this up in a day.”
“If you’d read your prep sheet, you’d know that Hollywood has taken an interest in the area. They’ve been shooting films and TV miniseries all around here.” She glanced toward the breathtaking snowcapped Rockies in the distance. They looked as if they’d sprung up in the town’s backyard. “Plus, the crews left behind a number of movie sets, and the town council is trying to decide how best to use them.”
Ron gave her an annoying smirk.
With his dark hair and hazel eyes, Savannah had once considered him a good-looking man. He could also be charming when he wanted. Or he could be a first-class jerk.
“Are you going to just stand there?” The door remained slightly ajar, and when he didn’t respond she considered giving it a push. He was a notorious hound dog. Putting him out of commission for a while would make many women in the office happy. How he’d managed to hold on to his job, she’d never know. “Move,” she said, oh so tempted. “Please.”
“What’s it been, two years since you’ve been out in the field?” he said, finally stepping back. “Bet you’re sorry you chose this assignment.”
Ignoring him, she grabbed her purse and key fob and checked to make sure the car’s license plate number was included in case the desk clerk asked for it.
“Ah, I get it,” he said. “You wanted to get me alone.”
“Yeah, that’s right.” She swung her legs out of the car and stood. In her heeled boots, she had an inch on him...which she liked. “How did you end up here?” At the last minute he’d replaced Duncan, who Savannah had requested to be part of the team. She never would’ve asked for Ron. “I thought you were headed to New Orleans.”
“I pulled a few strings.”
Frowning, she popped the trunk and went around to get her bags. “That doesn’t make sense...”
Ron quickly lost the cocky grin and shrugged. “I wanted a shorter gig.”
He looked as though he was holding something back, which made Savannah nervous. Of all the assignments, she couldn’t have this one go sideways. He’d asked her out a couple times, and she’d politely declined. It had been a while, and everything had been fine between them, especially since she worked in the Denver office and he was usually on the road.
But God help him if he stuck one toe over the line. A nasty thought had her biting down on her lip. Wouldn’t Ron just die if he knew she’d started seeing Porter Burke two months ago? She wouldn’t say, of course, but just imagining the shock on his face brought her a moment’s satisfaction.
He beat her to the bags, grabbing both of them.
“Thank you, Ron,” she said, trying to keep her tone pleasant. “But I’ve got it. You really should go catch up with Nina.”
“Change of plans,” he said, heading toward the motel entrance.
“What do you mean?” she asked, hurrying to keep up with him.
“I’m staying here, too.”
“What? Wait. Duncan booked two rooms over at—”
“I changed the reservations.”
“What do you mean you changed them? Without consulting me?”
They reached the door and he stepped back, exchanging a smile with an older woman exiting the building. It gave Savannah a minute to settle down and get her temper under control. She wanted to kill him, but instead she’d just maim him for life.
A couple was sorting through brochures in the lobby, which was small enough that it would be difficult for Savannah not to be overheard. A woman standing behind the front desk greeted them. Ron gave her a big smile, stepped up and set down the bags.
This was starting out just great. Ten crummy seconds. That was all Savannah would’ve needed to drag Ron back out to the parking lot without causing a scene.
“We’re checking in,” Ron said. “I believe you have our reservation. Mr. and Mrs. Ron Carver.”
Savannah gaped at him, too stunned to say anything.
“Yes, we’ve been expecting you.” The woman—Patty, according to her name tag—transferred her attention to a monitor screen. “Oh, and congratulations. I see you called this morning and requested a honeymoon suite—”
“What? No. That’s a mistake.” Savannah quietly cleared her throat as she tried to regain her wits. The woman looked confused. “We aren’t really married. Not yet.” Forcing a smile, Savannah elbowed Ron. “Quit being so impatient.”
“Come on, honey. Don’t be—”
“We need two rooms.”
“Well, to be honest, we don’t have anything like a honeymoon suite. But let’s see what we do have...” Patty returned her gaze to the monitor. “How about a connecting—”
“No. Nothing connecting either.” Savannah didn’t trust herself to even look at Ron. “In fact, a different floor would be preferable.”
“Savannah, honey...”
She pushed his arm away from her shoulders. “Actually, I’m still pretty upset with you from that last little stunt you pulled.” The heel of her boot found his big toe. She didn’t step down too hard.
Ron whimpered.
Oh, well maybe it was a tiny bit harder than she’d intended.
“I’m sorry, Patty.” Savannah found it wasn’t as difficult to smile this time. “I didn’t mean to include you in our little tiff. Now, about my room?”
“No problem.” The woman hid her amusement as well as Savannah hid her satisfaction over inflicting pain on the stupid bastard.
And she was in no way finished with him. Maiming was now officially off the table. Another cute move and she was going for the jugular.
She had to be careful, though. In their line of work, attracting too much attention sometimes ended with them giving themselves away. The town was a legitimate client paying for Porter Burke’s services. The team had to give it their best effort.
Savannah hadn’t once forgotten how much she had at stake here.
Life had been good to her these last six years. She had just about everything she could want and certainly more than she’d ever dreamed possible, given her background. But some elusive piece seemed to be missing, and she couldn’t shake the feeling Blackfoot Falls might be the key.
The whole point of coming back to her childhood home was to get some closure. Being run out of town had been traumatic, and she’d had nightmares, plenty of them, for years. Now she’d see it all from an adult’s perspective instead of a hormonal teen’s.
This quest was one of completion, a symbolic way of locking the past behind her, so she could finally, unequivocally feel like the woman she appeared to be. Content, successful and capable of creating the life she wanted.
Now, if she could just figure out a way to get rid of Ron.
* * *
MIKE BURNETT SWUNG into the saddle and pulled up the collar of his jacket against the chilly October air. The sun had already dropped behind the snowcapped peaks to the west, so he didn’t need to check the time to know he was running late. He’d hoped to be home well before sundown.
Maybe he was wrong about the calf straying this far. He thought he’d caught a glimpse of the little hellion in the brush, but it must’ve been a coyote.
After taking a final look around, he started down the ridge, scouring the overgrown sage while keeping Dude at a slow walk. As they approached the clearing, the gelding sniffed the air. His nostrils flaring, he danced impatiently, waiting for a signal.
Mike knew what was