Last Summer(46)

“Why’s he here?”

Nathan cuts the engine and sighs.

Ella’s stomach plummets. “Did you offer him an interview, too?”

“No, I didn’t,” he says sharply. “Although considering everything, maybe—”

“Don’t even finish that thought,” she says. Nathan’s story is hers. Too many people at Luxe Avenue are counting on her to see this through. “How do you know this guy?”

Remote and unlisted, the only way to locate Nathan’s property is to have the address. And to get that, Nathan would have to have given it out.

“We collaborated on several articles about the Tahoe region.”

“I know, I read them. That doesn’t explain why he’s here. My understanding is that you gave my magazine the exclusive.”

“I did. It’s just—”

“Damn you, Nathan. You yanked this story from me once. You swore back there you’d see this through.”

“Miles has been after me since I quit Off the Grid! Don’t worry. My story’s yours. Let me see what he wants. He’s a friend. This could be a social visit. I drink beers with the guy,” he says.

Nathan opens his door. Ella scrambles out hers. They meet at the front of the truck.

“Go inside. I’ll be there in a few.” Nathan tries to hand her his keys.

She balks at them. “I’ll stay, thanks.”

“Ella.” Irritation ices her name. “I gave you my word.”

“You did, and I appreciate that. But I happen to know journalists. They’ll sweet-talk your life’s history out of you.”

Nathan folds his arms. “Tell me about it.”

“I don’t trust Miles any more than a pack of wolves that’d wander onto your property.”

“That would never happen. Bears maybe. Wolves are rare up here, and if they weren’t, Fred and Bing’s incessant barking”—he scowls at his dogs yapping and howling in the window—“would scare them off.”

“Then why’s Miles still here?” She grins.

Nathan throws his head back and laughs. “You’ve got me.” He pockets his keys with a smile.

Miles approaches and she sees the moment he recognizes her. His eyes narrow.

Nathan shakes his hand. “Good to see you, man.”

“You too, Nate,” Miles greets. He turns to Ella and extends a hand. “Ella,” he says, his tone cool. “It’s been a while.”

Fourteen months to be precise. They were introduced through a mutual colleague at the California Press Club Journalism Awards Gala. Ella doesn’t have a personal opinion about Miles and assumes he’s a decent person. Professionally, she respects him and admires his tenacity to go after a story. Until today. Today he’s competition.

She grasps the hand he offers. “Good to see you again.”

“No, it isn’t.” He sees right through her. “What are you doing here?” he asks, glancing from her to Nathan and back.

“I asked her to come. She’s working on a piece about me.”

Miles recoils. “You gave the exclusive to Luxe Avenue? Their readers aren’t your audience. We’ve talked about this. Running with them won’t do a thing for your career.”

“That career’s over. You know that.”

“My advice as your friend? The longer you hide out up here, the less chance your audience will be there when you come back. You’ll be a has-been.”

Nathan bristles. “I’m not going back.”

“What about—” Miles slides his gaze to Ella. He shifts closer to Nathan and, lowering his voice, says, “What about that thing we discussed?”

Ella rolls her eyes. “I can hear you.”

“He’s talking about my concept for another reality show,” Nathan explains to her.

“Dude,” Miles says with disappointment.

“I have nothing to hide from her. She’ll know everything by the time we’re done. And I scrapped it.”

Miles shakes his head, falls back a step. “Unbelievable. It had so much potential.”

“My concern. Hey, Miles, great to see you. Ella and I are on a tight schedule. Are you going to be around next week?”

“Yeah, want me to swing by?”

“Nah, I’ll meet you at the Tavern. I’ll bring you up to speed over a beer.”

“Nathan,” Ella starts to object. He shouldn’t be sharing anything about their discussions, at least not until the article’s published.

Miles looks at Ella. He has something to say and doesn’t want to say it in front of her. Nathan touches her shoulder. “Would you give us a moment?” He shows her his keys.

Reluctantly, she takes them.

“I won’t be long.”

Nathan leads Miles to his car, where they converse, heads close and voices lowered. After a few moments, they shake hands and Nathan claps Miles on the shoulder. Miles gets into his car and Nathan returns to her side.

“Couldn’t head inside, could you?”

There was no way she was going inside while Miles was still on Nathan’s property.

“Why did you promise to bring him up to speed?” she asks when Miles leaves. “You signed a contract with us. You shouldn’t be talking about it.”