Page 52 of Colton's Last Resort

“People keep asking for yoga classes. I just keep handing them spa vouchers.”

“That’s the best we can do for now,” Laura reminded her.

“Any idea when a new yoga teacher is coming?”

Distress trickled down Laura’s spine. She hadn’t given a thought to hiring anyone else. It would be her responsibility to do so. “Not at this time.”

Clarissa nodded solemnly. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes, on the dot.”

As Clarissa speed-walked out of L Building, Laura pressed her hand to her stomach. The idea of putting out the call for a new yoga instructor, conducting interviews and placing genuine effort into finding a replacement for Allison made her feel sick.

Roland took her elbow. “Are you all right, Ms. Colton?”

She gave him a tight nod. “Sure. Please let me know if Glenna makes any more waves.”

“Will do,” he agreed. “I’m going into a briefing with Adam. Should I tell him she’s arrived?”

“Yes,” she said. “The snow’s melted off, so Josh is directing Jeep tours. He’ll be off property for the better part of the day. I’ll text him and warn him before he returns.”

Roland walked toward the offices but snapped his fingers and backtracked. “I’ve got something for you.”

“Oh?” Intrigued, she watched him dig a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. “What’s this?”

“I ran into your friend Mr. Steele out by the stable earlier,” he revealed. “He said he was looking for you.”

Laura thought quickly, her fingers tightening reflexively around the note. “I did tell him to meet me there. I suppose I forgot.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Roland returned consolingly. “He was friendly enough.”

Laura tried not to laugh at Noah being referred to as “friendly.”

“He gave you this?”

“Yeah. He said he knows how busy you are. He knew I’d be seeing you, so he wanted me to pass along a message.”

“Thank you, Roland,” Laura said. When he nodded and walked away, Laura unfolded the small slip of paper and stared at the tidy, slightly slanted handwriting.

Pearl,

I missed you. There’s a new gelding here you need to check out. He’s calm and sweet, like you. His name’s Hero if you’re still interested in getting back on the horse. If you’re not busy later, meet me at L Bar at six. I’ll have a martini waiting.

Yours,

Noah

Laura lingered on the closing.Yours.She felt herself soften again.

The note hadn’t been sealed, which meant Roland could have easily read it. Noah would have guessed that. That was why he’d used the nickname he’d picked for her. Was that why he had invited her to drinks this evening? Or why he’d said such sweet things about the new gelding’s nature and her own?

She folded the note again, trying to shove the questions into a drawer. What she couldn’t ignore was how the written words had made the waves of sickness she’d felt moments before ease.

She made a mental note to drop by both Glenna’s bungalow for a chat and L Bar for a date.

L Bar hummed with activity. Still, the atmosphere felt comfortably intimate. Patrons hovered around high-topped tables or the long bar where the personable bartender, Valerie, built drafts and mixed cocktails.

“You’re Laura Colton’s man,” she guessed when he introduced himself.

“I am,” he said.

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