Page 65 of Flippin' Cowboy
Then, to Nick’s dismay, instead of telling Mike and Dickweed to fuck off, Karla said, “All right, gentlemen, you’ve given us a lot to think about it. Why don’t you give me your contact info? I’ll get back to you once Winnie, Nick, and I have had a chance to sit down and discuss your offer.”
Winnie blew out a sigh. She wasn’t any happier about Karla’s wishy-washy response.
To Nick’s relief, Mike, Dickweed, and their crew departed for their hotel in Livingston soon afterwards.
As soon as the last production van rolled down the street, Nick took Winnie in his arms.
“That fucking guy,” he growled into her hair. She’d pulled it back into the tight ponytail she wore while working, and it felt smooth against his lips.
She clung to him, and he felt her trembling.
“How dare he do this to me!” she spat. She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes shining with rage. “Just when I was starting to get over everything that happened, he has thenerveto waltz in here and put me on the spot!”
“What are you going to do?” Nick asked, patting her back.
“I don’t know.” Her tone was despairing. “If Donna Morris really does have her heart set on another season ofRestoring Seattle—”
Nick’s heart sank.
Despite his carefully expressed reservations about relocating to Snowberry Springs, he’d already started making plans for the next phase of wooing Winnie. Truth was, he really liked this town and its people.
And Kegan was happier here than he’d been at any of their other job sites. The last thing Nick wanted to do right now was tear his son away from his new friends.
And there were so many worthy projects waiting for Nick here. He could happily spend the next decade restoring the many historic buildings lining the town square and downtown streets.
“Look, from what I see here,” Karla brandished her phone in a sparkle of rhinestones from her bejeweled case, “Donna expressed a polite interest in the concept. That doesn’t mean she’s on board with forcing Winnie and me to return toRestoring Seattle.”
“But what about the fact that she okayed Mike and Geoff and their production crew to travel here?” Winnie objected.
Karla sighed. “I’ve known Mike a long time, and if there’s one thing I know about that good old boy, he’s a gold-medal bullshit artist. I’ll lay you odds that he convinced Donna that we’d jump at the chance to work with Geoff again.” She grimaced.
“Winnie and I are done here for the day,” Nick announced.
Karla nodded somberly. “Hell of a way to start our holiday break, right?”
Winnie stepped out of Nick’s embrace. She looked calmer.
“We still have to unload my pickup and the trailer,” she pointed out.
She waved over the construction foreman. “I want all the lumber moved upstairs,” she ordered. “The bathtub and sink can go into one of those tool sheds, since we’ll need to clean them up before we install them.” She pointed at one of the temporary metal sheds set up in the inn’s backyard.
“And then I’m taking you out for dinner,” Nick declared. “We need to talk.”
Winnie met his gaze and nodded. “Yeah, we do.”
She turned to Karla and embraced her. “I know you have an early flight home tomorrow, so I’m going to wish you a Merry Christmas now. Safe travels, and I’ll see you on January 7.”
“Merry Christmas, honey.” Karla hugged her back. Then she came over and hugged Nick, as well. “Enjoy your holiday break, Nick. And don’t worry about Mike and Geoff,” she assured him. “I’ll get things sorted out.”
Despite Nick’s burning desire to head out immediately and have that private talk with Winnie, it took another hour for them to unload their salvage haul, lock up the inn and the storage sheds, and take their leave of the production crew and construction team before everyone headed off to their respective winter break destinations.
By then, the sun had sunk behind the mountains on the west side of the valley, and only a thin line of burnt orange beneath a band of cobalt blue lingered over the snow-capped peaks. The first stars appeared overhead.
“Let’s head over to the Elk’s Head Tavern,” Winnie said, when they were alone at last. “It’s located on the side of the highway about twenty minutes north of town, next to Fred Mason’s gas station. It’s a dive, but they serve decent food if you’re in the mood for pizza or burgers. Best of all, there’s no chance of running into Geoff there.”
“That’s enough of a recommendation for me,” Nick told her.
“I need to stop at the ranch on the way,” Winnie added, “to return the trailer, plus I want to wash off all this makeup.”
