Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(25)

“I haven’t used the bully-kiss tactic today.” He grinned at her. “Not yet anyway.”


Her eyes searched his. “I’m serious. You just blow into town after three years and I’m supposed to take it on faith that you want to be with me? Especially after we hadn’t been on the best terms for several years before that? It’s only been three days.”


A fierce look entered his eyes. “If I’d known you were back after breaking your engagement I’d been here six months ago.”


Rory stilled. Dalton hadn’t brought up her broken engagement the other night so she wasn’t sure he’d known about it. “How’d you find out?”


“That you kicked that douche-f*cker—who wasn’t good enough to date you, let alone marry you—to the curb? Sierra told me four hours after I left Montana. And I let her have it for keeping such a big f*cking secret from me.”


Rory ducked under his arm and put distance between them. “I didn’t know you were so tight with Sierra.”


“I keep in touch with her because she’s the only McKay who never knew me during my growing up years, so she doesn’t hold a fixed opinion about me.”


“So you could keep in touch with her, but not me?” Crap. Why had she said that? “Did Sierra blab all about me?”


Dalton crowded her again. “Only if I asked. So I knew about your engagement. You were seriously gonna marry a guy named Dillon Doland?”


“He goes by Dil. Besides, it’s not the person’s name you fall in love with, but the person.”


He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her closer. “Were you in love with him?”


Given the jealous fire flashing in Dalton’s eyes, she was surprised how easily she manipulated the truth. “We had a lot in common.”


“Did. You. Love. Him.”


“Why does it matter now?”


“Dammit Rory, I can’t stand the thought…” Then Dalton’s hands slid up, framing her face as his mouth took possession of hers.


The kiss started out red-hot and spiraled higher from there. Every slide of his tongue against hers, every tiny suck, every nibble, every time he pulled back he made a low groan and dove into the kiss again. He read her reactions and adjusted accordingly with the perfect combination of passion and temptation. Making her crave more body-to-body contact, more…everything.


He slowed the kiss and backed off. “Didn’t mean to do that here, but I just wanted you to know.”


She rested her backside against the desk because her legs were jelly. “You wanted me to know that you intend to romance the hell out of me?”


“No.”


“Know what then?”


Before he could respond, the door swung open and Hannah walked right in.


Rory was relieved Hannah hadn’t showed up two minutes earlier and caught her and Dalton in a hardcore lip lock.


“Oh, hello,” Hannah said to Dalton’s chest, “I didn’t realize you had a visitor, Rory.”


Like hell you didn’t.


Dalton said, “I’ll leave and let you get back to work.”


The hungry way Hannah was eyeing Dalton annoyed the piss out of her. Rory set her hand on Dalton’s arm. “We’re still on for lunch, right?”


He didn’t miss a beat. “Of course. Is the Mexican joint still in business?”


“Yes. I’ll meet you there in…fifteen minutes?”


“Works for me.” He gave Hannah the cowboy nod before he walked out.


And lecherous Hannah cranked her head around—much like that chick in The Exorcist—to watch his backside as he ambled out.


“Was there something you needed, Hannah?”


“Just checking to see if you ordered additional office supplies for your new temporary position.”


Right. Hannah just wanted to let Rory know she could barge in any time she liked—regardless if she technically wasn’t Rory’s boss for the next few months. “No. I’m covered.”


After Hannah exited the office, Rory spent five minutes brightening her makeup before she drove the mile into town.


Dalton stood when he saw her and kissed her cheek. But he frowned when Rory sat across from him and not next to him.


“Did you get in trouble with your boss lady?”


“No. She’s just a snoopy bitch.”


“I figured as much. I didn’t order you a margarita because I wasn’t sure if you could have a drink at lunch.”


“Better not. Hannah will probably do a breath check on me when I get back.” She scrolled down the menu choices. “I’m so glad I don’t have to answer to her for the next three months while I’m in charge of a special project.”


“What’s the project?”


Rory looked up at him and grinned. “It’s a fulltime project, that’s what matters at this point.”


“Is this project a stepping stone to getting a fulltime position at the WNRC?”