Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders 15)

Neither of his brothers responded. They weren’t happy, but at least now maybe they’d stop bugging him about it.

Brandt stood. “Well, drive safe. Let us know you made it up there okay.”

“Will do.”

Tell clapped him on the back. “Fair warning. I’m totally takin’ you up on the free babysitting offer.” He dug in his jacket pocket. “Before I forget…” He handed Dalton a wad of bills. “You forgot the jackpot, so me’n Brandt picked up for you.”

“Thanks.” Dalton pretended to count it.

“You don’t think it’s all there?” Tell demanded. “You are one suspicious motherfucker.”

“Nope. Just checking to see if you added the hundred you owed me for the side bet.” He smiled. “Is it included in here?”

“No.”

Dalton held out his hand. “Pay up, bro. Fair’s fair.”

Brandt laughed and said, “Told ya he’d remember.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Rory yelled, “Come in,” after two knocks sounded on her office door Thursday morning.

“Hey, Rory.”

Her jaw might’ve actually hit the desk when she saw Dillon Doland, her ex-fiancé, in the doorway. “Dillon? What are you doing here?”

“I’m in the area for business. Thought I’d stop by and say hello.”

Remembering her manners, she gestured to the chair in front of the desk. “Please. Sit down.”

“Thanks.” He pinched the crease of his khaki pants after he sat.

At their first meeting, Dillon’s fussiness with his clothes made her wonder if he was g*y. After their less than spectacular sex life when they dated, she still wondered that.

Not nice, Rory.

Dillon bestowed his movie-star bright smile. “You look great.”

“Same goes for you.”

“You still part-time here?”

“Technically? Yes. But I’m on special assignment so I’m fulltime until that ends.”

“What’s the special assignment?”

She winked. “Super duper secret.” She’d been so mad at Dalton she’d just blurted out that information and she shouldn’t have. Wouldn’t it be her bad luck if he blabbed to everyone…just like he used to? What would happen if the director found out?

Then the worst kept secret in the office would be out. Big deal. The permit application cut off date is tomorrow anyway.

“While I applaud your loyalty… You know you can trust me. Keeping secrets is an official part of my job.” Dillon raised an eyebrow. “Or I can guess if you’d like. I’ve got a good idea what you’ve been tasked to do, given your field of study.”

“Was I assigned this job because of your recommendation?” she asked sharply.

“No. So why don’t you tell me what it is?”

She sighed. “I’m processing applications and then screening applicants’ land for the elk farm test program.”

“Really? Congrats on landing a big project because it’s an important program to the state. How’s it going so far?”

“Busy. I didn’t think we’d get so many applicants.”

“With the drought, ranchers have been forced to cut down their herds. Everyone is looking for replacement income. I imagine you’re getting applications from ranchers whose land fits the criteria, but have no intention of turning it into an elk farm.”

“The director mentioned that to me. I’m hoping he’s wrong and all these applications are legit.” After she’d calmed down following the confrontation with Dalton, she wished she’d had the presence of mind to ask if his application was legit. Yes, she’d shown up at his place loaded for bear, but she stood by everything she’d said—on a professional level. On a personal level? Well, she’d have to wait and see.

She tuned back in to Dillon’s commentary. He hadn’t noticed her momentary blip in concentration. “…it’s been interesting seeing it from a different angle. Any chance this temporary position could roll over into fulltime?”

“Doubtful. This WNRC office is fully staffed. I’ll return to my previous part-time position once I’m finished.”

Dillon looked thoughtful. “Did you take this job because it’s in your hometown?”

Tempting to lie, but she admitted, “No. It was the only job available.” On such short notice.

“Except for the job you already had at the Wyoming State Parks.”

“That wasn’t a permanent position.”

“I had the pull to make it permanent,” Dillon reminded her.

Didn’t he understand that’s why she’d left? She’d be stuck there with him? At least working here part-time she had options. “It was best if we didn’t work together after…”

Silence ensued.

Dillon sighed. “You broke it off with me without really much of a reason why.”

Rory’s eyes narrowed. “Is that why you’re here? To get answers?”

“Maybe. Things were going great between us and the next thing I knew, you returned the engagement ring and left town.”

Going great. Right. “Look, this isn’t the time or the place—”

“Then have dinner with me tonight so we can discuss it.”

Crap. She’d fallen right into that one.

“You owe me that much, Rory. I also wanted to mention new career opportunities for you, but it wouldn’t be prudent to discuss them in your current place of business.”

He knew that would intrigue her.

“Is there a quiet place we can have dinner and a conversation?”

“The Twin Pines is a supper club outside of Sundance.”

“Sounds good to me. Will six o’clock work?”

“Yes, that’ll give me time to change.”

“You’d look beautiful wearing a flour sack.”

Dillon’s compliment, while sincere, didn’t affect her the same way Dalton’s compliments did. “Thank you.”

He smiled and stood. “Looking forward to seeing you at six. I’ll let you get back to work.” He left her office.

Rory didn’t take waste time dwelling on how their discussion would play out tonight. She had plenty to accomplish before then.

Three raps on her door and Glennis poked her head in. “Rory? Can I come in?”

“Sure. What do you need?”

“Just checking on whether…” She sighed. “Okay, I’m a snoopy busybody and I’m dying to know if that man really was your ex-fiancé.”