had upended the envelope over the side of Shane’s desk. A narrow leather wallet. The wad of bills, held by a silver clip engraved with a race car disappeared in the front pocket of his black jeans. Then he flipped open his wallet, looked inside, flipped it closed and pocketed it, as well, before scratching his name across the form Shane had indicated and shrugging into his leather bomber jacket.
And still Shane’s phone rang. “I’ll give him a lift to the bus station,” she offered suddenly. “Better answer that. Carla’s not out front.”
“She called in sick.”
“All the more reason for me to give Mr. Tolliver a ride. It’s the least I can do,” she added hurriedly when Shane shook his head.
“Appreciate it.” Wood picked up her scarf and handed it to her, as if the decision were made.
She didn’t look at her brother as she tucked her fingers into her mittens and preceded Wood out of the cubicle. Behind her, she heard Shane pick up the phone, growling a greeting.
“He’s usually more pleasant in the mornings,” Hadley whispered. She had to curtail the urge to run out of the office before she crumbled to Shane’s displeasure.
Wood reached out and opened the door. The bell jingled softly. “He’s protective of you.”
As soon as they stepped out on the sidewalk, Hadley realized that she didn’t have the means to even give Wood Tolliver a ride to the bus depot. Because her truck was still over at Stu’s garage.
Embarrassed beyond belief, she looked up at him. “He’s had a lot of practice, I’m afraid. Of being protective, I mean. I, um, I forgot one detail.” The fringed ends of her scarf skipped around in the breeze. “My keys are across the street at the garage. And Riva—she kind of manages the place for my brother—won’t be there for another hour at least.” She felt like an utter fool, which was something she ought to be used to, considering she’d been feeling foolish since she’d run him off the road. “I’ll tell Shane he should take you. I can answer his phones while he’s out.” She reached for the door.
Wood closed his hand over hers and she jumped. His eyes narrowed a little and he let go. “Are you afraid of me?”
“No! No, of course not.” She pressed her hands together. She was not so stupid that she’d tell him she’d felt a zing right through the fluffy red mitten when he’d touched her hand. He’d probably laugh right out loud at her. “I’m not afraid of anyone.” Which wasn’t strictly true if she thought about it. “And Lucius isn’t big, but walking all the way out to the bus depot would take too long, so—”
“I don’t want to go to the bus depot. Is there a café around here or something?”
“Yes, of course. But Shane—”
“Doesn’t much like strangers in his town. He made that abundantly clear.” He toyed with the fringe of her scarf that had blown across his sleeve. “The burger your sheriff gave me last night was okay, but I haven’t had a full meal since yesterday morning. I’m starving.”
And she couldn’t seem to draw in a normal breath. “The Luscious Lucius has the best waffles around.”
“Luscious,” he murmured softly. “Interesting name. Any other restaurants?”
“Sure. But Luscious is the best for breakfast. And lunch.”
“And dinner?”
“The Silver Dollar. I know the owner.”
“I’ll bet you know everyone in town.”
“Not quite, but close.” She didn’t know how they’d come to be standing so closely. She could smell the clean scent of soap on him and it was definitely affecting her thought processes. “Sort of comes with my dad being a minister at the largest church in town and my brother being the sheriff.” She swallowed and reached past him, pointing down the street. “Luscious is right over there. See the sign? It’s kind of small.”
He lifted the ends of her scarf and slowly looped them together. “It’s cold out.”
She nodded hesitantly. The truth was, her skin felt as though it was being melted from the inside. “If you miss the bus this morning, there’ll be another one late this afternoon. Tomorrow’s Saturday, though, and there’s only that last run until Monday.”
“I couldn’t care less what the bus schedule is, today or tomorrow.”
“I thought you wanted to leave.”
“Your brother wants me to leave.” His knuckles brushed her jaw as he tucked the soft red knit closely around her neck. “I want breakfast.”
She swallowed. “D-did you steal that car?”
He slowly shook his head. Just once. “I even plan to pay for my waffle.”
She couldn’t help smiling back when his lips tilted. “And you didn’t try to bribe Shane.”
“Your brother doesn’t strike me as a man who can be bought.”
“He isn’t.”
“Glad we’ve got that settled.” He glanced over his shoulder to watch a car creep down Main. It turned and parked in front of the café. “Somebody else going after those waffles, I suppose.” He took a step in that direction, then stopped and looked back at her. He lifted one eyebrow, his intensely blue eyes definitely amused. “Well? You coming or not?”
Chapter Three
She was right. The waffles at the Luscious Lucius Café were better than average.
Or maybe it was the company sitting across the table from him that made the waffles taste better than usual. Dane’s reason for being in Montana had nothing to do with pleasure, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Despite her questionable skills behind the wheel, Hadley Golightly was easy on the eyes, humorous and engaging, when she wasn’t busy being self-conscious, and did seem to know everyone in town.
Not a single person entered or left the café without exchanging some friendly greeting with her. He’d been introduced to more people in the past hour than he could have met had he advertised free money. Wood Tolliver had been introduced, anyway.
And Dane figured it was only a matter of time before the sheriff came along, set to hurry him on his way. Once the man had determined that the Shelby hadn’t been reported stolen, he’d had little reason to keep holding “Wood.” But he’d been clear that he wanted to see the back side of Dane, regardless.
It was a new sensation for him. Most people were happy to have Dane Rutherford in their midst. Came with the territory of running Rutherford Industries.
But Dane wasn’t in Montana on business.
This trip had been strictly personal.
Which was why he’d borrowed Wood’s name. Tolliver wasn’t likely to be recognized. Rutherford, however, was as common as Rockefeller.
