Page 62 of Last Summer

“I’ll just check the gate.” Ted gets out of his truck. “You know, Sue’s going to ask if I invited you to dinner when I tell her I ran into you.”

“Don’t tell her.” Nathan smirks.

“Yeah, that won’t fly. What do you say? Dinner at our place after Alex recoups? Or are you still playing the crazy recluse in the woods?” Ted’s tone is teasing, but he’s right—Nathan needs to be around other people.

Before she can think otherwise, Ella nudges his shoulder. “You should go.”

“Listen to the lady. Come on over. Scotch is on me.”

“I guess I’ll be there. Call when you’ve got a date.” His voice is slightly irritated.

If Ted noticed, he doesn’t comment on it. He grins. “Will do. By the way, it’s good to see you finally shaved. That mountain man beard was scaring the tourists.”

“It was a disguise,” Nathan grumbles. “I had to buy groceries.”

“Worst disguise ever. Nice to meet you, Ella.”

“You too, Ted.”

Nathan shifts the truck into drive.

“You shaved for me.” She grins.

Nathan doesn’t comment. They drive back to his place in silence and Ella wonders if she stepped over the line. It isn’t her place to interfere in his personal life. It’s not right of her to force him into public when he’s not emotionally ready.

As Nathan pulls up his driveway, Ella turns to him, an apology on her tongue. But Nathan is glaring out the windshield. Ella looks in the same direction.

A Toyota Corolla takes up the space beside Ella’s Range Rover, and the owner of the car is sitting on the porch. He stands and waves. Ella recognizes him immediately, and she doubts this is a social visit.

“Why is Miles Jorgenson at your house?”

Nathan shoots her a look. “You know him?”

“Of him. We met once at a media awards banquet.”

Miles Jorgenson and Ella run in the same circles. He’s a seasoned contributor to numerous magazines, mainlyOutside. Known for his provocative stories about engaging, outdoor-oriented personalities, Miles is relentless, with a paparazzi-style persistence when in pursuit of a story. It appears he’s after Nathan’s.

“Why’s he here?”

Nathan cuts the engine and sighs.

Ella’s stomach plummets. “Did you offer him an interview, too?”

“No, I didn’t,” he says sharply. “Although considering everything, maybe—”

“Don’t even finish that thought,” she says. Nathan’s story is hers. Too many people atLuxe Avenueare counting on her to see this through. “How do you know this guy?”

Remote and unlisted, the only way to locate Nathan’s property is to have the address. And to get that, Nathan would have to have given it out.

“We collaborated on several articles about the Tahoe region.”

“I know, I read them. That doesn’t explain why he’s here. My understanding is that you gave my magazine the exclusive.”

“I did. It’s just—”

“Damn you, Nathan. You yanked this story from me once. You swore back there you’d see this through.”

“Miles has been after me since I quitOff the Grid!Don’t worry. My story’s yours. Let me see what he wants. He’s a friend. This could be a social visit. I drink beers with the guy,” he says.

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