“Sometimes.” He canted his head to the side. “Meeting your … whatever Cliff is to you made me realize I still don’t know what it is you do.”
And in a snap, the warm feeling evaporated. Oh boy. She wasn’t ready for this conversation yet. “I’ll explain more on Friday night, but in a nutshell, I’m a biologist, and I work for the health department. I protect the public from environmental hazards.” Oh Lord! Now he probably thought she was trying to pass herself off as Joan of Arc.
The patch between his brows arranged itself in neat pleats. “Like a lab tech? You test radon levels or look for lead in paint? That kind of thing?”
She gave a slight nod, hating the deception. “I better finish up and get back before my pay gets docked.” With that, she closed the door on him, leaned her back against it, and began box breathing to calm her racing pulse. The chaos of childhood had taught her how to zen herself into a serene space, but right now finding that calm was akin to an Olympic marathon.
She returned to the table moments before their food arrived. While her appetite was in a state of flux, Cliff dug right in. Fortunately, munching his French dip kept him preoccupied, and the rest of the meal passed without drama. He didn’t even bother inviting her back to his room for a drink afterward, though she’d been prepared with the excuse she had to catch up on work.
The tavern wasn’t crowded, and Noah had disappeared during their meal—probably to check on Chance, and she felt a little pang of longing. Whether it was for the dog or the man, she couldn’t say.
Sipping the last of her tequila, she pushed away her half-full plate. Cliff eyed her food, but before he could ask to finish it for her, Dixie ninja-ed her way in and whisked away their plates.
“I’ll put this in a doggie box for you, hon. It’ll make for a great breakfast or midnight snack.”
A frown etched on his face, Cliff watched her walk away. “I wonder if her makeup ever falls into the food.” Before Hailey could bark out a laugh, he turned back to her. “I have an early-morning meeting, so why don’t we meet in the hotel lobby at nine? We have a big day ahead of us.”
She didn’t hide her surprise. “A meeting here? In Fall River?” Maybe he meant a Zoom call.
He waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about it.”
She wouldn’t. “Where are we going, and what are we doing during our ‘big day’ anyway?”
He lowered an eyebrow. “Do you always ask so many pesky questions?”
“Uh, I was just curious about what’s in store.”
“You’ll find out tomorrow.”
Okaaaay.
Dixie delivered Hailey’s leftovers and presented the check to Cliff.
Hailey collected her bag and pointed to the check. “You’ve got this, right?” He’d have an easier time justifying a dinner for two people on his expense report.
“Uh, yeah?”
“Thanks. See you in the morning.” She sent him a backward wave as she dashed out the door. Hopping into her 4Runner, she was grateful for the quick escape.
Back at the Loose Moose, she brushed her teeth and gathered her hair into a ponytail when a text chimed on her phone.
Noah:You left before I could say good-bye again.
Hailey:Sorry. Saw an opportunity to escape a dull dinner and took it.
Noah:Understandable. Want some company? Chance and I could stop by with some really GOOD tequila.
Aw, so sweet, but if she let Noah in, he might press her about the job again. In fact, maybe that was hisrealmotivation for coming over, and she couldn’t have that.
Hailey:Already in my pj’s and settling in to get some work done before I fall asleep. Rain check?
Noah:Sure. Sweet dreams, surfer girl.
His words sent an unexpected cascade of tingles through her bloodstream. She lay down on the couch and flung an arm over her head, sorting her knotted thoughts. She couldn’t remember a man giving her the chills like this one did.
Had she fallen for him? And why did he have to be the guy every other girl fell for?
Noah possessed the quiet confidence of someone at ease running his world, and that self-assurance drew her like metal to a magnet—not to mention the hard body and those gemstone eyes. The entire gorgeouspackage was intoxicating and dazed her whenever he was nearby. Did it matter that he came from the princely strata?
