Biting back her kneejerk counter—namely, that it was none of his damn business—she simply said, “Um, no.” A beat of silence passed. “Listen, Cliff. I need to get going if I’m going to be ready when you get here.”
“All right, princess. Hey, I was wondering about that place where you’re staying. Got any extra room?”
Horror flooded her, and she blurted, “No, it’s a tiny one-bedroom, and the owners made an exception for me to stay there.”
“Has it got a couch?” He paused to laugh, the sound condescending.
“Don’t you have a room at the Grand Majestic?”
“I do, I just thought I could save the department some money. Besides, it’d be easier for us to work together if we were under the same roof.”
Oh hell no!When had Cliffeverworried about the budget?
Bosshole.
The airy croissant she’d just eaten sat like cement in her belly; she hadn’t been lying when she’d said she was nauseous. Nevertheless, she mustered enthusiasm she didn’t have. “I’m sure you’ll be much more comfortable at the hotel. It’s a nineteenth-century grande dame that’s been elegantly restored. It’s quite luxurious.” Hailey hadn’t been inside, so she didn’t have a clue, but the embellishment didn’t bother her conscience one tiny bit. “Tell me again why we both have to inspect Dell’s today?”
“Two can cover the place that much quicker. Your last report from there wasn’t too favorable, so I want to be sure we catch everything.”
What did that even mean?
He went on. “What’s the place like anyway?”
An image of Dell’s interior surfaced and bobbed about in her brain with its grimy dark-wood, rough-and-tumble decor. Whereas the Miners Tavern was every bit old-world charm, Dell’s was old world. “Like a rough old mining cabin. ‘Honky-tonk’ comes to mind, but that might be an insult to honky-tonks.”
“Wow. Okay. You really don’t like these guys, do you?”
“It has nothing to do with them. It has everything to do with the condition of the place.”
“All right, settle down. Now what about dinner tonight? Any suggestions since you’ve been slumming for days in Bumfuck and this is my first time?”
Hailey let his jabs slide off her back, deadpanning, “The restaurant at your hotel is supposed to be the best in town.” Eating there also afforded her a quick getaway as soon as the meal was over since it was a short walk back to the Loose Moose.
“It’s a date,” Cliff declared before hanging up.
God, I hope he’s not looking at it that way.
Hailey went through the motions of getting ready for work. She donned her requisite navy pants suit, pressed white blouse, and cushy black work shoes. Next, she slicked her hair back and twisted it into a tight, tidy bun at her nape, willing it to stay put. Throughout the familiar routine, a seed of dread sprouted inside her and spread its tendrils. She was in for one long day.
Rather than park infront of Dell’s like she had last time, Hailey chose a spot two storefronts down and waited. Nothing and no one stirred. Idly, she stared through her window as a shiny white SUV with temporary tags drove up and whipped into an empty spot in front of the restaurant. The driver didn’t register until he stepped out, adjusted his aviator sunglasses, and prowled toward her.
Cliff Meissner.
Exiting her car, she pulled in a steadying breath and told her nerves to stop their jangling. She’d faced far more terrifying obstacles in her life than this political blowfish.
When he reached her, his face split with a grin. “Someone obviously got more than enough beauty sleep.”
She was fresh out of rejoinders to his unprofessional remarks, so she nodded toward the SUV.
“New ride?”
“Yep, just last week. About time too.”
“You don’t strike me as the Ford type.”
He jabbed a thumb against his chest.“I’mnot, but the county has a contract with the Ford dealership in Durango, so it’s Ford all the way.”
She gave a little shake of her head to clear what had to be cobwebs gunking up her brain. “Wait. That’s acountycar?”
