Second Chances (Nugget Romance 3) by Stacy Finz Page B

seen them before,” he said, but Harlee knew he wouldn’t go in case there were crowds. What a way to live.
    “Have you given more thought to acupuncture?” she pushed, stepping closer so that they were nearly toe-to-toe.
    “What are you doing, Harlee?” He tilted his head so that they were almost eye level.
    “Trying to get you to conquer your demophobia.” And kiss me. She thought it might loosen him up and help him fight his demons.
    He gently clasped his hands around her waist and effortlessly lifted her to the side. “I’m still thinking about it.” Which in Harlee’s mind meant no.
    “I could make an appointment for next week,” she said.
    “Harlee, leave it alone, please.”
    “So I guess you’re definitely out for bowling?”
    “Definitely out.” He put his goggles back on and began sanding what looked like the arm of a bench. “Text me your mom’s address for the furniture.”
    “All right.” Harlee started to leave, but his phone rang. So she stayed, because, hello, she was nosy.
    “Hey, Fiona.” His whole face lit up as he talked to his stepsister and Harlee realized that she’d been wrong. He was definitely as handsome as Brad Pitt.
    When she got back to her house, Darla was waiting. She had an ancient Jeep Cherokee that had more dents than an empty tin can. But it was all-wheel drive.
    “You ready to go?” Darla called, hanging out of the driver’s window. She’d tinted her blond hair purple.
    “Yep.” Harlee jumped into the passenger seat. “Thanks for driving.”
    “You look great,” Darla said.
    “You too. Love the color.”
    Darla shrugged. “It washes out.”
    “Is your dad holding down the barbershop?”
    “For a little while, then he’s coming to the open house too.”
    From what Harlee could tell, the whole town was attending, to lend Griffin support. She suspected that they were also a little curious and were using the event as an excuse to get a gander at the homes. Griffin had supposedly advertised the grand opening in Nevada and Northern California, hoping to hook buyers in the market for vacation houses.
    “Griffin wants us to each take a model, in case anyone has any questions and to make sure no one steals anything,” Darla said. “He’ll brief us when we get there.”
    “Sounds good,” Harlee said as they drove through an elaborate gate and stopped at a guard station, where a security person waved them through. “Wow, this is nice.”
    The place was a winter wonderland. Although most of the snow from the storm had melted, some of the giant log homes were still frosted in a thin layer of white. They parked near the Sierra Heights clubhouse and went inside to be greeted warmly by Griffin. He was everything Darla had described and more. Incredibly good-looking, but equally laid-back. He was also attached at the hip to an impossibly gorgeous brunette. Harlee got the sense she and Darla had interrupted something between the two of them. But this is when he’d told them to show up.
    Griffin had just enough time to give them a quick tour before kickoff. There was an eighteen-hole golf course, a swimming pool and spa, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, and tennis courts. The development certainly seemed like a mismatch for the working-class vibe of Nugget. But Harlee had to admit that it was awesome.
    “You shouldn’t have any trouble selling these homes,” she told him optimistically.
    “We’ll see,” he said, his eyes drifting off in the direction of the brunette, who he’d introduced as Lina. She returned a wan smile.
    It didn’t take a psychic to see that something was going on there.
    During the next hour, all the so-called Baker’s Dozen ladies arrived. Donna and Emily had gotten there shortly after Harlee and Darla to set up the food, mostly trays of finger stuff and cookies that wouldn’t make a mess. There was also coffee and hot apple cider, which made the clubhouse smell heavenly.
    Harlee and Darla grabbed a few nibbles and drinks before