Nevada raised both her hands. “Don’t even think about it. The closest relationship I have these days is with Cat.”
While the statement wasn’t completely true, there was no way she was discussing her confusing and apparently ongoing liaison with Tucker.
They’d had a great time the previous night. Not just the sex, she thought wistfully. The conversation had been just as fun. He made her laugh, which she liked, and when she was around him, she could be herself. Some men were intimidated by what she did for a living — especially when they saw her on a construction site. But Tucker wasn’t like that.
He’d stayed the night, they’d made breakfast together, then had used her shower in a very interesting way. Then she’d had to leave to come here for the “girls only” family meeting. Leaving him had been harder than she would have thought.
“I met Cat,” Denise said. “I’ve never known a famous artist before. She’s very elegant and more friendly than I’d expected. I went and looked at a few of her pieces online. They’re…” She paused, as if searching for the right word. “Large.”
“Cat does enjoy making a statement.” Nevada sat up and stretched her legs in front of her. “In life and in art. I can’t imagine what she’s finding to do in a town this small. I did see her talking with Cody the other day. I hope she doesn’t take things too far with him.”
“Who’s Cody?” Dakota asked.
“One of the guys renting from me. He’s in college. Very talented — a computer science major. I don’t think he usually gets the girl. Being with Cat would be way too much for him.”
“A problem every college-age guy would love,” Montana said with a laugh.
True enough, Nevada thought, remembering how Tucker had been mesmerized by Cat all those years ago.
“Back to the wedding, girls,” Denise said firmly. “We have decisions to make.”
“Sure you don’t want to make this a triple wedding?” Montana asked with a grin. “Come on, Mom. You’re a grandmother. Are you really not going to marry Max?”
“I’d rather not.” Denise’s voice was prim. “However, if you three and the boys think I should, then I’ll consider it. Or if you think it would be better for the grandchildren.”
“I’m not going there,” Nevada said quickly. “It’s your decision, Mom.”
Her sisters nodded their agreement.
Denise sighed. “I prefer to have your father be my only husband. Having said that, Max and I are in love and together.”
Nevada shifted on the floor and fought against the need to cover her ears and hum.
“No details, please,” Dakota inserted quickly, flipping through the bridal magazine on her lap. “Remember?”
Denise grinned. “No details. However, I will warn you that Max is going to be moving in here.”
“Oh, good.” Nevada relaxed a little, now that the threat of sex talk was over. “I thought you might want to move in with him and then sell this house. Which would be okay,” she added quickly. “It’s your house.”
“No.” Her mother shook her head. “It’s the family home and I don’t want to lose it. We have so many memories here. I want Hannah to have her first Christmas with us in this house.”
“What happens to Max’s place?” Dakota asked. “Doesn’t someone have to be there for the dogs?”
Max lived on the same property his business occupied. K9Rx provided therapy dogs to the community.
“We have staff who stay with the dogs at night,” Montana said. “Eventually Max will need to figure out what to do with the main house, but for now Simon and I are going to rent it while we decide what we want to do. Build, buy or remodel. We’re not sure. So this gives us time to make the right choice.”
“You have it all planned out,” Nevada said, wondering when all these decisions had been made. She felt as if she’d been gone a month and the whole world had changed while she was away. But that wasn’t exactly true, she told herself. She hadn’t really been out of touch at all.
“Does Max work?” Dakota asked. “Except for the dogs, I mean? How does he pay for everything?”
Denise smiled smugly. “Max was in Seattle during the eighties. He met Bill Gates and bought Microsoft at the initial public offering.”
Nevada blinked. That would explain a lot, she thought.
“So he’s rich?” Dakota asked.
“Very.”
Montana laughed. “And here I’ve been worried about buying dog food on sale.”
“You can probably let that go,” Nevada told her.
Dakota held up her magazine. “What about this?” she asked.
The wedding gown had an empire waist and long sleeves.
“It’s beautiful,” her mother said. “We really need to go try on dresses. This week, girls. As it is, there are going to be limitations. We don’t have months and months to wait for something to be made.”
“What size are samples?” Montana asked.
“Usually ten or twelve.”
“Then that would work.”
Montana joined her sister on the sofa and they flipped through the magazines, looking at dresses.
“We’re going to have to figure out if we’re having bridesmaids,” Dakota said absently. “Nevada, you’re going to be our mutual maid of honor, right?”
“Sure.”
She’d assumed she would be part of the wedding, although she hadn’t known as what. Her chest tightened a little as she thought of her sisters both getting married while she stood by and watched.
They were both so happy, she reminded herself. They deserved this and she wanted them to have perfect weddings. But every now and then she wanted that for herself, too. A happy ending, love, children. Someone to be in her life.
Not surprisingly, her thoughts drifted to Tucker and the night she’d shared.
Not him, she thought sadly. He believed love was a trap. Convincing him otherwise was unlikely. Unfortunately, he was the first guy in a long time who had captured her interest. She would have to make sure he didn’t capture her heart.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE BEAUTIFUL FALL AFTERNOON brought out both residents and tourists, Nevada thought as she and Cat strolled through the center of town on Sunday afternoon. The leaves were changing, bringing bright reds and yellows to the trees, dressing up the streets. Fool’s Gold was a place that celebrated every season, every holiday. Although it was several weeks before Halloween, storefronts were a mass of pumpkins and ghosts. Windows had been painted, harvest baskets stood by open doors, and at the center of town was a Thanksgiving diorama with Pilgrims and Native Americans sitting down to a turkey dinner.
The display had been around for as long as Nevada could remember. The clothes were a little tattered and the mannequin faces needed a fresh coat of paint. Still, it was traditional and, in its own way, beautiful.
“I don’t know,” Cat said doubtfully, eyeing the Pilgrims. “They’re not inspiring.”
“The town puts them up every year,” Nevada told her. “It’s tradition.”
Cat looked at the square, turning in a circle as she took in the buildings and the open space. “I think you could do better. Fool’s Gold is such a special place. I can feel the feminine energy. I’m filled with inspiration.”
The temperatures were mild for early October. Mid-sixties, with plenty of blue skies. Mornings were crisp and the higher elevations were already getting frost.
Cat was dressed like everyone else, in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Still, she managed to look more glamorous, more perfect. Maybe it was the fur-trimmed vest, or the designer boots. Maybe it was the way her layered dark hair cascaded down her back. Maybe it was how the sun seemed to focus on her high cheekbones and wide eyes.
Cat had called a couple of hours ago and insisted they spend the afternoon together. Nevada had been hoping for a repeat with Tucker, but had agreed to meet her friend instead.