Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Agan cocked his head to the side. “Do you hear about such things at the diner?”
We got our fair share of gossip at the diner in Mountainside, but that wasn’t why. “A picturesque place like this would bring its fair share of tourists. But if that’s why you’re here, I have an alternative.”
He sat back as I leaned forward. I had ideas, lots of them, and I didn’t want everyone in the restaurant to hear them.
“Mason Creek is beautiful, but you’d get a better price for land in Mountainside. It has the same pretty views, just from the opposite side. You could build a ski lodge on the side of one mountain that could serve double duty as a resort for a golf course below in the valley in the summer. Besides getting the land for half the price, you’d get less resistance from the town. People are hungry for jobs and for things to be all-around better. You could even entice your pick of businesses in the town, like those fancy coffee shops. Ones with nationwide backing. They’d never let you do that in Mason Creek.”
He just sat there.
“You don’t like my idea?”
He chuckled and drank from the glass that had been on the table before I arrived. “No. I didn’t expect to write this off as a business dinner.”
The chip on my shoulder nearly cracked under the weight of his gaze. “Or maybe you didn’t expect that from a waitress.”
“That wasn’t it at all. I learned a long time ago never to underestimate anyone. What I was wondering was why a mind like yours isn’t working for me.”
I laughed. “I would have gone to college and studied for a business degree. I was set to until I found myself pregnant with no one to help me.”
“Amazing. I admire you more.”
Grinning at his compliment, I asked, “You like my idea then?”
“I do. I’d have to talk to my father. And if he goes for it, I’ll see that you’re compensated for it.”
Pride opened my mouth, but smarts closed it. Why shouldn’t I get something for handing him the idea of a lifetime?
The food arrived shortly after, and our conversation shifted to the pleasure of the meal. It had been a long time since I’d enjoyed the company of another adult outside Avery and the rare conversation at work.
When the meal was over, I didn’t want it to end, but forced myself to say, “I guess this is good night.”
He tipped his head in agreement before taking my hand and placing a chaste kiss on my knuckles. “Until next time.”
He walked me to my car, and I opened the door and got in. For a second, I prayed my car would start. If it didn’t, I might have given in to the burning desire that hadn’t flamed in me for as long as I could remember.
It did and I sighed a little before driving off with fantasies of marrying a man like Agan and leaving Montana at least once in my lifetime.
That date was just the beginning.
A week later, Avery and I took Zoe to the tree lighting ceremony in Mason Creek. It was a thing that didn’t happen in Mountainside. They had lots of activities for kids, including hayrides. It was a magical thing I wanted Zoe to experience.
I’d been too wrapped up with my daughter to remember that I might run into Agan. I felt a little guilty that I hadn’t told Avery much about him. She knew I’d gone on a date, but I’d played it down a lot. So when he appeared looking delicious I got a little nervous. I downed my drink in one gulp.
We hadn’t talked a lot since our dinner, except one day after my shift, I’d shown him around Mountainside to give him a better view of my idea. We’d then driven to Mason Creek, where I showed him how the landscape was similar. But nothing after that. I wasn’t sure if he’d ask me out again. After I put Zoe on the hayride, he drifted in my direction.
“You are a sight for sore eyes,” he said.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Can I get you a drink?”
I probably should have declined, but I shrugged, still a little tongue-tied. The man winked and my lady parts responded. For the longest time, I’d thought they had stopped working, but Agan was a reminder that I was all woman.
It wasn’t long before he was back with a hot toddy. The cup was warm in my hand.
“I thought maybe—” Agan began.
Avery cut him off. “Where is Zoe?”
Her accusatory outburst threw me off and I sputtered, “She’s on the hayride.” Before things could get more awkward, I introduced them. “Avery, this is Agan. Agan, this is my best friend, Avery.”
She held out her hand to him. “Sorry. I’m Avery.”
Agan took it and placed a kiss on her knuckles just as Nate Bowmen came into view.