Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(20)

“The application process is that lenient?”


The director laughed. “Of course, because the state requires a nonrefundable application fee. They want the money and they don’t have to do much work beyond kicking the applications to the WNRC. We’re tasked with choosing the recipients of the temporary permits. We—meaning you. This is your project if you choose to accept it.”


“Permission to speak honestly, sir?”


“Of course.”


Rory weighed her words before she spoke. “Can I ask if you chose me to run this special project because I’m part-time and you suspect I won’t complain about the extra hours without the extra financial compensation?”


“Very astute. I’ll admit I like coming in right at my budget every year, so that would’ve been my second consideration in assigning you. But the WNRC has been allocated money specifically for this project. As special project manager, you’d be upgraded to a fulltime employee for the three-month duration. At a pay rate higher than your current pay level.”


That was very good news, but Rory focused on what he hadn’t said. “Additional income is always welcome. If my part-time status is your second consideration in assigning me, what is your first consideration?”


“You don’t have a horse in this race.” He leaned forward. “Half the people who work in this office are dependent upon ranching in some way for their livelihood. You don’t have that conflict, and more importantly, neither does anyone in your immediate family. You’ve lived here your whole life and have a better insight about which ranching families would be feeding you a line of bullshit as far as the genuineness of their application.”


Very true. During her high school years she’d earned a reputation for her environmentalist bent. It’d been exaggerated; she’d been called everything from a tree-hugger to a PETA-loving tool. All because she’d tried to raise awareness that everyone involved in agriculture had a responsibility to keep a balance between long-term and short-term land sustainability. She believed in it so strongly she’d made it the focus of her college studies.


“Rory?”


She glanced up at him. “Sorry. Just trying to process this.”


“I imagine it’s a surprise. The other reason I’m asking you to fill this position is I read your thesis. You’ve delved into environmental impact studies and shown you’re impartial. I need someone running this project who doesn’t have an axe to grind with the ranchers but won’t choose the recipient because their ideologies are the same.”


“I understand.”


“So what do you say? Are you willing to take on this project?”


Rory didn’t hesitate. “Yes, sir. It would be an honor.”


He thrust his hand across the desk and grinned. “This is great. You are perfect for this job. Just a quick reminder that you’re not allowed to speak specifics about this special project to anyone outside the office—without my prior approval, at least until the permit application deadline has passed. So, if you have any questions just ask, as I will be your direct supervisor.”


No more answering to Horrific Hannah? Sweet. “When do I start?”


“Monday. You’ll need a couple days to read over the information.” He hefted two six-inch binders onto his desk.


“All of that?”


He shoved the binders across the desk. “You’ve been here six months. Reading between the lines in governmental doublespeak is second nature to you now.”



His phone rang and she slipped out.


Might make her a dork, but she did a little happy dance in her office. A fulltime position. She could quit working at the Twin Pines. After all the years she’d bartended in college and grad school, she’d now have her weekends free.


She probably wouldn’t know what to do with herself.


Now you at least have the option of spending time with Dalton.


Dalton.


She’d managed to shove last night’s conversation to the back burner. Okay, after she’d stayed up half the night replaying it in her head.


What was his end game? What did he have to prove? And was he proving it to her? Or to himself?


But the part of her that’d always been crazy about him wanted to believe he’d pined for her these past few years. Okay, he hadn’t exactly said he’d pined. But he had said he’d thought about her a lot.


Why had he been so vague about the business he needed to tie up while he was here? Did he consider her unfinished business he needed to handle?


God. Why was she obsessing over this stuff like a teenage girl when she had work to do?


Rory turned one more happy circle before she settled behind her desk.


Yes, it was a good day.


Chapter Six


On his way back to Sundance, Dalton’s mom called. “Hey, Ma.”


“Dalton! I’m so happy you’re finally in our neck of the woods.”


“What’s up?”


“What are you doing tonight?”


He’d hoped to spend it with Rory, but then he remembered she worked at the Twin Pines after her regular job. “Nothing. Why?”