Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders)

by Lorelei James

  “Whoa. You wanna tell me what put that murderous look on your face? And why I get the feeling I shoulda slipped on a cup before I answered the door today?”

  “This.” She slapped the paper in the center of his chest.

  He snatched it and stepped back. Straightened it out and scanned the text.

  His expression didn’t change.

  Stupid professional poker player face.

  Dalton said, “Where’d you get this?” without looking up.

  But before she could answer he crowded her, his eyes flashing fire. “Did my brothers bring this to you first thing this morning? Or my cousins? Which ones? And why the fuck did they drag you into it? To embarrass me? I knew they were seriously pissed off yesterday, but I didn’t think they’d put some McKay muscle behind it. What am I saying? That’s exactly what they do. They don’t like something, they pull some strings and try to get it changed.”

  This was not going at all like she expected.

  “How did you get ahold of this application, Rory?”

  “It was delivered to my office today.”

  “By who?”

  “By the State of Wyoming. It was in a box with all the other applications I’m processing.”

  “Other applications you’re processing?” He frowned. “What are you saying?”

  “You know damn well what I’m saying. The special project I was assigned at the WNRC? This is it. I’m in charge of vetting applicants for this test program. I’m the one who sends the recommendations to the state board on who gets awarded permits.”

  No change in his expression.

  “So when you were hanging around the WNRC offices waiting for me, who told you it was my project? Someone had to spill the beans because the information sure as hell didn’t come from me. And I find it really…coincidental that the date on the application is the week I officially started working on it. You’d been in Sundance a week before you filed. One week.”

  “What does that have to do with anything? The permit process was listed in the paper that week. That’s how I found out about it.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Why is that an issue?”

  “Because you know exactly how to manipulate me, Dalton McKay, you always have. Alls you had to do was charm me, bed me and convince me you’ve changed. Then act all crazy about me while you followed your own goddamned agenda. Just like usual. Nothing ever changes with you.” She briefly closed her eyes. “I’m such an idiot. You’re using me again.”

  Then he said two words that chilled her to the bone. “Get. Out.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I don’t need this shit from you on top of everything else that’s come down on me in the last day.”

  Rory’s jaw dropped. “The hell I will. I deserve an explanation.”

  “Why? You’ve got it all figured out. You’ll argue with anything I tell you. And you’re so worried that I’m gonna fuck you over again that you can’t even see the truth when it’s right in front of you.” He threw the paper at her. “Now get out.”

  Stung, she snapped, “Oh, I’ll go. But guaranteed I won’t even consider your piece of land for the program given your manipulative behavior.”

  Dalton got right in her face. “You will give me a fair shake in all of this or the next place I go is to the state board to file a grievance with them. About you. You don’t get to be judge, jury and executioner on this, Rory. I will fight you and the WNRC to make sure my application is given as much consideration as the other applicants’.”

  “You’d do that?”

  “You’re leaving me no choice! You storm into my house, accuse me of all kinds of underhanded shit—none of which is true. You know how I feel about you. Goddammit, you know that I’m not fucking playing you, Aurora.”

  She watched his jaw flexing as he ground his teeth together.

  “But I’ll never be able to convince you, will I? You’ll never trust me or trust in this. That it’s real. And that goddamn sucks.”

  His voice had dropped to that quietly resigned tone that scared her far worse than if he’d yelled at her.

  Dalton stepped back and opened the door but he wouldn’t look at her. “You need to leave before one of us says something we’ll regret and ruins everything that we’ve—or maybe I should say that I’ve—been trying to build with you.”

  Did Dalton really believe that she didn’t give a damn about him?

  This was about fun times and sex games—didn’t you remind yourself of that fact every time things became serious? Self-preservation, remember? This isn’t only about your relationship; this is about your livelihood. And now he’s fucking with you on both levels. Why are you surprised?

  Because there was more to it than that. And she wanted—she deserved—some answers.

  Maybe you should’ve thought of that before you barged in here spewing accusations.

  Before she cleared the doorjamb completely, Dalton said in a hoarse voice, “I’ll be out of town for the next two days. We can talk about this when I get back.”

  Rory spun around. “What? Why are you just telling me this now?”

  Those hurt blue eyes hooked hers. “I’d planned to tell you tonight over dinner. But now… Anyway, I didn’t want you to think I was running away again.”

  Then Dalton shut the door in her face.

  He’d given her no choice but to back off and process everything that’d just happened. Dammit. She wanted to beat on the door and resolve this now. She hated fighting with a lover. Hated it.

  As Rory drove home, the reality of the situation hit her. What did it mean that she was more upset about what this meant for their relationship than how this might affect her job performance?

  Dalton figured his brothers would need a day or two to cool off so he was surprised to see them on his doorstep Monday evening.

  “Can we come in?” Tell asked.

  “Depends on if this is an ass-chewing session or a rational discussion. I’ve had enough shit flung at me today that I’m feelin’ like a monkey.”

  They both looked at him blankly.

  Guess his sense of humor sucked too. “Yeah, come in.”

  “Nice place,” Tell said after they’d trooped into the kitchen.

  “It’s getting there.” He gestured to the table. They sat and he rested his back against the countertop. “I’d offer you guys a beer but I’m out. You want coffee or something?”

  “Nah. Just wanted to come over and clear the air after the bullshit that happened yesterday. You took off pretty damn fast,” Brandt said.

  “Not that we blame you,” Tell added. “It’s just…the whole elk farm thing caught us off guard.”

  “And you wonder why I didn’t tell you about my plan before I blabbed to the whole family?”

  Brandt and Tell looked at each other and nodded.

  “The reaction from the family yesterday was what I expected.” He frowned. “With the exception of Gavin’s comments. But I needed to make sure you guys were surprised by it too, so our cousins couldn’t accuse either of you of not tellin’ them about something that affects the ranch. Or could possibly affect it. Nothin’ is guaranteed except the State of Wyoming cashed my five hundred dollar check for the permit application.”

  “Gavin was the only one makin’ sense. And I hated how fast Cord, Colby and Colt turned on anyone who didn’t agree with them.” Brandt scrubbed his hands over his face. “Been goin’ on a while and we’ve sorta let it slide, but seein’ that Kade and Kane feel the same way, I reckon it’s time to take Uncle Carson’s kids to task.”

  “About this?”

  “Not only this,” Tell said. “But they oughta know that we’re supporting you no matter what happens.”

  Dalton tried not to let his shock show.

  But it must have, because Tell said, “Why in the hell does that surprise you?”

  “Maybe because you haven’t always thrown in behind me.”

  Brandt snorted. “If you’re talk
in’ about the years you spent getting in bar fights, I’ll remind you that me’n Tell backed you plenty of times.”

  “Any time we had a problem with you or what you were doin’ or what you weren’t doin’, little bro, we told you. And if you really think about it, us getting in your face about shit didn’t happen all that often.”

  He couldn’t argue with that.

  “Besides, the last couple years you were here workin’ on the ranch, after Dad got sober and Mom left, we had no idea what you were doin’ with yourself in your off-the-ranch hours. You slammed that door in our faces whenever we asked. So we stopped askin’.”

  Dalton couldn’t argue with that either.

  “We might’ve gotten concerned you had a gambling problem if we’d known how often you were playing poker during that time. But when you told us that you paid cash for the Fox family’s land…well, we couldn’t exactly chew your ass for bein’ a successful card player, now could we?” Tell complained.

  “So we think it’s bullshit, whatever stick you’ve got up your ass about this. About us.” Brandt’s jaw tightened. “One thing we’ve always been able to count on is the three of us stick together. No matter what. That ain’t changed just because you have.”

  At least they recognized he had changed. But he hadn’t found the balls to give them the real reason for his fear that they’d change toward him. So he deflected. “You’re both on board with my plans?”

  “It’s your land, Dalton. You can do whatever the hell you want with it. You get that permit, well, then we’ll talk.”

  “All of this might be a moot point anyway. I found out the hard way that not only is the Crook County branch office of the WNRC in charge of processing applications, they also determine who’s granted the permits.”

  Tell’s eyes widened. “Oh shit.”

  “Yeah. I knew Rory had been assigned a special project at the WNRC, but she wasn’t allowed to talk specifics. And I kept my application on the down low for obvious reasons. So guess whose application came across Rory’s desk today?”

  “Yours.”

  “Yeah.” Dalton ran his hand through his hair. “She showed up here a few hours ago and lost her mind on me. Rory and I have a tangled history, some of it not pretty. Needless to say, she thinks history is repeating itself and that I was just usin’ her to get a fuckin’ permit. Jesus. That burns my ass because she knows better. I’m not fuckin’ around with her this time.”

  Brandt looked skeptical. “You two are involved, seriously involved from what I’ve seen, and neither of you had any idea what the other one is doin’ outside of the hours that you spend together?”

  When Brandt put it that way…it sounded unbelievable.

  “Maybe it’s because you two ain’t doin’ a whole lotta talkin’?” Tell wiggled his eyebrows. “I remember them days.”

  “That could be part of it. She’s pissed and I’m pissed and we’re cooling things off for a few days.”

  Tell pointed at the duffel bag against the wall. “Is that why you’re goin’ somewhere?”

  “No. I talked to my buddy Boden last night. I left some stuff undone since I wasn’t sure how long I’d be gone when I left. So I’m leavin’ for Montana in the morning.” Or maybe he’d just take off tonight.

  “When’re you comin’ back?”

  “Thursday.”

  “Don’t suppose you’re gonna stop by the rehab hospital on your way outta town?” Brandt asked.

  Dalton shook his head.

  “Been a while since you’ve been there.”

  “Has he made any improvements?”

  “No. But that don’t mean—”

  He held up his hand. “I don’t want to talk about Casper.” Ever. “If you need me to check cattle or fix fence or babysit your kids while you’re visiting him, I’m more than willing to help out. But it is not helpin’ out sitting in Casper’s room and letting him glare at me. I’m done with that.”

  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 gay. 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.”