Page 47 of Black Ice
Was it time to leave Deadwood? Assuming Wyatt wanted her tagging along, she could help him set up his new business. The idea of spending time with him, loving him as a friend and partner and building a life warmed her more thoroughly than the shower had. The distance might actually help herrelationship with her dad and give her a fresh perspective on her personal goals.
But that potential scenario assumed Wyatt would want that same time with her now that the crisis was over. Although she felt hopeful, she couldn’t bank on it.
Her body ached too much to sit still for long. Standing, she crossed to the window, sipping her hot chocolate and burrowing into the robe. Twilight was deepening and waves of untouched snow sparkled under the streetlamps. Although the storm was officially over, it would take several days for the city to dig out and return to normal. Knowing her community, people would already be tired of being stuck indoors. By morning, they’d be itching to get out and get moving, even though the accumulation and drifts would make it difficult to go anywhere.
If only Cottonwood Adventures had the gear, she could offer people the outlet they needed. A thought occurred to her as she studied the courtyard below and gently bloomed into a full-fledged idea. What if they organized a snow day for hotel guests and invited the kids and families from the nearby neighborhoods? It would bring wonderful visibility to her business which would be a big benefit whether they decided to sell or expand. And the casino would get bonus points for community engagement. She mulled over the logistics and then reached out to Jack and Sarah to see if the casino had the desire, staff, and resources to pitch in with her last-minute idea.
To her delight, they were excited about the prospect of having a snow adventure day. As the details came together, she called her dad again.
“Evie.” He sounded pleased to hear from her though they’d spoken just a few hours ago. “How is the suite?”
“Amazing.” She described it to him. “It’s not home.” Her heart was all too eager to define ‘home’ as wherever Wyatt landed. She sure hoped that worked out. “I, um, put somethings in motion.” She explained the plans for the snow day and the casino’s swift agreement and contributions in a rush, then waited on pins and needles for his reaction.
“Sweetheart, you’re brilliant.” The pride came through loud and clear. “When your mom died, I pulled back from the community.” He cleared his throat. “I pulled back from you too. It shouldn’t have taken a blizzard and an emergency to wake me up. I’m sorry for not making a better effort to see what you wanted foryourfuture.”
She had to blink back tears. “Thanks, Dad. Is there any way you could make it over here for the event? I could ask Sheriff Russell to send a snowmobile for you.”
“I bet he’d do anything for you,” Dale laughed, the sound rusty but welcome. “I’ll figure it out, don’t you worry. I know you and Wyatt are both in one piece, but it sure will be nice to see you with my own eyes.”
After the call, she poured more hot chocolate and jotted down notes on the hotel stationery, reworking her priorities for the reward money based on her father’s surprising turnaround. She couldn’t wait to tell Wyatt about the snow party plans.
Even with this event stirring ideas for many more, she could happily leave Deadwood if that’s what Wyatt needed. But now she wondered if maybe it would be better for him to stay here and reclaim his place as a hometown kid who’d done well despite a rough start.
How crazy that so much had changed in a matter of days, opening up doors her mind and heart had slammed shut. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d had so many options. Unless Wyatt didn’t want her after all.
She cut off that unsettling thought in a hurry. That was fear talking. Fear that the high of surviving Cordell and reconnecting with Wyatt wouldn’t last. Experience had proven to her time and again that it was possible to love someone, to care so deeplyabout their happiness, and still make choices that severed those ties rather than strengthen them.
Her recent communication challenges with her father and the mistakes Wyatt had made at eighteen were more evidence. No, they weren’t eighteen anymore, but she couldn’t expect a new relationship to be perfect. Love was work at any age. It had to be a choice. Having made her choice, it was going to be difficult not to push Wyatt into a choice that aligned with hers. But unless he came around on his own, it would never work.
A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts and she hurried to answer. Anything to stop over-analyzing every random thought that popped into her head. Putting her eye to the peephole, her heart danced to see Wyatt and sank when she noticed Agent Pickering was with him.
Her stomach twisted with worry as she opened the door. “Come in,” she said, brazening through the fact that she was still in the cushy robe. When he’d said he’d come to her as soon as he could, she thought he’d meant alone.
Whatever they’d been doing, Wyatt had cleaned up and changed clothes. He looked handsome in dark blue jeans and topped with a button-down shirt and a Silver Aces zip-up jacket. His smile sent a tingle through her system. Yeah, she really should’ve dressed.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes,” she said quickly. “Just too lazy to dress yet.” She tilted her head and grinned. “Did you just buy the outfit displayed on the mannequin downstairs?”
His smile lit up his gorgeous eyes. “Pretty much.” He plucked at the jacket zipper. “Or rather the FBI did. The casino confiscated everything in my room after the robbery, so…”
She started toward the phone. “They should have returned all that by now.”
“The casino is handling it,” Pickering said. “We’ve cleared up his role in the incident.”
Incident. What a weak word for what Cordell had put them through.
“We need to tie up a few loose ends and he wouldn’t leave without talking to you first,” Pickering said. “Is this hot chocolate?” She sniffed at the carafe.
“Help yourself.” Evie couldn’t tear her gaze away from Wyatt. “Loose ends?” That must mean the team waiting for Tate and the others at the ghost town. She wrapped her arms tight around her middle while she waited for him to confirm her worst fears. They were both well aware that the roads in and out wouldn’t be clear. They were asking him to risk too much, too soon.
“Are you even warm yet?” She couldn’t hide her worry.
“I’m fine.”
His gentle expression forced her to take a step back. She wasn’t used to anyone reading her so easily. It was almost as if nothing had changed despite all the years between them. He caught her by the elbow and gently drew her a few paces from Pickering. His touch familiar, comforting.
“Evie,” he said softly. “It’ll be all right.”
