Second Chances (Nugget Romance 3) by Stacy Finz Page A

decorative cornices and antique sideboard. “This part of Nugget is not at all like when we used to come here, is it, Mom?”
    “No, but I always thought that this old building had tremendous potential. And someone with a fine eye for detail must’ve seen it too, because the place is gorgeous.”
    “Why, thank you.” Maddy Shepard, owner of the Lumber Baron, introduced herself. “I was eavesdropping,” she admitted, and scoped out their group. “I know Darla, of course, and you must be Harlee, and you . . .”
    “This is my mom, Leigh Roberts.”
    “So nice to meet you,” Maddy said. “Thanks for coming to the inn’s first English high tea.”
    “Honestly, we thought it would be a big flop,” said another woman, who had joined Maddy at the table. “I’m Donna Thurston, owner of the Bun Boy. I love that necklace you’re wearing.” She pointed at the strand of chunky amber stones Leigh wore around her neck, pulled up a chair, and plopped down. “Was it terribly expensive?”
    She didn’t wait for an answer, just swept her arms around the room and said, “The tea was actually Emily’s idea.” Harlee only knew who Emily was because Darla had told her. “I myself thought maybe two people would show up. But color me wrong. The place is packed.”
    Harlee looked up at Maddy, expecting to see her aghast. But the innkeeper was smiling.
    “She’s an acquired taste, but we love her.” Maddy kissed the top of Donna’s head.
    “Don’t you need to mingle?” Donna shooed Maddy away.
    “How long have you lived here?” Leigh asked Donna.
    “My whole life. But in the last few years it’s started to get interesting. Lesbians bought the Ponderosa.” She nudged her head in the direction of the square. “They’re having a baby. The baby’s father is Maddy’s brother, Nate.” She leaned across the table and with a conspiratorial gleam in her eye said, “I helped set the whole thing up. Let’s see, what else? A hot bazillionaire just moved into town—bought the Nugget Gas and Go and the fancy bankrupt planned community down the road. And Emily ghostwrote Della James, the famous country music star’s cookbook.” Donna put her finger to her lips. “That’s supposed to be classified. But the little strumpet—Della, not Emily—came to Nugget to do the photo shoot.”
    “You’re kidding!” Harlee said. “I love her.”
    “Not if you’d met her in person.” Donna took a quick glance around the room and whispered, “She’s a biotch.”
    “Really?” Della’s songs about cheating men and crappy jobs made her seem like one of the girls, Harlee thought, disappointed.
    “With a capital B.”
    Maddy returned to the table to introduce everyone to Emily, who Harlee immediately recognized but couldn’t quite pinpoint from where. While Harlee tried to figure out where she’d seen her before, Emily said a quick hello and rushed back into the kitchen.
    Maddy tried to pull Donna away, but the Bun Boy owner wasn’t having it. Apparently she liked a captive audience. Harlee actually found Donna to be quite entertaining. Leigh seemed to be enjoying her as well. And of course, Darla had known her since childhood.
    Donna hooked another chair with her foot, dragged it to the table, and told Maddy to sit. “Take a load off, sister.”
    “So, Harlee,” Maddy said, “I hear you’re Colin’s new neighbor.”
    “I am,” she said, and reached for one of the mini éclairs, trying to take a dainty bite. “My God, these are good.”
    “That’s our Emily,” Maddy said. “She’s an amazing cook.”
    That’s when it hit Harlee who Emily was. It was the cooking that triggered her memory. Emily Mathews, once a well-known Bay Area food writer, had been huge news. Several years ago, her daughter, Hope, had gone missing from the family’s Palo Alto backyard and was never found. Harlee had been on another story at the time, but remembered the details quite well. She also recalled that over the summer there had