Page 27 of Riding with the Secret Billionaire

"Well, honey, you are in for a treat," Melody says, leaning in conspiratorially."The Heirloom Rose is gorgeous.They've got a casino, a spa, a wedding chapel, and the Holy Rolling Steakhouse serves the best porterhouse this side of Texas."

"Sounds impressive," I say, genuinely interested now.Jordyn had mentioned the venue was nice, but this sounds more upscale than I'd anticipated.

"Ready to order, or do you need a minute?" Melody asks, straightening up.

We order, French toast for me, a western omelet for Jake, and Melody bustles away, off to charm other tables.

"Small world," I comment once she's gone.

"Too small," Jake mutters, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Is that your professional paranoia talking, or do you actually think there's something suspicious about a waitress having connections to Nevada?"

"Not suspicious," he clarifies."Just unusual. The connection circuit between here and Foxfire Valley is... statistically improbable."

I laugh. "Statistical improbability isn't necessarily sinister, Jake.Sometimes coincidences are just coincidences."

"In my experience, they rarely are." But he says it with a softness that suggests it's a professional observation rather than a genuine concern.

As we eat breakfast, the saloon gradually fills with other tourists, all eager for their authentic Old West experience.Despite the obvious artifice of the setting, there's something genuinely charming about Rustic Junction's commitment to its theme.Every detail, from the period-appropriate dishware to the player piano that occasionally bursts into a tinny tune without apparent human intervention,is carefully designed to transport visitors to another era.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I ask as I finish the last bite of my French toast which was surprisingly good for a tourist trap."Are we hitting the road right after breakfast?"

Jake nods. "We'll make one more stop before leaving Colorado, a scenic overlook about an hour from here.Then it'sstraight through to Nevada.We should reach Foxfire Valley by early afternoon tomorrow, plenty of time for your dress fitting."

"And for you to start your security preparations," I add, still not entirely comfortable with the dual purpose of our journey.

"Yes." He hesitates, then continues, "Once we reach the Heirloom Rose, things will change.I'll need to slip into my professional role, which means--"

"Which means whatever this is between us needs to go on pause," I finish for him.

"Not pause," he corrects. "Just... discretion.My client doesn't know about our connection, and I'd prefer to keep personal and professional separate when possible."

"Your client being my best friend's future husband," I point out.

"Whom I've never met, by the way," Jake cuts in."He's a new client for my firm.It's why I shouldn't have allowed things to develop between us.But here we are."

"Here we are," I echo, raising my coffee cup in a mock toast."To professional complications and personal entanglements."

A ghost of a smile crosses his face as he raises his own cup. "To unexpected detours."

After breakfast, we wander through Rustic Junction's main street, taking in the staged gunfights and various Old West attractions.Despite the obvious tourist trappings, there's something undeniably fun about the whole setup.I even convince Jake to pose for a sepia-toned old-time photo, though getting him to wear the cowboy hat requires more persuasion than should be necessary for a grown man.

"You look good in Western wear," I tease as we exit the photography studio, the resulting image tucked safely in my purse."Very rugged and authoritative."

"I look ridiculous," he counters, but there's no heat in it.In fact, he seems more relaxed than I've seen him since we met, as if the brief respite from driving has allowed some of his rigid control to slip.

By noon, we're back on the road, the staged Western town receding in the rearview mirror as we head toward the scenic overlook Jake mentioned.The landscape grows increasingly dramatic as we climb higher into the Colorado mountains, jagged peaks and deep valleys creating a stunning backdrop for our journey.

The overlook, when we reach it, takes my breath away.A vast panorama of mountains stretches before us, their slopes dotted with pine and aspen, valleys carved by ancient glaciers now filled with emerald forests.The air is cooler at this elevation, crisp and clean in a way city air never is.

Jake parks the truck in the small lot, and we walk to the edge of the viewing platform.For a long moment, we stand in silence, absorbing the majesty of the scene before us.

"It's incredible," I say finally, my voice hushed as if in a cathedral.

"Worth the detour?" Jake asks, standing close enough that our shoulders almost touch.

"Definitely." I glance up at him, struck by his profile against the backdrop of mountains."Thank you for showing me this."

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