Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(72)

“Thanks. If he calls in, would you please ask him to ring me? It’s urgent,” Haley added.

“Is there another officer who might be able to help you?”

“No. I don’t think so. I really need to speak to Jim.”

Haley hung up with a sigh of despair. There was no way she could let this situation fester until Monday, but Jim was six hours away. Then again, if she drove to Cheyenne tonight, maybe she could head things off before Jeffrey did irreparable harm.

*

Reid left Haley’s office before he lost it completely. He was already seeing the world through a fiery red haze. Jeffrey. What the f*ck kind of * name was that anyway?

The moment he walked in and realized who was putting the moves on Haley, he’d wanted to smash the son of a bitch’s face in. He knew he was overreacting, but he couldn’t help himself.

He and Haley had made huge strides in the last forty-eight hours. The words had even been on the tip of his tongue more than once, until Krista had come along and f*cked it all up.

Even then Haley had gone as far as to say she cared about him, whatever the hell that meant. But once more, he’d let her go without a fight. He’d let her walk away because he was too chicken shit about another rejection to open his mouth. He was damned if he’d bare his heart without at least a token sign of reciprocation.

Fuck that shit.

It was past time to fess up. He was in love with her. Goddammit. The longer he thought about it, the more certain he was.

She’d left her phone behind, but he hadn’t really needed the excuse to follow her into Jackson. He’d come to her office prepared to finally tell her straight out, to lay it all on the line—whether she was ready to hear it or not. Then he’d walked in on her about to lip-lock with Jeffrey.

He knew she wasn’t into it, could see it on her face, but he was still filled to the brim with jealous rage. His choices were to walk it off or drink it off before saying—or worse, doing—something he couldn’t take back. So he’d left. But instead of heading back to the ranch, he had a couple of beers at the Cowboy and then drove back to her office hoping to catch her alone.

He’d cooled down enough to talk, but to his rising frustration, she’d already left. Worse, they were both gone. He just hoped not together.

He punched her number into his phone. He’d take her to dinner. Maybe back to that Italian place, since they’d never actually gotten to the meal last time. After that, he’d just have to play it by ear. Three rings later, a male voice answered. Reid jerked the phone back from his ear to scowl at the number. It was hers, all right.

Forcing himself to breathe, he disconnected. He went to pocket the phone, glared at it again, and then with a long, colorful stream of Marine Corps expletives, pitched it out the window.

*

The next morning, Haley was waiting outside the Board of Outfitters Offices before they even opened. Jim pulled up with raised brows, Starbucks in hand. “Dr. Cooper? What are you doing here?”

“I needed to talk to you.”

“Now?”

“Yes, Jim. It’s vital or I wouldn’t have come all the way down here.”

His gray brows furrowed. “What is it?”

“Can we go somewhere more private?”

“Sure thing. How about my truck? It’s parked right over there.” He indicated a white Dodge Ram.

“Do you know Dr. Jeffrey Greene of the Wolf Recovery Alliance?” she asked once she was certain no one would overhear.

His frown deepened. “Only by reputation.”

“He is…or was…my boss. He showed up yesterday with a group of board members who plan to sue Idaho over their wolf management plan.”

“I’d heard. They’re also one of the plaintiffs in a similar suit against Wyoming.”

“He’s going to make major trouble for Reid.”

“How’s that possible?”

“Reid and I had an encounter with a grizzly when I went out to the Everett place to investigate. He had to shoot it. I took pictures to support my report, but Jeffrey is planning to use them to promote the WRC’s agenda. He’s going to state that Reid baited the bear to kill it.”

“There will be a major shit storm if he does.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. I need your help, Jim. I have my full report for U.S. Fish and Wildlife right here. I was hoping to turn it in before Jeffrey can cause any damage. I’m willing to make a sworn statement to the USFW and the Board of Outfitters. There was no wrongdoing on Reid’s part.”

Jim shook his head. “Hate to say the truth doesn’t matter, but if the WRC manages to circulate the lie, there’s no putting that tiger back in its cage.”

“What do you mean? Reid is innocent.”

“But he’ll still be tried in the court of public opinion. There are lots of people who’ve received death threats for less. Either way, it can’t go well for him.”

*

The kitchen went dead silent the moment Reid walked in. His hand froze on the coffeepot. “Something up?” He grew increasingly disconcerted as his gaze tracked from Krista to his mother and father.

“You might say that,” his father replied. “I take it you haven’t seen the morning paper.”

“Nope. What has you all so worked up?”