“Are you even listening?” she demanded.
“Sure. To every word.”
“I don’t think I believe you. You have the strangest look on your face.”
Will’s arrival was the perfect interruption. His second in command bounced into the trailer, grinning like a fool.
Nevada glanced at her watch. “Nearly two. Guess you’re not an early riser anymore.”
“I called.”
“You left a cryptic message on the voice mail saying you’d be late. Not exactly the same thing.”
“Good enough for the likes of you two.” Will crossed the small trailer, grabbed Nevada by the waist and spun her in a tight circle. “Congratulate me. I’m engaged.”
“Woohoo!” Nevada flung her arms around him. “Finally. I was tired of being mad at you.”
Will laughed and released her, then walked over to Tucker and held out his hand.
“I’m the luckiest guy ever,” Will told him.
Tucker did his best to conceal his shock. Will engaged? They’d always been nomads together.
“Congratulations,” Tucker said automatically.
“When did this happen?” Nevada asked, hugging him again.
“Last night. Technically, early this morning.” Will laughed. “She made me work for it, though. I’ll tell you that.”
“Married.” Nevada clapped her hands together. “I’m not sure Jo is the big wedding type. Are you two going to do something in town or run off and get married?”
“Whatever she wants is good with me.”
Will sounded happy. Or whatever was beyond happy, Tucker thought, confused by the rapid change of events.
“You’ll be staying here,” he said.
“Yup.” Will chuckled. “If I don’t, Jo’s gonna hunt me down. Gotta love that in a woman.” He sighed. “I’ll finish the job, then look for work in town.” Still looking pleased with himself, he laughed. “I guess I’m giving my two-year notice.”
Will leaving the company? Just like that? For a woman?
Nevada walked to her desk and picked up a stack of magazines. “My sisters left these for me,” she said, waving the bridal magazines at him. “Want to look them over?”
Tucker waited for his friend to make the sign of the cross and then run for the hills. Instead Will grabbed them.
“Sure,” he said with a chuckle. “That’ll get her attention. Hey, is there a jewelry store in town? I need to buy my woman a ring. A big one.”
“I know just the place. Jenel’s Gems. Jenel will be able to help you find the prefect ring.”
Will tucked the magazines under his arm, then headed for the door. “I’m out of here, boss. See you tomorrow.”
With that, he was gone.
Tucker stared at the closed door, not sure what had just happened. Everything was getting out of hand and somehow he had to figure out a way to stop it.
“THIS IS REALLY SUDDEN,” Nevada said, not sure how she felt about Cat’s announcement. Despite everything that had happened, Nevada wasn’t sure she was ready for Cat to leave. They’d barely become friends. Well, as much as anyone could be a friend with Cat.
“I’ve created and now it’s time for me to move on,” Cat told her.
They were in front of the Gold Rush Ski Lodge and Resort. A long, dark limo idled next to them, the driver and Herbert, her assistant, already loading piles of luggage.
“You know the sculpture is finished,” Cat said. “You’ll be the one to present it to the town.”
“Lucky me.”
“I knew you’d enjoy being the one.”
“You’ll miss the unveiling,” Nevada reminded her, thinking there was a whole lifetime of things she would rather do than be in charge of giving her hometown a giant vagina.
“I’ve done the important part,” Cat told her, then touched her shoulder. “Come with me.”
“Cat, you know I can’t.”
“No.” Cat’s green eyes darkened. “You don’t want to. There’s a difference.”
Nevada bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry. I know this is important to you, but there’s no way I can be in that kind of relationship with you.”
“Your loss,” Cat said lightly.
“Tell me about it.”
Just then Cody, one of the college guys who rented from Nevada, walked up.
“Hey,” he said, handing Herbert a duffel bag. He slid into the back of the limo.
Nevada looked from the open door back to Cat.
“No way.”
Cat’s smile turned mischievous. “He’s not you, but he gets me through the night.”
“He’s a boy.”
“Yes. All that youthful enthusiasm and energy. He’s good for at least three times a night and I’m teaching him exactly how to please me. There are worse fates.”
“He didn’t give notice that he was leaving,” Nevada said, knowing she should probably be more worried about Cody’s future than her rental income.
“He’ll be back and, in the meantime, I’ll pay his rent.”
Cat leaned in and kissed her. Nevada didn’t turn away in time, or maybe she felt she shouldn’t. Either way, Cat’s soft lips pressed against hers, then lingered for a heartbeat before she drew away.
Cat sighed. “If I could convince you.”
“It’s not just the girl thing,” Nevada admitted. “It’s that I want something permanent. Like what my parents had. A forever kind of love. My sisters have found it and I’m hoping it’s out there for me, too. You’re amazing, Cat, but you don’t do long term. You can’t. Not with your gift.”
Cat’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re right,” she whispered. “My art always comes first. Eventually I’d feel confined and my work would suffer.”
Nevada realized that for once, they were both speaking the truth. Even if she was interested in Cat, the other woman couldn’t give her what she wanted.
“I’ll miss you,” Nevada told her.
“And I’ll miss you.”
They hugged.
When they straightened, Cat smiled at her. “If I could have loved anyone, it would have been you.”
Nevada touched her cheek. “I’ll bet you say that to all the girls.”
Cat climbed into the limo. Herbert shut the door, then scurried around to the passenger seat and got in. Seconds later, the long, black car drove away.
Nevada stood there in front of the hotel. The afternoon was clear, but the forecast called for snow that night. It was perfect weather for a fire and maybe a man in front of that fire.
But she wanted more than that. Telling Cat the truth had opened up something inside of her. Something she’d been afraid to admit.
She did want more than a lover. She wanted a husband and a family. She wanted to have roots and traditions. She wanted to hear the man she loved tell her he loved her back. She wanted to know they would be there for each other, no matter what. She wanted it all.
THE DRIVE TO THE WORK SITE had never taken so long or seemed so short, Nevada thought as she parked her truck next to the trailer. She’d had enough time to try to talk herself down, all the while considering what she was going to say.
She knew there was risk involved, that the conversation could go very badly, but still she had to try. She owed herself that.
She walked into the trailer. Tucker was on the phone. He smiled when he saw her and motioned he wouldn’t be long. A few seconds later, he hung up.
“What did Cat want?” he asked.
“To say goodbye. She left.”
“What about the statue? Did she change her mind?”
“No such luck. It’s finished and she wants me to present it to the town.”
“Better you than me. Mayor Marsha isn’t going to be happy.”
A problem for another time, she thought, walking toward him.
She took the seat next to his desk and drew in a breath. She was shaking a little and thought she might have to throw up. Not the best combination, but waiting would only make things worse.