Page 37 of Heating Up (Nugget)
Gia’s larger concern was coming up with the cash. Even though she’d offered a mil under asking, the idea of her taking on something like this with her job in jeopardy was insane. Delusional, really. No way would a bank carry her without a job and no prospect of one. While she did have the funds, liquidating them at a time like this . . . not prudent.
But standing at the river’s edge, smelling the sage, staring out over the majestic mountains, she’d instantly fallen in love. She’d always invested with her head, never her heart. But the land had called to her, reminding her of that summer long ago when life had been filled with endless possibilities. Before everything had gone to shit.
But once she was here, out of the spotlight and away from her detractors, she’d put her plan into motion and build up her fortune again. And if that failed, she’d always have the land to fall back on.
Chapter 8
“Just looking at the phone won’t make it ring,” Aidan said.
Dana blew out a puff of air. “At this rate I won’t hear anything until after the Fourth.” The holiday fell smack in the middle of the week, which meant Ray’s lawyers were probably taking a five-day weekend.
He smiled at her, and her stomach dipped like she was on a roller coaster. She supposed those pearly whites did that to a lot of women. But if she didn’t want to be another second placer, it would be best to ignore that heart-stopping grin of his. All day he’d been moping around over his ex’s wedding. Clearly he still pined for Sue—that was her name—even though it had been close to seven months.
“Must be one hell of a deal,” he said.
She’d told him that her client had made an offer on a piece of land outside of town, but that was it. Aidan didn’t know it was the Rosser Ranch, that it was a multimillion-dollar transaction, or that the buyer was Gia Treadwell.
“I don’t like my clients getting nervous.”
“You seem to be the one getting nervous,” he said, and sat next to her on the couch. “Come with me to Sloane’s. It’ll get your mind off that call you’re waiting for.”
“Thanks, Aidan, but I just want to relax at home. Yesterday was a long day.”
“Ah, come on. Be my date; otherwise I’ll feel like a third wheel.” The man was pulling out all the stops.
His date.Righhhht.
“Uh-uh,” she said. “I have my heart set on aDownton Abbeymarathon.”
“You can do that any time. Brady’s cooking.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.” She reached for the remote control and he got up. “Where are you going?”
“To look through your color-coded clothes to find you something to wear.”
She shot up and chased after him. “Don’t you dare go in my closet!”
“Why not? I built the damn thing.” He opened her bifold doors and started pulling out stuff and holding up hangers. “This looks good.”
It was one of the sundresses in Grace’s package. It showed off too much boob and thigh as far as Dana was concerned.
“Uh-uh,” she repeated.
“Why not?”
“It’s too slutty.”
“Slutty’s good; put it on. Let me have a look.” He winked, and again her stomach did a series of acrobatics.
“Aidan, get out of my room.” She tried to push him, but he wouldn’t budge.
“If I leave, will you go with me?”
He sure was insistent, and the truth was, she was curious about his sister and Brady. She didn’t know either of them very well and yet they’d given her that gift card. And everyone went on and on about Brady’s cooking. Other than one breakfast at the Lumber Baron, she’d never been to any of the weddings or parties he’d catered.
“Fine. But I want to be home at a reasonable hour.”
“Why, you turn into a pumpkin?” He tossed her the dress and started to leave. “I’ve got work tomorrow, so we can’t be out too late.”
