Free Starting Over (Nugget Romance 4) by Stacy Finz

stiffen.
    “I’ll take charge of the entire itinerary and set up everything,” Sam said. “I can even make up an activity list and put it in each guest’s room.”
    “All right, I’m sold,” Landon said.
    “I’m so glad.” Sam beamed. “I promise we’ll make your reunion truly memorable. What about the Donner Memorial, you want me to include that too?”
    “Hell to the yes!” he said, and Sam looked at Nate as if to say Ha, you should’ve given me the project in the first place.
    Tracy took over the contract end of the deal. Once everything was signed and sealed, Landon left in his Prius and Andy took Tracy to the airport. Nate had to hand it to Sam for saving the day. A guy like Landon Lowery could generate lots of business for the Lumber Baron and they’d been this close to losing him. Then Sam had jumped in, spouting off activities that Nate hadn’t even known the Lumber Baron had special access to. She’d surprised the hell out of him. If Sam could make Landon’s family reunion a success, the inn would attract other VIPs for retreats, conferences, even parties.
    Nate found Sam in the kitchen plating Emily’s hors d’oeuvres for the guests.
    “Do you need something?” she asked.
    He walked straight up to her and planted a kiss on her cheek. Just a congratulatory peck, nothing that could get him into hot water. “You did good.”
    “Really?” Her face positively lit up, and Nate’s gut squeezed. She really was an extraordinarily pretty woman.
    “Hell to the yes,” he said. “Just tell me there really is a Lloyd and that we have a box for the rodeo.”
    “Of course there’s a Lloyd and we absolutely have a box for the rodeo.”
    “Since when?” He popped one of the cheese puffs in his mouth and she slapped his hand.
    “Those are for the guests. When I first started, Maddy told me to go out, meet people, make contacts, and learn about the area. Grace’s husband, over at Farm Supply, practically runs the rodeo. It’s every weekend during the summer, so Maddy and I decided to buy a box for guests to use. In the scheme of things it’s a pretty small expense and I think the guests will adore it. As far as the train, you would not believe how popular it is. So popular that it sells out the entire summer. So I introduced myself to Lloyd, who’s a sweet old volunteer, and worked out a deal so that they reserve seats for our guests and in exchange we make a small donation to the museum.” She blinked up at him, like maybe he’d be angry. “Maddy said it was okay.”
    “It certainly paid for itself today. But what’s small?” he asked.
    “Five thousand.”
    He lifted his shoulders in resignation. Five thousand wasn’t too bad. “You won’t quit before the Lowery reunion, right?”
    “No. Why are you so convinced that I’m such a short-timer, Nate?”
    Because I knew someone just like you once . “How can this town possibly hold the interest of someone in your position for long?”
    “You mean someone who’s rich? You’re rich, you like it.”
    “I’m not the same kind of rich as you, Sam. So don’t compare us. What I’m saying is that you’re young, you’re single, you’re sophisticated, and this town can be kind of a freak show.”
    She laughed. “And you don’t think Greenwich can be a freak show?”
    He looked at her. “A freak show with access to some of the best culture on earth. Here you have to travel nearly five hours for that.”
    “Here, I can just be me.”
    “Yeah, and who’s that?”
    “The Lumber Baron’s event planner. I have to get these out there.” She lifted the tray of appetizers and started to leave.
    For some odd reason, he wanted to stop her and ask her why she’d ditched her fiancé. Had she just tired of him the same way Kayla had of Nate?
    The next time he saw Sam, she was leaving for the evening. “Hey,” he called to her. “You want to go to the Ponderosa and have a celebratory drink?” Nate at least owed her that for what she’d