Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders) (50 page)

“Cody first.”

“Is Dalton going with you since he doesn’t have a job?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to toss out Dalton didn’t have to work—ever—but she refrained. “He has a job. Finishing the house remodel, remember? And he’s awaiting my decision on the elk farm.”

Her mother swigged from the bottle. “Does he have a better shot than most at you choosing his land?”

“No. I can be completely unbiased when it comes to doing my job.” Her personal life when it came to Dalton? Whole different manner.

“Of course you can. That wasn’t an accusation.”

“Sorry. I’m a little sensitive about that. Part of me fears if I do choose Dalton, people will accuse me of nepotism. And if I don’t choose him, he’ll think my decision was based on avoiding charges of nepotism.”

“As long as you don’t regret your decision, it was the right decision at the time.” Her mom crossed her legs. “Things going all right between you and Dalton?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Just curious. The last time I saw him was after…”

“He’s in a better place. In fact, he’s snowed in with his brothers right now. Sounds like they’re having a good time.”

“Which is great to hear. But I still get the feeling something isn’t right.”

The boozy lemonade hit her stomach like battery acid and she set the bottle aside. “Everything is right between me and Dalton for a change. He’s a better version of the guy I used to be so crazy about. This time it’s not bullshit. He doesn’t want anything from me…but me. I know he’s in love with me, which is why it’s so hard for me to keep my distance until I get a few things sorted out.”

“What kind of things?”

“Career decisions.”

Her mom frowned. “Is that why you’re going to Cody? I didn’t think that area was part of your district.”

“It’s not.” Rory snatched the bottle and swallowed a mouthful of booze to bolster her courage. “This isn’t a WNRC business trip. The office believes I’m taking personal time. Which I am, but not for a vacation. I’ll be there for a job interview. Three job interviews in fact. One is in Cody, one is in Sheridan and one is in Missoula.”

That startled her mother. “Montana? I didn’t know you were looking for work elsewhere.”

“Really? Since you’ve kept mentioning I’ve been in a funk since I moved back here.”

“You were in a funk. And I didn’t know it was your job making you so unhappy,” she said a little snippily. “It’s not like you talk to me about this stuff anymore. There were plenty of other things that happened to you around that time to put you off your game.”

She winced. “I’m sorry. Breaking off my engagement with Dillon didn’t cause this funk. I’ve been unhappy with this job from day one. I settle. That’s my pattern. I settled for the first guy I met in a new town and I was so eager to end that relationship, I settled for the first job that came along. Dalton coming into my life shook it all up—but for once I didn’t make decisions based on anything besides what I wanted. So I’ve applied for jobs with other organizations. This is my second interview with CESU in Missoula. I’m really excited about that one. I’d get to utilize my degrees and it could chart the course of my career.”

“And? Or should I say…but?”

“I haven’t told Dalton about any of the job applications. I’ll admit I had an ulterior motive at first for keeping it to myself. But after handling this special project, I’ve regained some of the confidence I lost after feeling unemployable for months.” She laughed. “When it rains, it pours, huh? I have three interviews in three days and in the past nine months I couldn’t even get one place I applied to call me back.”

“I have faith in you in finding the right career path—even if that path leads you away from here.” Her mom touched her knee. “I never expected you’d settle in Sundance permanently.”

“But?” Rory prompted.

“But what will you do if you don’t get any of those positions? They’d be a fool not to hire you. Granted, as your mother I’m a little biased.”

Rory shoved aside the papers. “It’s hard not to get my hopes up. So the answer is…I don’t know.” And she couldn’t share the other problem dogging her; if she picked Dalton for the permit, he’d be stuck in Sundance another two years.

Problem was, she loved Dalton—not that she’d told him. After everything that’d gone on with his family, Rory didn’t see Dalton leaving here. He’d been killing time in Montana, waiting for the right time to return home to Wyoming.

So even if she didn’t choose his land for the elk program, he’d find another use for it because he had his brothers’ full support. And it would be the ultimate test on whether he’d choose her. Whether he really had changed and meant everything he’d said about them belonging together.

“Rory?”

She glanced at her mom. “Sorry I’m a little spacey.”

“It’s okay. I want you to do what makes you happy, sweetheart. Wherever that may be and whoever you might be with.”

“Meaning…you don’t think Dalton—”

“What matters is what you think. But more importantly, it matters what you do.” Her mom grabbed the empty bottles and stood. “One thing’s for sure, you’ll have plenty of time to think about it with all the time you’ll spend in the car the next few days.”

“Thanks Mom.”

“Anytime.”

Chapter Thirty

Rory showed up on Dalton’s doorstep a week later. Although they’d kept in touch, it’d been two long weeks since she’d seen him.

She knocked on the door.

Dalton opened it and stared at her like she was an apparition. He said, “You’re here,” and crushed her against his chest. His mouth found hers, and he kissed her with surety and tenderness. With love. With passion. This kiss was perfect. So perfect how he knew exactly what she needed. A girly rush of emotions pushed front and center and she just about blurted out that she loved him when he broke the kiss. Just to be safe, Rory kept her face tucked in his neck.

“I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I like to keep you on your toes.”

“And I like to keep you on your back.”

She lightly punched him in the stomach and he laughed.

Then he nuzzled her ear. “I missed you like crazy, Rory.”

As much as Rory took comfort in that, her belly fluttered with nerves. “I missed you too, McKay. I just finished up the last of the paperwork for the special project. I thought I’d swing by. So we could talk.”

“Is this a coffee conversation? Or a whiskey conversation?”

“Got the makings for an Irish coffee conversation.”

“Compromise. I like that about you.” Dalton took her hand and pulled out a chair at the breakfast bar. “Sit. I’ll start the coffee.”

She dropped her satchel on the chair next to her. “Tell me about your day.”

“Not much to tell. I spent the day doin’ my Cinderella imitation cleaning this place now that all the remodeling is done.”

“Looks great. I love that you’re comfortable enough in your masculinity that you don’t see cleaning as demeaning.” She groaned. “Unintentional rhyme, I swear.”

Dalton grinned. “Glad to hear it. I worried maybe you’d secretly been penning poetry.”

“Dealing with government regulations has sucked every ounce of verbal creativity out of my soul.”

“I imagine.” He grabbed two coffee mugs. Poured a generous slug of whiskey in each one.

“It smells clean in here. Sometimes I wonder if my house smells like dog.”
Way to babble
.
Maybe you could ask him what product he used that left behind the lemony fresh scent.

“Not that I’ve noticed.” His gaze pinned hers. “Why you acting so nervous?”

“Because I am. I have something to tell you.”

Dalton crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not gonna like this, am I?”

“Depends.”

“So this paperwork you finished up… That means you’ve made your final decisions on who gets awarded the permits?”

She nodded.

“Is that why you’re here?”

“Partially.”
Stop stalling
. Rory dug in her satchel and pulled out two pieces of paper.

“What’s that?”

“Your future.” She placed the identical documents on the counter. “I did all the research on this, but the final decision is up to you.” She tapped the closest document. “This one recommends your land for the elk farm permit.” Then she tapped the next. “This one denies it.”

“I’m confused.”

She shoved both papers at him. “You get to choose. Whether you stay here and run it. Or whether you don’t. I’ll back you on either decision.”

He stared at the papers in silence. Then he poured coffee.

“I know it’d mean a lot to you, finally getting to utilize the land you own for something you want. And I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t believe the habitat was more than adequate.”

“So why are you givin’ me the option?”

“There’s something else you need to know first.” Rory swallowed a mouthful of coffee. The burn of the whiskey and the hot liquid sent her into a coughing fit.

Dalton was right there, rubbing her back, asking if she was all right, asking how he could help her.

“I’m okay. Maybe some water.”

“Be right back.”

Maybe his concern was a stupid little thing, but it just reinforced her feelings for him. Dalton McKay was a capable caretaker, something she wouldn’t have believed if he hadn’t proven it to her time and time again over the past few months. No one had ever believed Dalton capable of taking care of himself, let alone anyone else. The fact he showed her that side of himself meant she had a part of him that no one else did. He didn’t only act sweet and loving when he wanted something from her in return.

He handed her the glass of water and watched as she drank. “Better?”

“Much. Thank you.”

“Will you please tell me what’s goin’ on?”

“I haven’t been happy in my job, prior to this special assignment. I’ve been dreading going back to being a part-time lackey.”

“I thought you said they might reward you for a good job and move you up the ladder?”

Rory forced herself to maintain eye contact. “That was a lie. I’ve been applying for jobs with other agencies for months. I never intended on staying in Sundance permanently.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“Because you’re you. Or I thought you were the same love ’em and leave ’em guy you’d always been. Showing up here after three years and swearing we were meant to be together. I didn’t believe it. I didn’t trust it. I didn’t trust you. I suspected you had an agenda—even before the permit issue arose between us.” As much as she wanted to hide her face, she looked him dead in the eye. “I decided I’d hang out with you to cure my loneliness, gorge myself on hot sex with you until I had a great new job and I’d move on.”

The strong muscle in his jaw worked but he said nothing.

“But something happened. I fell in love with you. The Dalton I knew now. Not the asshole from years ago, not even the sweet, bossy Dalton I used to antagonize when we played in the woods.”

“Rory—”

“Just hear me out. Inasmuch as I realized that assholish side of you didn’t exist anymore, I understood I haven’t been that wronged girl for a number of years. I may talk tough, may act tough sometimes, but I’m not cruel. I’ve never been a cruel person and I won’t start being that way now—especially to you. You’ve dealt with enough cruelty in your life, Dalton. You don’t deserve that from someone who loves you.”

“You really love me?”

“Really. Truly.” She fought tears. “Which is why this is so hard.”

“Aurora. Love makes everything easier,” he said softly.

Such a vulnerability to this man. That just made her love him more. “But I’m not the only one who loves you. Your family loves you and they’ve got you back. You finally came clean with them about what had kept you away. You just lost your father and you’re dealing with some pretty mixed emotions about that. You’ve stopped running from your problems so it’s not fair to ask you to run away with me. Seems like we both have horrible timing with the
run away with me
thing, huh?”

That startled him. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“Last week I got offered a permanent fulltime position with Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit in Missoula.”

“So you’re takin’ it?”

“Yes.”

“For sure.”

“For sure. I interviewed there in person last week and they offered me the job on the spot. I also interviewed with the BLM in Cody but didn’t make the final cut because they were looking for someone with more experience. Anyway, I gave notice at WNRC. Next week is my last week.” She stared into those compelling blue eyes. “So I’m leaving Sundance. But I don’t want this to end. I’m asking you to come with me to Missoula.”

Stunned silence.

“I want to be with you. But I realize the timing for this couldn’t possibly come at a worse time for you.”

“Rory, that doesn’t—”

She put her fingers over his mouth. “Don’t. Even if you’re convinced you’ve made up your mind and know what you want, I’m asking you to take a little time and really think it through. Talk to your brothers. Talk to your mom. Make a rational decision, not an emotional one.”