Starting Over (Nugget Romance 4)

by Stacy Finz

  “Why?” He seemed concerned.

  She lifted her shoulders. “Just frustrated.”

  “Oh?” He arched a brow.

  “Not like that, you jerk. I had an argument with my father.”

  He swung his arm wide to usher her inside. His house, the same model as hers, was empty. No furniture, no pictures, no rugs, no nothing. Who lived like that? Nate led the way to the back deck, which had a beautiful view of the golf course and the surrounding mountains. But, like the rest of the house, it was bare, not even a folding chair. She sat on the edge of the deck and dangled her legs off the side.

  “I’ll be right back.” He returned with two juice glasses and a corkscrew. “Sorry, this is all I have.”

  “You need to do some shopping. Get some furniture.”

  “Yeah, I’ll get around to it eventually. I’m a little short on time these days.”

  “You could go online,” she said. “Most stores will deliver right to your door, you know?”

  “If you care so much, why don’t you do it for me?” He grabbed a wallet out of his back pocket and shoved a credit card at her, grinning like he’d gotten the better of her.

  “I’ll do it.” She snatched the card out of his hand. “When I’m done with the place, you won’t recognize it.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” He tried to grab the Visa back, but she wouldn’t let him.

  “What’s your budget?”

  “You seriously want to do it? Because if you do, I’ll actually make an exception to the overtime rule. Be sure to keep track of your hours. Don’t do anything on your own time.”

  She’d volunteered to do it as a friend, not as his employee. But that was Nate—all business. “Okay.”

  “You won’t make it look like a girl’s house, will you? I had a girlfriend once who put frilly pillows everywhere. It took two hours to make the bed.”

  She tucked the card into the pouch of her hoodie. “No frilly pillows.” Sam pretended to make a note. “How about I get your approval before making any purchases. That work?”

  “Yep,” he said. “If you’re sure you want to do it.”

  “It’ll be fun. I like spending other people’s money.”

  “I bet you do.” He shook his head. “What’s going on with your old man?”

  “He’s like a broken record. He’s still harping on me to come home and take my rightful place as his only child. You’re lucky you have siblings.” And normal parents.

  “You thinking of going back?” He watched her closely.

  “No, Nate. Why are you so sure I’ll bolt? I like it here.”

  “But for how long?” he muttered, then addressed her directly. “What did you tell him?”

  “That he should come visit, see the place, see the inn. He practically hung up on me.”

  He gave her a commiserating look. “Maybe he’ll come around.”

  Sam sincerely doubted it, but nodded her head anyway. Nate opened the wine and filled both of their juice glasses.

  “Royce got engaged,” she blurted. “I think that’s what set Daddy off.”

  “Your ex? The guy you ran out on?”

  “The one and only.” She flashed him a saccharine smile. “Apparently Royce is telling everyone that he left me for his new fiancée.”

  “And that’s not true, right, because you left him?” He said it like he almost wished Royce’s version was the real one.

  The reason she dumped Royce was no one’s business, least of all Nate’s. He didn’t need to know her mortification.

  “Right,” she said. “I don’t think Royce knew this woman as anything more than an acquaintance while we were together.”

  “Hey, he has a right to try to save face. You ever think you might’ve crushed the guy, like completely ruined him?”

  She laughed and found him glaring at her as if she were the coldest of bitches. “You don’t know anything about it, Nate.”

  “More than you think,” he said.

  Whatever that meant. Sam didn’t want to get into it with him. As far as she was concerned, Royce was ancient history and the horrible things he’d said about her never needed to be repeated. “What do you think of Brady?”

  Nate raised his shoulders. “We’re desperate and he can cook. Do I think he’ll last? Hell no.”

  “Why? It’s a great job in a beautiful place. And he himself said he needs work.”

  “Sam, did you ever stop to think why someone who seems as competent in a kitchen as he does suddenly needs work? And who just wanders through Nugget?”

  “I did,” she said.

  “My point exactly.”

  She nudged him. “What turned you into such a cynic? Perhaps he’s looking for a fresh start.”

  “From what, is the question. If I were a betting man, I’d say he’s running from something.”

  “You think it’s bad, like he’s wanted by the law?”

  “I doubt it’s anything that serious, but you can bet I’ll have Rhys run a background check on him. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that he’s not an ax murderer, because we need him and I’m still dreaming about that coffee cake.”

  “It was good, wasn’t it? Once he loosened up, he seemed sort of nice. Emily liked him. She didn’t even seem fazed by his tattoos—said a lot of young chefs these days have them. Do you really know a place he can live? I don’t get the sense he has a lot of money. He drives a beat-up van, which I’m pretty sure he’s living in. While he waited for you to return from San Francisco to do the interview, he camped in the state park.”

  “Rhys owns a duplex on Donner Road,” Nate said. “That’s where he and Maddy used to live before they bought their current house. If Brady checks out, Rhys might rent to him. I think at least one side of the duplex is vacant. The price shouldn’t be too steep and I might be willing to float him an advance if he seems solid.”

  “That’s nice of you, Nate.”

  “No, it’s good business.”

  She knew it was more than that. Despite his jaded-guy act, Sam could see that Nate was a good person. Look what he’d done for Sophie and Mariah.

  “How’s Lilly?” she asked, and watched his face brighten.

  Sam had never seen a man get so mushy over a baby. Sometimes she’d watch him in the Ponderosa cuddling Lilly, and get shivers. A big, handsome man holding a little bitty baby was nothing short of hot.

  “She’s good,” he said. “Growing fast.”

  “You mind if I ask you a personal question?”

  “I won’t know until you ask it,” he said, and topped off their juice glasses.

  “How does that work with the three of you? I mean as far as parenting.”

  “Sophie and Mariah are Lilly’s parents,” he said. “I’m her biological father, but they’re raising her.”

  “Is it difficult . . . you know, giving that up?”

  “That was always the plan,” he said, which didn’t really answer Sam’s question. “They’re great parents. Why, you have a problem with it?”

  “No, of course not,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful what you did.” Everyone in town did, which sort of surprised her, given her upbringing in conservative Greenwich. “I just figure that it could’ve gotten complicated. Do you ever want children of your own?”

  He gave a nonchalant shrug. “Someday, I suppose. How about you? Were you and Royce planning to have a horde of rug rats?”

  “We never talked about it.” Unless she counted the night of the rehearsal dinner. “Don’t you think couples should talk about something as important as children?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he thought, why bother, since you were planning to give him the old heave-ho anyway.”

  She shook her head in irritation. Nate sure did seem to have a problem with her and Royce’s breakup. You’d think it was him she’d left at the altar. “How many children do you want to have?”

  “Two always seemed like a good round number. My parents had three. That would work too. How ’bout
you?”

  She smiled. “Two. Ideally a boy and a girl. But I’d be ecstatic no matter what.”

  He looked at her. Really looked.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing. So why do you think you and Royce never discussed babies?”

  It was a good question. She and Nate weren’t even seeing each other and they’d discussed the topic more than she and Royce ever had. In hindsight, maybe she’d known all along that she and Royce were never meant to be.

  “I don’t think our relationship ever reached that kind of maturity,” she said, wanting to shelve the topic. “What about you and Lilly? Are you planning to tell her you’re her biological father?”

  “It’s not like we could keep it a secret in this town. Sophie and Mariah plan to tell her when she’s old enough to understand.”

  “And what if you have children? How will that work?”

  “It’s complicated, Sam. Not stuff we’ve really worked out yet.”

  Her face heated. “I’m sorry. I’m usually not this prying. I’ve just seen you with Lilly . . . and . . . I can see that it’s complex.”

  “Yep.” He held up the bottle of wine. “Want a refill?”

  “Sure. The first things I’m buying you are real wine glasses.”

  “A few plates would be good too. And a coffeemaker, while you’re at it.” He flashed her a cheeky grin.

  “Are you staying in Nugget for a while?” She tried to make it sound like a casual question, but the days went by slower when Nate was in San Francisco.

  “I’ve got to go back in a few days and put out some fires. You ready for the bridal expo?”

  She nodded, excited about seeing the Belvedere. “Will I be able to visit any of the other Breyer properties while I’m in San Francisco?”

  “I’ll try to make that happen for you,” he said, and she interpreted it as he would find someone else to give her the tour.

  “I heard you talking to Tracy today,” she slipped in. “Anything going on?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing more than the usual craziness.”

  “Are you and Tracy . . . a thing?” She couldn’t help asking. Besides it not being her business, why should she care? Other than the kiss, of course.

  “Why? You jealous?”

  “No . . . don’t be silly. Of course not.”

  Brows up, he said, “I don’t fool around with employees.”

  Ha, Sam laughed to herself. Not unless he was kissing the breath out of them. “But if she weren’t your employee—?”

  “Not my type.”

  “What is your type?”

  “Physically, you. But everything else about you is wrong.”

  She flinched. “That was an awfully mean thing to say.”

  “I bet Royce doesn’t think so.”

  She got to her feet, but before she could walk out on him, he pulled her into an embrace, crushed her against his chest and kissed her until she actually felt the world turn on its axis. Ravenous, his mouth moved over hers, plundering. He tasted like wine and man and she could feel his heat and hardness pressing against her.

  “I don’t want to do this,” he whispered against her mouth.

  “Then stop.” He made her so crazy with desire she could barely find her equilibrium.

  “Can’t.” It came out like a harsh croak.

  “I’ll make it easy for you.” Summoning all her willpower—and her dignity—she pushed away from him. “Good night, Nate.”

  Chapter 13

  Nate lay in bed, watching the morning sunlight stream through his blinds, trying to stave off a headache, while wishing that the previous night had merely been a bad dream.

  What the hell had he been thinking, sticking his tongue down Samantha’s throat, especially after he’d sworn off her following the first kiss? He clearly liked living on the edge. The woman would accuse him of sexual harassment and have his company if he wasn’t careful—or worse, his heart.

  There were a million females more suitable for him than Princess Samantha. Women who weren’t dilettantes on a mission to find themselves at everyone else’s expense. Women who didn’t run away from their wealthy, powerful fathers just to be rebellious. And most of all, women who could commit—not sneak away at dawn’s early light.

  He got out of bed, hoping a hot shower would help him come up with a plan for damage control.

  Nate needed to apologize to Sam in a big way. But instead of finding her at the inn, Dink Caruthers, Nugget’s mayor, was waiting for him at the front desk.

  “Your Honor,” Nate greeted facetiously. There was nothing honorable about wearing a polyester Western suit. Or having a name like Dink, for that matter.

  “Nate.” The mayor tipped his head. “You got a few minutes?”

  Not really, but he couldn’t very well tell the mayor that. “Sure. Let’s sit in my office.”

  “The Addisons are concerned that you’re running a restaurant without the proper permits.” Dink got comfortable in one of Nate’s chairs.

  “The Addisons clearly have a drug problem. I’m thinking black tar heroin.”

  “That’s some strong allegations, boy.”

  Nate rolled his eyes. “Dink, do you see us running a restaurant? We’re a bed and breakfast. Shockingly enough, we serve our guests breakfast.”

  “Now don’t go getting all hot under the collar. They asked me to look into it and that’s what I’m doing. They said you just hired a fancy chef down from Los Angeles, some reality TV star on that Top Chef show.”

  “Reality TV star?” If he was talking about Brady, the guy lived in a freaking van. “We hired a chef to replace the one we had. The one who cooked breakfasts for our guests, because I’ll repeat: We’re a bed and breakfast. No big conspiracy, Dink.”

  “All right, all right. But if you’re running some kind of restaurant on the side, you know I’ll have to shut you down, right?”

  Nate blew out a breath. “Are you checking on their pool permits? How do you know they’re not turning the Beary Quaint into Marine World? Hell, that damned dump is already the equivalent of Country Bear Jamboree. Do they have a permit for a theme park?”

  Dink got to his feet. “All right, boy, you’ve made your point. We miss that sister of yours. When is she coming back?”

  Not soon enough to suit Nate. “A couple of months,” he said.

  “How’s that nice redhead working out?”

  After last night, the jury was out on that one. “Great.” Especially when she was climbing him like a tree for more kisses.

  Before Dink could ask any more of his annoying questions, Rhys filled Nate’s doorway.

  “Hey there, Mr. Mayor,” Rhys said, turning on his bullshit Texas charm. “How y’all doing?”

  “Real fine, Chief. But maybe you ought to tell your brother-in-law here to take a chill pill.” With that, Dink sauntered out of the inn.

  “A chill pill?” Rhys cocked a brow. “What was that about?”

  “The Addisons are complaining that we’re running an underground restaurant.”

  Rhys chuckled. “See what Maddy has to put up with when you’re not around? I’ve got some good news for you, though. The chef checks out. Nothing negative I could find.”

  “What’s this rumor about him being on that Top Chef show? That’s what the Addisons told Dink.”

  “It didn’t come up in any of the searches I ran,” Rhys said. “Does it matter?”

  Nate hitched his shoulders. “It might drum up a little publicity for the inn.”

  “Then why don’t you just ask him? Hey, Maddy and I want to give Clay and Emily a weekend getaway for their wedding gift. They’re not taking a honeymoon until winter, when the kids are back in school. Maddy suggested the Theodore.”

  “You want me to hook you up?” Nate asked.

  “Yep. We want all the bells and whistles. Will a thousand cover it?”

  Rhys had to be kidding. “Consider it taken care of.”

  “Maddy said you’d say that.
Look, it wouldn’t be much of a gift if we didn’t pay for it.”

  “Whatever happened to ‘it’s the thought that counts’?” Nate asked.

  “Buy ’em dinner and a show. That’ll set you back. In the meantime, I’ll reserve a suite for them in your name and have a complimentary VIP basket sent up. The works.”

  “Aw, that’s great. Thanks, Nate.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “You bringing anyone to the wedding?” Rhys asked.

  “I hadn’t really thought about it. Probably not.”

  “What about the redhead?”

  Nate pinned his brother-in-law with a glare. “Maddy put you up to this, didn’t she? Tell her I’m perfectly capable of finding my own dates.”

  Rhys’s top lip quirked. Other than that he wasn’t giving anything away. “I heard she’s done a hell of a job helping Emily put that reception together. Clay’s invited near half the county.”

  “She’s good at planning parties,” Nate said. “She’s had a lot of practice.”

  “She’s also good-looking. Anything there?” Rhys arched his brows in question.

  “Don’t you have a town to keep safe?”

  One thing about his brother-in-law, he could take a hint. He got up. “I guess that’s my cue to leave. See you around.”

  “Thanks for checking out Brady.”

  “When does he start?”

  “As soon as he can find a living situation. Which reminds me, you still have a vacancy in the duplex?”

  “Both sides are vacant,” Rhys said. “He can have his choice. Rent’s six hundred a month with a twelve hundred dollar deposit. If that’s a problem, I’m sure we can swing something.”

  “Great. I’ll let him know.”

  After Rhys left, Nate could no longer put off the inevitable and called Tracy.

  She picked up on the third ring and said, “It’s about time.”

  “Nice to talk to you too. How’s it going on the gala?”

  “That’s why I’ve been trying to call you,” Tracy said, and Nate checked his cell, which he’d inadvertently turned to silent. Four messages. “Nut Ball, queen of the bitches, has now decided that she will accept the Theodore’s chef as long as he does Thomas Keller’s menu, which our chef says is plagiarism. Richard said, and I quote, ‘I’d rather drain my own veins before I cook someone else’s dishes.’ These people are driving me crazy, Nate.”