Chapter Two
N atalie stood in the small parking area beside the Marietta courthouse, watching helplessly as more firemen arrived, rushing for the recently evacuated building’s front door.
A fire alarm? Seriously? She’d battled for attention over crying babies and puking toddlers at countless meetings, but never a fire alarm.
Now one question remained. Would they get to finish the hearing or have to reschedule?
And how far back might that push her project schedule?
She scanned the parking lot, encouraged to see that most if not all of tonight’s attendees had remained despite being escorted outside.
So long as those firemen hurried up and finished their inspection of the building, she might get this project to a vote yet tonight.
And a vote would not only move her one step closer to that promotion but also keep her other scheduled trips clear of timing conflicts.
One month—that was all she was ever allocated for each project.
One week for planning and prep, three for on-site community buy-in and guidance.
Then a weekend at home to clear her mind before setting off for the next job.
At the conclusion of every third project, she was given a week off.
Though, that was never really enough time to take a vacation.
Usually, it was more of Natalie getting reacquainted with the house she’d bought three years ago and barely had time to live in before the cycle started all over again.
Thank goodness her aunt and uncle lived near the house.
She ordered their groceries each week to repay them for looking after her place.
Natalie had offered to pay for more than that, especially during the summer months when her uncle mowed her lot as well, but they’d adamantly refused.
So she made sure to spoil them as much as she could during her time at home, to make sure they knew just how much she appreciated them.
Her gaze drifted from the courthouse to a small library that shared the parking lot where everyone now stood.
Even in the evening’s fading light, she could see cheery springtime flowers dotting its modest landscaping, bringing back childhood memories of her and her sister planting spring flowers with their mother.
It was a springtime tradition Natalie was more than ready to start at her own home, once she had a position at her company that didn’t keep her on the road ten months of the year.
Close the deal first. Dream later.
She looked back toward the courthouse, willing the firemen to hurry.
And where had Sam Miles run off to, anyway?
If she hadn’t kept an eye on him the entire meeting, she might have guessed he was the one to set off the alarm.
But Natalie knew for a fact that he hadn’t moved from his seat in the front row after his wardrobe transition.
Other than to frown and scowl at her, of course.
Despite that, the man’s quiet, commanding presence had tugged at her attention all evening.
She’d struggled not to stare when he appeared at the doorway then stepped into the room, his sure stride projecting strength and confidence.
A stride dressed in jeans that fit his frame very nicely.
But it was his eyes that her gaze kept traveling back to time and again, dark green with flecks of blue.
Flecks she wouldn’t have seen if she hadn’t practically fallen into his lap forty-five minutes ago.
Natalie shook her head. Now wasn’t the time to be daydreaming about cowboys, or any guys for that matter. New job, then find a man and put down roots—it wouldn’t make sense to work the plan in any other order. But before she dared apply for the new job, she had this one to finish. Successfully.
Nearby, streetlights flickered to lift. Dang it. They needed to get back inside and soon.
But then what? Sam had just called her out in front of everyone, his claim about this supposed lease throwing her for a loop. Usually, the land acquisitions team left no stone unturned. Surely, there wasn’t someone in that group who’d want to block her move, was there?
“Natalie.”
She whirled in the direction of Sam’s voice, irritated by the butterflies that lit in her stomach as he approached. And what was that in his hand?
“Uh, thanks. Why do you have my purse?”
He looked at her as though she’d just asked why the sky was blue. “Because you left it behind.”
“And?” she asked, taking it from him.
Confusion furrowed his brow further. “And… I didn’t think you’d want it to melt?”
“Wait—you think there could really be a fire? I just assumed it was a prank.” Her gaze flashed to the building, panic setting in. “All my stuff is in there!”
“I know. That’s why I brought you your bag.” He rubbed a hand over where his neck and shoulder met. “Didn’t think about grabbing your laptop and the other stuff, though.”
Natalie grimaced. Would she really lose everything to a fire tonight? Doubtful, since she had yet to smell smoke or see a single flame. She drew in a calming breath and offered a smile to this surprisingly considerate cowboy who’d rescued the item and its contents that mattered most.
“Thank you. That was very thoughtful of you.”
He shrugged, his gaze shifting from hers. “Just figured you’d need it, is all.”
Wait, was he getting shy on her all of a sudden?
“Does this mean you’re calling a truce between us?” she asked.
His lips twitched with the tiniest hint of a smile. “Not a chance, darlin’. I’ve got a ranch to protect.”
Lord, he needed to go back to scowling at her. Smiling Sam was far too handsome, and his sandalwood cologne smelled much too appealing.
“Well, I assure you—”
“Miss Wright? Where’s Miss Wright?”
They turned to spy the mayor wading through the crowd. He caught sight of her and made his way to join them.
“Thank you, Miss Wright, for coming all this way and helping to share your company’s vision with Marietta. Excellent presentation, you did a lovely job.”
Beside her, the almost-smiling Sam went still as stone. She refused to feel guilty about the compliment. “It’s my pleasure, Mr. Mayor. But I do have a few more slides to share with everyone once we get back inside. And then we need to have the planning board vote, of course.”
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to call it a wrap for tonight. The fire department is insisting on doing a comprehensive sweep of the building, which will take at least another half an hour, and these good folks need to be getting home to their families.”
Natalie worked to hide her disappointment. “Completely understandable. We’ll just have to continue the meeting another time. Perhaps another evening yet this week?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure if that will be possible. I want to say one of the voting members will be out of town the rest of the week.” He pulled out his cell phone and tapped its screen. “I’ll have my secretary check everyone’s schedules, though, and get with you first thing in the morning.”
It wasn’t a meeting set in stone, but at least it was something. “Thank you, I look forward to hearing from them.”
“Miss Wright?”
She turned toward the sound of a new male voice and spied the man who’d ushered them all from the room walking toward them, the rest of her things in his grasp. “Oh! Thank you.”
“No problem. Vinnie swears he smells smoke, so I didn’t want to take any chances.”
“I appreciate it,” she said, taking her things while trying not to mind that he’d literally shoved as much as he could into her travel briefcase and tucked the rest under one arm.
Hopefully, her laser pointer was in there somewhere.
Then again, if she got that promotion, maybe she wouldn’t be needing it after Marietta.
“Thanks again,” she called as he hurried back toward the building. Natalie pulled her things close, took a deep breath, then swiveled back to finish her conversation with the mayor.
Who was now gone.
As was Sam.
On a sigh, Natalie started for her car. Tonight hadn’t gone at all the way she’d hoped, but she tried focusing on the positive. The project hadn’t been voted down. She still had a chance of sealing the deal and moving one step closer to that promotion.
Besides, it was gorgeous out here in Montana, intimidating mountain aside.
If their rescheduled meeting was delayed a few days, she could fill her time with sightseeing.
Plus, this would give her time to smooth things over with the Miles family before the actual vote.
How, she wasn’t sure. But knowing her boss, Steven Gerig would come up with something to appease them.
Natalie just hoped it would be enough.
*
The sun was nearly set as the Miles ranch came into view, painting brilliant oranges and deepening blues across the modest, stocked pond that sat in the middle of their near acreage.
In another hour, the clear sky would fade to an endless black, dotted by the glow of twinkling stars.
A sky that Sam had always found comforting, its vastness wrapping their ranch in tranquility.
A peace that would soon be tainted by light pollution coming from some monstrosity down the road.
Terakion Enterprises’s fancy resort would offer spa packages, hot tubs, heated pools, and a host of other packages their place didn’t currently offer. How the hell were they supposed to compete with that?