Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(63)

“Wade sent me out here,” Allison explained. “He called last night to say you’d asked him about the property value.”

Nikki breathed only slightly easier to hear he’d called Allison. At least they hadn’t spent last night together. “So you came as a favor to Wade or just out of idle curiosity?” Nikki asked.

Allison laughed. “My curiosity is never idle. I thought I’d come out and take a look while I’m still in town in case you wanted to sell. Have you decided what you’re going to do with it yet?”

Nikki hadn’t known what to expect from Allie, but didn’t sense any of the underlying antipathy she’d felt the first time they’d met. Once again, Wade was right. To Allie, Nikki represented a sizable commission and now she was all business.

“I suppose the wisest thing would be to sell. What else can I do? I don’t have any use for a hunting retreat.” She feared committing herself, but by sending Wade away she already had. “Yeah, I guess I’m going to sell.”

“If that’s what you want, I’m your best bet. I can get you top dollar for the place,” Allie replied with a confidence that made Nikki’s heart sink. “I haven’t had a chance to pull the plat yet, but I’ll get it as soon as I return to my office. It’s over twelve hundred acres, right?”

“So I’m told.” With a feeling of emptiness, Nikki gazed out at the vast expanse of green.

“The property goes all the way to the Ruby River here?”

“Yes. According to Wade I have a full mile of river frontage,” Nikki answered.

“Really?” Allie’s smile brightened to blazing proportions. “Forget the grazing lands, Nicole. I can call you that, can’t I?”

Nikki nodded.

“The river is your gold mine,” Allie continued. “There are people who fly in from as far as Asia for the fishing in those waters.” Allie pulled an iPad from her purse and made some notes. “What would you say if I told you that with a few phone calls, I could probably get you more than double what the grassland land is worth for this quarter section alone?”

Nikki was astounded. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Not at all. I have two people in mind. Both are Japanese angling enthusiasts—and highly competitive with one another, which will likely drive your price even higher.”

“What about the grazing lands?” Nikki asked. “I can’t believe all this native grass has been wasted. Surely it should be put to use for cattle.”

“That market is really soft right now. Of course you can sell off some of the pasture separately if you like, but you’re probably better off leasing it out until the market improves. You might also look at it as an opportunity to reduce your tax burden. Wade could advise you best on the tax benefits.”

Although Nikki might not like her very much, she had to confess a certain amount of respect and admiration for the woman. She knew her clients and her business, and would surely get Nikki the best price for the property. Nikki offered her hand, feeling much as if they’d reached a truce. “All right, Allie. I’m ready. The sooner I do this the better. Let’s write up the listing contract.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur while Nikki concluded the exhaustive and mind-numbing process of boxing up personal effects and slogging through all the bills, paperwork, and tax records that were needed to settle her father’s estate. Though she’d tried to keep her mind busy, her thoughts kept returning to Wade. She already harbored deep regrets about yesterday, but what could she have done differently? At least a dozen times she paused and picked up her phone, only to set it down again. What was the point?

She’d wanted time alone to think, but he still invaded almost every waking thought. By Thursday morning, she was almost desperate to see him. Carting the load of documents to his office seemed the best excuse. Once she’d located the bulk of what she needed, Nikki drove to Virginia City. To her dismay, it was Iris not Wade who met her inside. She struggled to mask her disappointment.

“I have a bunch of records that Wade will need to file my father’s taxes and close out the estate.”

“I can take those,” Iris said.

“Where is Wade?” Nikki tried to sound casual, but suspected she didn’t fool Iris.

“Gone back to Bozeman,” Iris said. “He said he had a number of important appointments to keep. To be honest, I was surprised he stayed around here this long. It isn’t his habit, but then I suppose he had a personal reason.” She gave Nikki a meaningful look.

“Do you expect him back soon?”

“Not until his next court day.” Iris consulted her desk calendar. “That would be in two weeks.”

Nikki’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t believe that he’d left without even a word of farewell after he’d practically begged her to stay. She bit her quivering lip, willing back the anger and the hurt that threatened to burst from her. She didn’t know what she’d expected when she came to his office. Part of her had hoped…she didn’t even dare admit what she’d hoped…but this was certainly not the way she’d pictured it all ending.

She told herself his actions only proved she’d made the right decision. If he’d really cared about her, he would at least have said good-bye. Now, other than an occasional business-related phone conference, they were unlikely ever to cross paths again.