Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(95)

“You mean things about your job that you can’t talk about, right?”


“Ah, right.”


Dalton knew she was hedging but he allowed it. “Are we done talkin’ for now?”


“Sure. Why?”


“’Cause we’ve still got a lot of kissin’ and makin’ up to do.”


In the past ten days since their big blow up, Dalton and Rory had stuck to the parameters of not discussing specifics of her job. But he wondered if she had anyone to talk to about work-related stuff, because she was really stressed. She’d barely touched her lunch. “You gonna finish them fries?”


Rory slid the plate at him. “I told you not to order a salad because you’d be hungry.”


“I ordered a salad because you never finish all your food and I hate to see it go to waste.”


She didn’t say anything funny or cute in response, which wasn’t like her. She tapped her fingers on the table and stared into space.


“Something wrong?”


“Not looking forward to my next inspection.”


Dalton picked up her restless hand. “Want me to come with you? I’ll knock the guy around if he disrespects you.”


“Bizarrely sweet offer, so thank you, but I have to fight my own battles. I just wish there weren’t so damn many of them.”


“That’s all it’s been this week?”


She nodded. “And last week.”


“I promise you no battles when you inspect my land.” He kissed her knuckles. “But the offer stands if you need a bodyguard when you’re makin’ your rounds. ’Cause sugarplum, you know how much I love your body.”


“Same goes.” A naughty smile curled her lips. “But anytime you wanna dress like a bodyguard in a tight black T-shirt, black camo pants, a leather jacket and badass don’t-f*ck-with-me sunglasses…well, cowboy, you just go right ahead.”


Dalton laughed.


A shadow fell across them and they both looked up.


His cousins Cord and Colt stood at the end of the table.


Awesome. Dalton hadn’t seen them since the poker game and didn’t know what he’d say to them.


Cord smiled at Rory. “Hey, Rory. Haven’t seen you in a while. How’ve you been?”


“Good. How’re things with you?”


“Can’t complain.” Cord looked at Dalton. “Dalton.”


“Cord.”


“We didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch,” Colt said.


Like hell.


“I need to get to work so you can have my spot and keep Dalton company while he eats that piece of bread pudding he’s been eyeing.” Rory paused. “Unless you’re here to gang up on him? I’ll stick around in case it gets heated.”


Dalton loved that she had his back.


“We ain’t gonna gang up on him,” Cord said.


“Good.” She leaned across the table and mock whispered, “Lucky for them that I don’t have to break out my kung fu moves in defense of you, huh?”


He couldn’t help but laugh; she cracked his ass up.


When Rory slipped out of the booth, Dalton stood and tugged her into his arms. After kissing her soundly he said, “Be careful out there.”


“I will.”


“Let me know if you’re up for doin’ anything tonight.”


“Always.” Rory gave him another quick peck. She reached for her coat. “Later, McKays.”


“See ya, Rory.” Then Cord looked at Dalton. “Got a minute to talk?”



“I guess.” He signaled to the waitress. He’d been in here enough times the past few weeks that she knew what he wanted. She slid a plate of warm bread pudding in front of Dalton and poured Cord and Colt each a cup of coffee.


“So what’s up?”


“We owe you an apology.”


That’d come out quick. But his cousins weren’t the type to beat around the bush. Dalton sliced off a chunk of dessert and popped it in his mouth.


Colt said, “Neither of us handled the news about your plans in the best way. I’d blame my reaction on booze except I don’t drink.”


Dalton snorted.


“So bein’ an * is all on me, cuz, and I am sorry for that,” Colt said.


“While I still don’t agree with what you’re doin’ as far as applying for an elk farm permit for land that borders our ranch land, it don’t excuse me bein’ a dick to you.”


“It happens.”


“Happens a lot, according to my son,” Cord grumbled.


“Kyler said that?”


“Yeah.” Cord pushed his hat up and looked at him. “Kid’s got a case of hero worship since he’s been helpin’ you. So when he overheard me’n AJ talkin’ about what’d happened after the poker game, he lit into me. Jesus. Said I was a hypocrite and if I took issue when someone tried to tell me what I could do on my land, then I had no right to tell you what to do with yours.”