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“But you work at the Rooster.”
“Ruth is an equal opportunity employer.” Who would flip out the minute she learned Heather was engaged to this too-serious, workaholic, virtual stranger. Going back to Haleswood wasn’t her idea of the best option here either, but she wanted to see the situation first hand. “What are we going to do about the attack on the shelter?”
“You aren’t smiling.”
Her patience snapped. “Why the hell would I be smiling?” She turned away from him, giving up. “I’m going to Haleswood, with or without your support.”
“How?”
“I’ll borrow your Camaro.”
“Borrowing a car without permission is typically grand theft auto.”
“Call a cop. J.C. can haul me in just as soon as I help restore order at the shelter. They’ll need me.” She stopped, shot him a look over her shoulder. “But you should know I expect my devoted fiancé to post bail.”
“Heather.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if I’d gotten engaged to a man who understood how much people and animals mattered to me? You’ll make this engagement a really tough sell if—”
“Enough.” The single word, delivered with quiet, cold fury, silenced her. “You are impossible.”
She didn’t bother to correct him or tell him the sentiment was mutual. He didn’t know her and clearly didn’t want to. “I’m going to Haleswood.”
“We are going to Haleswood. I just needed a minute, and some caffeine to process the problem.”
Had he just caved? “We are going to catch hell for this small mountain on my finger.” She stared at her hand, distracted once more by the artistry of the ring. Someone had good taste, even if it was too, too much for her.
He scowled at her hand. “One problem at a time.” He raised the coffee to his lips and took a big gulp. She watched his throat work as he swallowed the hot brew. “I’m sorry.”
She didn’t want his apologies, she wanted action. Mistakes happened, circumstances were part of life. “Accepted.” She took another step away. “Let’s just get going.”
“No.” His hard gaze kept her rooted in place. “I want you to understand me.” He downed more coffee. “I’m sorry they attacked the shelter.”
The words made her uncomfortable and a tiny itch started up between her shoulder blades, out of reach and impossible to ignore. “You can apologize and process while we’re on the road, can’t you?” She waved him toward the bedroom. “Come on. Get dressed and let’s get moving.”
“Right behind you.”
Finally. But she stopped short at the doorway, suddenly worried. She looked him over from head to toe.
“What?”
“Sorry.” Staring had been rude. “You do have something other than a suit, right?” She nearly laughed at his annoyed expression, but thought better of it. “Hey, it’s all you’ve ever worn around me.”
“That’s not true.”
It was true. She had a vivid memory of each time he’d strayed from the polish of the city into her small town and the one time she’d gone to Columbia to see him. He’d worn a suit every time she’d seen him and only once had he left off a tie. That had been Christmas Eve and the first time she’d seen his eyes up close, the first time she’d seen him smile. If that subtle curve of lips officially qualified.
She opened her mouth to defend herself and decided it would just be pathetic and undermine any respect she might have gained in his eyes. It wasn’t any of his business if she fantasized about him and the way he dressed.
Suddenly another thought hit her. “You did pack something normal for me to wear, right? And shoes?”
“Define normal,” he said scooting past her and heading for the bedroom at last.
“Dale.”
“Yes.” He opened his closet door and pulled out the suitcase he’d shown her last night. It still made her twitchy that he’d gone shopping on her behalf. “Knock yourself out. I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes. A duplicate of your running shoes are right there.”
He’d pointed to the floor of his closet before heading for the bathroom. She stared at the pair of new cross-trainers with a lime green swoosh squared up precisely next to a pair of his brown dress shoes.
