With nowhere to run, he was forced to stay behind his desk and hope for the best. After all, he was a grown man. He could stand up to what was outside. He didn’t have to be afraid.
But all the logic in the world didn’t stop him from wincing as he heard footsteps on the stairs, followed by the turning of the handle. He braced himself for the onslaught.
The door opened and Mayor Marsha stepped inside.
“Good morning, Tucker,” she said cheerfully.
“Ma’am.”
She was as well dressed as ever, in one of her suits, the skirt hitting exactly at the middle of her knee. Her white hair was in that puffy do she seemed to like so much. Despite the warmth in her gaze, he knew this wasn’t a social call.
He stood and walked toward the coffeepot. “The gold is all excavated,” he said, pouring her a cup.
“Cream,” she said when he held it out.
He added cream, stirred, then took it over to her.
She’d settled at the small table in the back. He passed her the coffee. For a second, he thought about making a run for it, but knew that wouldn’t work. She would simply hunt him down. Better to face her now and get it over with.
“Thank you,” she said before sipping the coffee. “Having the gold gone must be making your life here more peaceful.”
“I didn’t love the tourists.”
“I imagine not.” She put the mug back on the table. “I’ve been keeping track of the progress you’re making on the site. Impressive. I have every confidence this facility is going to be an excellent addition to the Fool’s Gold community.”
“We appreciate the support from you and the city council. Some cities wouldn’t want the casino so close.”
Mayor Marsha smiled. “I’m sure that’s true, but I’m not concerned. If anyone becomes difficult, our police department is more than capable of handling the situation. The additional tax revenue is more than worth the effort. The occupancy taxes for the hotel alone are going to fund a new high school. Children are our future, as they say.”
“So I’ve heard,” he murmured, wondering when she would drop her next bombshell. Unless she was here to nag him about Cat’s giant vagina. A gift he’d yet to figure out how to undo. Not that he’d tried especially hard. He frowned as he realized he hadn’t seen much of Cat since her arrival. And to think that at one point in his life, she’d been his reason for breathing. Time really did heal.
“The last two years have taught me a valuable lesson,” the mayor told him. “We haven’t been vigilant enough in our planning here in Fool’s Gold. We’ve let outside events guide us. That disastrous reality show is just one example. Now the gold find. It’s not that we could have predicted either, but we should have been better prepared. To that end, I’m starting a committee of business leaders. People who understand about forecasting and projections. Our purpose will be to provide a new kind of leadership for us all. I’m looking for suggestions for myself and for the city council.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” he said, wondering when she would get to the part that would make him uncomfortable.
“I’m glad you think so. I’d like you to be a part of the group. Perhaps even head it up.”
She was good, Tucker thought. He hadn’t seen that one coming.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I’m not the right person.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not a permanent resident. Once the job site is up and running, I’ll head on to the next project. I’m in town a year at most.”
The mayor pressed her lips together. “I don’t understand. I was under the impression this was the last job you’d be running. That once this was done, you would be taking over the company.”
She was better than good at getting information, Tucker told himself. She was practically a witch.
“How did you know that?”
The older woman sighed. “I know everything, Tucker. I would have thought you’d know that by now. Aren’t you taking over the company?”
“Yes, but—”
“And once you’re in control, you can locate the headquarters anywhere?”
“Sure, but—”
“And isn’t it true that you’re not completely happy with living in Chicago and were thinking of moving the office somewhere else?”
He sprang to his feet. “Wait a minute. I haven’t talked with anyone about that. I haven’t even made up my mind.”
She stared at him pointedly until he settled back in his chair.
“Fool’s Gold would be an excellent place for you to settle your company. We’re very supportive of business. Housing is reasonable, the schools are some of the best in the country. You should think about it.”
He couldn’t get past her knowing things he’d barely articulated to himself. He hadn’t told Will or Nevada. He’d discussed moving the company with his father. Once. Three years ago. In Argentina.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
“I’m someone who pays attention. Please, don’t go reading any more into what I said than that. It’s obvious you’re looking for something more than the vagabond lifestyle you’ve known since you were a child. You find the town charming. You came here because of Nevada. Now that the two of you are together, thinking you want to stay is the next logical step.”
If he hadn’t already used up the drama of jumping to his feet, he would have done it again. While he couldn’t disagree with anything she’d said, even he hadn’t put all that together in a reasonable way.
But he wasn’t staying. He’d never planned on staying. Staying meant taking things to the next level with Nevada. He wasn’t interested in that. He didn’t believe in happy endings or forever. Love was…
“I can see by your expression you’re not ready to commit to being in town longer than the job requires,” the older woman said. “I hope you’ll change your mind. You need us, Tucker, even more than we need you.”
With that, she collected her purse and left.
He continued to sit at the small table, trying to figure out what had just happened. Talk about unexpected and just plain weird, he thought. Sure, he liked Nevada and he liked the town, but staying? Moving the company here? That wasn’t going to happen.
He wasn’t looking for permanent. Not personally or professionally. Sure, he would be taking over the company, but he still planned to go around the world for the big jobs. Maybe not to be in charge, but he wasn’t going to become some guy, stuck in an office. He needed more.
As for Nevada, he knew he’d screwed up there. Let things get too far. He’d been trying to back off before, but then Cat had happened. As always, having her around was like dealing with a natural disaster. He’d reacted to the situation and now Mayor Marsha thought things between him and Nevada were more than they were.
That made him wonder if Nevada thought the same thing.
He stood and returned to his desk. But once he was there, he found himself restless. He swore.
He didn’t want to hurt her. She was great and he really liked being with her. She got him and he got her. They were a good team, both in and out of bed. He liked watching her move, he liked making her laugh. He wanted to be around her.
Sure, he trusted her more than he’d ever trusted another woman and maybe, if things had been different, she would have been the one. But they weren’t different. He knew what would happen if he gave in to love. He knew the price and he wasn’t going to pay it. Not again. Not for anyone.
TUCKER’S LONG MORNING turned into an even longer afternoon. Nevada showed up after lunch, flushed and chilled from working with the guys. She talked about how the digging was going and which pipes had been delivered. Rather than pay attention, he watched her, trying to figure out how badly he would miss her when he was gone.