“Not great, huh?”
“Not what I thought it would be.”
Cadence held the door open to the studio, and Riggs flew inside before she had a chance to ask the woman if it was all right. But Tanya—assuming the only person inside was her—was already on her knees to greet Riggs before the door closed.
“Hey there, boy!”
Though she held her smile steadfast, Cadence couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated by Tanya. Her honey-blonde hair, so much healthier looking and rich in color than her own, glowed as the perfect waves of curl dropped over her shoulder when she hugged the dog. Dazzling blue eyes lifted between those mountain peaks Riggs had for ears.
“You must be Cadence Whitmore.”
“Yes.”
As Tanya pushed to her feet, Cadence’s insecurities only grew. The woman wasgorgeous. Long, tan legs in khaki shorts. A smile that could put a happy baby to shame. And no ring on her finger. “Ford said you might stop by today.”
“I was hoping you had time to take some listing photos.” She scanned the walls, noting the gorgeous Alaskan landscapes and wildlife. She wondered what Tanya’s skills might be when it came to shooting structures, but listing photos weren’t exactly something one decorated their studio walls with to show off their skills.
“Already put it on my calendar.”
Even Rilee raised an eyebrow at that. “You did?” the girl asked.
“Ford stopped by, like I said. I’ll be over after lunch, if that works?”
About to ask her to come out later in the day, when Cadence thought the lighting might be better, the office phone rang. Her urge to leave was stronger than those details, though. “That’ll work, thanks.”
Tanya gave them a little wave as Cadence snagged Riggs’ leash and led them out the door. The woman seemed pleasant enough, so her feelings about the photographer felt confusing. It shouldn’t matter that Ford stopped by. It was a small town, and everyone knew each other. And he was just doing Tanya a favor.Right?
“I don’t like her,” Rilee said once they were down the block. They were going in the opposite direction of the lodge, but Cadence was lured by an ice cream cone on an overhead sign. Maybe it was too early for them to be open, but she’d take her chances.
“You don’t?”
“She’s got a huge crush on Ford.” At the corner while they waited for the crosswalk sign to change, Rilee pointed a finger at the dog. “Andyoufall for it every time, Riggsy boy.” Rilee looked at Cadence. “Whether Ford knows it or not, he’s a sucker for a woman who likes Riggs.”
Cadence didn’t know what to say to that, so she didn’t say anything.Jealousy? Is that what she felt?
The ice cream parlor sat at the end of the block, the open sign illuminated in the window. It was still light sweatshirt weather this morning, despite what Tanya’s shorts had to say about that. More clouds hung in the sky than any of the previous days, and Cadence wondered if it might rain later. It did that at least half the time in Sunset Ridge, if her memory served her right.
“Ice cream?” Rilee asked with a smirk.
“Do you have any problem with that?”
“Nope!”
Armed with two heaping cones of the moose tracks flavor, the two crossed the street to stroll along the bayside walking path. Riggs kept looking back over his shoulder, waiting for something to drop. The parlor had given him a pup cup, but he inhaled that in under two seconds.
Cadence couldn’t help but think about the stunning Tanya Rivers and wonder if she and Ford had ever dated. It shouldn’t matter to her, but she couldn’t seem to let it go. So she asked Rilee, risking that the prying question might get back to Ford.
“Tanya?” Rilee shook her head. “Not a chance.”
“Does he . . . date?” Why was she even asking these things? Sunday evening, she’d be on a plane headed back to Kansas. It was possible she might never see Ford again in person. Once the lodge sold, there would be no reason to keep in contact.
“Not in a while.” Rilee broke off a piece of waffle cone and tossed it to Riggs. “You know, Ford pretends he’s never going to get married again, but I don’t believe him.”
“Married?” The word escaped in barely more than a whisper.
“Danielle.” A bicyclist passed them on the trail, waving at them both. “She died a few years ago. Really bad car accident on the Seward Highway.”
“That’s awful.”
