Nevada stood there in front of the hotel. The afternoon was clear, but the forecast called for snow that night. It was perfect weather for a fire and maybe a man in front of that fire.
But she wanted more than that. Telling Cat the truth had opened up something inside of her. Something she’d been afraid to admit.
She did want more than a lover. She wanted a husband and a family. She wanted to have roots and traditions. She wanted to hear the man she loved tell her he loved her back. She wanted to know they would be there for each other, no matter what. She wanted it all.
THE DRIVE TO THE WORK SITE had never taken so long or seemed so short, Nevada thought as she parked her truck next to the trailer. She’d had enough time to try to talk herself down, all the while considering what she was going to say.
She knew there was risk involved, that the conversation could go very badly, but still she had to try. She owed herself that.
She walked into the trailer. Tucker was on the phone. He smiled when he saw her and motioned he wouldn’t be long. A few seconds later, he hung up.
“What did Cat want?” he asked.
“To say goodbye. She left.”
“What about the statue? Did she change her mind?”
“No such luck. It’s finished and she wants me to present it to the town.”
“Better you than me. Mayor Marsha isn’t going to be happy.”
A problem for another time, she thought, walking toward him.
She took the seat next to his desk and drew in a breath. She was shaking a little and thought she might have to throw up. Not the best combination, but waiting would only make things worse.
He drew his eyebrows together and touched her cheek. “You okay?”
She nodded. “I have to tell you something.”
“You’re running off with Cat.”
“No. Although she did ask.”
“You have to give her points for persistence.”
“I do.” She looked into his eyes. “Tucker, I know your relationship with Cat was difficult. That you were obsessed with her.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Tell me about it. What a mistake.”
“It was, but you were a kid.”
“Nearly twenty-three. I should have known better.”
“How? You’d grown up all around the world, never settling in one place. You didn’t know what it was like to just date someone. To have a crush and then get over it. Then you met Cat, and even someone with a whole lot more relationship experience couldn’t have handled her very well. You did the best you could.”
He looked uncomfortable. “Why are you saying this?”
“Because you learned the wrong lesson. Love isn’t a trap. Love is a gift. It makes us stronger. Look at Will. He’s a great guy and loves his job and his life, but have you ever seen him happier? He’s walking away from all of this because he wants to be with Jo.”
“That’s his decision.”
“Do you think he’ll regret it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yeah, you do.”
He shrugged. “Okay, he’s happy. So what?”
Here it was. The moment of truth. Did she have the courage to say it? To put herself out there? Until this moment, she never had. She’d always taken the safe road, made the easy decision. The biggest risk in her life had been applying for this job. Now it was time to take the next step.
“I love you,” she told him. “We’re good together. I want you to stay and be a part of my life. I want us to have a future.”
She paused, not sure if she could continue or not. As she was trying to make up her mind, she saw horror enter his eyes. Instead of being happy or intrigued, he looked angry.
“Don’t start,” he said, standing. “Dammit, Nevada, why do you have to do this? I told you before. You said you understood. Don’t you get it? I’m not interested.”
With that he walked out.
She stared after him, her heart pounding, her mind unable to absorb what had just happened so quickly. Then she heard the rumble of his truck, the spray of gravel and he was gone.
NEVADA DIDN’T TELL ANYONE. She couldn’t. Pain and shame were an uneasy combination she wasn’t willing to share. She finished her day, went home, got through the night and returned to work the next morning. She didn’t cry. She also didn’t sleep or eat. She was numb most of the time, but when the pain came, it was like knives.
She walked into the trailer telling herself she was getting her hard hat, but secretly she wanted to see Tucker again. Tucker, who hadn’t called. Instead she found Will at his desk.
He looked up when she walked in. His look of concern warned her, but couldn’t begin to prepare her.
“Nevada,” he said. “I don’t know….” He cleared his throat. “He just…” Will crossed to her. “I’m sorry.”
She got it then. Reality slammed into her, nearly knocking her to her knees. She looked around the trailer, seeing what was still there, noticing what was gone.
“He left,” she said flatly.
“I’m sorry,” Will repeated.
Tucker was gone. He hadn’t called in sick or left to meet with a subcontractor. Instead he’d fled Fool’s Gold completely. Without a word.
She knew without asking that he was never coming back.