LITMIR.BIZ

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Kayla had sampled it all.

      She rubbed her tummy. “Don’t get too used to that, little one. Mommy can’t afford to eat like that all the time.” She’d never be able to fit into her clothes.

      After twisting her hair into a single braid, she continued down the steps of the sprawling porch and shoved her hands into the pockets of her denim overalls, noting the pale gray folk Victorian house next door. With its white trim, flower boxes and cozy porch, it reminded her of a quaint cottage instead of the run-of-the-mill older home it had been the last time she’d seen it. And she’d get to live there if she decided to stay.

      Which led her to this morning’s mission. Revisiting the old Congress Hotel. Between the dim lighting last night and her rapidly dwindling energy, Kayla owed it to herself and her friend to take another look at what the project might entail before making any decisions. When Kayla had texted earlier, Lily had responded that she’d have the Realtor, who lived nearby and still kept an extra key for occasions such as this, unlock the door.

      While Kayla had slept well last night, she’d awoken early, her mind ablaze with the options that lay before her. If she stayed in Denver, she’d have to find a new place to live right away, which meant she’d probably have to settle for something less than perfect and then move again within a year. Unless she was able to find an older home she could flip at some point. Still, having a house like that baby-ready in four months would be a challenge even if she wasn’t pregnant. And, of course, any notions of starting her own business would have to wait until after the baby came and she’d settled into motherhood.

      Lifting her gaze, she took in the rustic beauty of the conifer-dotted redstone cliffs at the town’s northeastern edge. Ouray was a unique beauty. Majestic and awe-inspiring, yet comfortable. It had that welcoming vibe that invited a person to stick around for a while. She’d felt it when she was twenty-one, and now, Lily had presented her with the perfect opportunity to linger.

      Overseeing a job as big as the Congress Hotel would boost Kayla’s career to another level, perhaps giving her recognition she’d never gain doing homes. She’d also have a house provided for her and a boss she would desperately miss if she went back to Denver.

      But then there was Jude. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why he was such a sticking point. Their relationship was over long ago. She’d loved her husband and had determined to stay with him for better or for worse.

      She focused on the sidewalk. Though sometimes, when things were at their worst, she’d allow her mind to wander back to a time when she didn’t have a care in the world. And there was a man at her side who treated her like a queen.

      She squeezed her eyes shut. Forgive me, Lord. I know it was wrong of me to think of Jude when I was married to Shane. Even if they were only innocent thoughts of feeling safe and protected. Forgive me.

      Looking up, she eyed a couple of aspens bearing a mixture of green and gold leaves. By this time next week, the trees were apt to be completely golden, creating a perfect backdrop for Lily’s wedding photos.

      The two of them would be making a run to Grand Junction in a couple of hours to pick up their dresses. Lord willing, Kayla wouldn’t grow much more before next week. Though, considering the breakfast she just ate, she hoped the seamstress left a little extra room in hers.

      Nonetheless, that was precisely the type of thing she had been looking forward to most this week. Aside from Lily, Kayla didn’t have many friends, making girl time a rarity—and almost nonexistent since Lily had been gone.

       Sounds like another good reason to take Lily up on her offer.

      She continued across Main Street and straight ahead to the hotel. From farther away, it didn’t look so bad. But the closer she got...

      Yeah, the outside was in pretty bad shape. Far more than paint alone could remedy. It was a cool-looking building, though. It had an Old West flavor with a touch of Italianate.

      The door was unlocked, as promised, and Kayla left it open when she went inside, hoping some fresh air might filter into the musty space. Since she’d already gotten a pretty good look at the main floor, she headed upstairs.

      Though carpeted, the steps seemed solid, so that was a plus. However, depending on the wood, they might want to consider replacing the tattered carpet with a runner, leaving the wood exposed at the edges, the way they would have when the hotel was built.

      Reaching the top, she continued across the hall and opened a solid wood door. Inside was a smaller-than-small guest room with an iron bed frame and not much else, except for a pile of clutter in the corner that had her doing a double take. Had something just moved?

      Taking a step back, she narrowed her gaze as a rat bolted from the heap.

      Kayla screamed and rushed into the hall, slamming the door closed behind her. That’s when she heard the sound of footsteps pounding up the stairs.

      Her heart thudded wildly. She looked up and down the hall. There was nowhere to hide except for another room. What if it had rats, too?

      “Kayla?” Jude’s panic-stricken face came into view as he neared the top of the stairs.

      “Jude? What are you—”

      “I heard you scream.” He moved toward her, his dark gaze probing. “Are you all right?”

      She struggled to catch her breath. “I—I did scream, didn’t I?” She slumped against the water-stained wallpapered wall.

      He was beside her now. “What happened?” Concern creased his brow.

      With a final gasp, she straightened but refused to look at him. “There was a pile of junk in there, and a rat ran out of it.”

      “A rat?”

      She nodded.

      “Wait a minute. Don’t you work on old houses all the time?”

      “Yes.” She lifted a shoulder. “He startled me, that’s all.”

      “That’s all?” Hands perched low on his denim-clad hips, he started to pace. “You scared me half to death.”

      “You? Why were you scared?”

      He faced her again. “Bloodcurdling screams have a way of doing that.”

      Heat crept into her cheeks. “Sorry about that. I... Wait, why were you here in the first place?”

      “I wanted to look at the place in the daylight. I saw the door was open...”

      “And you couldn’t have let me know you were here?”

      “I’d barely walked in when you screamed.”

      “Oh.” She glanced at the crusty blue-green carpet on the floor. Why did he have to show up now? Acting like a white knight, no less, hurrying to her rescue. “Well, I’m fine, so you’re free to go about your business.”

      “My business is here. We may as well join forces and check the place out together.” The corners of his mouth lifted. “In case there are any more rats.”

      She glared at him. “For the record, I usually carry a baseball bat when I’m at my job sites. Just in case.”

      “Ever used it?”

      “A couple of times.”

      His lip curled. “Ew.”

      “Yeah, it wasn’t pretty.” She absently played with her braid. “But seriously, I’m fine. You just go check out whatever it was you came to see.”

      He studied her for a long moment. “Are you sure you shouldn’t go lie down or put your feet up or something? You had quite a scare.”

      Did he really just say that? “I’m sorry, but who are you to tell me what to do?”

      “I’m not trying to tell you what to do, I’m simply trying to make sure your baby is safe.”

      She

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