She observed a distant bird and followed its playful antics until it landed on a row of neatly stacked rocks framed here and there by tall grass. They were arranged about four rows wide and six rows deep. Even from her distance, their coloring flaunted mother nature’s artistic flair. What looked like bands of white swirled through the deep molasses and rust-colored stone. Maybe Jase could tell her about them since it was obvious they’d had a purpose at one time, and they were too unique, too beautiful, to be left abandoned now.
“Have you ever seen anything like those? What do you think they are?”
Shielding his eyes, he glanced in the direction she pointed. “They’re rocks.”
Madison dropped her arm, wishing he was close enough to flick.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
He didn’t get it. Never did. Numbers? Business plans? Totally. The accountant might admire her work, but he didn’t get it. Eric didn’t sense the inspiration that drove her designs. No, the only person who’d ever gotten her was gone, buried in the East Brooke Cemetery.
Except…that wasn’t entirely true. That moment in her office, Jase had seemed to underst—
“Well, if I can’t convince you to come down, maybe he can.”
Madison teetered as she spun to see him pointing out the land’s owner a dozen or more yards away, a still form facing a bruised and charred pile of wood. Something about the whole picture looked…fractured, and suddenly her vision for the home took on an unexplainable reverence.
Her fingers itched to jot down the snippets of ideas nudging her brain but froze when he started their way. “Perfect,” she mumbled. “He isn’t supposed to be here yet.”
Jase’s strong shoulders and wide gait were right at home on the rugged ranch.
He belongs here.
Why the thought surprised her, she didn’t know. Then an image of the real estate guru in tight jeans, dusty boots, and a worn cowboy hat caused flames to flirt with her skin when he stopped a few feet away. Her face burned further from her precarious perch on the tall pile of rocks.
“Mr. Cutter.”
“Miss Blakeley.” Amusement reflected in his eyes—their color like copper in sunlight. Jase held her gaze until a cough sounded behind them and he turned. “You must be Eric.”
With an anxious squeeze on her chest, she regarded them closely as they shook hands, silently begging her accountant to play nice. Then she noticed Jase’s jaw and gasped.
“What happened to you?”
The mogul touched his fingers to the red spot. “Just some unfinished business.”
Curiosity over the cryptic remark made keeping her smile intact hard, but she didn’t pry further. “Your land is stunning. I could listen to that water all day.”
A noise that sounded like a grunt reached her ears as he walked a few yards to where the dirt drive faded into wild grass.
Facing west, he said, “The stream cuts in and out of this land and the neighboring ranch.”
“I can’t believe you’ve waited this long to build up here.” Madison turned a slow circle, admiring every perspective, but catching sight of his pale face, she stopped.
“I didn’t know you had roots in Idaho,” Eric commented.
“Most don’t, or they forget. I’d like to keep it that way.”
If the words weren’t enough to cause her friend some remorse for his actions, Jase’s loaded look would, but like the professional he was, the subject got dropped.
“Are these your ideas?” He gestured to her folder lying on the ground.
A touch of panic crept over her as she bent to hop off the rocks; they were taller than she’d thought. Scooting down on her backside was an embarrassing option, but she also wasn’t keen on jumping. Knowing her track record, she’d reinjure her arm, or worse, break something.
“Here.”
She glanced from the ground to Jase. The way his fingers flexed held no room for argument.
“Take my hand.”
When she lifted a brow, he only met the gesture, and a smile quirked up one corner of her lips.
Crouching low, she slipped her hand into his. Like the sun on her back, his touch warmed her skin, and Madison obeyed his gentle tug without thinking. The uneven ground caused her to stumble, and she let out a tiny gasp of pain when he put his hand on her sore arm to steady her.
He winced. “Sorry. Again.”
“It’s fine. It was my—”
Jase’s deep chuckle cut her off. “Let’s not start that again.”
Her own laughter broke free. “Probably a good idea.”
“You all right?” Eric stepped in front of her, blocking Jase out.
“I’m fine. Promise.” She waved away both of their concern as she bent to pick up her folder. “And yes, these are some concepts I sketched up from your description. Though, now having seen this place, I admit, I didn’t do them near enough justice.”
“They’re good,” Eric said.
Gratitude for her accountant’s confidence pulled her lips into a wide smile, her stomach less antsy as she turned toward the land’s owner. “How about we walk the area you have in mind, and you can tell me more about what your vision is?”
Jase cupped the back of his neck, eyeing the stream one last time. “Sure.”
She and Eric followed as he led them to a clearing, and the same reverent shadow from before attached itself to her as she walked a few paces ahead, studying the tree line on the small rise in front of them. What looked like a long, winding trail in the tall grass caught her eye. Squinting, she followed its sweeping turns to where it stopped at the base of a thick but distant tree. The dark bark looked rough, the opposite of the quaking aspen’s.
But it wasn’t the kind of tree that stole her attention, it was the skinny boards nailed to it that piqued her interest—each one spaced evenly to form a ladder. And, like the piece of land the B&B sat on, with the evergreens and ever-white trunks of the aspen, she wanted to explore every inch of his land.
“Had anyone asked me two days ago if I’d ever give up sun and sand, I’d have laughed.”
Eric responded with a snort, but not Jase.
“You approve then?” he asked.
“Of you building here? It would be a sin not to.”
The tree ladder was filed away for another time as she took wide steps, counting each one to box off a large area. The guys followed more slowly.
“Except, something was here. Before, right? The level ground and newer vegetation…” She backed up several yards. “Yeah, there was definitely—”
“A home and a few outbuildings.”
The California bachelor was hard to read, both his posture and expression, but there was something in his eyes. A realization hit her as clear as the water in the stream. “You don’t want to rebuild what was here.”
“No.”
She nodded slowly. “I think that’s great.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You do?”
The top of a sapling bristled against her palm as she ran her hand over its needles, its tallest branch maybe waist-high. “Same rich soil, same landscape, but new life. New roots.” She met his gaze. “I think it’s what I’d choose to do as well.”
Jase rubbed a hand over his jaw but avoided the tender spot that was still an angry red. “Then it looks like I chose the right architect.”
Squealing would be ridiculous, because she was no longer eleven, but grinning like one who’d just taken first place in a sixth-grade art contest was totally acceptable. Hopefully. “Tell me more about your plans. What time of year will you be up here most?”
He pulled at the needles of one of the older pines and rolled them between his fingers. “I’m not sure.”
“I bet winters can be pretty brutal up here,” Eric said.
“They can get a little wild, but I used to love that season as much as summer.” His sleeves had been pushed up his forearms and a crooked grin took over his face, giving him a bit of a boyish aura. “A couple
of snow machines, and the world is a whole new playground.”
Visions of following the mogul as he carved trails through fresh powder like she’d seen on T.V. wiggled their way into her thoughts. “Huh. I guess it could have its charms.”
A scoff came from her accountant’s direction. “You hate being cold.”
This was true. But with enough layers and scarves, she might be tempted. Plus… “That’s why I’d have an oversized fireplace in the great room to come home to.”
Eric nodded, conceding the point. “And one near the kitchen?”
“And in the master,” she added. “A double. Between the bedroom and bath.”
Her smile slipped when their excitement wasn’t reflected in Jase’s eyes. His head was bent, and his forearms tight, their rigid muscles leading to hands fisted and white beneath his folded arms. If she had a penny, she’d toss it in the stream and wish for a redo.
“Or, you know…something along those lines.” She glanced from the sky to the west fence and tried to rein in the ideas crowding her brain.
Ideas he’s obviously not into.
Deciding on a change in direction, she cleared her throat. “You could face the front of the home southwest, leaving the main living areas to pull in the sun’s rays during the winter. With that factor, as well as multiple heating units, you’ll be set from October to May.”
“Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
She made a note in her folder, stealing the moment to rally her confidence—something she’d never needed at this stage before. “You’ll also want treated windows to help regulate the heat when the sun is higher in the sky through the summer months.” She mentally calculated angles as well as reasoning in the wrap-a-round porch she considered a must.
“Will that leave the back of the house to carry the brunt of the snowfall, since it won’t melt off as fast?” Eric asked.
“I have some ideas to counter those issues.” She held up the folder. “We want it perfect, though, so we’ll go through each possibility and weigh all the options we have available. But you need to have your back-porch face this.” She spread her arms wide to frame the hillside. “Where you can step outdoors and be right in the heart of your land at any moment.”
Jase stared to where she pointed, quiet for a full minute, and she fumbled the folder in her hand, almost dropping it when he finally spoke.
Meeting her gaze, he nodded once. “I trust you.”
The sun seemed to run straight through her with his assurance in those three words, its rays branching into every part of her body, pushing out all doubt and filling her with light. “I promised I wouldn’t let you down, and I won’t.”
He studied her face with an intensity that stole her breath, and an overwhelming thrill joined the reverence from before, cementing her conviction to find his land’s story—to create something truly stunning. To get the design perfect.
What stories are hidden in this rich soil? In the stretch of those fence lines?
She glanced to the trail again, to the abandoned tree ladder, wanting so badly to know the ranch’s history. The town’s, too. There were so many questions she wanted to ask him.
But now wasn’t the right time. Something in his reaction from moments ago told her she couldn’t go there. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
He needs this home.
“So?” He cleared the waver in his voice. “You really think you could brave a winter here?”
She did her best to match his easy tone, despite an undercurrent he seemed to carry. “Totally.”
Eric’s snicker echoed through the trees. “First snowfall, she’ll beg for home.”
Madison rolled her eyes to hide the fact she’d completely forgotten he was there. “Ha, ha. A thick fuzzy blanket and a hot chocolate bar, I’d be set.”
“Hot chocolate bar?” Jase asked.
“Yeah, you know, like a wine bar but with hot chocolate and all the toppings.” She licked her lips just thinking about the steamy, creamy goodness.
“Hmm. I like that.”
“If it were possible to get drunk on hot chocolate, Madison would be a lush.” For the first time that morning, Eric sounded more like himself.
“You’re my kind of drinker,” Jase teased. “And I see you aren’t denying it, so I guess we’ll have to add hot chocolate bar to your notes—with one caveat.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“You stock it personally.”
The playful request had her snarky accountant shoving his hands deep into his pockets, the act like a frown of its own. If she hadn’t been equally surprised by the request, she would have laughed. “You’ve got a deal.”
“Winter really isn’t so bad here,” he said. “You just have to be prepared.”
Her smile came easy. “I believe you.”
Eric coughed. “You planning on more than the main house?”
“No.”
Though her company’s numbers-lover didn’t holler over Jase and tell her this project was even more a waste of time, the one eyebrow he raised was as clear as the blue sky that stretched for miles.
Ignoring him was her best option, and, as the sun inched higher, she and Jase discussed angles, accessibility, and foundations, building off one another’s suggestions. Beyond an occasional pensive look, he seemed on board.
“I think I’d like the master on the main floor, with its own entrance.”
The request had her instant approval. Picturing him sitting on the wraparound porch with a steaming cup of Mexican hot chocolate, enjoying a sunrise over that hill, was easy.
Too easy, she thought as she herself entered the little daydream. Instead of fanning the warmth from her face, she scribbled a note in her folder.
Her phone buzzed, but she ignored it and continued to write down his ideas. When it buzzed again, she switched it to silent.
“I didn’t realize it was so close to lunchtime.” Jase checked his own phone. “We should probably head back.”
“If you’re sure.”
His gaze swept across the fields. “I think we’re good here.”
Clutching her folder, she followed Eric, who’d started for their rental car, but stopped when Jase touched her shoulder lightly.
“How’s your arm? Are you still feeling dizzy? Did it get worse last night?”
Mention of the night before doused her with a fire that didn’t stop at the tips of her ears. Awesome. “Not dizzy. Luckily. My stomach and flying don’t mix well, so I hadn’t eaten a lot yesterday. That’s probably all it was. I’m not usually such a wimp.”
“Wimp isn’t the first word that comes to mind with you. Or weak. You took a pretty solid hit against that fireplace.”
“Thanks?”
He chuckled. “It’s a compliment.”
“Well, either way, I appreciate you taking good care of me.” The folder slipped again, but she caught it. “I mean, my arm. Thank you for taking good care of my arm. And getting me into bed—” Her eyes had to have widened to the size of tennis balls the way she couldn’t blink, and she was pretty certain her jaw had fallen to the ground with horror at her brain’s lack of basic function. “I mean—”
“You’re welcome.”
His grin was huge. And sweet. And a little bit sexy.
She swallowed helplessly. “I’m going to quit talking now.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have something I want to ask you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Several, if the flutter in her stomach was any indication. “All right.”
“I’d like to take you to dinner tonight.”
Goose bumps toyed with the skin on her arms and neck. “That wasn’t a question.”
“Will you let me take you to dinner, Miss Blakeley?” His mouth hinted at that same killer grin. “It’ll give us a chance to finish discussing your ideas.”
She found the charm on her bracelet, the silver heart cool against her now-warm skin. “Okay.�
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“Great. I’ve got reservations for Tines.”
She saw him glance past her and then hesitate.
“Eric’s invited, too, of course.”
“O-okay,” she repeated, only this time she tripped over the word. “I’ll let him know.”
They walked side by side toward the car where Eric waited, but Jase stopped her again just out of earshot. He gestured to her arm, creases appearing around his mouth as he frowned. “Really, though, you’re good?”
With the natural wild landscape at his back, and the way he stared with those intense golden eyes, she couldn’t think. Not about scrapes and bruises. “I’m good.”
“Are we still heading back to the B&B?”
Eric’s voice stumbled into her consciousness, and she stepped back. “Yes. Coming.”
When they reached the car, Jase held her door open for her. She thanked him, then grabbed the dash a moment later when Eric sped off, leaving a trail behind them.
“What was all that about?” he asked, as if he hadn’t possibly just showered the land’s owner with dust.
She would have griped about his teenager move but decided to choose her battles. “He wants to finish talking about the designs with us tonight over dinner.” Her still-thumping heartbeat laced her words.
“Do you want me to be there?”
Turning in her seat, she tried to read his face. “You’re invited.”
“That’s not what I asked.” When she took too long to respond, he shook his head. “You two have fun.”
The way he glared at the road had her feeling sorry for the asphalt. “Hey. Of course, you should be there. We’re both a part of—”
“I really do have a lot work.” His voice softened. “And you know fancy dinners aren’t my thing.”
“You think it’ll be a fancy dinner?”
He shrugged then nodded to her bracelet. “You’re going to break that thing.”
She let go of the charm and stuck her hand under her leg, only to bounce her foot as she sorted through a mental list of her wardrobe.
“Listen. If you want me to be there, I’ll be there. Though, it’s just a business dinner, so you should relax.”
Right. Just a business dinner.
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