Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

Sloan didn’t know if she’d upset Rhett or if he was simply reflective as they drove the forty minutes into Kalispell. She asked him about his background in building and he told her about the five different certificates he’d earned from the tech college, and his apprenticeship with Josh Francis and Francis Homes. She recognized the builder as one who had a home in her development. One who’d sent her increasingly irritated emails.

Hopefully she could salvage relationships and make her development a success. From her awful cousins to the mud to everyone being upset at her, she was in a mess. The man seated next to her was her only ally. She hid her discomfort and focused on what Rhett was saying.

Rhett admitted he’d worked hard on his parents’ ranch growing up and had a large savings which had helped him secure property and build spec homes when he had the required years of apprenticeship and was ready to go out on his own. He had made a name for himself and was blessed with opportunities to build custom homes and his business had soared from there.

He was a very impressive man, not to mention a very enticing one. If she only had one ally in Montana, Rhett Coleville was an ideal choice. He could protect her from her foul cousins and knew the construction industry in this area, but she found it wasn’t just Rhett’s advantages that were appealing … it was the man himself. Too appealing. Had she really agreed to stay at his house? That was letting down her guard in a way she’d never done, and she was already regretting being impulsive. She did trust Rhett, but she couldn’t grow close to a man.

She looked out the window to avoid staring at him. A glorious infusion of color showed the sun was setting behind the clouds over the mountains as they pulled into town. The rain had paused. For a moment.

Her stomach growled.

“The store’s open until nine,” he said. “Shall we eat first?”

She put a hand to her abdomen. “Did I make it that obvious I’m starving?”

“A diet of chocolate-covered everything will do that to you.” He smirked at her, tilting his head to her treat bag in the back.

“For sure.” Normally she’d be embarrassed that a fine-looking and impressive man had seen her chocolate obsession, but Rhett wasn’t judging her for it. Besides being upset at her when he thought she was a man, he’d been very even-tempered and generous. Even when he had dueled her cousins, he hadn’t lost his cool. Impressive.

“So the question I’m dying to know...” He drove with one hand, his cowboy hat on the console, and his blue eyes darted to hers. “Sushi or steak?”

“Either one, please. I can imagine the steak from some of your Montana longhorns would melt in my mouth.” Those blue eyes of his were powerful.

“I think it’s Texas longhorns, but we definitely know beef around here.”

“You have sushi here?”

“Even in the backwoods we can import raw fish.”

“Ah-ha,” she mock-laughed at him. “Okay, hmm. Raw fish or raw steak? It’s such a big decision. I’d settle for McDonald’s at this point.”

He stopped at a traffic light and glanced at her. “You know, I might be a redneck contractor, but I’m not taking a date to McDonald’s. Especially not a classy lady like you.”

“You’re not a redneck. You think I’m classy? Even after my spills in the mud and dealing with my truly redneck cousins?” Sloan shouldn’t have asked that. She didn’t open herself up to men, especially contractors.

“I do.” His gaze was warm and meaningful. “Classy and brave.”

Their eyes held. His compliments lingered between them. She was grateful he didn’t think she was a hot mess. She wanted him to see her as classy and brave. Uncertain what was happening inside her, she couldn’t pull her eyes away. His blue eyes were full of delicious promises. Was she letting down her guard with a man? Kathy would be screaming to go for it, but Sloan had a lifetime of defenses built around her heart. She never wanted anyone, but especially not a tough and courageous man like Rhett, to see how scared she was inside.

A honk sounded from behind them. They both startled. The traffic light had changed. Rhett pushed on the gas. “Sorry. Got distracted.” He smiled at her.

She leaned back against the seat. Rhett returned her interest. She had no experience on what to do with a successful, confident, and appealing man’s interest. She offended or rejected self-assured and handsome men within hours or sometimes minutes of meeting them. The day still had some hours in it.

“We do need to go report your squatters and the fight before we eat,” he said. “So you have a few minutes to ponder on the sushi and steak dilemma.”

Her stomach turned at the thought of talking to the police about her cousins, but she supposed it had to be done.

Rhett pulled into the Flathead County Sheriff’s office. Now her stomach was feeling even worse. The fact that it was empty probably didn’t help, but she’d been jumping through hoops with Flathead County for eighteen months. She realized the sheriff’s office was different, but …

She put a hand on Rhett’s muscular forearm. “What if Jaxon was right and Sheriff Joe is loyal to him?”

“The White Pine area is in the county’s jurisdiction so we need to try the sheriff’s office first. If the sheriff won’t listen, we can try to talk to the Kalispell City police and see what they can do. Just a second.” He pulled his phone out and clicked on his texts. After a few moments, he said, “Clint said Sheriff Joseph Pollard is a good old boy and he’s never heard of him not upholding the law. Sheriff Pollard helped Clint rescue his wife Lily when a murderer kidnapped her. Clint was impressed with him and his department.”

“That’s a good report. Who’s Clint?” she asked.

“My oldest brother, the mighty sheriff of Coleville.”

She smiled at that, wondering how mighty a sheriff of a small town could be. Yet if he was anything like Rhett, he would be mightier than most men. “What do you mean a murderer kidnapped her?”

He raised one shoulder. “Crazy story, but an anesthesiologist at her hospital was actually a murderer under an assumed identity. He was in love with Lily and kidnapped her. Thankfully Clint saved the day like the hero he is.”

Sloan’s eyes were wide. “That’s horrifying. I’m so grateful she’s all right.”

“Thanks. Me too.”

There was a pause, then she asked, “How many brothers do you have?”

“I’m the fifth of six.”

“Whoa. Your poor mother.”

He chuckled. “She claims boys are the best and she’s blessed, but she’s certainly happy with her four daughters-in-law, especially now that she’s a grammy.” He smiled fondly. “My brother Easton married a gal with an adorable little girl, Presley.”

“Adorable.” She smiled, her heart thumping quick for different reasons. “The word doesn’t seem right rolling off of your tough-guy tongue.”

He grinned at that, grabbed his hat, and said, “Let me get your door, Adorable Sloan Jensen.”

She laughed out loud. Nobody had ever called her adorable. Her dad would’ve scoffed if he heard it. “Thank you. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”

He came around and helped her out of the truck, escorting her into the sheriff’s office. The young man who helped them was friendly, easy to talk to, wrote down their statements, and filed the report. Unless Jaxon and Preston made more of a nuisance of themselves or they could prove they’d had anything to do with some of the ‘accidents’ at the construction sites, there wasn’t a lot he could do but file the report on trespassing and the request for a restraining order to keep Jaxon and Preston away from her and her land.

They thanked him and left. As they walked out into the crisp evening air, Rhett put his hat back on his head and rested his hand on her lower back. Every time he touched her, it felt significant. Was it just attraction or was there something deeper happening here?

Sloan would never let herself rely on a man and had never dated one long term. She either pushed the guy away with her ‘independence’ or she grew bored or annoyed with him after a date or two.

She glanced up at the enticing cowboy gazing down at her. She doubted she could grow bored of him.

“Checked that off. Now … sushi or steak? Or there are other options.”

“I don’t think there are. Not tonight at least.” She smiled. “Steak, please.”

“I knew I liked you.”

He escorted her to the truck and helped her load up. Sloan was stuck on those words ‘I knew I liked you’. Did he? Her own father hadn’t liked her, and she’d never given any other man a chance to like her. Rhett hadn’t liked her a few hours ago. Was he simply a ‘schmoozer’ as her friend Kathy would say? Was she being too trusting agreeing to stay the night at his house?

He loaded up, took off his hat, ran his fingers through his hair, and smiled at her. She had a hard time not believing those incredible blue eyes were genuine.

Mercantile Steak was just down the road. It was rustic, with rich wood on the walls and the floor and stuffed animal heads with antlers as part of the decorations. Definitely not the steakhouse ambiance she was used to. The dead animals looking at her was a bit off-putting, but the rest of the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. Rhett had used the bathroom at the sheriff’s office to wash up a bit, but he still had mud on his boots. Nobody even seemed to notice.

They were seated and a friendly waitress brought waters and took their orders. Sloan excused herself to wash her hands, thankful she’d brought her purse in so she could freshen her makeup. She was enjoying being with Rhett and wondered what the night would bring. A shower and a good night’s rest sounded amazing. Would it be awkward being alone with him at his house? What would his house be like?

When she returned to the table, a middle-aged couple was talking to Rhett. They were all standing and the conversation looked friendly.

Sloan walked up and stood next to Rhett. “Hello,” she said.

The couple looked from her to Rhett and back again. “Well, hello there,” the lady said. “And who might you be, beautiful lady on a date with our favorite single friend, the most eligible bachelor around, in case you didn’t know.”

Sloan chuckled and looked at Rhett. He’d set his cowboy hat on an empty chair earlier. He dipped his head, brushed his hand through his hair, and looked properly embarrassed. She’d never seen a tough guy like him look chagrined. His gaze met hers and she realized it was more than embarrassment. It was concern. The lady seemed so friendly, and the man was smiling at her as well. What was Rhett worried about?

“Sloan,” Rhett said in a husky timbre. “These are good friends of mine, Josh and Sandy Francis.”

Josh stuck out his hand to shake. “Sloan?” His brow squiggled. “Unusual name for a woman.”

She shook his hand and regarded him as well. “Josh Francis? The builder?”

He blinked and nodded at her and then he looked to Rhett. Rhett’s jaw was tight, and his lips were set in a thin line as Josh pulled his hand back.

“I’ve spoken with you,” she said. “Emailed, at least. I’m Sloan Jensen.”

“Sloan Jensen?” Josh repeated. He took a step back as if she had a contagious disease.

“ The Sloan Jensen?” Sandy’s mouth formed an O. “The one you cuss every other day? That can’t be right. Sloan Jensen is an idiot who’s trying to develop property on White Pine River and making it a nightmare for all of you. He’s some jerk from Vegas, not a beautiful young woman that our Rhett would be out to dinner with.” The lady looked from Sloan to Rhett to her husband and back through the rotation again.

Sloan wanted to sink into the floor. Her neck and cheeks burned. She held her shoulders and neck at a proud angle, clutching her hands together in front of her. Apparently all the builders up here cussed her name. She’d gotten in over her head, it was true, but she was here now and she would find a way to make everything work. Maybe she didn’t know developing as well as she thought, and residential was different from commercial, and Montana weather was a nightmare in the spring, but she could learn and work and conquer.

She wanted to fire back, but she held her tongue and was proud of herself for it. These were Rhett’s friends, and he’d told her Josh had given him an apprenticeship fresh out of tech school. There was no good that would come from getting in a verbal battle of who was responsible for the bad weather, the slow as sludge county officials, and the accidents she’d heard had happened on the sites.

Rhett pushed a hand at his hair. “Sloan is a beautiful and impressive lady,” he said in the same voice he’d used on Jaxon and Preston, steel and not to be messed with. “You know how the county is. They’ve been even worse to work with since she isn’t from around here. Sloan can’t control the weather or force the road crews to work, and the accidents on site are definitely not her fault.”

Josh looked from Rhett to Sloan. “So that’s how it is, huh? The developer comes slinking into town and you realize she’s a gorgeous woman and not a weasel of a man, so you take her side just like that? Yesterday afternoon you were belly-aching about her as much as any of us. Never figured the Rhett Coleville I know for a turncoat who’d dump his loyalties for a pretty face. Come on, Sandy.” He took his wife’s hand and, without another glance at Sloan or Rhett, stomped between the tables and out of the restaurant.

Rhett pushed at his hair again and blew out a breath. “I apologize.”

“For running my name through the mud?” she asked, tilting her chin up. The humiliation of Josh Francis saying Rhett had dumped his loyalties for a pretty face stung deep. Was that all Rhett was doing? Was he just drawn in by her face? She’d loved their banter and how he protected her. She hadn’t let anyone protect her since she got out from under her dad’s iron rule. Though she’d be forever grateful for his protection from Jaxon and Preston, she’d made a mistake letting herself flirt and grow closer to him. What had she been thinking? She’d never let down her guard before as she fought her father and then fought to succeed in a man’s world. She couldn’t let down her guard now.

He lifted his hands and looked adorably uncomfortable. No, not adorable. Rhett had stuck up for her multiple times today, but it gouged at her that everyone had been disparaging her before she came here.

“Is it easy just to throw all the blame on the person who’s not around?” she asked.

Rhett grimaced at that. “That’s probably part of it.” He met her gaze. “But Sloan, that was before I met you, before I knew …”

“That I was just another pretty face?”

His blue eyes flashed. “I’m not denying your face is gorgeous, but that isn’t what I was going to say.”

She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a challenging glare. “Really?”

“Really.” He stood straight, as strong and intimidating as any man around, especially as she knew how he could fight. That made her stomach squirm with guilt. He’d fought for her, rescued her from the mud, was sticking out his neck for her with another builder who he had a great relationship with. She didn’t want to damage relationships; she wanted to strengthen them, rise together. If these builders succeeded, she would succeed as well. But right now, she sorely wanted to fight and stand up for herself.

“I was going to say before I knew how brave and smart you are.”

“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say, what to think. Her dad always told her she would get in over her head without him and it infuriated her. If he ever found out she’d moved up here, he’d be the furious one, but it wasn’t his business. She was a full-grown woman and wanted to succeed on her own. She’d been successful in the commercial industry as an employee. Maybe residential and being independent weren’t something she could handle.

No. She could handle it and she didn’t need her dad’s help. She’d prove them all wrong.

“Can you please unlock your truck so I can retrieve my things and find a hotel?” she asked. How far would she have to drag those heavy suitcases? It was dark outside. Was it safe to walk the streets at night? It wouldn’t be in Vegas or L.A. but maybe in these northern towns it was okay. As long as Jaxon or Preston didn’t find her. A hotel would cut into her scant slush fund, but she didn’t have any choice. She’d try to find a long-term rental. Did they even have condos up here?

“Sloan, please. You’re going to butt your head against walls with the county and the other contractors. I’ve seen you in the past few hours. The real you. Let me help you.”

Sloan could only stare at him. Did he know the real her? Did anyone? She was so prickly and independent that few got through her shell. She needed to be alone. She needed to talk to Kathy.

The waitress walked up with plates of steaming food, staring between them as they were both still standing.

Rhett pulled out her chair and gave her a beseeching look. He wanted to help her. He thought he knew the real her.

She was in over her head, not just with the construction and development but with her awful cousins too. It was tempting to lean into Rhett and let him help her through the mud.

But that wasn’t how Sloan Jensen operated. She’d let down her guard far too much today. It had been a muddy and terrifying whirlwind and Rhett had swept her off her feet in many ways, but that was over. Tomorrow, she’d be herself again. Full of courage. And alone.

She did settle into the chair, because she was starving and never could focus when she was too hungry. She’d eat the meal, pay for it, and find a hotel. She couldn’t rely on Rhett. Unless she wanted to give up all her independence and be subservient like her mother had been and what she had fought to escape.

She couldn’t rely on anyone but herself.