Page 84 of Begin Again
“Why wouldn’t you tell me?”
“You and I aren’t exactly on the best terms right now, Alex. Or have you forgotten you accused me of beinghappyabout this? Happy that I was robbed of my happy ending with the man I love.”
Alex gnaws on the inside of his cheek, considering my words, and from my peripheral I see Beau brace himself to prepare for whatever else my brother-in-law may throw my way. Clearing his throat, Alex looks at the sheriff. “Are you going to reopen the case?”
Beau shrugs. “It’s not my call, but it might be enough for Warren to consider it.”
My phone rings in my pocket and I pull it out, rolling my eyes when I see the name.
Jace Powers.
Jace Powers is a former developer at the Villa Architecture Firm. He worked with Nick for a year or so before leaving the company to start his own firm, centralized in Denver. From what I can tell, he has done well for himself over the years, focusing more on developing some of the smaller towns to bring tourist activity to them. When he left Villa Inc., Ijokinglywarned him to stay away from Haven. We were fine. I didn’t want him pickingapart my city. If anyone should be in charge of the further development of Haven, it was me.
When I was leaving this house this morning, I noticed a missed call from him. I assumed he called because he needed help, but I didn’t have time to clean up whatever mess he’d made. I had enough going on today, so I left his voicemail unheard and put him on my list of things to do on Thursday morning.
It seems strange for him to call again. Normally, he’d wait for me to return the call. Maybe it wasn’t about a project…
“I have to take this. Don’t leave, it’ll be two minutes tops,” I say to Beau, glaring at Alex over my shoulder.
Beau nods without looking away from Alex. I hear the sheriff say something to my brother-in-law, but his voice is too low to know what it is.
“What do you want, Jace?” I answer the phone when I’m far enough away from the duo.
“Where are you?” Jace asks, his voice quieter than I’ve ever heard it before.
That’s an odd question. “I’m about to leave for the airport. Why?”
“Which airport?”
“Jace, why are you asking—”
“Nina, what fucking state are you inright now?” The tone of voice shocks me.
“Colorado…What does any of this matter? Jace, what’s going on?”
“We found him.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
BLACKWOOD RANCH IS BREATHTAKING. Black wrought iron letters spread across the top of the gate spell out the family name as I pass through. The bed and breakfast becomes visible in the distance with the rest of the farm. Based on looks, I’d say this place was built in the late 1800s, and normally that thought alone would excite me. I’d salivate at the chance to learn its history and hear all the stories from its lifetime, but not today. Today my focus remains on the words Jace Powers said.We found him. Those three words led me to walk away from Beau and Alex without any explanation other than: “I have to go.”
Since I left them on the side of Main Street, Beau has called my phone repeatedly, and so have Alex and Kai—almost like the three of them are sitting together, calling in rotation to see who I would answer first. After the fifth rotation, I turned my phone off. If they wouldn’t take the hint, I’d make them.
My hand grips the gear shift long after I park the car in front of the beautiful two-story farmhouse.
My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. Is this really happening? Am I moments from seeing my husband for the first time in over a year? It feels like a dream I’ll wake from at any moment.
There’s another car parked next to me, a black Escalade, and I can only assume it belongs to Jace. The others underthe carport don’t have the same look as the sleek black SUV. They’re more suitable for life on a farm. Before I kill the engine, the Escalade’s driver’s side door opens and Jace jumps out. He shakes out his leg and wipes some invisible dust off his jeans before his attention turns to me. He waves me forward.
No going back now…
My finger presses the ignition button and Jace rips open my door, pulling me out of the seat. “Nina, you made it!” He pulls me in for a hug and whispers in my ear, “Play along.”
“What are you talking about, Jace? Where is—”
“Play along.” He drags me toward the Escalade where his partner, Ben, and an older gentleman now stand. Jace says, “Mr. Blackwood, I want to introduce you to someone. This is Nina. She’s one of the best designers in the country and I thought she could lend a hand with some ideas for the ranch.”
What in the hell is going on?I’m not here to help them develop this fucking ranch, I’m here to find my husband. Jace didn’t say anything about this on the phone. He didn’t say anything other than he and Ben had seen Nick—alive—at a ranch in Bezer.
