do you know what you want?”
“Gina knows.” He handed Julia a twenty-dollar bill. “Get whatever you want, my dear. It’s on me.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Kaiden said. “Wes will be wanting a third slice, and a refill.”
He followed Julia into the sparkling red-and-white interior of the pizza shop where Gina was standing behind the counter.
“Back for more?” She grinned at Kaiden. “I bet it’s for Wes.”
“You’d be right about that. I should half his wages the amount of food he eats.” Kaiden handed over his debit card. “Can I have a coffee to go as well?”
Beside him, Julia tensed. “Are we keeping you from your work? We don’t have to sit with you if you have to get back.”
“We’re good.” Kaiden gestured at Gina. “This is Gina, the amazing woman who makes all the pizza dough.”
“I’m Julia Garcia.” Julia’s smile was charming when it wasn’t directed at him. “My dad says you know what he likes, and I’ll take a chance, and have the same thing.”
“Juan mentioned you might be coming home for a spell. How cool is that?” Gina put in the order and handed over two iced teas. “Your dad is such a lovely guy.”
“He is.” Julia smiled again. “I’m glad to be back here.”
Gina went back to the kitchen and Kaiden glanced down at Julia. “Are you really glad to be back?”
She sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“I always got the sense that you couldn’t wait to leave this place.”
“I couldn’t.” She nodded at the door. “Shall we take these out?”
“You know, you can talk to me about stuff,” Kaiden said as he held open the door for her.
Julia puffed out a laugh. “Kaiden, you are the last person in the world I’d share my secrets with.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know.” She eased past him. “Fool me once, and all that.”
Kaiden stared after her as she headed toward Juan. What the hell was she getting at him for now?
* * *
Like she’d tell Kaiden Miller anything . . . They might not be in high school anymore, but she’d learned her lesson, and it had hurt enough to stick with her. She set the tea down on the table and took the only unoccupied seat, which left her between Kaiden and her father. Wes looked up briefly to acknowledge his drink, but rapidly returned his attention to his cell phone.
Juan took a sip of tea. “Wes was telling me about the old movie theater, Kaiden.”
“It’s certainly a project,” Kaiden said. “Chase’s architect has done a great job on the plans for its rehabilitation but it’s slow work.”
“What exactly do you do apart from being a rancher these days?” Julia had to ask.
“I’m a carpenter,” Kaiden replied. “The original structure is mainly wood, so I’ve been stuck with the job of making sure it’s structurally sound before anything else can go ahead.” He sipped his coffee. “With all the earthquake activity over the past century, it’s certainly moved around a bit.”
“I remember going to that movie theater when I was a kid,” Juan said. “It was run by Mr. Lopez who lived over the shop. He sold you your ticket, then your popcorn and candy. He ripped that ticket in half when you went into the theater, and said good-bye when you left.” He chuckled. “I remember watching some cowboy show once and this rat ran over my boots.”
“Ugh.” Julia shuddered. “I guess that’s why it closed.”
“I think it was declared unsafe after some big earthquake in the seventies.”
“I’m surprised no one tore it down,” Julia said.
“No reason to do that when no one needed the land.” Kaiden stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankle. “But things have changed around here. We’re trying to use existing spaces to house incomers rather than building out into ranch territory.”
“What’s changed?” Julia asked.
Kaiden made a wide gesture. “All the stuff the Morgans are doing with their dude ranch and wedding business. It’s creating employment opportunities for locals, and encourages the kids to stay rather than leave for the city.”
“That’s good, right?” Julia looked from her father to Kaiden, who nodded.
“Absolutely, but now we need affordable places for them to live. It’s tough on the older families here when their own kids can’t stick around. When it’s finished, the movie theater will have at least four apartments to buy or rent.” He laughed. “Sorry, I get quite passionate about this stuff. I didn’t mean to bore you.”
“That’s really cool.” Julia looked up as Gina approached with a loaded tray,