Chapter Seventeen
Grace stared at the figure on the paper, blinked, and dared it to disappear or lose a zero or two. It didn’t. Assuming it was her father who wrote the numbers in pencil, when did he do it? Ten years ago? Last year? It mattered, probably, because the price would fluctuate with the price of silver. It wasn’t like she knew anything about coins and silver. But if the handwritten number was anywhere near true, why hadn’t her father done something? Why hadn’t he saved his home? Maybe he’d meant to. Maybe the cancer had fuzzed his mind and confused him. Regardless, if this was anything near real, it might solve her problems.
Or cause more.
Assuming the money was half hers, half JJ’s, Noah would still expect her to use it all to save the ranch. A noble cause. Or…assuming Sam couldn’t come through for her, she could let the ranch go anyway, borrow JJ’s half of the money, and open up that studio with Ricky. She could be her own boss. No one had to know about the coins, right? At least not at first. Once she got on her feet, once her business was running and successful, she’d pay back Noah and JJ, with interest. They could buy a bigger place, a better place. The ranch needed more work than it was worth. It’d really be a win-win for everyone. In the meantime, they could rent somewhere, right? Just for the short-term. Noah and JJ would stay together; she’d get her life back.
This could work.
She pushed aside the niggle in her chest, the one that Pastor Bob used to preach about, the one that folks plowed right through, rationalizing away the regret.
This could totally work.
She individually carried each ammo can downstairs and put them on the floor in her bedroom closet. Then she locked up the chest, scooped up the papers listing the coins and the other envelope, and scooted down the stairs. She paced her bedroom, developing a new plan. She needed to call Ricky. No, first she needed to find someone to value her find.
She glanced down at the unopened envelope in her hand. Maybe it contained the answers. Was she ready to learn them? Her phone rang, saving her from deciding. She recognized the number as Sam’s. She should probably add him to her contacts. Had she really offered to cook dinner for Sam Barker? She hadn’t entered Reno—she’d entered the Twilight Zone.
She shoved the envelope into the side of her luggage and answered her phone. “Hey, Sam. You’re not calling to cancel, are you?” She still needed him. Without Sam, she’d be choosing between New York and here.
“On you? Never. Just making sure you don’t want to go out to dinner. Lucky Lady’s just opened a new barbeque place. I hear it’s great. Plus, you deserve a night out.”
How sweet. Freaky sweet. The old Sam was never sweet.
“Downtown Reno?” Grace sighed. “Honestly, I’m not in the mood for the casino scene.” And even if I was, since Noah’s MIA, I don’t have anyone to watch JJ. “I’m actually looking forward to a nice, quiet dinner here.”
“Well, if you’re sure.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “You need me to pick anything up on my way over?”
She glanced at her watch. Crap, it was already five. She had to get dinner started plus take a shower. She smelled like attic junk and probably looked worse than a dust bunny. “Fresh bread would be great.”
“You got it, babe.”
Babe? Her tummy quivered. She squashed the feeling with a deep breath. It was only dinner. Saving the ranch was worth it.
“Uh, anyone else coming?” he asked.
“I think Noah has plans, and JJ’s not feeling well so he’ll probably stay in his room.”
“That’s too bad.” Sam’s voice sounded anything but sorry. “See you soon.”
“That was the best crab cake I’ve ever had, Grace. Too bad JJ didn’t feel like eating.”
Grace forced a smile. Yeah, too bad, though Sam had had no problem eating JJ’s portion. She finished her wine and watched as he meticulously dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a cloth napkin.
“Allow me.” He set aside his napkin and picked up the half-empty bottle of wine. A thunderclap echoed in the distance. Raindrops pelted the windows.
Grace waved her hand, motioning him not to fill her glass. “I think I’m okay.”
“Just a little more,” Sam said. “We don’t want to waste it.” He was right, that would be stupid. He filled her glass then his.
The evening had gone well. He’d been a perfect gentleman, while droning on and dropping names, bragging about his business deals. His business was a huge part of his life, that much was obvious. He was pretty mum about his personal life. Something told her he didn’t have much of one. Grace watched him swirl his wine.
“I’ve got to say, Grace, I was surprised when you offered to cook dinner.”
So was I. “Come on, we’ve known each other a long time.”
“Funny how things turn out. I thought for sure you and Noah would’ve patched things up during this visit of yours.” He shrugged. “Can’t say I’m torn up about it.”
Just the mention of Noah’s name made guilt creep into her stomach. Totally outrageous, since this dinner was mostly for his benefit. Time to get down to business. “Do you have any contacts in the coin collection business?”
The swirling stopped. “Why do you ask?”
She’d dealt with fashion industry consultants and knew not to show her hand too soon. “I’ve been cleaning out stuff, you know, just my father’s junk, and came across a few items. I’d like to get more info.” Grace shrugged. “You know, to make sure I’m not getting taken advantage of when I sell them.”
“You, taken advantage of?” His lips twisted. “I wouldn’t let that happen.” He rested his hand over hers, and while his words were in jest, his eyes looked hopeful.
She shouldn’t be doing this. He was lonely, and she was taking advantage of it.
Grace slid her hand out from his and reached for his empty dish. “Let me take that for you.” She walked to the counter, dish in one hand, her wine glass in the other. “And get you some water.” She placed the dishes in the sink, removed two plastic cups from the cupboard, filled them with water, and chugged one down.
“I could take a look for you. I was a novice coin collector in my youth. Bet you didn’t know that about me.”
She set down her empty cup. “I think I need a professional.”
“Just your father’s junk, huh?”
What the heck. Sam was harmless, and he had good contacts. “Okay, maybe more than junk.” She looked over at him. “Maybe lots more, dollar-wise. Enough to change everything.” She couldn’t help the grin spreading over her face.
Sam eyed her for a moment, then took out his phone. “Yeah, I know a guy. He’s good, and you can trust him.” He scrolled through his contacts. A second later, Grace’s phone beeped. “There’s his number.”
“Thanks.” Now for the ranch. “I need your help on something else. What if I’ve changed my mind and decided to keep the ranch? With your position at the bank, there must be something you could do to help.” She gave him her best doe eyes. A little flirting couldn’t hurt. She bit her lip and waited.
Sam’s eyes widened just slightly. He grabbed Grace’s plate from the table. “There might be something I could do.” He stood up, wobbled, and balanced himself before carrying the dish over to her. “You got a few weeks still, but if you need a bit more, maybe I could lose your paperwork, you know, just long enough for you to settle things up and get your property current.”
She handed him the glass of water and took the plate from him, then turned to place it in the sink on top of the other one. “More time would definitely help. A payment plan would be even better—”
“But I’d have to be highly motivated.” His breath in her ear and the brush of his body against her back made her drop the plate.
“Hey.” Grace elbowed Sam and whipped around, knocking his cup to the ground. Water spilled everywhere.
Sam stepped back. “I’m sorry, Grace…” Sam stumbled against the table, knocking down a chair and shattering a wine glass.
“What the hell is going on here?” Noah stood in the middle of the kitchen, rain soaked from head to toe, chest heaving, eyes blazing.
Sam struggled to his feet. Grace rushed to help him. “Nothing, Noah. Nothing but dinner.” She helped Sam stand. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Glaring at Noah, he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
Noah scowled at Sam. “Get. Out. Now.”
Sam straightened his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked at Grace. “Thanks for dinner, dear. Be careful, your time’s running out.”
“Sam, you don’t have to leave.”
Sam shrugged, then nodded at Noah. “Good luck at the auction.” He pushed on the screen door and muttered all the way down the stairs.
As soon as Sam was gone, Grace turned toward Noah, ready to lay into him. He started first. “What was he doing here? What the hell is going on?”
“Dinner, just like I said. What the hell is going on with you? I was just trying to help. Trying to renegotiate the terms for the ranch.” A good plan poorly executed. No, her execution was fine. Noah barging in is where it went off the rails.
“You can’t control everything, Noah. I was trying to convince Sam to help.”
“Yeah, he seemed very helpful.”
She gave him the stink eye. “It was dinner, only dinner. And then you come in here and muck it all up. You’ve probably mucked up your chances at the auction now, too.” She raised her hands in disgust. “I was doing it for you.”
“For me?” He stalked toward her until he stood mere inches in front of her. “You made dinner for that slimeball, invited him alone with you, for me, into our house?”
Our house? They both heard the words. Both felt them reverberate through the air and bounce against the walls. Our. House. What was it? His house, her house, our house…did it matter? He was so close. Chest heaving with anger—or was it? Eyes burning with a look she recognized from years past. A look she’d missed. A look she’d burned into her soul.
No, it didn’t matter whose house. The only thing that mattered was him being here with her. She didn’t want to think about the ranch, her job, today, tomorrow. She just wanted, needed, to touch him, taste him. She reached out and grabbed onto his arms. “Please, Noah, just kiss me.”
This time, he didn’t hold back. He captured her lips with his. Then he wove his fingers through her hair and deepened the kiss, asking for more. She gave it, meeting each demand with her own plundering tongue. His lips dragged across her cheek, nibbled along her chin to her ear. A hunger built inside her, growing, growing. She pushed into him, rubbed against him. She wasn’t close enough.
She wanted to crawl into his skin, but the closest she could get was her chest against his chest, her hips against his hips, her skin against his… She leaned back and whipped off her tank. He grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and tugged it over his head, then pulled her into him. Skin against skin. Smooth, hard, burning. She ran her hands over his shoulders, wider than she remembered, more sculpted. Still familiar.
His hands slid up her bare stomach, slowly, slowly, to her ribs, his palms soon gliding over the fabric of her bra. She shuddered. He reached around, fumbled with her bra clasp, released it. The straps slid down her arms, and he took the scrap of lace and dropped it to the floor. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in her ear, his fingers teasing the underside of her breasts.
Sensation exploded through her veins. Grace moaned and tilted her head back, exposing her neck, the prey surrendering to her cougar. He closed his mouth over her throat. His teeth grazed her skin. Goose bumps prickled down her neck to her spine.
He pushed her back until her butt touched the edge of the kitchen table, then hiked her skirt up past the tops of her thighs. He eased her onto the cool wood, his warm body’s weight on hers, his tongue a tender invasion in her mouth, his hand cradling the back of her head. She slid her fingers into the waist of his jeans, smiling when he groaned.
His fingertips trailed down her neck, skimmed along her side. For a second, she felt his knuckles moving against her navel. Dimly she heard the snap and zip of his jeans. She grabbed his belt loops and tugged down, exposing a few more inches of hard muscle.
Noah stiffened, pulled back, and looked toward the hall.
“What?” Her voice came out gravelly, steeped in passion.
“I thought I heard something.”
JJ. Not good.
“Take me to bed, Noah.”
His eyes, smoky blue, held hers. “Are you sure?”
She was sure. She’d never been more positive about anything as she was about Noah, right here, right now. “Yes.”
He slid his hand under her back and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he carried her to the bedroom.