Page 30 of Clumsy in Love

Holly drove to the base of the mountain and parked at the main visitor’s center, but made no move to get out.

“We doing this?” he asked, looking around the parking lot and wondering why she was still in the car.

“Shh. I’m trying to think of a way to get in and out without my boss finding out.”

“Why? We should talk to him about me tagging along with you.”

Holly shook her head. “Not if I can help it.”

“Why not?”

“Rick? The guy who left me at the altar?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Is your boss,” he said. “Great. Still, I want to talk to him. He needs a description of Edwardo.”

“Ugh.” She sighed dramatically. “He’ll find out anyway. Let’s go.”

On the walk into the building, he glanced down at his new clothes—hunter-green pants and a light brown shirt. “I look like a ranger wannabe.”

“I thought it would be best if you kind of matched me. You’re just missing the badge.” She tapped a long finger on the piece of tin pinned to her chest.

“I have arealbadge,” he said, patting his legs. “Somewhere. In one of these pockets.” He’d lost count of how many nooks and crannies lined his pants.

“Can’t have too many pockets.”

“I’m used to two in the front and two in the back.”

At the entry doors, she took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders. “Let’s get this over with.”

They entered the building, which was basically a huge log cabin. A long counter topped with information pamphlets and small souvenirs lined one wall. Signs indicated bathrooms off to one side, and he could see what looked like a couple of meeting rooms or offices in the back. Exhibits, presumably about nature and native animals, covered the majority of the floor space.

Cole followed Holly to an office on the far wall. “You want me to do the talking?” he asked.

“You would do that for me?” She seemed surprised and a tad touched.

“I just don’t want to end up in the middle of something awkward.”

“Fat chance of that,” she mumbled before knocking lightly on the half-open door.

Cole assessed the man at the desk. Late-twenties, short brown hair, ears that stuck out a little too far. He wasn’t the best judge of good-looking, but the kid wasn’t hideous.

“Rick,” Holly said. “Just checking in before I head out. Is it still okay I take the Fourth off?”

“You arranged it months ago,” Rick said, answering Holly but eyeballing Cole. “It’s fine. I heard about what happened in New York.”

“That was fast,” Cole muttered under his breath. He entered and stood next to Holly, offering a hand. “Cole Robinson.”

“Rick Flagg.” He offered a limp hand, which somehow Cole expected. He was totally the dead-fish handshake type. “This guy really gonna follow you everywhere?” he said to Holly.

“Look. Dick,” Cole said.

“My name’s Rick.”

Holly covered her mouth and coughed ostensibly. Cole was pretty sure it was to cover a laugh.

“Whatever.” Cole waved a hand. “Holly could be in real trouble. I’m gonna have a photo sent over, and I need you and your people to keep an eye out for anything unusual. Got it?” Cole assumed his tone and icy stare would make it clear there would be no negotiation on the issue.

Rick nodded and looked at Holly. “Can I talk to you a sec?”

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