Page 91 of Playing With Love

There were also gallon jugs of cleaning agents under the center workspace.

Colleen told us all the cleaning products were supplied by Nu Dawn and Tate saw to refilling them when they got low. Which brought us to a discussion about the only unwed man on the property, Mackenzie’s supposed brother. He lived off the top of the loop, down a half-mile stretch that also led to three more buildings and a shipping container he’d converted into a house. Those buildings were a mechanic shop, a woodworking shed, and storage for building materials, tools, chemicals, things like that.

We needed to see those buildings and the chemicals he stored. Unfortunately, we didn’t have an excuse to make the trek out there to investigate.

As a whole, the property was serene, set in the mountains surrounded by firs, maples, cedar, and pine trees. The landscaping around the buildings and homes was well-maintained. Each house we’d passed had a water collection barrel to catch rainwater. Some had more than one while each community building had at least two. And the kitchen building had five, which made sense, seeing as there was a large garden planted beside it.

Nu Dawn wasn’t about waste—not even rainwater—it was about conservation and nature.

Everything looked perfect. Even the tiny homes around the curve of the loop in the newer housing section were cute. I could see how living like this would be appealing to some. Every person we passed during our walk had smiled and waved. If they were close enough, they called out a greeting; those who were at a yelling distance simply held up a hand.

Respect. No one wanted to yell across the street and potentially disturb a neighbor.

It was refreshing but a tad creepy.

Too perfect.

The vibe was relaxation and creativity and showing up as you are. As long as you didn’t encroach on someone else’s wellbeing, you were accepted.

It would’ve been the ideal place to live if Mackenzie hadn’t turned it into a base of operations for drug and weapons manufacturing.

Neither had it taken me long to understand why Allyson had been resolute when speaking about the compound. She didn’t see Nu Dawn as a cult, she saw it as a way of life. There was no praying at the altar of Mackenzie Archer, though she was respected. They didn’t seem to be a bunch of fanatics demanding a certain behavior.

Perhaps we’d gotten that part wrong.

Nu Dawn wasn’t a cult, it was a cover-up. Which begged the question, how many residents were in on it and how many were oblivious? Allyson had been unaware. Colleen, too, seemed relaxed—saddened by the death of a friend but not on edge. During our walk she was open to our questions and happy to talk about where she lived, and she spoke with pride.

On our way back to Allyson’s house, we made a detour at Colleen’s request to a house where a woman named Phoebe lived. It had a little wooden sign painted pink with bright-white lettering that announced all were welcome to enter a very small greenhouse next to her equally small home.

I was standing in the doorway of what couldn’t have been bigger than a very large walk-in closet. Though I didn’t have to enter to see the beauty that was inside. Makeshift wooden tables were arranged inside—three to be exact. Sitting on the tables were various colors and sizes of orchids. I wasn’t a flower person but still, I knew orchids weren’t easy to grow and maintain and the ones in the greenhouse were spectacular.

Colleen was excitedly telling me all about the geothermal system Phoebe had installed to heat and cool her home and the greenhouse when I heard, “Sorry to interrupt.”

I turned, expecting to meet the homeowner. It wasn’t Phoebe who’d stopped for a chat, it was the devil herself. Mackenzie Archer. I recognized her immediately, but instead of the classy, stylish dresses she wore when on stage at one of her seminars, she was wearing tailored black shorts, a loose-fitting, slouchy cotton shirt with a paisley print, and Birkenstocks on her feet. She looked like she was trying to fit in, but didn’t quite pull it off.

“I heard you were home,” Mackenzie said warmly as she approached Allyson and Tucker a few feet behind Colleen and me.

“Hey, Kenzie,” Allyson sweetly returned, leaving Tucker’s side to greet her friend with a hug.

I glanced at Tucker who was looking to the side at the neighbor’s house. My gaze followed. I caught a glimpse of a dark-haired man as he quickly ducked around the corner of the home.

Was that Tate? And if so, why had he hurried out of sight? Allyson had said she’d rarely seen him, but to scurry away? That seemed odd.

When the two women disengaged, another round of introductions was made.

Mackenzie was warm and inviting, putting on one hell of a show.

“Please feel free to enjoy the common spaces while you’re here,” she invited. “Lorilei does guided meditation from four to four-thirty Monday through Friday. If you’re interested, I know she’d love to have you.” Mackenzie paused to look at Tucker. “I apologize; our men’s locker room in there is dreadful. A remodel is on the ever-growing list of chores for my brother to get to. When I began construction here, only women lived on the premises. As we’ve grown, it’s been a challenge to keep up.” Another pause, this one to rake her gaze over Tucker’s physique. “I’m sure you saw we have some free weights in there, but I’m afraid nothing that will assist you in a workout.”

Was she flirting with my man right in front of me?

I stepped closer to Tucker and leaned into him while tipping my head back to ask, “What do you say, honey, guided meditation to start our day?”

Tucker’s lips twitched.

I didn’t give a flying crap I’d given away the whole kit-and-caboodle—including exposing my jealous streak. I was not a woman who enjoyed other women appreciating her man. From afar, sure. Noting how handsome he was with a smile, fine. But standing close, while taking a perusal of his chest and biceps before commenting, absolutely not. And for the record, it was right then, in real time, I’d discovered I was not that type of woman. Arnie had been good-looking, he’d garnered female attention, but at the time it had never bothered me. Thinking back on it after I’d found out he was cheating, it still hadn’t made me jealous. But Mackenzie giving my Tucker a once-over had me wanting to rip her eyeballs out of her head.

“Whatever you want to do. But I’d like to be out scouting the area before lunch.”