Mindy Obenhaus - Reunited In The Rockies

Hauling his traitorous mind back to the present, he cleared his throat. “Do you think it’s wise for you to be up there in your condition?”

She shot him an annoyed look before returning her focus to the peeling wallpaper. “Trust me, I was doing this long before I was in this condition .”

“True, but your center of equilibrium is different now. What if you were to fall? What would your husband say?”

Using what looked like a pocketknife, she carefully pried another sliver of paper away from the plaster. “I doubt he’d care.”

Confused, he took a step closer and set a hand on the ladder, just in case. “Why do you say that?”

She closed the knife, tucked it into the pocket of her jeans and stepped down. “Because he’s dead.”

He stood there, blinking, feeling as though someone had just hit him with a left hook. Her husband was dead? He glanced at her swollen belly. Leaving Kayla to raise their child alone. “I—I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She collapsed the ladder and leaned it against the wall. “My baby and I are doing just fine.”

“Sorry, I took so long.” Lily breezed into the room then, stirring up the stale air. “Jude, I’m glad you’re here.” She looked from him to her friend. “Kayla, this is Noah’s brother Jude. He specializes in historic millwork reproduction.”

He waited to see what Kayla would do. Would she tell Lily that they already knew each other? That they’d fallen in love? Or at least he had. Something that, apparently, hadn’t been reciprocated.

Kayla’s gaze drifted to his. “Historic millwork?” He thought he saw a hint of a smile. “So, you’re not just a police officer.” Why did that seem to please her? And why did her reaction bolster him?

“No, he is not,” Lily responded before he had a chance. “I’ve seen his work, and he’s quite talented. He can replicate almost anything, and you would never know it wasn’t an original.” Turning, she sent him a grin. “Which is why I asked you to meet me here.”

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his cargo pants. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.”

“I want to restore this building. The hotel, restaurant, perhaps—” she strode to the center of the room “—and I can just envision this dining room being used for wedding receptions and parties...”

His suspicions had been right. Scanning the decrepit dining room with its water-stained wallpaper and warped wooden floorboards, he could see Lily’s vision, but—

“You’re looking at a lot of work, Lily, and that’s going to translate to money.” He crossed to stand beside her. “This room alone looks as though it has a fair amount of water damage. I don’t know where the water came from, but if it was overhead, then the damage is likely worse on the two upper floors.”

She eyed him matter-of-factly. “I’ve already seen it. And yes, it is. But if someone doesn’t come in here and do something soon, things will continue to deteriorate, and it’ll cost even more.” She sent him a pleading look. “Jude, Ouray has blessed me in so many ways. If I can help save a part of its history, then I don’t care what it costs.”

He smiled down at the likable woman who had more money than he could ever fathom. “Even if you weren’t marrying my brother, there’s no way I could say no to that. Just tell me what you want me to do.”

“There’s lot of damaged millwork throughout the building. I’d like you to replicate it and oversee the installation.”

“Sure, I can do that. Who’s your contractor?”

“I’m not certain yet.” Lily strolled toward Kayla. “However, my sweet friend here has worked as a house flipper for a number of years.”

“I work for a house flipper.” Kayla was quick to correct.

“He purchases the homes, but you’re the one who oversees all of his projects. And you do a fair amount of the work yourself.” Taking Kayla by the arm, Lily again faced Jude. “Since her specialty is historic homes, I’m hoping she’ll agree to act as general contractor for me.”

Whoa, what? Kayla as general contractor? That meant they’d be working together again. And while he trusted Lily’s judgment...

He scraped his boot across the worn floorboards. Man, why had he been so quick to say yes?

His only hope now was that Kayla would say no. Because from the sound of things, she already had a job. Sure, she and Lily were friends, but why would she give up that job and move to Ouray for one project? Especially when she was pregnant.

His gaze drifted across the room to the dark-haired beauty. Then again, she was used to a more itinerant lifestyle. Perhaps, now that her husband was gone, she’d decided she’d been in one place for too long.

Pink tinged Kayla’s cheeks. “Lily, I told you I’d think about it.”

“I know you did. So let’s go have a look at the rest of the place.” Lily motioned for them to follow her as she started back into the lobby. “Perhaps that will help convince you.”

Or scare her away.

They were almost to the stairway when Lily’s phone rang. She looked at the screen. “Sorry, guys, I need to take this.” Aiming for the front door, she added, “I shouldn’t be long.”

A silent moment passed before Kayla turned to him. “I’m relieved to hear you’re still doing your woodworking.” She lifted a shoulder. “After seeing you at the park, I was afraid you’d given it up in favor of police work.”

“No way. That was just to tide me over until I could make a living with the woodworking. Now I’m planning on giving up the day job so I can devote all my time to millwork.” Why had he told her all that? Even if he wasn’t faced with the possibility of breaking his father’s heart, it was none of her business.

“Wow, that’s great.” She smiled. “I’ve often thought about starting my own flipping business. Only historic homes, though.” She absently smoothed a hand over her belly. “Of course, now I have to look at the bigger picture and think about how my decisions will affect others.”

He inched closer. “Speaking of decisions, you’re not really considering taking Lily up on her offer, are you?”

Her brow lifted. “Why shouldn’t I? There’s nothing tying me to Denver.”

He searched her dark eyes. So much for settling down. Evidently, the wanderer in her still couldn’t stand the thought of being stuck in one place for too long.

Good thing he hadn’t asked her to stay all those years ago. No matter how badly he’d wanted to.

“Or are you afraid the job might be too much for a woman in my condition ?” Her words flew all over him.

Maybe he had stepped in it with that comment. Yet while his mother had raised him and his brothers to be gentlemen, she’d also been an example of just how capable women could be. Something Kayla knew good and well, having spent a fair amount of time with the woman.

Standing toe-to-toe with her, he said, “I think you know me better than that.” For a second he thought he saw her wince.

Then she perched her hands on the backs of her hips and glared up at him. “Do I?”

“You would if you’d stuck around.” Realizing what he’d said, he jammed a hand through his hair and turned away. He must be more stressed than he thought. He was talking like a crazy man.

Thankfully, Lily whisked past him. “We’re running out of daylight, so we need to hurry if we’re going to manage even a cursory look.”

As he followed the two women up the broad staircase, he couldn’t help wondering what he’d gotten himself into.

* * *

Kayla stared out the window of Lily’s SUV, eyeing the lights of Main Street on the way back to Granger House Inn. You would if you’d stuck around.