Page 11 of Snowed In With the Maverick
“Is that the woman who bought the ranch out on Five Point Road?” Daniel said.
Nina nodded. “Andrea Spence. She’s remodeling the ranch as a guesthouse. Not sure what her story is,” she said. “She was a little vague on the details when we asked what she used to do in Denver.”
Aha. So it wasn’t just him. It was a little strange how accomplished Andrea was in the field, and yet it seemed as though she wanted to keep all her professional achievements at arm’s length.
“Anyway, she seems great. And she’s a total babe!” Nina gave Seth a knowing grin, and Seth could feel Daniel’s satisfaction.
“Well, nice to see you, Nina,” Seth said. “Tell Barrett I’ll give him a call soon, get a drink or something.”
“Will do,” said Nina. “See you, Seth. See you, Daniel.”
“Now I remember her,” Daniel said, after Nina passed by. “We met at the Feed and Seed. I went in with Mike to get a replacement chain for his saw, and she was buying paint rollers. Not that she’s my type, but the woman really is a stunner.”
“Can’t a guy just be single in peace?” Seth said.
Daniel grinned and looked at his watch. “I’ve gotta run,” he said. “Thanks for lunch.”
Seth got in his car to make the drive back to Bronco, and as the engine warmed up, he opened a browser window on his phone and searched Andrea’s name again. It felt a bit intrusive, but like any business venture, it was important for him to know the variables. If Andrea agreed to help him—which was still anif, he knew, given her strange behavior—it was upon him to know who she was.
He scrolled through the first page, which listed some papers Andrea was involved in authoring, a write-up of an initiative she’d contributed to at the museum and an alumni profile from her university. All links he’d seen before. He executed a deep dive and something caught his eye.
“Settlement reached between Denver museum and former employee,” the headline read. Seth clicked on the link, and Andrea’s professional headshot filled the screen, along with that of a man with wavy brown hair and a smug, punch-me expression on his face.
Seth read on.
Paleontologist Andrea Spence has reached a settlement with the Colorado Institute of Natural History following a protracted legal battle. Spence, who headed the museum’s dinosaur department, alleged sexual harassment by former director Dr. Harold Davies and subsequent wrongful termination after reporting the harassment. The settlement was reached after a lengthy legal process. Spence, who has since relocated, declined the museum’s offer of reinstatement.
The text swam in front of Seth’s eyes.Sexual harassment.A knot formed in his stomach. So that was the story behind Andrea’s distance. The fact that Harold Davies was gone, as Seth saw further down the article, was a small victory, but it didn’t lessen the impact of what she’d been through.
He tossed his phone on the passenger seat and put the car in Drive.
Andrea had agreed to go with him the next day, but their meeting now took on more weight. He’d have to tread carefully.
Chapter Five
Andrea resisted the urge to return to her main floor powder room one last time to check her hair and the light makeup she’d applied. Seth was due to arrive any minute, and she didn’t know what to do to stay occupied, other than chastise herself for the butterflies that had set up shop in her stomach.
So he was handsome. And smart. And projected a confidence that was assertive without being abrasive.
The problem was her mind kept slipping into daydream mode. And those daydreams involved Seth Taylor riding up to her ranch on horseback, dismounting with ease, then picking her up with those strong arms. Carrying her into her room, and kicking the door shut on the way. And taking her places that made her praise the wide-open sky above.
So that quick pass with her hair straightener and swipe of mascara? She could fool herself and say it was all in the name of professionalism. But Andrea had seen a glimmer of wanting in Seth Taylor’s eyes the other day in her kitchen. And despite everything that told her that his perfectly cut leather jacket and expensive sports car spelled trouble, she wanted to see that look again.
“Get a grip,” she muttered, just as Seth’s car appeared at the end of the driveway.
Andrea shrugged on her navy-blue Canada goose down jacket, pulled on her brown hiking boots and,ughhhh, finger-combed her hair quickly in front of the powder room mirror before exiting onto the porch. Seth had gotten out of his car and was opening the passenger side door for her. “Hi, Andrea,” he said.
“Hey,” said Andrea. “Thank you.” She slipped into the passenger seat of Seth’s car and was immediately enveloped by that intoxicating scent she’d noticed yesterday—woodsy, clean, with a hint of spice. When Seth slid into the driver’s seat, Andrea noted the worn denim of his faded jeans, the sleek black bomber jacket hugging his shoulders and the dark sunglasses that obscured his eyes but couldn’t hide the teasing curve of his lips. The skin of his face was freshly shaven and so soft-looking she could feel it against her cheek as she imagined him kissing the sensitive part of her neck.
“All set?” he said, and Andrea could barely utter a reply.Get a grip indeed.
Seth typed something into the screen on the console of the car, which was as high-tech as the rest of the car was luxurious. Camel leather seats, gleaming mahogany trim and an engine with a low rumble that like the light vibration in Andrea’s core threatened to roar to life at the lightest touch.
“It’s only a short drive,” he said, moving the car into Drive and navigating toward the main road, one hand on the steering wheel, his other arm resting on the console separating their two seats. His hand was relaxed, while Andrea found herself twisting her fingers together. It was ridiculous. Why should she be nervous? She was the one with the PhD, and all the experience that would allow him to know whether or not to move forward with this pie-in-the-sky idea of his.
She slipped her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “What kind of development are you in?” she asked. Clearly something lucrative, judging by the car.
“Ranch real estate, sort of,” Seth said. “I work with my brother Daniel. We look for land that has potential to be put to better use than just sitting idle.”
