Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(114)

He had a few hours to figure it out.


Rory had just finished her last inspection of the day and was finishing up notes, when her phone rang with an unfamiliar number. “May I please speak to Aurora Wetzler?”


“This is Rory.”


“Ah, so I see you did list that as your preferred name. This is Lonna Davis, administrative coordinator from the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit in Missoula. We received your application for the opening in the Ag management division. We wondered when would be a good time to set up a phone interview with the CESU director?”


Holy. Shit. Stay calm. She’d sent in that application four months ago. Since she hadn’t heard anything, she’d assumed the position had been filled. “I imagine the director is busy, so what would work best with his schedule?”


“He’s free Thursday afternoon. Around three o’clock?”


“That would work.”


“Excellent. Is this the best number to reach you?”


“Yes.”


“If anything changes I’ll be sure to let you know.”


“Thank you so much.”


“You’re welcome.”


After Rory hung up she had to recheck the caller ID to make sure she hadn’t been dreaming. Yep. Montana area code.


A phone interview was huge. She hadn’t made it past the application status with any of the jobs she’d applied for in the last six months.


And now she had two possibilities.


She’d gotten a callback from the BLM in Cody, which she hadn’t expected. She had an in-person there next week—barring any road-closing snowstorms. So Dalton bringing up her qualifications for a job in Yellowstone would’ve been the perfect time to tell him about the interview. But then he’d made that crack about leaving Sundance if he didn’t get awarded a permit, and she was glad she’d kept her mouth shut.


Chances were slim she’d get the Yellowstone job anyway.


She’d looked at the job description for the assistant’s position in Buffalo and decided not to apply. Although the fulltime job paid well, it was close to what she faced every day at the WNRC—busywork that had nothing to do with her degrees.


As much as she appreciated that Dillon had put in a good word for her with the Wyoming State Parks in Sheridan, even if she got a callback from them she’d wonder how much of that was due to Dillon’s influence.


But this CESU job…she’d applied for that one on her own. So if she made it past the phone interview she might have a chance at scoring her dream job.


Rory couldn’t help but squeal with excitement. But it would be nice to have someone to share her excitement with.


“No offense, Dalton, but this is not what I’d call a romantic surprise.”


“What? A few games of ping pong will get your blood pumping.” He bounced back and forth at the end of the ping pong table like a professional tennis player awaiting a serve. “It sure does mine.”


Rory lobbed the ball at him. “You don’t need any additional stimulus in the blood pumping department, Mr. McKay.”


Dalton grinned. “Come on baby. Show me whatcha got.”


“I suck at this.”


“No, you don’t. You did great when we played it on the Wii.”


“Not the same. It’s like believing I can be a rock star because I shredded on Guitar Hero.”


He lifted a brow. “Shredded? Woman, I totally wiped the floor with you. High score, remember?”


Rory shook her paddle at him. “That’s what I mean. You are so competitive!”


“Winning competitions is the best way to prove my manliness. To show you that I can protect you and provide for you.” He grinned. “And rock your world with a bitchin’ power ballad that makes you wanna get nekkid with me.”


“Oh. My. God.”


He laughed. “So we playin’ this or what?” He crouched and spun his paddle. “I’ll even let you serve.”


“Since I’m pretty sure I’m gonna lose, I’ll only play if I get to pick our next activity.” When she saw the glimmer in his eyes, she amended, “An activity with our clothes on.”


“Shoot, sugarplum, that ain’t no fun. Winner should get to choose.”


“Fine. Winner’s choice. Let’s get this over with.”


Dalton pitched Rory the ball. “Serve it up.”


The first game didn’t last long; Dalton won by four points.


He said, “Best two out of three?”


The second game…Rory won by two points. She acted surprised. “Wow. We’re tied up. How’d that happen?”


That’s when Dalton got suspicious.


And his suspicions were justified when Rory creamed him in the third game by thirteen points.


Her victory dance was short-lived. She had six feet three inches of bested cowboy in her face.


“What the hell was that?”


Rory smirked. “Think you’re the only one who can bluff, McKay?”