Gold Fire Read Free

his own saloon’s finances.
    “Keeping the Rusty Wire open doesn’t cost me a small fortune, Miss Larkin. If you work up the hill, I’m sure you’ve seen how busy this place is on a Friday or Saturday night. We turn a nice profit. But thanks for your concern.”
    Her frown said she wasn’t buying it, and he didn’t want to argue the details, since he didn’t know them. He kicked the chair aside again and got to his feet, walking around the table to place a guiding hand on her elbow. It would have been a nice bonus if his six-foot-three height intimidated her, but she looked to be at least five six, and her high heels narrowed the difference even more. Besides, he doubted assistant manager Zoe Larkin was easily intimidated, even in bare feet.
    “Not that it’s any of your business, Miss Larkin, but you might say I’ve already won the lottery. I don’t need your three million.”
    Her gaze narrowed as she tried to figure it out. While she thought, he opened the door and escorted her through the small entry space and out the second door.
    She stopped dead in the parking lot as soon as he took his hand off her elbow. “What does that mean? Are you saying you have so much money you can afford to throw some away on a run-down saloon?”
    “I’m saying you can’t buy me, Miss Larkin. You run back up to that fancy palace on the hill and tell that to the lady who sent you here. Have a nice day now, you hear?” Before she could argue that with him, too, he turned and walked back inside, locking the door behind him.
    They were all watching him. Russ and Jennifer had swiveled their stools toward the door, and Billy seemed to have forgotten the scrub brush in his hand. They waited for him to say something.
    “Leave it locked until we open.” He walked back to his chair and settled in again. With luck, he’d get a couple hours’ sleep before they opened at three.
    “Jase!”
    Billy’s yell would have knocked him off his chair if he hadn’t been half expecting it. With a sigh, he sat up and faced the three people at the bar. “What?”
    “Didn’t you hear what she said? Three million dollars!” His eyes nearly popped out.
    “Yeah, I heard.”
    “Are you crazy? Who turns down three million dollars?”
    “Someone who doesn’t want to sell.”
    Billy’s mouth opened, but he simply stared. Russ took up the slack. “You think this place is really worth that much?”
    “Nah, not even with the land.”
    “Might be worth more than you think,” he insisted.
    “Trust me, it’s not. They must be in a hurry to turn it into a golf course and pull in more business. They’d make up the cost in no time.”
    “So why’d you say no?”
    “Because I don’t want to sell, simple as that. I like it here. And I prefer looking at the trees on Two Bears Mountain instead of a golf course. The resorts have already swallowed up enough of B-Pass.” He looked at Jennifer. As usual, he couldn’t read her calm gaze. “You think I’m crazy, too?”
    “No. I think owning the Rusty Wire suits you. What else would you do?”
    “Exactly. Thank you. Now, if you all don’t mind, I’m going to take a nap.”
    No one said anything, so he settled back, propped his boots on a chair, and put the hat over his face. Sleep wasn’t going to be possible—he could still feel their stares on him. But as long as he faked it, he wouldn’t have to answer more questions.
    Dodging the truth wasn’t easy. Telling it would have been even harder, requiring him to face the unsettling suspicion that the Rusty Wire was the only thing that held him together these days. If he didn’t say it aloud, he could pretend it wasn’t true.
    Maybe Jennifer knew him better than he’d thought.
    •  •  •
    Zoe fumed as she drove the half mile up the mountain to the Alpine Sky Village. She was a professional, presenting a major business deal. Or trying to. He might as well have patted her on the head and told her to run along. He had told her to run