Page 50 of Every Little Kiss
“I’m already in the approval process,” she said, telling herself that taking a hike with the gorgeous community-outreach officer, while not a date, was close enough to having this thing in the bag.
She had no idea how she was going to get the final sign-off, but Ford had been confident. And she was going to find enough volunteers to free up the officers to manage the course. Even if it meant joining every club in the county. All she needed was the medical personnel on hand.
And to think, this was all coming together because she had finally allowed herself to open up to someone new.
“I’m not asking you to sponsor the event,” Liv explained. “I’m just asking you to give some of the staff permission to volunteer their time in an official capacity, and agree to have the Mobile Medic serve as the extra medic support for Wagon Days.”
Nicole considered this. “This is one of the outreach issues Mobile Medic was created to handle.”
“But the clinic won’t be approved for service until the next board meeting,” Kevin pointed out ever so sweetly.
“I can call a special meeting—that’s not a problem. It’s missing a great opportunity to serve the community because I was waiting for permission that bothers me,” Nicole said, opening a journal and jotting down some notes. She looked up at Liv. “As long as you’re sure you can get the permits, I don’t see why we can’t do a test run.”
“That’s fantastic,” Liv said, moving to the edge of her chair. “I won’t let you down.”
“I hope not,” Nicole said. “Once I call the board, they’re going to be watching how you handle this new position and work with other groups in the community. This could be a big moment for you and the mobile clinic.”
Kevin straightened in his chair, histoo cool to sweat it’tude fading. “I can’t work that weekend. I’m already committed to run several other booths, and so is Brittany,” he said, referring to the vocational nurse who was already placed on Nicole’s team.
“I’ll be coordinating the event, so I can’t either, but I’m sure there are other nurses and doctors who would love the chance to work on the van for a day,” Liv pointed out. “In fact, I bet I can find you a team before I go home today.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Kevin said in a tone that translated intoAren’t you sweet, and Liv understood why Ford took issue with the phrase. “I didn’t want to say this, but last night one of my Moose Lodge buddies who works in the permitting office told me that you won’t get your permit approved this late in the game.”
“That’s funny,” Liv said, looking Kevin in the eye. “Who’s your guy? Because my guy said it wouldn’t be an issue.”
Kevin grinned. “Well,myguy runs the Department of Community Development, which means he is the only guy who matters.”
It was a rare day in Liv’s world when she was afforded the pleasure of sipping her morning coffee while it was still hot—and from an actual mug. Usually it was sucked down during her commute to the hospital. But since today was Liv’s day off, and Paxton was already at camp, her plan should have been to enjoy her morning fix on the front porch and take in the rare silence.
The sun was up, the sky was the perfect color of blue, and several kayaks were already out on the lake. Liv let the breeze brush her face as she watched a flock of Canada geese who’d decided to cut their migration short and skim above the water’s edge, flying under the new banner hanging in downtown.
It was so big that Liv could clearly make out every word, even from across the lake.
THETRAILBLAZERS OFWAGONDAYSBRING THELIGHTNING ANDTHUNDERBACK TOSEQUOIALAKE. COMEENJOY THECRAFTBEER, ART,ANDONE OF THEWILDESTADVENTURES IN THEWEST.
An adventure that was sure to be Liv’s last, she thought, hefting her backpack over her shoulder. She’d called the Department of Community Development first thing that morning. Even spoke with Kevin’s guy, Harvey, who had sadly confirmed Liv’s worst nightmares.
Her guy was full of shit.
While the sheriff’s department signed off on any permits involving re-trafficking and crowd control, Ford had zero say in the final approval of permits. Something she would have known if she’d done her due diligence and research instead of up and changing direction based solely on the promise of a handsome man.
Ford’s heart had been in the right place, of that she had no doubt. But it didn’t change the fact that Liv now had twenty-four hours to come up with an alternate solution or she would miss the window to apply for the correct permits.
She wasn’t so much mad at him as she was with herself for falling back on old habits. Which is why she’d texted Ford before she left the house and canceled their day. She needed to come up with a plan B, fill out the new forms, and get them in and approved ASAP. And that didn’t leave time for a leisurely morning on her porch.
Especially charming and sexy ones who wanted to play hero for the day.
She needed to be her own hero, and this was her last chance to show what she was made of. Or Nicole was going to have to back Kevin’s idea. It was the smart move. Kevin had the contacts, the necessary approvals, and the board’s backing going for him. All Liv had was a binder of unvetted ideas and a twin-pack of Hostess cupcakes from her secret hiding spot—because, apparently,herguy was full of frosting.
The Women of the Wagon Trail were already hard at work on the event. News of the “Wagon Days Messiah” had spread like wildfire. Carolyn had found a new Crock-Pot recipe for tuna. And Liv still had to hike around the lake to do recon for an event that was likely to be canceled.
She looked at her cupcakes and wondered what the punishment was for eating dessert before eight in the morning. Double calories, she imagined, since that would be just her luck.
Maybe if she sucked down her coffee, the cupcake could be considered a breakfast pastry.
Liv set her backpack on the sand and tried to unhitch her thermos from the safety strap. It was childproof and secured tightly, so she pulled harder. With a frown—and a whole lot of bad words directed at whoever invented the idiotic idea of childproofing anything—she told herself that Paxton would never know and went straight for the sugar.
“I’m more of a bacon-and-eggs kind of guy, but for you I’d risk the sugar crash.”
