Page 90 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

“I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve been in this situation.”

She stuffed her phone into her purse, picked up her keys from the counter, and moved toward the door.

“No, but first time I’ve been in this situation without having had a fantastic, sleepless night.” He moved to her and placed his hand on the small of her back as she opened the lock.

She looked at him over her shoulder. “Back off, Dean. I’m taking you to the hotel and that’s it.” Although she’d texted her father to meet her in the hotel restaurant.

Sitting in her car, Dean next to her, she felt a sense of dread as he chattered on about running for her father’s senate seat should her father decide to make a run for governor and all the reasons he, Dean, was the best man for the job.

She blocked out Dean’s ramblings as best she could, saying a noncommittal um-hum now and again. Not that Dean noticed. He barely took a breath.

She was going to do something she swore she would never do again, and that was ask her father for a favor. Rusty had been waiting for this police job for months. One night trying to protect her should not ruin his future career. He deserved better.

Kristy parked the car and looked over at Dean. He was staring at her like he expected her to answer something. For the life of her, she couldn’t drum up what he’d just said.

Dean waggled his eyebrows. Which looked pretty strange, considering his distorted face.

“What?”

“You’re coming in? Seeing me to my hotel room?”

“I’m meeting my father. I want to see him before he leaves, because who knows when I’ll get back to Cheyenne.” She didn’t want Dean to suspect the favor she’d be asking.

“You need to come back to Cheyenne. After the gala you pulled off, Marcia should make you head of the Cheyenne office, especially after her health scare.”

“How do you know about Marcia?”

“Your father told me. He wants you back in Cheyenne. It would give us a chance to begin anew, Kristy.”

Chapter 23

Kristy slid out of the car. Dean’s ego apparently wouldn’t let him believe that there was no “us.” She slammed the car door with a little more oomph than she intended, and the sound echoed through the parking area.

She walked briskly. Dean kept pace. When they entered the hotel lobby, he stopped when she did, as if waiting to follow her lead.

“I intend to see my father alone, Dean.”

“Think about us, Kristy. We’d make a good team, you and me. Come back to Cheyenne and give us a chance.”

“You think aboutnotruining a good man’s career.” She knew she was pleading, but this was something to plead about.

Dean shook his stubborn little head. “He’s got anger-management issues. He shouldn’t be a cop.”

There was no sense arguing with him—the man was too thickheaded. “By raising your fist, you threatened him. Goodbye, Dean.”And good riddance.

Without looking back, she headed in the direction of the dining room, where her father said he’d meet her. She could use another cup of coffee.

On the way in, she checked her phone again. Nothing from Rusty.

It was easy to spot her father. He was surrounded by other people, this time all male. But when he noticed her, he rose, excused himself, and walked over. He was dressed casually in khakis and a polo shirt, as if ready to play a round of golf.

“Where’s Dean?” her father asked.

“On his way to his hotel room.”

“He feeling okay?”

“Seems to be.”

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