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“I’m sure.”
“Thank you, that would be…” Ava tapers off with a gasp. We’ve reached the main hall with its grand staircase and crystal chandelier. Her eyes widen and she looks around in astonishment. “Woah.”
I try to see the place from her perspective: the plush carpets, the wood-paneled walls, the sheer size of it all. It’s been a long time since I’ve noticed shit like that, but there’s no denying this place looks grand and luxurious. I can see why a newcomer would think that. For me, though, this house is just one big, ugly reminder of the past.
“You have a beautiful home,” Ava says as she follows me into one of the living rooms. “It’s like a castle! Have you lived here long?”
“All my life. I grew up here.”
“Wow. That must have been magical!”
I’m so desperate to change the subject that I manage to string together a question. “What about you? Have you always lived in Denver?”
I direct her to the comfiest couch in the room and she sits on it tentatively like she’s scared to leave a mark on the expensive furniture.
“Yep,” she says brightly. “Denver born and bred.”
“A city girl, then?”
She chuckles. “I guess so. But I have to say, Crave County is making me reconsider my city-girl status. I’ve never seen such a beautiful place.”
I nod, taking a chair opposite her. “Yeah, it’s pretty special. I lived in Denver for a long time, but in the end, I came back here. Couldn’t stay away.”
My words surprise me. I’m not used to telling people things about myself. I keep a low profile, keep my cards close to my chest. It’s just who I am. But something about sitting here with Ava is making me open up a little bit. Her eyes shine with curiosity, like she’s genuinely interested to hear about my life—like I’m sharing a gift with her by talking about myself. It’s sweet as hell.
“You lived in Denver?” Ava exclaims. “I never would have guessed. You seem so...”
I raise an eyebrow. “So what?”
She looks bashful. “Well, I guess you just look more like a mountain man than a city guy. With, you know, the beard and…well, everything.”
I almost smile. “I wasn’t born with a beard.”
Ava giggles. “Okay, fair point. But what made you move to Denver in the first place? I can’t imagine ever wanting to leave Snowfall Ridge, and I don’t even live here.”
I take a moment to find the words. “My dad worked in the city—he had his own finance company. When he died, he left me the business, and I moved out to Denver so I could take it over.”
“Oh.” Ava looks at me sympathetically. “Sorry about your dad.”
“It was a long time ago.”
She nods. “So, what happened? Do you still own the company? Do you work from home these days?”
Once again, the block in my brain means it takes me a while to find the words, and Ava blushes, pressing her lips together.
“I’m sorry,” she says with a groan. “I’m being so nosy, please feel free to tell me it’s none of my business.”
I wave off her comment, my heart twinging at how damn adorable she is. “It’s fine. I ran the company for a few years but then I sold it about ten years ago and moved back here.”
I clear my throat, looking out the window at the snow outside. The storm has calmed down now—the snowflakes are drifting lazily down to the white earth, and I watch them fall, my head swimming. It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since I moved back here. Even with all the bad memories, I can’t bring myself to let this house go. This is where Lincoln and I grew up, back when I still had a family. It’s where our mom lived and died. It used to be such a happy place before everything went wrong. Now it’s like living in a damn mausoleum.
“Nash? Are you okay?”
Ava’s soft voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I mentally pull myself together, meeting her gaze.
“I’m fine.”
She still looks worried. “I’m sorry. I feel like I keep saying the wrong thing.”
