Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders 15)

“No.”

“Know what then?”

Before he could respond, the door swung open and Hannah walked right in.

Rory was relieved Hannah hadn’t showed up two minutes earlier and caught her and Dalton in a hardcore lip lock.

“Oh, hello,” Hannah said to Dalton’s chest, “I didn’t realize you had a visitor, Rory.”

Like hell you didn’t.

Dalton said, “I’ll leave and let you get back to work.”

The hungry way Hannah was eyeing Dalton annoyed the piss out of her. Rory set her hand on Dalton’s arm. “We’re still on for lunch, right?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Of course. Is the Mexican joint still in business?”

“Yes. I’ll meet you there in…fifteen minutes?”

“Works for me.” He gave Hannah the cowboy nod before he walked out.

And lecherous Hannah cranked her head around—much like that chick in The Exorcist—to watch his backside as he ambled out.

“Was there something you needed, Hannah?”

“Just checking to see if you ordered additional office supplies for your new temporary position.”

Right. Hannah just wanted to let Rory know she could barge in any time she liked—regardless if she technically wasn’t Rory’s boss for the next few months. “No. I’m covered.”

After Hannah exited the office, Rory spent five minutes brightening her makeup before she drove the mile into town.

Dalton stood when he saw her and kissed her cheek. But he frowned when Rory sat across from him and not next to him.

“Did you get in trouble with your boss lady?”

“No. She’s just a snoopy bitch.”

“I figured as much. I didn’t order you a margarita because I wasn’t sure if you could have a drink at lunch.”

“Better not. Hannah will probably do a breath check on me when I get back.” She scrolled down the menu choices. “I’m so glad I don’t have to answer to her for the next three months while I’m in charge of a special project.”

“What’s the project?”

Rory looked up at him and grinned. “It’s a fulltime project, that’s what matters at this point.”

“Is this project a stepping stone to getting a fulltime position at the WNRC?”

God she hoped not. If anything it’d add interest to her resume so she could escape this job from hell. She hedged. “We’ll see. I gave notice at the Twin Pines. I have to work Saturday night but after that I’m done. One job.”

“Will you know what to do with yourself with only one job?” he teased.

“Probably not.”

“Luckily I’ve got some great ideas on how to keep you entertained.”

I’ll just bet you do. As Rory was about to point out that she wasn’t a source of entertainment while he killed time in Sundance, the waitress came by.

Rory ordered a pulled pork burrito and Dalton ordered a salad with spicy grilled chicken. “A salad in a Mexican restaurant? Really?”

“I’m not used to eating this much. Between the junk food feast the other night and my mom cooking a triple helping of my favorite meal, which included cake, I’ve gotta watch it.”

“You look more…buff since I saw you last.”

“Logging will bulk you up in a helluva hurry.”

“How is your mom?”

“Really good. She dragged me to a hole-in-the-wall bar last night, where apparently she’s a regular. I got a huge kick outta seeing that side of her.”

“My mom is different since she and Gavin hooked up. Not in a bad way. She’s got that best friend, confidant, lover thing with Gavin. I’m happy for her because she deserves it.”

Dalton took her hand. “But?”

“But nothing. Although there is the teeniest part of me that is jealous.”

“Is that why you decided to settle for Dildo?”

“Dildo?” she repeated.

“Dillon Doland, your ex-fiancé. Dildo for short, from here on out.”

She laughed. Hard. “I forgot how funny you are.”

“I didn’t forget how beautiful you are when you laugh.”

“Dalton. Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” His thumb swept over her knuckles as his gaze roamed her face. “Tell you when Sierra told me you planned to marry someone else that I drowned my sorrows in a fifth of scotch?”

“You did?”

“Yep. For three nights in a row. You might find this hard to believe, but my fightin’ days ended after I left Wyoming. So it’d been a while since I’d picked a fight. But I found the biggest, meanest logger in the bar. You know how the rest of this goes—he beat the f**k outta me.”

Rory’s gut clenched. Not only at the mental image of him being bruised and bloody, but that he’d actually told her the engagement caused him to snap.

Don’t fall for it. He’s playing you.

“Don’t you believe me?”

“I just don’t get why you’re telling me this now.”

“So you know that the supposed fast pace between us and the way I feel about you…ain’t something that just happened in the last three days.”

Talk about being steamrolled. Before she could ask how he felt about her, the waitress delivered chips and salsa.

“Got plans for tonight?”

“Yes, I do.”

His eyes narrowed when she fidgeted. “With who?”

Rory glanced down.

Strong fingers lifted her chin. “With who?” he repeated.

“A couple of girls I met at the community center. We’re all single so we call it our Friday night date.”

Dalton continued to stare at her. “Then you’ll just have to invite me as your date next Friday night. Because, sweetheart, you’re no longer single.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope.” He angled forward and flashed his teeth. “I want to make it very clear to everyone that you and I are together.”

“What if I’m not ready for that?” Rory demanded.

“Then get ready. I’ve waited long enough.”

“FYI: I don’t like the pushy bastard McKay side of you.”

Dalton got nose to nose with her. “FYI: Tough shit. I’m not hiding our relationship from anyone.”

“We don’t have a relationship. One lunch date, one dinner date and a bunch of stolen kisses do not a relationship make, Dalton.”