Page 1 of Declan (Men of Clifton, Montana #53)
As Elise opened the glass door of Clifton Realty, she stepped inside as a soft chime above her head rang out and melded with the low hum of conversation and the steady tapping of keyboards.
Late-afternoon light filtered through Venetian blinds, casting slanted beams across the polished oak floors.
The faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee curled around her senses.
Two women sat behind wide mahogany desks, each draped in stacks of brochures, floor plans, and color-coded property folders.
One of them rose, smoothing the crisp white blouse she wore.
“Hello, I’m Lydia Griffin,” the woman said, extending a hand. Her dark hair caught the light. “Do you need some help?”
Elise returned the smile and the handshake. “I’m Elise Ramsey,” she said. “I’m looking for a place to have a dance studio.”
“You’re going to teach dance?”
Elise nodded, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear. “Yes, but more than just dance. I want to hold dancercise classes and teach ballet.”
“Are you a ballerina?” Lydia asked.
“I was,” Elise replied softly. “I retired a few years ago. Once a ballerina reaches a certain age, it can take a toll on your body, but I never stopped loving it.”
“Where did you perform?”
“Mostly in New York,” Elise said, tilting her head with a faint smile. “I attended the School of American Ballet in New York. I fell in love with ballet at four years old, my mother took me to a local production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and I was spellbound.”
“That sounds exciting,” Lydia said. “If you do start dancercise, I’ll be one of your first pupils.”
Elise laughed. “Dancing is the best way to stay fit and happy at the same time.”
Lydia gestured to her desk. “Let’s sit and look through some options. Then if you see something you like, and it’s not occupied, we can see it anytime. If it is occupied, I’ll arrange a time to meet the tenants.”
Elise slid into the swivel chair opposite Lydia’s desk. The leather creaked softly. Lydia tapped on her keyboard, glanced at the screen, and then turned the monitor toward Elise. A grid of thumbnail images appeared, storefronts with large front windows and brick facades.
“These are the current commercial listings,” Lydia said. “They’re scarce, Clifton’s growing so fast. New shops and boutiques pop up almost every week.” She raised an eyebrow. “How did you leave New York for Montana, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Not at all,” Elise said, leaning back in the chair.
“Two years ago, I stayed at the Bur Oak Guest Ranch in Spring City. One afternoon, there was an excursion into Clifton and I fell in love with its quiet streets, and the mountain views. I knew then that if I ever wanted a calmer life, this would be the place.”
“It’s true, people visit and decide to stay,” Lydia agreed. “I won’t complain since it means more business for us here.”
Elise’s gaze drifted to a listing showing a red brick building with lofty windows. “Do you know if any of these have apartments upstairs? I’d like living space above the studio, if possible.”
Lydia scanned the description, frowning slightly. “This one’s new, just listed a day ago, we don’t have all the details yet. If you have time, we can take a look now.”
“Right now?” Elise asked eagerly.
“Absolutely,” Lydia said, gathering her keys. “It’s just a few blocks up, across the street.”
“Perfect,” Elise said, standing up, but paused as her eye caught another building. “Oh, what about this one?” She pointed at a building with a huge front window.
Lydia looked and shook her head with a smile. “That one just sold. I believe she’s going to turn it into an art gallery.”
“Well, it looks like she got a great place. I’m ready to see this one, though.
” Elise smiled. She paused to tuck a brochure into her purse, butterflies of anticipation in her stomach.
She opened the door, and they stepped out into the sunshine, the sidewalks lined with flower-draped lampposts.
It was far too hot, and she was more than ready for cooler weather.
With it being late August, she knew she had to wait a little longer.
“Do you happen to know what the school year is?”
“Late August is when the kids go back, then it lets out in June.”
“Okay. I’ll make schedules for that. Afterschool classes will work until they can do them full time for the summer.”
Crossing the street, cars slowed to wait for them, then continued. The smell from the bakery made her stomach growl. As they walked toward the building, people waved or gave friendly nods, some of them greeting Lydia by name.
“Lydia?” called a deep voice. The two women turned, and Elise caught her breath. A tall man in blue jeans, the sunlight glinted off the badge pinned to his khaki shirt. His broad shoulders and easy smile gave him an air of authority.
“Sam, how are you?” Lydia greeted him with a warm hug.
“Great,” he answered, touching the brim of his white straw cowboy hat. “You?”
“Busy as ever. Sam, this is Elise Ramsey. She’s moving here from New York to open a dance studio. Elise, this is Sheriff Sam Garrett.”
“Ma’am,” Sam said, offering his hand. His grip was firm and friendly. “Welcome to Clifton. I hope you’ll like it here.”
“Thank you,” Elise replied, looking into his beautiful blue eyes.
Sam nodded respectfully. “I should get back to the office. You ladies have a wonderful day. Lydia, tell Colson hello for me.” With a final salute, he strode off.
Elise turned back to Lydia, her cheeks warm. “He’s… gorgeous.”
Lydia grinned. “We dated years ago. But he knew, better than I did that we weren’t meant to be. Now he’s happily married, with two kids, and head over heels for his family, and I met the love of my life here.”
“The sheriff seems like a great guy,” Elise said.
“He is,” Lydia agreed. “He loves this town and the people in it. He will go to any length to keep us all safe. Well, here we are.”
They stood in front of a two-story brick building.
Its large display windows flanked by potted ferns.
Lydia entered the code for the lockbox, removed a key, then inserted it into the lock.
The door swung open on old, squeaky hinges, releasing a puff of dusty air.
Inside, the hardwood floor was scuffed but sturdy, and the tall ceiling boasted exposed beams. Sunlight filtered in, illuminating spider webs in the corners of the windows.
Lydia inhaled deeply. “It needs airing out. It’s been empty for a while and they finally decided to sell. Let’s take a look.”
They walked through the building, each step echoing softly against the worn wooden floors, and Elise could visualize it perfectly in her mind.
This space would be ideal for her dreams. It featured a lobby, and the four expansive rooms bathed in the gentle glow of sunlight streaming through large windows, were perfect for teaching ballet in them and hosting dancercise classes in one on Saturdays.
All she needed was to install a wall of gleaming mirrors and a sturdy, polished barre in the ballet rooms.
“I wonder what’s behind this door,” Lydia murmured in curiosity as Elise approached her.
“Can it be opened?” Elise asked, intrigued.
Lydia reached out, her fingers curling around the cool, brass knob. With a twist, the door creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase that ascended into the shadows. She turned back to Elise with an excited glint in her eyes.
“Maybe there’s an apartment up there. Let’s find out.”
Together, they climbed the steps, their anticipation growing with each step. At the top, they encountered another door. Lydia pushed it open, and they stepped into a charming apartment.
“Oh, this is fantastic,” Elise exclaimed, as she wandered through the cozy rooms. “Just one bedroom and a bath, but really, how much space does one person need?”
“True enough. And look at these windows,” Lydia said, her voice full of admiration as she approached them. Elise followed, captivated.
“They offer a stunning view of the street and those mountains in the distance,” Elise observed, her eyes sweeping across the scene below. “I absolutely love this.”
“It’s much nicer than I imagined, especially considering the downstairs and it needs a thorough cleaning. But this looks untouched, as if no one has ever lived here,” Lydia added, her eyes taking in the pristine surroundings.
Elise looked at her. “I want it.”
“You don’t want to see others before making a decision?”
“No, this is it.”
“I love it when someone knows the place is right. Let’s head back to the office and I’ll work up the paperwork. Will you be getting a mortgage?”
“No. I can pay by certified check. My grandfather died last year and left me a pretty good inheritance, and I know he’d be happy to see me using some of it for my dream.”
Lydia smiled. “I’m sure he would. We will get it inspected for you first. I’d hate to have you buy it and then find something wrong.”
“Sounds perfect.” Elise looked around. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“Let’s see where this door leads,” Lydia said as she walked toward another door. She opened it, then looked back at Elise. “It leads to a metal stoop, so you can either come up here by the door we did, or this door. You could park your vehicle at the bottom of the stairs.”
“I am so happy to have found this place. Thank you, Lydia.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s head back to the office.”
Elise nodded, and after Lydia closed the door and locked it, they walked back down the stairs to the studio. She could not wait to get started.
****
Driving his SUV cruiser along Main Street, Declan Cavanaugh fought a relentless series of yawns.
The night had dragged on endlessly, a long, damn night that left him weary.
His shift was a grueling stretch from three p.m. to one a.m., Monday through Friday, and two weekends a month, a schedule that left scant time for sleep.