Chapter Nine

“Are you sure this is still worth it?” Eric asked from the driver’s seat.

Madison stuffed papers into a folder on her lap and ignored his question. She was still irritated with him, especially after Jase’s confrontation, and the way he tapped his thumb on the window seal, without any rhythm whatsoever, didn’t help.

“Look what he did to your arm. The guy’s completely unprofessional.”

She stared straight at him. “Who’s unprofessional? Um, we broke his trust.”

He had the decency to wince and even put his hand back on the wheel, though his thumb taps still echoed in her head.

“It isn’t Jase’s fault I was clumsy. I’m not going to mess this up again.”

“You can't even tell anyone you're working for him.”

“For now. But, if he’s impressed with my work, his recommendation could open so many doors for the company.”

“Could. It could open doors. Meanwhile, we could be back home concentrating our efforts on actually signing commercial contracts. That’s the whole reason we moved the shop. Fresh start, new direction. Those were your words, your dream. Even Sarah doesn’t think we need his help.”

Letting the seat support her head, she closed her eyes a moment. Of course he told Sarah.

“We’re doing this, so, please let it drop.”

For the second time since arriving, she wished she’d come alone. Eric might have been a favorite of her father’s, but she’d punch him by nightfall if he didn’t ease up on Jase and her decision to come to Idaho.

Several more miles of road passed but, with the tension between them, it felt like several hundred.

“I worry about you, okay?” He nudged her arm. “I promised your father I’d watch out for you. But it’s more than that, I…”

“What?”

His attention fell on her a beat before returning to the road. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all.”

“I appreciate the big brotherly concern, but I’ll be fine.” She touched the bandage on her arm beneath her shirt sleeve. “Well, unless I trip again.” Please don’t trip again.

Eric’s usual answering snicker or snort didn’t come. The only sign he’d heard her was the unmoving set to his jaw.

The view outside their windows ate up the rest of the drive until asphalt gave way to dirt.

“Okay. Jase will be here in half an hour. Meaning, I have thirty minutes to be inspired. I better be inspired…”

“Give me a break. You could stand out here blindfolded and still come up with something stunning.”

“Funny.” But she appreciated his faith in her.

Eric brought the car to a stop under the shade of a thicket of scrub oak. The driver’s side door creaked as he got out and shut it behind him, followed by a lot of grumbling.

“You didn’t have to come, you know.” She leaned across the console to stare up through his open window. “In fact, wasn’t your plan to hole up at the B&B all weekend and work?”

“It still is.”

When he looked anywhere but her, she cleared her throat.

“Fine. I wanted to see where Cutter grew up. Happy?”

Madison nodded then grabbed her own handle and got out, but only two steps from the car told her a better view of the ranch was needed. Spotting an outcropping of rocks next to a sagging gate, she headed straight for them, motioning him to follow. Leaving her folder on a patch of grass, she started to climb while he shook his head. Gripping the rough rock, she pulled herself up to the top, using her sore arm as little as possible.

The scents of grass and pine floated on a lazy breeze as she shielded her face from the sun to peer over Jase’s land. The view left her speechless. Trees, wildflowers, and wooden fences—a paradise she hadn’t known existed. Yet, what burned its mark deep down in her soul was glimpsing the flawless sky perfectly reflected in the peaceful winding stream running to one side of the property. That sparkling ribbon of water wrapped endlessly around the ranch, playing peek-a-boo. Whatever direction he wanted to go with the design, the home demanded an array of windows—floor to ceiling—to capture every shot of nature morning, noon, and sunset.

My west-coast heart might need to make room for some country.

“Come on. You’re making me nervous.”

Eric stood at the base of the largest rock, his hands on his hips. A sudden mental image of him counting to ten almost had her giggling.

“You should see this place. I mean, Sun Valley was beautiful when we flew in, but there’s something about this spot of land.”

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.”

“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.

The rest of their drive was a quiet one, at least outwardly. Inside, Madison’s mind was a whirlwind of worry. Worry over nailing Jase’s vision for his ranch, worry about doing her father proud, worry that she was over-worrying… The familiar scrape of gravel beneath tires snapped her back to the present, and she gave her head a small shake, focusing on the B&B.

Once parked and out of the car, she followed Eric up the steps to the inn but paused when her phone dinged.

He held the door open. “You coming?”

Camille’s name on her screen made her pause. “I think I’ll hang out here for a little bit and catch up on my e-mails.”

“All right.”

The door clicking shut behind her barely registered as she skimmed the three paragraphs of Camille’s email. Then she reread them. “This can’t be right.”

Cold inside, she stared at her phone, sinking into the Adirondack on the wraparound. The tiny black text against the bright white background on her screen made the icy blow worse, and more of her shock came out in a whisper. “She’s having second thoughts?”

Instinct urged her to go up and tell Eric, but she hated to disturb him. Except, a part of her knew that wasn’t the whole truth. She didn’t want to tell him because saying it out loud would make it more real. Because then they’d have a conversation. He’d give her a speech about dusting it off and how there are a million other contracts to be won. And he’d be right.

Except, I’m not giving up that easily.

Standing, Madison wandered out to the edge of the clearing with the little swing, mulling over the best way to tell Camille how important this project was to Blakeley A&D—how there wasn’t a more dedicated architect for the job. A phone call she planned to make before tonight’s dinner.

The swing’s rope was rough against her palms where she grasped the braided threads, and she focused on that and not panicking about the email. The wooden plank used for the seat was weathered but looked sturdy enough for swinging. At least she hoped so when it creaked under her weight.

“Need a push?”

Her hand slipped from the rope at the sound of Jase’s voice, and she twisted backward, almost falling off the seat. It took her a second to regain her balance and push her hair out of her face. “Seriously, you’re going to stop my heart for good one of these times.”

His shoulders shook. “Sorry.”

“Liar.” She glanced toward the gravel that led to the front driveway, not having heard him arrive. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been right behind them on the return drive. “Are you just getting back?”

He leaned against a tree and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Pulled in a couple of minutes ago. Ran into Eric in the kitchen.”

Smiling, Madison pushed against the ground just hard enough to sway a few inches back and forth. “The kitchen? Figures.”

“He has a lot of respect for you.”

She peeked at him, wondering where his thoughts were. “He’s a good guy. And a little biased.”

“Yeah?” Reaching up, he broke off a dead, knobby branch from the tree, the edge of his shirt flirting with the top of his jeans where they rested just below his waist. He tore pieces of the brittle wood little by little, absently tossing them. “How so?”

“He’s known me forever. My dad hired him to do his books before I’d even graduated high school. He’s kind of like one of the family.” Fighting for a steady voice proved difficult when every nerve in her body was aware of the guy in front of her—his dark, slightly curling hair, his defined arms that had just the right amount of sun, the cleft in his chin that might actually be a scar…

Seriously. Killing me.

When he stepped away from the tree, she pulled herself up from the swing but didn’t let go of the ropes. “So. This Tines restaurant. What kind of place is it?”

“Good.”

She made a face. “Helpful.”

He untangled a lock of her hair that had wrapped around the rope. “I try.”

The weight of the plank against the backs of her knees, the pressure to close the space between them to see if it was his cologne or the breeze that hinted at spice, was hard to fight.

“Don’t move.”

Her hands dug into the aged rope as his voice deepened to a whisper.

“Just hold still…”

His attention shifted from her eyes to somewhere behind her, and she followed his gaze, catching something big and spindly crawling over her shoulder to disappear down her back. A shudder rippled through her, followed by a squeal she couldn’t control echoing up the hillside.

“Get it off! Get it off!” She spun around, hands flailing and batting at her sweater as she craned her neck to see behind her better.

Catching her good arm, Jase spun her back toward him, a chuckle low in his throat.

“Is it still on me? Did I get it off?” Her body gave another involuntary shudder as her skin prickled like the monster had given birth to a thousand tiny baby ones.

“Your arms are covered in goose bumps.”

“I hate spiders,” she whispered, afraid the beast might come back if she offended it too loudly.

He nodded and whispered back, “I remember.”

“You’re funny.” Her fingers twitched to flick the grin from his face, but then he brushed a hand up over her back and along her shoulder, and she shivered for a different reason.

“Good news is, I think he’s gone. Bad news? I get to tease you about this forever.”

She stepped back to see him better, and because it felt safer for her heart.

It wasn’t.

“You just wait until I find one of your weaknesses.”

Jase’s scoff created more echoes. “Best of luck with that. I’m pretty perfect.”

Containing her laughter was impossible. “Of course you are.”

His hands were back in his pockets, and he’d dialed his arrogant smile back a notch or two. “Are you going to be okay? No permanent psychological damage? Because that makes making fun of you a little tricky.”

“Ha. Ha.” Almost unconsciously, she rubbed her hands down her arms, shivering for what felt like the ten billionth time. “What was that thing? I swear he was ten times the size of the one in my lemon tree.” She stole another glimpse of her sweater.

“Wolf spider. Completely harmless.”

She shook her head. “No way. Something that huge is definitely full of harm. Lots and lots of harm.”

He brought a fist to his mouth as he cleared his throat, but the gesture far from hid the smile behind it. “Actually, this guy was puny compared to the ones we’d catch in the barns—”

“Stop! I’m not listening.” Madison covered her ears. “I don’t want to know.”

Two birds took flight from a nearby tree as he cracked up. Even the leaves seemed to shake with the sound of his deep laughter.

“It’s not funny.” Madison pushed at his arm, trying not to join him but failed. When she finally did catch a breath, she wasn’t the only one swiping at tears. A sigh fell from her lips. “I think I really needed that.”

He cocked his head. “You needed to be assaulted by a spider?”

Another shudder tore through her, but she lifted her mouth at one side. “No. But I haven’t laughed like that in a long time. So, thank you.”

“Anytime.” His phone rang, and he pulled it out to check the screen. A tight line replaced his smile. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to take this. It’s that same problem from last night.”

“No worries.”

Hesitation seemed to keep him in place. “See you downstairs at seven?”

She nodded then watched him walk back toward the B&B with his phone to his ear.

With his absence, her resolution to call Camille slammed back into her, mixing with everything else as she made her own way to the house. Her thoughts were so mottled in her head, she couldn’t have read schematics to a beach hut.

Camille. Hopes and dreams. Then there was a certain gorgeous guy who radiated ambition and assurance, as well as forgiveness and kindness. One who had her considering long walks on La Jolla Beach under midnight stars or evenings spent cooling off in the river teasing his Idaho ranch.

Which was stupid. Like her foolish daydreams. And that’s all it was. Jase was attractive.

And haunted, if his actions on the ranch were any clue.

I’m no better than those ridiculous women at the gala who fell all over him. Which is one more reason to keep things on the right side of professional in all things Jase Cutter.

“Focus, Madison.”

Tonight was important. She needed her A-plus-plus game. Camille and the restaurant were out of her control at the moment, so she’d sweep all disappointment under the hope Jase would see her talent and want Blakeley A&D on future projects that would get her name out there in a big way.

Madison mulled over her new determination as she entered the kitchen through the back door, but stopped barely two feet in. “What is that goodness I smell?”

“My grandmother’s famous peach pie.”

She smiled at Jo, the B&B’s owner she’d met during breakfast. “And here I thought your amazing waffles couldn’t be topped.”

“I have a few surprises up my sleeve.”

Her stomach growled. “You won’t hear this girl complain.”

Jo laughed, tucking her slightly graying hair behind one ear, exposing a single white feather hanging from a delicate metal hoop earring. “Well? How do you like Idaho so far?”

“It’s nothing like San Diego.”

The host snort-laughed. “We’re a lot more slow-paced, for better or worse.”

With a Santa oven mitt on one hand, and a pumpkin mitt on the other, Jo fanned the spiraling steam from the most mouthwatering fruit pie Madison had ever seen. The aroma alone intoxicated.

“I’m going to leave this place five pounds heavier and not regret it a second,” she said. “That looks and smells heavenly.”

Jo pushed the pie to the middle of a cooling rack and nodded toward a stack of plates. Her orange and yellow shift dress settled right above her knees, complementing the turquoise stones in her multi-layered necklace and the blue in her eyes. “Want a slice?”

“Tempting as that is—so tempting—I’d better not. I’ve got a dinner tonight. But…save me one?”

“Deal.”

Madison answered with a grin, but it faltered. “Speaking of said dinner, can I get your help?”

“I’ll do my best and try.”

“What is the dress code for the Tines restaurant?”

The proprietress returned the oven mitts to a drawer next to the stove then brushed her hands together. “Being a resort town, it’s usually anything goes, but Tine’s is definitely higher scale. You could wear a casual dress or slacks and a cardigan, though, and not feel too out of place.”

Too out of place.

Madison chewed on the end of her thumbnail, staring off at the wall, as if it might suddenly rearrange her wardrobe upstairs and present something brilliant to wear. Which it didn’t. “Jo?”

The woman’s brows quirked over curious eyes. “Yes?”

“You don’t know of a place in town I can find a dress last minute, do you? I really, really don’t want to be out of place tonight.”

She also really, really didn’t want to examine too closely why.