.”
Luke gave him an emphatic nod. “Whatever you need.”
For the first time in months, Gabe’s spirits lifted. Right now, the town only saw the good side of development. But once they understood the long-term negative impact on their community, perhaps they would see the value in a more conservative approach. It didn’t solve the problem of what to do, but it could at least get them to change the zoning, which would block the county from issuing permits for the resort, buying him time.
“Imagine seeing you here.” A female voice caught their attention and Gabe twisted around to see Kendall picking her way across the grass, hands hidden in her pockets. She was dressed even more casually today in a pair of leggings, ankle boots, and a quilted vest over a fuzzy sweater, an ensemble that did nothing to disguise a slim figure and soft curves.
“Now I see why Amanda Lee doesn’t have a chance,” Luke murmured, pushing to his feet.
“Shut up,” Gabe gritted out from the corner of his mouth before he smiled and rose as well. “Morning, Kendall. You found me out. Playing hooky in the park.”
She grinned and glanced at the dog. “And who is this handsome guy?”
“That would be Luke, but don’t say that to his face, because his ego is big enough as it is.”
Luke elbowed him hard in the ribs.
Kendall laughed and dropped to the ground before Fitz, who looked to be in ecstasy while she scratched his ears and neck. “You’re such a big boy. I bet you’re a good boy, aren’t you? What’s your name?”
Luke sent Gabe a look and Gabe shot it right back, laced with a threat. “Fitz,” he said finally. “He’s an Irish mastiff. Seemed like it fit.”
Kendall straightened, but Fitz decided that he was going to lean against his new best friend and almost knocked her off her feet before she could brace herself. “I think I might have named him Secretariat.”
“Trust me, the thought did occur to me, but he’s too lazy to be named after a racehorse. He thinks he’s a lapdog.”
“Aww, you’re just a sweetheart, aren’t you?” There went the baby voice again, followed by another affectionate pat. Fitz was officially in love. She focused her attention on Luke finally and held out a hand. “I take it you really are Luke? I’m Kendall.”
“Yes. It’s nice to meet you, Kendall. I was actually just going.”
“Oh, don’t leave on my account. I got up early and wanted coffee, but I didn’t want to disturb Mr. Brandt. I’m supposed to be back at the B and B for breakfast in a little bit.”
“No, really, I have to get some work done before I open the visitor center.” Luke smiled. “Have fun, you two.” He gave a wave and turned on his heel, his smirk just a shade too knowing. There was no way Gabe was ever going to convince his friend that he had no interest in Kendall now, especially when Luke had seen his eyes just about pop out of his head like a cartoon. The only thing that could have made it more obvious was an “ooga” horn for sound effect.
“He seems nice,” Kendall said, watching Luke walk away, her brow slightly furrowed. Apparently their nonverbal communication had not escaped her.
“Nice isn’t the word I’d use, but we’ve known each other forever, so he knows where all the bodies are buried.” Gabe smiled to make it clear he was joking. “Opa’s place treating you okay? How’d you sleep?”
“Like a log. I think that’s the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on. I’m not going to want to leave.”
Score one for his grandmother’s decorating. Gabe glanced at his watch. “You said something about coffee?”
“Please.” The word came out in a relieved whoosh, and she disentangled herself from Fitz so she could fall into step beside Gabe. “It’s not as cold today.”
“It’s every bit as cold. You’re just adjusting to the weather.”
“Maybe,” she said, though she didn’t sound convinced. “As soon as we’re done with breakfast, we’ll head over to Georgetown?”
“Absolutely. While we’re there, we really should do some sightseeing. There’s a cool old steam train and a mine tour.”
Kendall shot him a look. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. Why not? It’s something that is pretty much required for all fourth graders—”
“—which means that I did it in fourth grade. Went to school in Denver, remember?” She shook her head like she found him amusing. “No offense, but I really need to get over to the houses and start working. As good as Sophie is, my clients will start to notice if I’m not around.”
It had been a rather lame way to try to interest her in the area, and Gabe kept forgetting that she’d grown up in Denver, considering everything about her screamed California girl. Maybe this was a lost cause.
Nope, he could not think that way. The easiest way to prevent the building of the resort was to prevent the sale of the property, and to do that, he needed her o
n his side. She needed to feel connected to this place, which made their next stop ideal.
Gabe nudged Kendall to indicate they should cross the street and led her straight to an old brick building emblazoned with a graffiti-style mural that proclaimed Main Street Mocha. He looped Fitz’s leash around the bike rack, where the dog plopped down with a resigned sigh, then held the door open for her. The harsh sound of the grinder and the hiss of a steam wand met them as soon as they stepped through the door.
He inhaled the scent of coffee appreciatively. Secretly—or maybe not so secretly, considering that every candid photo of him at town events involved him holding a paper cup—Main Street Mocha was his favorite spot in town. It was all black steel and raw wood with mottled rust-and-gray acid-stained concrete, kind of industrial-rustic chic. A burnt wood placard with a passport stamp design and the words Solid Grounds Coffee Company sat just behind the bar, a tribute to the Denver roastery from which Delia sourced her beans. She was adamant about only using fresh, local, and sustainable, so the shop was littered with photos and logos from the Colorado businesses she considered partners.
Gabe watched Kendall’s face as she surveyed the place, wondering if it would meet her evidently high design standards. Her expression gave nothing away, but there was a slight lift of her eyebrows when she leaned over and murmured, “I love the floor treatment. People have no idea how hard it is to get this effect on concrete.”
They were next, so Gabe stepped up and smiled at the middle-aged woman behind the counter. “Morning, Delia.”
“Morning, Gabe.” Delia Crawford was the only one who didn’t call him Mayor Gabe. Of course, she was also the only one in town who looked like a roller derby queen with her forties-inspired clothes, victory rolls, and armfuls of tattoos. “Twice in an hour? That’s a record even for you.”
“Actually, my new friend Kendall here needs her caffeine fix.”
“That’s what we’re here for.” Delia shot Kendall a welcoming smile. “What can I get you, hon?”
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