Guiding the Fall Read online

  “I was waiting for you to ask for help, which you were too stubborn to do.”

  “So you let me suffer because you wanted me to ask?”

  “As I recall, you didn’t have to ask Ty for help.”

  Jill let out a breathy sigh. “No, I didn’t. Maybe that’s why he has my undying love and will be the father of my children.”

  “You’re sickeningly happy.” It still amazed him that his best friend had picked up and moved across the country to be with a man she’d only been in a relationship with for a few months. He worried that one day she’d wake up and realize the magnitude of what she’d done and everyone she’d left behind—including him and her family.

  “I am. And I’m sorry, because I know how annoying that can be, but I am so happy here. I love Ty’s family, I love my job, and I fall more and more in love with Ty every day. God,” she laughed, “I’m annoying myself with this gushing. How can you stand me?”

  “I was about to hang up on you until you snapped out of it,” he deadpanned. He missed Jill too much to end their conversation just because she couldn’t stop waxing about her good fortune. Sometimes he forgot she was a girl. “Are you coming back to visit anytime soon?”

  “Yes, I’ll be back in a few weeks to do some wedding shopping. Olivia and my mom have been bombarding me with pictures of dresses and flowers. I’m afraid if I don’t get out there and make some decisions, they’ll get tired of waiting and book the whole thing themselves.”

  “Good. I miss your ugly mug.”

  “I miss your ugly mug, too. I can’t believe you’re really moving out.”

  “I can’t either, but it’s good. It’s time. I just need to find a place to stay until the cabin has power.”

  “Did Sarah kick you out or something?”

  Lyle laughed. His mother kick him out? “No, Kevin and Shiloh are coming for a long visit. My mom wants to fix up the bathroom and repaint the bedroom. The way she talks, she makes it sound like she has to fumigate after I leave.”

  “Where are you going to stay?”

  “I’m not sure. I thought about just getting a hotel room, but they’re not convenient and I don’t really want to eat through my book advance.”

  There was a pause on the other end of the line. “I have an idea,” she said. “But you’re not going to like it.”

  “At this point, I’m ready to entertain any number of ideas.”

  “You could live with Olivia.”

  That time, the pause was on his end as he envisioned himself listening to Olivia talk about herself twenty-four-seven. “Olivia? Are you nuts? We don’t even like each other.”

  “That’s not true. You were both jealous when I spent time with one or the other. Now that I’m gone, you should get along fine.”

  “What makes you think she’d even let me live with her?”

  “I felt guilty about leaving her with the lease, so I paid through the end of the year. Technically, my old room in my apartment is still mine.”

  “I’ll gladly accept your offer, because I wasn’t looking forward to bunking up with Miguel in the caretaker’s house, but I’m not going to be the one to tell her.”

  “I’ll tell her. Well,” Jill hedged, “I’ll ask her under the pretense she has some sort of say in the matter. She’ll be fine with it. I know Olivia. She’s probably going crazy living by herself. I think she’ll be glad for the company.”

  Lyle thought Olivia might feel differently, but he wasn’t in a position to argue. “Great.” He wondered if he hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of his life.

  Chapter 4

  Jack hung up and swiveled away from his desk. The plans were in place; all he had to do was convince Erica to get on board. As he listened to her strum her guitar from her bedroom, he knew he’d have a hard sell.

  He stopped in the doorway and leaned against the jam. She had the voice of a blues singer, deep and sultry. The stirring tune she sang softly revealed the depth of her soul and her longing for love. Jack wished that for her. She’d had a rough start to life, and he wished her a happiness he’d never been able to find. Of the two of them, considering his current state, she had a better chance.

  She stopped when she realized he was listening. “Everything okay?” she asked.

  He nodded. “You’re really good, Erica. I wish you’d do something with your talent. I swear it’s better than any of the crap on the radio.”

  “I’m just playing around.” She set the guitar aside. “So what’s up?”

  “I’ve made an appointment for you to meet a realtor in Hailey the day after tomorrow.”

  “A realtor? Are you thinking of renting? I thought we’d stay in a hotel.”

  “Not a rental. I’m not sure how long this will take.”

  “So you’re going to buy a house we’ll live in for a couple of months? Jack, that’s crazy.”

  “Yes, if that’s all I was going to do with it, it would be crazy.”

  “Oh, no,” she said and hopped up from the bed. “You’re not moving me to some tiny town forever. You said yourself there’s nothing to do there.”

  Jack lifted his hands. “Hold on just a second and let me explain.” He reached for her desk chair along the wall and took a seat. He figured explaining would take a while. “I’ve been doing some research on the area.”

  “Here we go…”

  “Just listen. There’s a big money guy out of Chicago trying to develop the ski lift at Bear Stream.”

  “Where’s Bear Stream?”

  “About fifteen minutes from Lower Fork, just up the mountain at the top of the pass. It’s in the middle of the national forest, and he’s had a hell of a time getting the permits and approval. There’s also a very vocal group of locals fighting it tooth and nail.”

  “What does this have to do with us moving to Hailey?”

  “When the development goes through—”

  “I thought you said the locals are fighting it?”

  “It’ll go through. Locals always fight when big corporations come in and take over their little slice of heaven, but money always comes out on top. When it does, the landowners in adjacent towns will see a steep appreciation in their land. The developer’s already bought up some farms for future golf course developments in addition to the water rights. This thing is going through eventually.”

  “So it’s a business investment.”

  “Yes, on a couple of levels. I’m looking at several different properties. All have river running through them with senior water rights, which makes them valuable for the land and the water rights.”

  “What are water rights?”

  “Water’s a scarce resource in Colorado and all of the southwest. If a property has senior water rights, the owners can use what they need and sell the remainder to those who need more.”

  “The development would need lots of water,” Erica guessed.

  “Exactly. The properties are also compatible for doing a wind study.”

  “Wind study?” she asked.

  “Turbine power. The valley gets a lot of wind, and if it gets enough, I could put up wind turbines and sell power back to the power companies.”

  “So we’re not looking to live there, you’re just buying land that suits your business needs.”

  “Precisely. All the properties he’ll show you work with my business model. I simply need you to check out the houses and figure out which one works best for us.”

  “So I’m not looking at the land?”

  “Not really. I’ll tell you what questions to ask, what to look out for, but mostly you need to make sure the river is on the property and the house is manageable for a few months.”

  She blew out a big breath. “How long have you had this up your sleeve? I know you didn’t just wake up and decide to mix business with business.”

  “For a while. Opportunity begets opportunity, that’s what I always say. Why settle for one venture when you can have two or three?”

  “It’s a little scary
seeing how your mind works, Jack. I think I liked it better when I didn’t know exactly how you made your money.”

  “Why? I’m not doing anything illegal. Hedging bets is how I’ve made my fortune.”

  “I guess I’ve lost my taste for gambling.”

  “It’s a win-win, Erica. Even if the development never goes through, we’ll have some valuable property that won’t go down in value. It makes good business sense.”

  “Humph,” she snorted. “That’s not my best quality.”

  He couldn’t help but grin. “Good thing it’s mine.”

  Chapter 5

  Jill untied her apron and peeked her head inside the kitchen of the Pizza Den. She spotted her future mother-in-law stirring a fresh batch of sauce over the industrial-sized cooktop. “I’m going to pop upstairs and use the phone if that’s okay?” Jill said.

  Kerri Ann looked over her shoulder. The new upscale restaurant she and her husband were opening was in complete overhaul and the menu selection process was in full swing, so her mind was never fully in one location. “Lunch rush over already?”

  “It’s almost three o’clock.” Jill pointed at the clock on the wall above Kerri Ann’s head.

  “Where’d the day go?”

  “It was busy today. Time flies when we’re making money,” Jill said and got a sideways smile out of her boss.

  “Amen,” Kerri Ann chuckled. “Go ahead and call Ty. I know you two can’t go but a few hours without checking in.”

  Jill felt her cheeks heat. She’d already texted him half a dozen times. Although she’d like to hear his voice, she had a favor to beg. “I’m calling Olivia. If I don’t rein her in, she’ll have this wedding planned before I get back there.”

  “You should sic Lita on her,” Kerri Ann suggested. Jill laughed at the thought of her stepmother-in-law fighting with Olivia over flowers and dresses. “Let those two fight it out.”

  “I’m trying to avoid World War Three, thank you very much.”

  Jill took the stairs two at a time and settled in the creaky leather chair behind the desk in the upstairs office. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and fiddled with the tape dispenser while she waited for Olivia to pick up. She said hello after the third ring. “I’m glad I caught you,” Jill said. “I was afraid you’d be out on some raft.”

  “Tommy’s got me covering the afternoon shift at the Tap since his lunch waitress took off to marry some hot guy. I swear you can’t find good help these days.”

  “Very funny,” Jill said. Ty was hot and she had left Tommy in the lurch when she’d agreed to marry Ty and move to his hometown, but she knew Olivia was exaggerating. “I thought he would hire someone to replace me.”

  “Why hire someone when he can use his sister as slave labor?” Olivia said in a snide tone. Tommy obviously stood within earshot.

  “Do you have a second to talk or should I call you back?” Jill asked.

  “Considering I’ve been on my feet since six-thirty this morning, I’d say it’s my break time.”

  Jill heard Tommy shout, “Don’t wander too far,” before the background noise disappeared. She figured Olivia had stepped outside.

  “Did you like that last dress I found online?” Olivia asked. “I checked, and they’ve got a sample to try on at one of the shops in Colorado Springs.”

  “It’s nice, Olivia, but Lita thinks I’d look best in something a little more traditional.”

  “With your figure? What does she know?”

  “She is a designer.”

  “A shoe designer, Jill. Not a dress designer.”

  Jill took a fortifying breath. As much as she looked forward to returning home and seeing her friends and family, she didn’t look forward to the wedding shopping. “I didn’t call to talk about the wedding. I have a favor to ask.”

  “Really? What kind of favor? Oh, oh!” Olivia’s voice jumped three decibels. “Ty has a gorgeous best friend and he needs a date to the wedding?”

  “Not about the wedding, remember?”

  “Well then, spill it. Tommy will be out here looking for me in just a second.”

  “I’ve got someone who needs to use my room in your apartment. This person is in a bind and I told them you wouldn’t mind some company for a few months.”

  “Who?”

  “I know you, Olivia, and you’re probably going crazy spending every night alone without someone to watch trashy television with.”

  “You’re evading. That means I’m not going to like this person. Who is it?”

  Jill dropped the pencil she’d been twirling and balled her hand into a fist. “Lyle.”

  There was a pause before Olivia broke out into hysterical laughter. “Lyle? Good one. For a second I thought you were serious.”

  “I am serious.”

  “You want Lyle to move into my apartment? He lives with his mother.”

  “Not anymore. She kicked him out to renovate before his brother comes home to visit, and his cabin isn’t ready yet.”

  “Jill, come on. Lyle? That’s weird. I’ve never lived with a man.”

  “He’s Lyle. He’s half woman.”

  “True, but still.”

  Jill gave it her best effort. “Are you lonely?”

  “A little.”

  “Do you ever get scared being on your own?”

  Olivia paused. “I have been hearing noises that freak me out. I think it’s the pipes, but…”

  “Sure would be nice to have a man around to keep you safe.”

  “You just said he’s half woman.”

  “Only because he likes to gossip. Plus, I’ll bet you can bribe him into watching your shows.”

  “Bribe him how?”

  “With food. He eats like a cow.”

  “He’s so skinny!” Olivia pointed out.

  “Only because he runs every day. I think this could really work out for both of you. He’ll get a place to stay for free since I’ve already paid my part of the rent, and you’ll get a platonic roommate who won’t borrow your clothes or use your hair products.”

  “I don’t know, Jill. That seems weird. What if people think we’re dating?”

  “Who cares? If anything, it’ll keep the wolves at bay.” Jill thought of the men who lined up around the block to hound Olivia.

  “When would he move in?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think pretty soon.”

  “Arrgh. You know I can’t say no, especially since you’ve paid for the room.”

  Jill smiled and ran her finger over the picture of Ty on Kerri Ann’s desk. His smile sent an arrow of lust straight to her belly. “So he can move in?”

  “Yes, but if this turns into a disaster, I’m blaming you.”

  “You’d have every right to blame me, but I’m not worried. I think you two will really hit it off.”

  “Or hit each other. Damn,” Olivia said, “Tommy’s calling me back in. I’ve gotta go. Have you made arrangements to come back yet?”

  “I’ve got to check the flights, but I think in a couple of weeks. I’ll let you know.” Jill set the desk to rights. “Thanks, Olivia. I really appreciate this.”

  Jill stood to leave and looked out the window onto Main Street of her new hometown, Sequoyah Falls. She saw the roof of the new restaurant just beyond the five and dime and wondered how many times she’d walk between the two restaurants when it finally opened around Christmastime.

  So much change. Last year, all she could think about was healing her broken leg and getting back to training for her chance at the Olympics. Now she lived across the country, ran every day for fun, and was planning her wedding.

  Life was funny that way, she mused as she descended the stairs. If Ty hadn’t come back to the valley to fish for the summer, to see if he could make a connection with her, she might still be out there, working the lunch shift and dreaming of winning gold. She’d found her gold in the smug smile of a gorgeous fisherman. Wouldn’t it be funny, she thought, if Lyle and Olivia ended up finding more than
they bargained for as roommates?

  Chapter 6

  Erica took a deep breath and turned off the car, staring straight into the windows of the tiny real estate office along the main drag of Hailey, Colorado. The drive from Denver had taken four hours, enough time for her to fret and worry about how she’d manage to spend the day with an agent, find land for her brother to purchase, and keep her secret safely tucked away.

  The afternoon sun shone so bright that the blinding glare from the windows forced her to reach for her purse and exit the car before she’d completely gathered her nerves. The gust of wind that greeted her nearly took the door from its hinges. Suddenly the thought of testing for wind power didn’t seem like such a crazy idea.

  The receptionist greeted her with a smile and asked to her to have a seat while she told Mr. Smyth that Erica had arrived. Bruce Smyth appeared moments later wearing jeans, a used car salesman smile, and a pearl white cowboy hat. Erica bit the inside of her cheek and returned his saucy smile with the don’t-mess-with-me look that had kept people at bay for years.

  “Well, Ms. Forrester, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope your drive down went well.”

  Erica pulled her hand from his grasp. “Can’t complain.”

  His lips tightened in irritation, probably because he was spending the day with Erica instead of her charismatic brother. Jack had inherited all of the flash and charm, but the stab of envy she felt toward Jack seemed rude and uncalled for considering everything he’d been through. She’d suck up her fear, put on a polite smile, and ride along with Bruce Smyth to please Jack. She’d do whatever Jack asked.

  “If you’re hungry, we can grab some lunch before we head out,” Smyth suggested.

  “I’m fine. I’d like to go ahead and take a look at the properties.”

  He pulled a small ring of keys from his front pocket and held open the glass door. “After you.”

  She settled into the front seat of his new dually truck. The new car smell reminded her of Jack and the fancy sedans he used to drive.

  “I’ve got three properties your brother wanted you to take a look at. One’s here in Hailey, the other two are in Del Noches, the next town over. I figured we’d start in Del Noches and work our way back.”