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He returned to his office and found what he needed then dragged one of the chairs from in front of the desk to Laura’s side. His heart beat at an unsteady pace, but he couldn’t be sure if it was because Laura was so close or they were on the right track to finding answers.
The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds. One by one, missing estimates were discovered then noted on a separate spreadsheet. After pouring through the first manilla folder, Cade leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. “I need a break.”
Laura straightened the paperwork and placed the file on the edge of Matthew’s neat desk. “That’s a good idea. We made some progress, and I’m sure there will be a couple more estimates that are unaccounted for. Once we have them all listed, we can see if there are any similarities between the projects.”
“Such as?” In his mind, they were standing at the foot of a mountain, staring up at the impossible climb of discovery.
Shrugging, she turned his laptop toward her. “For starters, most of these projects are focused on community builds or expansions. The food pantry, a local park, the police station. I don’t see any personal properties on the list. Nothing that’s a new build or even one of your larger money-makers.”
He rolled the new information around in his head. “That has to mean something. I’m just not sure what.”
She ran a finger along the computer screen, eyes narrowed. “I don’t see Crossroads Mountain Retreat on here. The estimates we’ve waded through were from the same time frame when you guys did all that work on the lodge. That’s a part of the community, but I’m sure that cost a ton to build.”
He nodded, remembering the satisfaction of playing a part in such an important place. A place that would help people like him who’d sworn to serve and protect then needed a place to land fora while. A place to heal. The project had been hard and satisfying as hell—not to mention a good payday.
Laura shifted in her chair, unease showing on her scrunched-up face. “Did my dad help you get that job?”
“I’m not sure. Matthew’s the one who took point on that. He never mentioned how he’d met Brooke. Why?”
“Brooke told me she’d spoken to my dad about the pantry. About the fundraising for the remodel. I didn’t give it much though until now. Could he be helping Matthew get certain bids around town?”
The information sat like a boulder in his gut. He didn’t want Jenson’s help with anything, especially getting jobs. Mountaintop Construction had a good enough reputation to get work based on merit.
But that hadn’t always been the case. They’d been a new business once, struggling to prove themselves. If Matthew spoke with Jenson about finding projects around the community, what else were the two discussing behind closed doors?
Stunning viewsof the Smoky Mountains welcomed Laura inside the lodge of Crossroads Mountain Retreat. Light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, highlighting the three-story stone hearth in the center of the room. It was too hot for a fire today, but the space was just as cozy with the pockets of deep brown furniture scattered over burgundy rugs.
A tan dog with a smiling face and wagging tail trotted over to greet her and Cade at the giant double doors as they stepped through.
She crouched and scratched the pup under his jaw. “Hey there, Wyatt. How are ya, boy?”
Wyatt’s tail wagged even faster.
She stood and waved at Izzy Sterling, the young receptionist who held down the job part-time while also attending school. Laura admired Izzy’s resilience and had enjoyed getting to know her during the time she spent here doing odds and ends for Brooke.
“Hey, Laura. What are y’all doing today? Can I help you with anything?”
“We’re here to speak with Brooke. She’s expecting us.”
Wyatt trotted to Cade’s side and sniffed his shoes.
Cade chuckled. “Not sure what you’re smelling, but good to see you, too.” He ran his large hand over Wyatt’s back, making Laura more jealous than it should.
As if hearing her name, Brooke emerged from down the hall. “Hi, you two. I found the paperwork you’d asked about. Do you want to step into my office?”
Laura glanced back at Cade, who nodded his agreement. “Lead the way.”
Wyatt took her words as an invitation to join them and jogged beside her, nails clacking along the mahogany floors.
Brooke’s office was one of the few rooms in the lodge Laura had never visited. Like the lobby, the room showcased the green peaks of the mountains through large windows and a smaller version of the fireplace took up one wall. Black and white photos of different locations at the retreat were placed around the room—the lake that lay beyond the lobby, one of the guests’ cabins in the woods, the land cleared for archery and hatchet throwing.
Over the last few months, Laura had visited most of those places. Working for Brooke hadn’t simply given her extra cash but given her a sense of purpose and helped her heal. She’d been encouraged to use all the facilities. She’d taken yoga outside to learn how to channel her stress and take care of her body, helped take care of the therapy dogs, and spent countless hours walkingtrails alone. For once, taking time to focus on herself and what she wanted. What she needed.
Cade’s hand on her back as he helped her into a cushiony chair was a sharp reminder of exactly what she wanted.
“Thanks so much for seeing us on such short notice,” Cade said, sitting in the chair beside her.
“Of course.” Brooke rounded the corner of her desk and pulled a piece of paper from the top drawer. “I found the estimates you asked about. I’m curious about your reasons for wanting to see it.”
