Thrill Me

There were a thousand possibilities, she thought happily. So many opportunities.

“You know,” she said, “with the money we’re getting from this, funding your project wouldn’t be such a stretch. I wouldn’t need much of mine and—”

She pressed her lips together as she realized what she’d said. “Not that you’ve said you want me involved or anything,” she added, feeling awkward and uninvited.

Del grabbed her arms and pulled her close. “Maya, without you, there’s no idea and there’s certainly no job with the hotels.” He released her and looked at her.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot,” he admitted. “About us. The way we work together. You understand what I want to do with my life.”

Her breath caught as her body went still. Hope filled her. Hot and bright, it grew like a bubble and she nearly floated away.

“I hope you want the same thing,” he continued. “We’re good together. A great team.”

“We are,” she whispered, thinking that loving him was the best thing to ever happen to her.

“I have some money.”

She blinked, not sure what he was talking about. “Okay,” she said slowly. “That’s nice.”

He laughed. “I sold my company for a healthy profit. I have enough money to fund our project. Ever since I got back to Fool’s Gold, I’ve been trying to figure out what’s next for me. I’ve had offers, but none of them were right. This is right.”

He touched her face. “I want us to form a partnership. Create a company. We’ll do the commercials for Ernesto and Robert and go film our kids and create programs teachers can use in classrooms. We’ll hire a writer or two and some production staff, but most of the work, the fun stuff, we’ll do together.”

He released her. “I know you just got back. That you’re not going to want to leave right away. If you aren’t sure, you could ask Mayor Marsha for a leave of absence, so you’d know you could return here. I hope you’ll consider what I’m offering. The world is beautiful and I’d like to show it to you.”

Disappointment had a flavor. It was bitter with an unexpectedly sharp aftertaste.

“You want us to work together,” she said softly, needing to be sure she got it right. “To be business partners.”

He nodded eagerly. “I bring the financial capital to the table, but you have the talent. We’d be in this fifty-fifty.”

The “this” being their company.

He didn’t love her. He didn’t want to marry her or tell her he couldn’t live without her or that he’d never forgotten her. There was no confession of undying devotion or a ring. Not even a hint of anything remotely personal. In his mind, they were friends, colleagues. Nothing more.

“It’s a lot to think about,” she murmured. “My head is spinning.”

And her heart was breaking, but she wasn’t about to share that with him.

“You need some time,” he said. “I get it.” The engaging smile returned. “We could be great together, Maya.”

“I know.”

They could. Just not the way he meant.

* * *

MAYA SOMEHOW GOT through the rest of her workday. As soon as she could, she headed out of town. She was confused, hurt and scared. That meant she needed help and there were only a couple of people she trusted with that information.

She arrived at the Nicholson Ranch just before five. She’d already called Phoebe to let her know she would be stopping by. Her friend had insisted she stay for dinner and was waiting on the front porch when Maya pulled up.

For a second Maya just looked at her friend. Back in LA Phoebe had been the one not sure what to do with her life. While she’d loved selling real estate, she’d never been able to shake the feeling of it not being enough. Helping others find their dream home had been satisfying. And that sense of having done a good thing had allowed her to mask an uncomfortable truth—that she never felt as if she deserved a place to belong, as well.

Falling for Zane had changed all that. Maya wasn’t sure if it was loving the man or allowing him to love her that had caused the transformation. Either way, Phoebe was now a confident woman who knew she belonged. Whatever might be messed up in her own life, Maya knew she could take comfort in knowing that two of the people she loved most were blissfully happy.

“Hey, you,” Phoebe called as Maya got out of the car. “I have a bottle of your favorite red wine already open and we’re having pasta for dinner.”

Maya hoped she didn’t look as pathetically grateful as she felt. “Did I sound like I needed carbs when I called?” she asked. She stepped onto the porch.

Phoebe hugged her. “You kind of did.”

“Then thanks for reading my mind.”

They went inside.

Maya remembered the ranch house from when she and her mother had first moved here twelve years ago. The sheer size of the place had surprised her, as had the furnishings. She was used to plastic and hand-me-downs. Not big pieces made of wood. Not hand-carved tables and plush fabrics that were warm and comfortable.

In the few weeks Phoebe had been in residence, she’d started making changes. Several of the walls had been painted a pale yellow. The layout of the open family room had been shifted so the sofas faced each other, instead of the fireplace. Gone was the big TV on the wall and in its place were bright paintings.

Her presence was felt in small ways, too. Cut flowers stood in pretty vases and fashion magazines nestled with a livestock quarterly. Just being in the house made it easier to breathe, Maya thought. Whatever happened, she had family. Should she need rescuing, there would be a contingent, if not a village. She wasn’t on her own.