Page 111 of Heating Up (Nugget)
“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?”
