Only His (3 page)

But what caught her attention was the scaffolding in the center of the massive room. Reaching nearly as high as the ceiling, it was a complex framework with platforms and railings. It surrounded a gigantic, twisted piece of metal.

The piece seemed to curl in on itself, yet reached up at the same time. As Nevada studied it, she felt as if the shards had been ripped open by a blast, then hastily put back together, but not in the right order. There was tragedy in the work. A sense of loss.

After a few seconds, she noticed a woman stood near the top of the scaffolding, welding sparks showering her. From this distance, Nevada couldn't tell much about her, except that she was tall and thin.

“You made it.”

The voice came from her left, a shout to be heard over the music. She turned and saw Tucker. Only this guy wasn't the tall, skinny teenage boy she remembered. This guy was broad and handsome, with an easy smile and eyes that beamed with pleasure at seeing her. Despite the loud music, the strange building and the unusual artwork, everything disappeared. The world became a pinprick of light, expanding again until there was only Tucker.

Nevada had never believed in love at first sight. Never thought it was possible for one soul to recognize another. Never knew what it was like to have the very breath stolen from her body. She stood rooted, unable to move or speak. She could only stare at the man she knew she would love for the rest of her life.

He said something. She saw his lips move, but couldn't make out the sound. He laughed, grabbed her arm and pulled her outside.

“Hi,” he said when they were in the relative quiet of the parking lot. “You made it.”

“I did.”

He hugged her, his body warm against hers. She wanted to lean in, to get lost in his strength and heat, but he straightened too quickly and she wasn't ready to let go. Not yet.

“How's college?”

“Good. I'm settling into my classes.”

“You're okay in the dorm?”

He sounded more like a parent than a friend, but she nodded anyway. “Ethan's good?”

“He's dealing.”

The humor faded from Tucker's face. “I'm sorry about your dad.”

“Thanks.”

Over the summer, her father had unexpectedly died, leaving the whole family shocked and devastated. Although she and her sisters had protested going off to school, their mom had insisted. Ethan had been the only one to put his dreams on hold, to take over the family business.

“It's complicated,” she said. “I still can't believe he's gone.”

Tucker put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “I want to tell you it will get better, but right now that's pretty meaningless, huh?”

“I know it won't hurt so much later, but it's hard right now.”

He stared into her eyes, making the emptiness kind of fade into the background. He still had his arm around her, another amazing concept. Had he felt it, too? The connection?

For once she wished she had more experience when it came to men. In high school, she'd never much seen the point. There had been the occasional guy, but no real boyfriend.

“Want to get lunch?” he asked.

Her heart gave a little jump. Okay, it wasn't a date, but it was close. “I'd like that.”

“Good.” He dropped his arm. “Let me go see if Cat wants to take a break.” He shook his head. “She has the classic artistic temperament. I never know when she's going to go off on me, so don't be surprised if you hear a lot of screaming.”

He sounded more excited than upset by the prospect.

“Cat?” she asked, remembering the female welder.

But Tucker was already gone, walking quickly into the building.

Nevada walked to the door and watched as he gracefully climbed the scaffolding. When he reached the welder, he touched her on the shoulder. The sparks stopped and the woman removed her protective gear.

Even from all the way across the building, Nevada could tell she was beautiful. Long, dark hair tumbled halfway down her back in cascading waves. A classically beautiful face—wide eyes, high cheekbones and a full mouth. The woman stepped out of a jumpsuit, revealing a cropped T-shirt and shorts, long, perfect legs and a waist small enough to belong on a model.

She and Tucker descended the scaffolding together.

Once again Nevada was unable to move, but it wasn't Tucker who held her in place—it was her own sense of insignificance. The woman was older than Nevada, and probably a couple of years older than Tucker. Even casually dressed, she had an air of sophistication. Men wrote songs for women like that, went to war for them, loved them.

As the couple approached, Nevada wanted to run. She forced herself to stand there, knowing she would probably trip over her own feet if she tried to get away.

“So, you're Tucker's friend,” the woman said, her
voice low and sultry, with a slight accent. “I'm delighted to finally meet you. I'm Caterina Stoicasescu.” She held out her long, slender hand.

“Nevada Hendrix.”

Nevada shook the strong, scarred hand, doing her best to keep her mouth from hanging open. Her gaze went from the woman to the sculpture and back.

Caterina Stoicasescu? She was famous all the way to Fool's Gold. Talented, gifted. She'd been discovered when she was little. Maybe before she was a teenager. Her sculptures were supposed to be brilliant beyond words. Nevada knew her work was displayed all over the world, that Caterina was well-known and wealthy.

“You are from a small town, yes?” Caterina asked.

“Fool's Gold. It's in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It's pretty. Quaint. Probably different from your regular life.”

Caterina smiled, her piercing green eyes tilting up at the corners. “So you've heard of me. That's good.”

“I'm not an expert, of course, but yes. Your work…” She motioned to the sculpture. “It's very beautiful.”

Caterina moved next to her and they both faced the piece. “Tell me. What does it make you feel?”

Nevada swallowed. “I, um… I don't really know what you're asking.”

“When you look at it, what do you think? What did you think when you first saw it?”

“I'm an engineering student,” she began, feeling herself blush. She glanced at Tucker, hoping he would rescue her, but he wasn't looking at her. Instead his gaze was locked on the other woman.

“You're smart, I can tell. What did you feel?”

Nevada swallowed. “Sad. Like something bad had happened.”

Caterina threw up her hands and turned in a circle. “Yes. That is it exactly.” She grabbed Nevada by the shoulders and kissed her on each cheek. “Thank you.”

Nevada blinked a couple of times. “You're welcome, Ms. Stoicasescu.”

“Cat, please. All my friends call me that.” She linked arms with Nevada and motioned to the metal. “It is the end of war. Not something likely to happen, but I made it as a reminder of the pain we all feel. I didn't plan what it would be. I don't. I am only the vessel. The art comes through me.”

Cat turned to her. “So, tell me everything about yourself. I know we are going to be great friends.”

Nevada was taken aback. “What do you want to know?”

“All. Start at the beginning. I am from Romania. Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes, you must because that's how Tucker knows you. We must do something together soon. Perhaps go to a party.”

“I thought we could get lunch,” Tucker told her.

Cat released Nevada and turned to him. Her head tilted slightly, causing her blue-black hair to tumble over one shoulder.

“I thought we would stay in.”

The simple words were quietly spoken, yet when Cat said them, everything changed. Electricity and heat filled the air. Nevada had been staring at Tucker, so she saw his eyes dilate and his shoulders stiffen.

Still staring at the beautifully exotic woman between them, Tucker said, “Rain check, Nevada?”

Even with her complete lack of experience when it came to men and sex, Nevada knew what had happened. What
would
happen the second she left. They would make love, right there, on the floor. Because they were together and Cat was the kind of woman who inspired a man to incredible passion.

“Sure,” she whispered, already heading for the door.

She felt foolish and young and out of place. Her heart ached as she was forced to accept that Tucker hadn't felt the connection. He thought of her as Ethan's baby sister. He loved Cat.

When she stepped outside, her eyes burned in the bright sunlight. She wanted to go back, to tell him he was wrong. That he should give her a chance.

She turned then, new feelings giving her courage, only to see that Cat and Tucker were already in each other's arms. Their kiss was more intense, more passionate than anything she'd ever seen or imagined. His hands roamed her body, touching, claiming.

Embarrassed, Nevada closed the door behind her and hurried to her truck. Once she'd driven away, she told herself it didn't matter. That she would never see Tucker again. Whatever she'd felt for him would fade as quickly as it had come. In a couple of days she would forget all about him.

“Y
OU KNOW
I
DON'T LIKE TO INTERFERE
,”
Denise Hendrix said as she poured chocolate chips into a bowl.

“If only that were true.” Nevada leaned against the counter and watched her mother mix up cookie batter. “You love to interfere.”

“No. I love to be right.” Her mother smiled at her. “There's a difference.”

“A subtle one.”

They were in her mother's kitchen, at the Hendrix family home. Nevada had grown up here. There had been various renovations over the years, the most recent a kitchen remodel, but nothing could ever change the fact that this was the home of her heart.

Her mother took the bowl to the cookie sheets and began scooping batter into neat rows. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“There's not much to say. The interview went badly. I was expecting Elliot Janack and I got Tucker instead.”

“I thought you liked Tucker.”

Nevada thought about how desperately she'd been in love with Tucker all those years ago. Not real love—but she'd been young and foolish and caught in a world she'd been unprepared for. Cat had been as much a revelation as Tucker himself.

“Liking him isn't the problem.”

She briefly explained about their short past, the lone sexual encounter, sparing her mother the details. “I was embarrassed about what had happened between us, but he kept bringing it up. I swear, he only wants to hire me now to improve his reputation. I'm not interested in that. The job is a great opportunity, but not under those circumstances.”

“Did he ask you to have sex with him so he could redeem himself?”

“No, but I don't want a pity job.”

Denise put down the spoon and faced her. “You're saying he wants to give you a job to make up for being bad in bed?”

Nevada winced. “It made more sense when I was just thinking that in my head. With you asking the question, it sounds stupid.”

“There's probably a reason for that.”

Denise Hendrix had married young and had three boys in less than five years. Determined to have a daughter, she'd gotten pregnant one last time, only to find herself having triplets. She'd handled the shock with her usual grace and humor, raising six children with an ease that left most people amazed.

A widow for the past eleven years, she'd finally started dating. But her social life didn't keep her so busy that she didn't have time to tell her children exactly what she thought. That was both a blessing and a curse.

“If Tucker was genuinely worried about his reputation, he wouldn't hire you,” her mother said. “He would run as far and fast as he could, or try to sleep with you
now and move on. Why would he risk you telling the entire crew about your night together?”

“He knows I would never do that.”

“Does he? It doesn't sound as if he took the time to know you at all.”

“Things were complicated back then,” Nevada mumbled, not wanting to get into the whole Cat situation. Sure, Tucker had been lousy in bed, but Nevada had been the one throwing herself at him the second she'd found out he and Cat had broken things off. She'd practically begged him to sleep with her. Unfortunately, their brief encounter hadn't won her anything and had instead broken her heart.

“If your dreams matter, then you've been given an excellent opportunity. I'd hate to see you miss it and have regrets later. They can be the hardest thing to live with.”

Nevada stared at her mother. “Do you have regrets?”

“Not very many. I've been lucky—I had a wonderful husband and I have my children.”

“We are pretty amazing.”

Denise laughed. “Yes, you are.” She touched Nevada's arm. “This is what you said you wanted. Why let a single night get in the way of that? You're both adults. You can agree to put it behind you and move on.”

“You're being rational. That's always unnerving.”

“It's important to keep you guessing.”

Nevada drew in a breath. “You're right. I do want the job. And it was just one night. Hell, it was five minutes. I should be able to forget that.”

Instead of returning to her cookies, Denise walked
to the cordless phone and picked it up. “You can call right now.”

Nevada groaned. “This reminds me of the time I took Pia's Teen Talk Barbie and snuck it home. You made me go right back and apologize.”

“And you were the better for it.”

“Maybe.” She stared at the phone. “Okay. I'll call.”

Knowing thinking about it too much would only make things harder, she pulled Tucker's business card out of her jeans pocket and dialed. Two rings later, she heard his familiar voice.

“Janack.”

“Hendrix,” she said before she could stop herself. “Um, it's Nevada.”

“Hey. What's up?”

She cleared her throat. “I thought we could finish our interview.”

Silence stretched between them. Her insides clenched. Damn him, he was going to tell her no. He was going to say he'd changed his mind.

“Great. You free right now? I'm heading to the job site. I'd like to show you what we're doing.”

She opened her mouth and closed it. “Um, sure. I can meet you out there.”

“See you in twenty minutes.”

He hung up.

Nevada did the same, then set the phone back in the charger. “I'm meeting him at the job site. We're going to talk.”

Her mother grinned. “Are you sure that's all you'll be doing?”

“Mo-om.”

Denise laughed, then hugged her. “You'll be fine.”

“You can't know that.”

Denise smiled. “I'm pretty sure.”

 

T
UCKER STOOD BY THE SIDE
of the road. The first work done by his crew had been to clear an area for parking and heavy equipment. Now with that finished, the real effort would begin. Building a casino-hotel resort would take hundreds of thousands of man-hours and millions of dollars over nearly two years. His plan was to come in early and under budget. For that he needed the right team and a fair amount of luck.

He turned as a light blue Ford Ranger drove toward him. Nevada pulled in next to him and climbed out.

She looked good, he thought, taking in the jeans and T-shirt. Sensible, but sexy. One of his favorite combinations. Not that he would say that to her. He wanted her working for him and that meant they would be spending a lot of hours together. The best way to get through that was to act professionally. Besides, he'd long ago learned that finding any woman irresistible was a disaster. He didn't need to go there again.

“What do you think?” he asked, nodding toward the vast expanse of land.

“It's a hundred acres, right?”

“Yes.” He pointed to the east. “We go about a third of the way up the tree line.” He indicated the rest of the track. “We'll cut into the mountain.”

“Won't that provoke the spirits?” she asked, her brown eyes bright with humor.

“You're forgetting I'm one of them. They're delighted to see me.”

“That's right. You're part of the Máa-zib tribe through both your parents?”

He nodded. “About an eighth, give or take a little.”

“So technically you or your dad had to be the ones to buy the land. A company couldn't own it.”

“Right. We've leased it back to the corporation for the project.”

“You're a land baron.”

“I'm part owner.”

“Still, it's impressive.”

“Are you impressed?” he asked.

She grinned. “I could be.”

“Tell me what else it would take.”

“You could show me the plans for the place.”

They walked to his truck and he pulled a copy of the plans out from the backseat. After opening the tailgate, he spread them out.

“We're using every inch of land,” he said. “There'll be a road circling the entire development. The casino is here, along with the hotel.”

He watched her trace the different elements of the plan.

“You're keeping the grove of the oldest trees,” she said, not looking up at him. “I like the walking trails.” She moved her finger to the mountain. “This is going to require some serious blasting to remove that much earth.”

“Ever done any blasting?”

She turned to him. “No, but I'd like to.”

“Stick with me, kid.”

“Tempting.”

He wasn't surprised she could be wooed more by
the promise of a big explosion than a corner office. Nevada had always been like that—eager, interested. Smart. He remembered her ability to call him on any bull. They had stayed up late a few times, arguing about everything from politics to sustainable construction. She was someone he'd enjoyed talking to, when he'd surfaced from the Cat-induced haze long enough to have a conversation.

He wanted to tell her he was sorry about what happened between them. Not the bad sex, although that was damned humiliating to think about, but the rest of it. He'd wanted to be her friend back then but hadn't been able to think of anyone but Cat.

“I thought there was going to be an outlet mall,” she said.

He pulled out another large roll of paper. “We won't be developing it. It's too small a project.”

“Aren't you the snob.”

“The last project I worked on was a thousand-meter suspension bridge in Africa. No, I don't build malls.”

One corner of her mouth turned up. “Of course you don't.”

He leaned against the truck. “You're not mad anymore.”

“I wasn't mad.” She straightened. “This is a great opportunity. You're bringing a lot to the town.”

“We appreciate their cooperation.”

“Don't you always get that?”

“Some towns aren't interested in change or growth.”

“Fool's Gold isn't like that. This project will bring a lot of jobs and tourists. We already get a decent tourist trade, but nothing like the numbers this will bring in.”

“Why'd you come back? You could have found plenty of jobs in other places.”

“This is my home. I grew up here. My family founded this town.” She smiled. “In a settler kind of way. Obviously the Máa-zib tribe was here first.”

“Obviously.”

He understood the concept of roots, he just couldn't relate to it. He'd never had anywhere particular to call home. His dad had always kept a condo in Chicago but they'd rarely been there. His home was wherever the next project was.

“Want to hear about your team?”

“Sure.”

He told her about the guys who would be working for her. She would be in charge of clearing the construction area. When that was done, her team would shift to working with several others on the hotel.

“I'm also interested in having you as a liaison with the town,” he said. “If we run into trouble.”

“I don't think you will, but sure. I can talk to whomever you like.”

“You know the guys might give you a hard time at first.”

She shrugged. “I have three brothers. I'm not sure there's much they can do to shock me. Plus, I've been in construction a long time.”

He wanted to say he would be there to protect her, but didn't. Not only would she have to figure it out herself,
protection
implied a level of caring inappropriate for a work relationship. They were colleagues, nothing more. The fact that he could breathe in her soft, sweet
scent was immaterial. As was the way the sun turned her short hair into a hundred different colors of blond.

It was being around her again after all this time, he told himself. He'd worked with lots of women over the years and had never noticed one of them as anything more than a coworker. In a few days, Nevada would just be one of the guys.

“We start the surveying on Monday,” he said. “Want to be here for that?”

“Are you offering me the job?”

“I already did. You turned me down. Are you going to make me beg?”

“I probably should.”

“I'm not very good at it.”

She gave him a slow smile. “Then you need to practice more.”

“Is that what this is? A coaching opportunity?”

“I like to help where I can.”

He pushed off the truck and moved in front of her. “Nevada, I would like to have you here as one of my construction managers. Yes or no?”

“That's not exactly begging.”

“Maybe not, but it's sincere.”

“We're both going to pretend the past never happened,” she said, rather than asking a question. “We'll start over.”

“Agreed.”

“Then I very much want the job.”

Pleased, he held out his hand. “Good. Let's head into town and talk about the details.”

She placed her hand in his. He was unprepared for
the brush of her skin, the feel of her fingers, the jolt of awareness that sizzled its way to his groin.

After squeezing once, he released her and did his best to act casual as he stepped back. Well, dammit all to hell, he thought grimly. He could have gone a lifetime without feeling that.

Nevada appeared unfazed by the contact, which made him doubly stupid.

“Are you going to be staying in a hotel while you're here?” she was asking. “If you want a house to rent, I could ask around.”

“I prefer a hotel. It's easier.”

“Because someone else does the cooking and cleaning?”

“Of course.”

“Typical guy.”

“Most days.” He walked her to her truck. “Meet me in the lobby of Ronan's Lodge in twenty minutes. I'll bring the employment agreement.”

She nodded and climbed into the cab, but didn't close the door. “Do you ever talk to her? Cat?”

The question surprised him. “No. Not in years. Not since we broke up. You?”

Nevada shook her head. “Cat wasn't my friend.”

“She liked you. As much as she could like anyone.”