Page 9 of Snowed In With the Maverick
“Looking forward to it,” Seth said, the warm, firm grip of his hand on hers sending a shiver of pleasure skating across her skin. Seth Taylor was a handsome man, there was no denying it. But this level of gorgeous? It was just the warning she needed to let go of his hand as quickly as was professional, and step back. “Oh, and Andrea,” he said, placing his Stetson back on his head. Even the way he said her name poured like a sultry kiss out of his lips, now smiling in a way that radiated confidence. “Have you thought of a name for this place yet? I can start to spread the word.”
Andrea shook her head. She’d been mulling over some options ever since she’d signed the papers, but nothing was sticking just yet. “I haven’t,” she said. “It feels like a big commitment. I’ll be looking at it and saying it all the time. So I think I’ll know when I know.”
“I’m sure inspiration will strike soon,” said Seth as he descended the steps toward his car. He looked around at the property, then back up at the doorway before he got in. “Place like this? Hard not to be inspired. Bye, Andrea.” He slipped into the car and shut the door, and moments later the engine was roaring to life.
Andrea watched as Seth drove back toward the road, then took a few steps out on the ranch’s front porch, which wrapped around the building and would eventually make for the perfect spot to put out some rocking chairs, or maybe a swing. Guests could sit and look out at the beautiful vista, relaxing in the serenity of the peaceful space while she worked in the background to keep the place clean and cozy, and make sure that a drink and a bite to eat was only ever a wave away.
Now she had to focus on finishing it, so she could open as soon as possible and start to generate revenue.
One step at a time.
Taking time off to indulge in Seth’s dino dig dreams was probably a mistake, but she’d already agreed. She’d go out once, have a look, give her two cents, then get back to work.
But as she glanced back at place where his car had been parked, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that Seth Taylor was going to be harder to dismiss than she’d like.
Chapter Four
“This isn’t what I expected,” Seth said, weighing the slightly crystalline-feeling bone in his hands. He looked up at Luca Sanchez, who was leaning in the doorway of his barn, holding the banker’s box lined in newspaper that had been housing the bones up on a shelf for safekeeping.
“I thought it was a piece of petrified wood before I picked it up,” Luca said. “But then when I really looked at it, the size and shape and everything, I was pretty sure I was holding on to a piece of prehistory.”
Seth turned the bone over in his hands. It was heavy, like a stone, and cool to the touch, and reddish brown in color. He knew from his research it was heavier than a regular bone due to the mineralization process. The original bone material had been replaced by minerals, and the rusty hue came from the high iron content in the surrounding soil.
He’d seen dinosaur bones in museums, many times, and had been in awe of them as a kid. The sheer size of the T. rex, towering like a deadly skyscraper in the Siebel Dinosaur Complex of the Museum of the Rockies. The smaller but equally deadly velociraptor, pulsing with ghostly life like it was still about to attack. The display cases holding smaller items, like a diplodocus claw and bird-like beak of the oviraptorosaurs, encased behind glass like jewels. They’d all captivated him, but like animals in a zoo, their existence felt less real, less vital, less like the untamed life he could vividly imagine they once had.
Holding the bone in his hand, one that had been found within spitting distance—it was a surreal experience. “What are you going to do with them?” he said. “Is the state asking you to hand them over or anything?”
Luca shook his head. “Nah, they were found on private property, so technically they belong to the Kerwin family, but they didn’t have much interest in hanging on to them. But I think I’ll probably get in touch with a museum or something. They’re not doing much just sitting up there, and I’ve already shown my nieces and nephew, so…”
“Do you mind hanging on to them a bit longer?” Seth said. He could already picture them—hopefully in a more complete set, if the dig was successful—as a display in the entrance of the park, reminding visitors why the park existed where it did.
“Sure,” said Luca. “But how come?”
“I’m investigating the feasibility of a business venture,” Seth said. “Something that would really put Tenacity on the map.”
Luca raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
“Like a theme park. Dino related. Something that would draw people to visiting Tenacity. Having these bones and maybe others on display would be kinda cool,” Seth said. “And, where there’s a few bones, there are likely a few more. I’m working with a…consultant, I guess. She’s a former paleontologist. I want to see about investigating the area a bit more thoroughly.”
“Happy to take you there and show you exactly where we found everything,” Luca said. “I think some local residents have already combed the area clean hoping to find something else, but at least you can see the exact spot.”
Seth was pretty sure he knew where the discovery had taken place, but Luca was well-respected in the area. It was his first time meeting the guy, but something about him was trustworthy, and there was nothing wrong with getting to know someone who had some pull in these parts a bit better, especially if he was going to have to convince the residents of Tenacity that his idea was going to benefit them in some way. “Appreciate it,” said Seth. “Tomorrow good for you? Around noon?”
“I’ll see you there,” said Luca. “Park at the turnoff right before the fairgrounds.”
“Appreciate it,” Seth said, passing the bone back to Luca, who placed it back in the box with the others. “Thanks for letting me check those out.”
“So you’re a real dino guy or something?”
“I am. I’m also a real business guy. If I’m going to move forward with this project, I want to make sure it’s in the interest of the good folks of Tenacity.”
“It’s about time someone did that,” Luca said. “I hope this upcoming election turns out well. That joker in office right now only cares about lining his own pockets, and those of his friends. If JenniLynn Garrett gets in, now there’s someone with a good vision for this place. Or Graham Callahan. He’s cleaned up his image. And Ellis Corey? Not much in the way of experience but comes from a family who has deep roots in this town. I’d pick any of those three over our acting mayor, Marty Moore.”
“I’ve heard some about him,” Seth said. “Nothing positive, I’ll tell you that much.” He pulled on his hat, then nodded to Luca. “Nice to meet you, man. And thanks again,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
A new mayor with an eye on growth. That was interesting. He’d have to make a point to get to know whoever ended up winning. Tenacity felt like a town that was on the cusp of something, a place where the past and future were about to collide. He just hoped he could play a part in shaping which way that went.
* * *
