Jason Grant landed a final blow to the nail and stood back to view his handiwork. "Nice," he said aloud. He swiped his hand across his brow and pushed back a lock of dark brown hair that had fallen into his eyes. Then he scratched the slight bump on his nose caused by a dirt bike crash when he was a teenager. His sweaty T-shirt clung to him. Working outdoors the past month had honed and tanned his body.
He moved his gaze upward. Having replaced the wood siding around the lower windows, his next project would be the dormer window of the attic. He bent and retrieved his water bottle and for the first time in two years felt a sense of well-being. The nightmare of his divorce was behind him, he now owned the twenty acres he'd discovered in childhood while visiting an aunt who'd lived nearby, and the house built in 1940 was on its way to restoration. After going through repossession in the late 1960s due to unpaid property taxes, the property had reverted to the state and then been bought and sold twice, but abandoned in 2010. Having been vacant for a few years, it had been a disaster when Jason purchased it, but he was an excellent carpenter, as well as architect by trade, and he expected the restoration to be completed within a year, give or take a few months, depending on the state of his finances. However, even his depleted funds after his divorce couldn't daunt his optimism on this glorious May day. The sun was warm, the sky cloudless and blue, the monoliths glowing like copper, and the water of nearby Oak Creek glistening like diamonds. He inhaled the fragrance of pines and then stretched and yawned. With his newfound freedom, not only from an unhappy marriage, but from a lackluster job, he considered taking a nap.
The unexpected sound of an approaching car had him frowning. Who the hell had breeched the chain blocking access to his property? He walked to the center of his gravel drive and waited. The road to his house, although bumpy, was passable. He crossed his arms and spread his legs akimbo in an unwelcoming stance. Finally, a Lexis SUV came into sight after rounding a stand of mature ponderosa pines. Jason felt his jaw tighten. If there was one thing he hated, it was Lexis cars. For a moment he thought the trespasser was Suzette, his ex-wife, because of her insistence of only owning Lexis vehicles and living a life of luxury. His current financial situation was the direct result of selling everything he owned, including a portion of lucrative stock in internet companies, to buy her off in the divorce. His remaining stock was safely tucked away for retirement or emergencies.
The driver of the Lexis was female, but she was blond and wearing a ball cap. Suzette wouldn't have been caught dead in a ball cap and her hair was fiery red, thanks to expensive hair stylists. Her natural color was muddy brown. Jason knew she preferred red because of all the attention it garnered. She was completely narcissistic and self-centered. Thank God they'd never had children. Of course, Suzette was the type of woman who wouldn't allow something as domestic as pregnancy to mar her perfect figure.
Jason puffed a breath and berated himself for allowing his ex-wife to provoke his ire yet again. He concentrated on the woman stepping out of the Lexis. She was of average height and build, even slightly plump, but very curvy. The ball cap shadowed her face so he couldn't distinguish any features.
He remained in his defiant posture and said with irritation, "This is private property and I know you saw the NO TRESSPASSING sign." She stepped forward and Jason caught a glimpse of her face. She seemed vaguely familiar.
The woman responded, "Yes, I saw it, but since you don't answer your phone, I decided to break the law and trespass."
Suddenly everything fell into place. For the past two days he had been receiving voice and text messages from Sunny Sundance's attorney about her wanting to purchase his property. He'd scoffed at the messages and ignored them. The last time the attorney had called and left a voicemail, he'd hinted that his client would be overly generous. Jason had hit the erase button and gone about his business.
He now recognized the woman standing before him as Sunny Sundance, the popular country singer.
He could care less.
As far as he was concerned, no amount of money could entice him to sell the property he'd coveted since childhood. As she advanced toward him, he said, "The property is not for sale so you're wasting your time, and when did you become a blond?"
She stopped a few feet away and glanced up, and since he was 6'3", she had to look way up. His first thought was that she looked older and she was shorter than she appeared in photos or on television. He guessed her age to be around forty.
She didn't appear deterred by his rudeness. "I'm blond when I don't want to be recognized. Thank you for sending the journal and photo to me."
He nodded. "It seemed the right thing to do."
She shrugged and bluntly asked, "Did you read the journal?"
"Other than the date and name on the first page, no."
"Why not?"
"Because I've learned to keep my nose out of other people's business."
She smiled slightly. "Smart move. I wish more people were like you."
Jason uncrossed his arms. "Besides wanting my property, is there another reason for your visit?"
"Yes."
They stared at each other in a silent battle of wills and Jason had to admire her spunk.
Finally, she said, "Reading the journal made me aware that there's a cabin on the property dating back to the early 1800s. I'd like to see it."
"No."
Her eyes never left his. "Why not?"
"Because I don't like trespassers and I don't like fancy attorneys calling me."
She responded, "Your ex-wife really did a number on you, didn't she?"
Jason narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. "My business is just that, my business. Now get in your car and get off my property."
"And if I refuse?"
Jason stood straight again, reached into his pocket for his cell phone, and calmly said, "The police are only a phone call away and I'm sure the tabloids would love to get wind of a trespassing country singer."
For the first time, Jason saw emotion in Sunny Sundance's eyes. The emotion was anger mixed with something else—fear? He almost felt bad for threatening her. Of course, he had no intention of calling the police. He didn't want them on his land any more than he wanted the famous Sunny there. He watched her inhale deeply, straighten her shoulders until she was a few inches taller, and set her gaze on the house behind him.
She said, "My attorney did some research and discovered this land belonged to my family for over a hundred years. Of course, after reading journal I already knew that, and I intend to buy it back. You, Mr. Grant, have just made an enemy of me. I am wealthy beyond imagining and nothing will stop me from getting what I want."
Jason's eyes widened slightly then narrowed again. He took a step forward and said low, "Lady, I suggest you get your ass off my property. I just got one of your kind out of my life and I'm not about to be intimidated by you. I don't care if you're richer than Midas, this is my land and I intend to keep it." He stepped closer and bent until his face was in hers. "Do. You. Understand."
To her credit, she didn't flinch. She just set her face like flint and the expression in her eyes told Jason he was in for the fight of his life. Without a word she returned to her car, made a u-turn, and drove away.
As he watched her car disappear beyond the trees, he thought, Bring it on.