What to say? Even though they talked frequently, she was out of practice with the big stuff. “Guys suck.”
Jill sputtered out a laugh. “Yes, they do.”
“Kinda odd, leaving New York’s restaurant scene and coming back to Dare to work at The Chop House.”
“Yeah, Jemma and I wondered, but he hasn’t said. Besides, I don’t care.”
“Okay then, let’s go and have some cinnamon rolls at Kemstead’s Bakery and forget the search for my dream man for a while.”
The spontaneous hug rocked her back on her heels. “I’m so glad you’re here, Mere.”
From the corner of her eye, Meredith caught sight of Mutt lurching out from around the corner. She repressed a frown. Why would a man hover around the corner after a run-in with his former best friend?
Jill squeezed her tighter, and Meredith returned the embrace, the wind rushing over her face.
Who the hell could account for what a man was thinking anyway?
Chapter 7
T
anner was dreaming up ways to murder Sommerville without being put in jail. Coming out of what his GPS called Sardine Canyon—aptly named—he surveyed Dare Valley. Fall had broken out across the land, and crayon-colored trees made the jagged peaks of the mountains look like they’d caught fire. Knuckles white from veering to avoid some stupid ass deer that had tried to cross the two-lane highway, Tanner read the town’s population sign. Only twenty thousand people? Holy shit. He couldn’t live here. He needed the city, the chaos.
Something plopped on his windshield, leaving a white stain. He grimaced and looked up at eleven o’clock. The eagle’s majesty should have given him pause, but he didn’t need some damn bird splatting his SUV, although it might be a common occurrence in Eagle County. He cursed at the sky and hit his window washing button.
Nature. What the hell did people see in it? Too much space, too few people, and too many dumb animals waiting to careen into your car or drop a load on your windshield. He liked
National Geographic
just fine, thank you, but its proper place was in a school classroom or on a coffee table.
His phone rang. He plugged in one earbud, keeping watch for other dumb-ass animals that might want to put natural selection to the test.
“Hello.”
“So, you’re on the way to Dare,” Sommerville said. “What do you think so far?”
Tanner cursed under his breath. It had only taken the son of a bitch two days to find his number. “I don’t like you keeping tabs on me.”
“Don’t growl, McBride. I have a personal interest in this story. I told you I wanted updates.”
“I’m only just arriving in town. I was going to call.” And tell him to go straight to hell. Or so he fantasized.
“That’s good to hear. I don’t want to have to exert any more undue influence to secure your cooperation. Did you read the file on Meredith?”
He turned right when the smooth voice from his GPS instructed. The road led east of the downtown area. “Yes, it was quite thorough.” He’d included everything down to her favorite flowers—yellow roses.
“What’s your plan for approaching her?”
Too bad Tanner had a good signal, or he would have happily blamed a dropped call on this Beyond Fucking Egypt—BFE—town. The road rose up the mountain. He passed private driveways among the foothills, and through the blur of trees, he caught sight of a few McMansions.
“I don’t know yet. I need to get the lay of the land. See where she hangs out. If I push too hard, she’ll be onto me.”
“You’ll be okay. She won’t see this coming. She’s pretty trusting. You’ll simply be another interested male in a limited meat market.”
He slowed when the GPS alerted him to an approaching left turn. He veered onto a gravel road, the crunch under the tires making him slow down. Aspens and assorted conifers crowded together on both sides. The boughs waved in welcome. The narrow road opened up to showcase a killer house.
“Holy shit.”
“Are you finally there?”
Was the guy tracking his GPS? Hell, it was why his friends never used it overseas. It made it too easy for the bad guys to target you. He wouldn’t put it past Sommerville.
Tanner pulled into the circular driveway and stepped out. The sunlight reflected off the squeaky clean massive windows. The cool air carried a pine scent combined with the smell of the damp loamy soil.
“I’m here.”
“I know you’re pissed, but I hope the accommodations will soften the edge. What do you think?”
He studied the trendy cabin—if it could even be called that. It reminded him more of the natural architecture of Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright. Gray stone and natural wood converged into a two-story dwelling recessed into the forest. It was secluded and quiet. Tanner instantly disliked it.
“Not my style.”
“Well it beats where you’ve been staying. You’ll get used to it.”
Did the man ever listen? “Look, I’m here. I’ll start working and get back to you.”
“I want an update every three days.”
“Don’t micromanage me, Sommerville.”
“All right. Every week.”
Tanner popped the trunk. Rustling in the nearby trees made him swivel his head. He stared into the eyes of a frozen deer before it bounded away. Great. They were everywhere.
Maybe he’d buy a gun.
“Give me two weeks before I make my first report. I’ll have a lot to do with my new faculty position.”
School started next week. He was going to teach. He couldn’t fucking believe it. His old professors would laugh themselves blue. He’d been the student who couldn’t wait to leave the classroom and do something.
“Fine, but you’re not there for school. It’s only a cover. You’re there to make Meredith fall in love with you and stop her story. Making a move on her quickly is key. I had her in bed in a month. If you give her—or any woman—too much time to think, they drag their feet.”
So you drag them off to bed? Tanner pulled out his suitcases and started for the house. This man had no respect for women. Since his dad had shared Sommerville’s philosophy before he’d taken off, Tanner had a real aversion to the female-equals-fuck mentality.
“The realtor left the key under the mat,” Sommerville told him.
He turned his head at the sound of a barking dog. The animal was just ten feet away from him. It looked like a Labrador and sheltie mix, its coat streaked with gold and brown, its head on the small side. He didn’t see a collar, so he shooed it away. He was
not
picking up a stray dog. He’d never been tied down by an animal before, and this detour was not going to rob him of his freedom. Dammit.
“Quit fooling around. Did you hear me?”
“Yes.” Did the man have a camera planted somewhere too? He’d have to check.
“Okay, get going then. The sooner you make her fall for you, break her heart, and stop the article—the trifecta—the sooner you resume your life. Are you sure you won’t reconsider returning to our former agreement after you’re done up there?”
Tanner stabbed the key into the lock and opened the door. “No offense, but that’s not going to work.”
“Too bad. We could have done great things together.”
He hauled the suitcases inside. “I need to unpack. As you said, the sooner this is done, the better.”
“Good luck. I’ll be in touch. Feel free to call me if you need to brainstorm. Meredith can be complex, but again, if you move quickly, she won’t have the time to think things through. Nail her, nail her heart.”
Tanner clicked the phone off, resisting the urge to hurl it across the polished hardwood floors. The house’s open layout made him feel small. He surveyed his new pad with a scowl. Large wooden beams covered the ceiling. A massive stone chimney merged into a staircase, creating what some architect junkie would have called a nice line or flow or some bullshit. What was wrong with four walls and a roof anyway?
He thought about what Sommerville had said about rushing Meredith. Since their relationship had ended in failure, there was no way he was going to go for the same approach. Plus, he needed time to figure out how to extract himself from this mess.
And he didn’t rush women.
He’d find a way to befriend her so he could update Sommerville and keep him off his back.
But first, he needed to check the house for cameras and bugs. He could disable the GPS later.
An hour later, he stomped a row of brand-new listening devices and kicked three small cameras against the stone wall.
“Goal!” He thrust his hands in the air and smiled for the first time in days. His phone chimed moments later. “You rang?” he answered smugly.
“I’m impressed,” Sommerville responded.
Tanner picked up the destroyed equipment and dumped it into a trash can.
“We need to set some ground rules,” Tanner began. “I don’t want you spying on me. No cameras or listening devices. I also don’t want you paying anyone here to keep tabs on me. You have me where you want me. You need to trust I’ll do the job or you’re going to compromise my cover. Meredith graduated from Columbia, so she’s smart. It’s a small town, and she’s a journalist. You don’t want her to look into why someone’s keeping tabs on me, do you? If this ever gets out, it could ruin both of us.”
Silence reigned for a full twenty seconds.
“Fine, but you’d better not pull a fast one. I’ll print those pictures of your brother without thinking twice.”
“I believe you. That’s why I’m here.”
“Okay, but don’t fuck with me, McBride.”
Tanner simply clicked the phone off. He headed to the back to look for the main receptacle, whistling shrilly in the quiet. Taking out the trash had never felt so good.
Chapter 8
M
eredith clutched the door to
The Western Independent
for a moment before pulling it open. The comforting smell of paper and ink hit her immediately. She took a cleansing breath and smiled as people called out greetings.
Her gramps had given her some time to settle into Dare, so today was her first official day.
She was hugged and kissed all the way down to her father’s office. He sported new wire-rimmed glasses and was frowning at an article covered in red ink. It was good to see him ten pounds lighter. She hoped it would help his heart. He and her mom were leaving for Sedona the next morning.
“Problems?” she asked from the doorway.
His face broke into a grin. She felt the answering tug on her lips. How many times had she stood in this place, watching him mark up articles?
“Hi there.” He stood up to hug her. Unlike his usual perfunctory embraces, he held her for a long moment before stepping back. “Welcome. I still don’t know what to say about all this.”
“You don’t need to say anything, Daddy. Just promise me you’ll take it easy.”
After tossing and turning all night, she’d given herself a firm talking to. Being home was more than just a family duty.
The Independent
was a haven, a place where she’d grown up and learned the trade. This was her opportunity to give something back.
He took her shoulders. “A word of advice. I know you pretend not to be sensitive, but sometimes Pop Hale is a cranky old man with tough standards.”
“I know. You don’t have to protect me. I want to be here, Dad.” And she realized it was true. Her heart wasn’t racing anymore. She could breathe. And she didn’t have to channel Divorcée Woman to feel comfortable.
This was her natural skin.
“I’m glad. Give me a call if you have any questions.”
“No, Dad. I can ask Gramps anything.”
The grooves around his face eased. “Okay, let’s go talk to Pop. Just don’t let him pressure you into taking over. I know you have a great job in New York, and I don’t want you to stay here for my sake. You go where you’re happy. Promise me, Mere.”
Her eyes burned. “I promise.”
He kissed her forehead like he used to when he picked her up from school to take her to the newspaper. She wrapped him in a hug until he cleared his throat and stepped away, and then they walked down the hallway together.
Various news broadcasts were playing in Arthur Hale’s office, and stacks of newspapers covered his battered desk. It was chaotic and loud and messy—the complete opposite of her father’s quiet sanctuary. Grandpa Hale was rubbing his neck when he caught sight of them, and his chair squeaked as he leaned back in it.
“Well, well, well. Seems my granddaughter does have black ink running through her veins like the rest of us.” His wink was pure mischief.
Meredith held up her wrist. “Do you want to cut me for proof?”
He rose and gave her a bear hug. “Ah, that smart mouth. You raised her right, Alan. Can’t have any mealy-mouthed women in the Hale family.”
The ringing phone went unanswered.
“No, we can’t,” her dad responded.
“You ready for a permanent name plaque yet?”
“Now, Pop, she’s only here to give me a break. Lay off.”
“Hmm…We’ll see about that. So, are you ready to get to work, missy?” Grandpa popped a red hot in his mouth.
“What do you have in mind?”
He scratched his chin. “Well, since you have a good sense of that East-coast bias we try to guard ourselves against, why don’t you draw up some ideas for Sunday’s editorial?”
The Sunday editorial was the most coveted spread in the paper. Only her father and grandpa wrote it regularly, with other famous ad-hoc people making an occasional cameo. Like presidential candidates trying to share their vision of the future with Western voters. Or the president himself. Carter had written on Middle East peace. Reagan had written on Russia being the evil empire. Clinton had waxed poetic on the importance of balancing the budget. Bush had shared his thoughts on the war against terrorism.
“You want
me
to write it?” She rocked back on her heels. Boy, Grandpa was certainly dangling the right carrot to make her stay. Her childhood dream had been to write the editorial.
“Isn’t that what I just said, girl?” He tapped his ear. “Hell, I’m the one with the hearing aid.”
“I’d love to!”
Her dad patted her back. “Good. I need to finish up some stuff before I leave. I’ll see you both at dinner tonight.”