31. When Shiitakes Hit the Fan

Hailey hung up, leaned back in her chair, and puffed out a lung-emptying breath. She looked around the Loose Moose's cozy interior, telling herself she was safe. Would she be after dropping her bombshell, though?

Her phone buzzed with a text from Noah. Everything go all right with your call?

Hailey: Haha!Do you have ESP? I just hung up, and I'm feeling a little shaky.

Noah:I got you. Want me to stop by?

Hailey:Yes, please. How soon can you be here?

Noah:I'm here now, surfer girl.

A light rap sounded, and Hailey's heart fluttered as she hightailed it for the front door. When she flung it open, the organ somersaulted in her chest at the sight of Noah on the front stoop, all hunky in his mountain-man flannel and puffy vest. He canted his head, a tentative smile curving his generous mouth.

She flew into his arms and clung to him, closing her eyes as she breathed him in. "How long have you been standing here?"

"About ten minutes. I wanted to be here in case you needed me."

Oh my God! This man.

His warm chuckle ruffled her hair. "Does this mean that was a good call on my part?"

"The best," she murmured and hauled him inside.

He slipped off his vest and pulled her into his lap as he sat down on the couch. "Tell me how it went. Did you lay it all out there like we talked about?"

She locked her fingers together at his nape and swallowed the lump in her throat. "I did."

"And how did the HR director take it?"

"She was in neutral the entire way, so I have no idea if she thinks I made up a wild story or believes my reasons for quitting are legit. And now all I can think about is whether I did the right thing."

Those fiery emerald eyes bored into hers. "Of course you did. It was an exit interview. You had to let them know what kind of character they're dealing with before your chance was gone. To hold back could put someone else in danger. They should be thanking you and pinning a medal on you, babe."

God, she loved his protective side!

She rested her head on his shoulder and nuzzled into his solid warmth. If she could have, she would have crawled inside him.

He stroked her hair and dropped a kiss on it. "Did you say anything about filing a sexual harassment complaint?"

She nodded against his chest. "Yes. She asked me to give them some time to check into my allegations before I pull the trigger on anything. Do you think I should hold off?"

"No. I only see that working to their advantage, not yours, and you need to protect yourself. There's a lawyer in Denver I've heard some of the Blizzard players talk about. He's supposed to be really sharp. How about I get his contact information from Wyatt so you can give him a call? Let him know what you're dealing with and see what he says." He laid his cheek on her head. "What do you say, surfer girl? I'll hang with you while you do it, if you want."

God, she hated this whole situation, but he was right. The wrong had been inflicted on her, and she'd had no choice. Simply because she was on the right side of justice didn't guarantee squat, and the state had resources to fight her claim—lots of resources. She needed an advocate in her camp who knew how to navigate the law. "I think that would be a good idea."

He unwound his arms and tapped on his phone while she stayed glued to him. "There. Text sent. As soon as we hear back from Wyatt, you can call the attorney. Now how about we take the rest of your stuff to my place? The owners are expecting the Moose back in less than a week anyway, so let's do it."

What little stuff she'd brought with her this past weekend when they'd moved her out of her Montrose apartment—without spotting Cliff, thank God—was already at Noah's. Her bigger belongings were stored in the Loose Moose's garage, where they would stay indefinitely for a nominal monthly fee. Bottom line, she had little reason to hang on to the short-term rental.

Staying in Noah's loft had been far more comfortable than she had expected—and way more convenient since she spent every night in his bed. The Moose had been her backup in case quasi-living with him proved too cramped, but so far the transition had been a smooth and natural step. Yeah, she was definitely getting used to this new arrangement.

Days later, Hailey led Chance out of the back door of the Miners Tavern into the crisp morning air, and he made a beeline for a strip of wheat-colored grass at the back of the parking lot. A white rectangle caught her eye from where its corner lifted, stirred beneath her windshield wiper by the wind.

That's weird. Beside her SUV stood Noah's truck, but no paper flapped under his wipers.

She plucked it out and unfolded a letter-sized piece of paper. On it were three typewritten words, stark black against the crisp white sheet: I'm watching you. A shudder racked her body, and it wasn't from the twenty-degree air.

Swiveling her head from side to side, she probed the long shadows, but nothing moved. Chance sniffed at the ground like he always did, not cocking an ear or otherwise alerting to anything unusual. As he did his business, she looked around furtively, feeling eyes on her, but the wind was the only thing moving in the dawn light.

She hurried him along and walked swiftly back to the tavern, willing her legs to not break into a run. Once inside the tavern, she thudded the door closed and threw the lock as fast as her fumbling fingers would go, pressed her back to the door, and pulled in a steadying breath.

Her attorney, Tom Carlisle, hadn't finished drafting her formal complaint just yet, and she pondered whether someone in HR had tipped off Cliff Meissner or Dan Williams about her damning narrative since her exit interview. She hadn't heard a peep from Cliff since the night he'd attacked her nearly ten days ago, but that didn't mean shit hadn't hit the fan. The blast simply might not have reached her. Yet. Being in Fall River, staying with Noah every night in his loft, had manifested the illusion she was cocooned in safety where nothing bad could reach her, and she'd let down her guard. The note was tearing apart the frail fabric of her fantasy.

As Chance trotted over to his water bowl, she eased. He would have been in full alert mode if anything or anyone threatening lurked out there. Someone was simply playing tricks on her. Hell, kids with nothing better to do probably picked her car at random and left the creepy note there. Maybe they'd left the same message on other cars in town.

"You're being paranoid." She laughed at herself, but she found neither the brittle sound nor her arguments reassuring.

Back upstairs, she slid the note into her backpack before pulling off her clothes, sliding under the covers, and snuggling against Noah's heavy body. He mumbled a curse, then muttered into her hair, his voice thick with sleep, "You're shivering."

"It's cold outside."

"I'll warm you up, surfer girl." He threw a leg over hers and wrapped her up in his warm, strong arms. Safe, protected, she rested her hands and head against his solid chest and dozed.

Several days passed without a ripple, despite Tom delivering notice on Hailey's behalf, and her anxiety eased once again, letting her focus on a different urgent dilemma.

It was in this state that she opened the front door to the Miners Tavern, surprising the woman who stood staring at the health department seal that had kept the Miners Tavern closed. Hopefully that seal would be gone after today.

Ashley's wide eyes landed on Hailey. "Hailey Bailey! What are you doing here?" Last time they had seen one another, they'd been munching on skimpy appetizers at the Christmas party nearly four months ago.

"Hi, Ashley," she greeted the Mesa County Public Health Department inspector. "I work here now." She motioned the woman in and secured the door.

"I heard there was a big shakeup in Montrose County. When did you start here?" Confusion clouded the woman's eyes. She probably wondered why Hailey had traded her safe, cushy job for one working in a closed-down restaurant in a small, rundown mountain town.

"I started a few weeks ago." Hailey's gaze drifted to Noah, Dixie, and Dewey standing ramrod straight in front of the bar. Well, straight for Dewey meant he was a little less stooped than usual. "Let me introduce you to the owner, his restaurant manager, and his kitchen manager. They're here to facilitate the inspection in any way they can. You can also tell them to clear the hell out if you prefer, and they'll comply." Hailey mouthed, "Right?" to the three sentinels. Noah returned a nearly imperceptible nod.

Ashley smiled. "Well, this is a refreshing welcome."

Hailey didn't miss the way the woman's eyes swept appreciatively over Noah's frame. That admiration could go a long way in tipping the outcome in his favor. Not that Hailey was worried the tavern would pass, but still, today's unorthodox inspection was a huge deal.

After making the introductions, Noah stepped forward as Hailey had instructed him when they'd reviewed strategy this morning. "Where would you like to start, inspector?" He held out a hand for her backpack and placed it on a chair.

She batted her eyelashes. "Thank you." Flipping open her storage clipboard, she affixed forms to it and pursed her lips. "So you were closed down two weeks ago due to the presence of pests, is that correct?"

"Yes." He pressed his lips together, signaling he was fighting the urge to blurt out that the whole thing was a travesty and that he'd been set up.

"And we're here on a re-inspect based on some recent discovery of irregularities … Hmm." She frowned as she reviewed the paperwork. "It's not clear what those irregularities were, but it doesn't matter. We'll proceed as if this were a regular inspection. Perhaps you can tell me what you've done since the closing to prevent another infestation?"

Red slashes appeared on Noah's cheekbones, and Hailey could read his indignation. Behind him, Dewey fidgeted as if he stood on a bed of hot coals and needed to hop foot to foot. Dixie elbowed him and glared.

To his credit, Noah calmly produced the exterminator's report and expounded on the findings and all the steps taken since the shutdown. "The pests were confined to one small space in the pantry. Let me show you."

Hailey gave him a thumbs-up when he glanced over his shoulder.

For the rest of the inspection, Dixie and Dewey played cards at a back table and Hailey hovered close by—but not too close. Ashley directed her questions and comments entirely at Noah, and the inspection came to an end.

The inspector pulled off her gloves. "Mr. Hunnicutt, I'm pleased to inform you that I see nothing that would prevent you from reopening. I'll be filing my report recommending that the seal be removed immediately so you can get back to your regular food service."

He gusted out a breath. "That's great news. How soon will that happen?"

"You're my last inspection today, so I'll be uploading my report shortly. You should hear back by the end of business today or tomorrow. Someone put a rush on this—probably due to those irregularities—so I don't think it'll take long."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure. And thank you for being so accommodating. You have no idea how difficult some owners make our jobs." She slipped her clipboard into her bag and hoisted the thing on her shoulder.

He raised his eyes to Hailey's. "I've heard about that. I'm sure what you do isn't easy, and I'm glad someone is willing to do what it takes to protect the public." His eyes sparkled with a triumphant look that broadcast, "See what I did there? Aren't you proud of me?"

Ashley canted her head and smiled up at him. "Thank you for that." She presented him with a business card. "You call me if you have questions. Any questions. That's my personal cell number."

Ooh, the little trollop!

To Hailey, she said, "We have a position opening up soon at the Mesa County Health Department, and I think you'd be a great fit. Interested?"

Hailey didn't hesitate. "No, but thank you. I'm exploring what the civilian world has to offer."

Ashley looked around the tavern and shrugged. "Bet you won't find better benefits."

Hailey sent Noah a wink over Ashley's shoulder. Bet I already have.

As soon as Ashley walked out and Noah had locked the door behind her, he rushed over and scooped Hailey up in his arms until she squealed. "You did it, surfer girl! You did it!"

"We did it," she laughed, looping her arms around his neck. Her gaze skipped to Dixie and Dewey. "We all did it."

"We didn't do squat," Dewey groused.

Dixie added her own complaint. "All we did was play cards. She didn't ask nothing about how hard Dewey scrubs that kitchen."

"She didn't need to," Hailey replied, "because she could see it. The fact that you two gave up your spare time to make yourselves available to help her was huge." She turned to Noah. "And you, Mr. Charming, about fogged her glasses every time she looked at you. Which I can understand because you fog my glasses too." She gave him a smoldering look, and he instantly returned one of his own.

Dixie's painted brows drew together. "But you don't wear glasses."

"Exactly."

Noah sprouted a wide grin. "That's what hunks of man meat do. Seriously, babe, we couldn't have done it without you pulling the right strings."

"I didn't pull any strings. You're the one who filed the appeal."

He snorted. "Along with the pictures and a narrative from a CDC scientist showing the wrong kind of mice were discovered. And even if someone's pet mice had gotten loose in the pantry, the pictures you took made it clear there were no signs they'd started their own subdivision. That, timed with everything you told HR about Meissner, made a neat little bundle they couldn't ignore. That was all you, sweetheart."

Someone up the food chain determined Noah had been caught in the cross hairs of a disgruntled rival and that the head of the food inspection arm of the Montrose County Health Department had been, at the very least, duped in a scheme to undermine the Miners Tavern. The finding, coupled with Hailey's allegation she'd uncovered bribery of a public official—which had led to her suffering an attack by said official and leaving her no choice but to resign—had thrown the county into an epic tailspin. Sniffing a disastrous lawsuit and a whole lot of egg on their faces, they had placed Cliff Meissner on leave while they investigated. Dan Williams had personally offered Hailey her job back, verging on panic as he did so, and she had reveled in turning him down. Job security be damned. Let them find some other sucker to drive all over kingdom come while putting up with their tactics.

The one part of this scenario that had been niggling at her surfaced, causing her to frown. "And now I'm a whistleblower."

"You're protected by the law," Noah assured.

Dewey's eyebrows waggled above his glasses. "You can blow the whistle once Noah and them gets that train going, girlie." For not the first time, Hailey contemplated whether Dewey was high, dense, or merely pretending a misinterpretation in order to have a bit of fun. Noah shook his head at the man, and Dixie elbowed him … again. "Ouch! Why do you keep poking me with that thing, love blossom?"

Dixie mumbled something about a love tap, and he clucked at her in response.

Noah teased Hailey with an elbow poke of his own. "And speaking of trains, my meeting with the Silver Summit group is back on."

Word about the tavern's troubles had reached the owners, and they had postponed the meeting to see how the situation shook out. Hailey was convinced that, out of spite, Ursula had run to them with the news. The day she'd tracked Noah down in the coffee shop, she'd been on the hunt for juicy details—after spotting the health department's notice tacked to the front door.

Now that Noah's permit was about to be reinstated, the meeting would be back on, and Hailey couldn't be happier for him.

A panting Charlie burst in from the back entrance, making them all flinch. "Dell's has been red-tagged."

Dixie perched her hands on her hips and frowned at him. "What's ‘red-tagged'?"

Charlie's grin split his face from ear to ear. "A building inspector stopped by and found a shit ton of building code violations, so he slapped a big old notice on red paper on the front door. Dell's has to comply with a laundry list of requirements and pass another inspection before he can continue with his reno. And the best part? Since he's knocked out the wall between the old interior and the new, the whole place is included in that red tag. Nothing's going to happen in there until the building department feels he's brought the place up to code and that it's safe."

Noah's eyes lit. "You're shitting me!"

Charlie shook his head. "Would I shit you about something like that? No, sir. Keating is in a world of trouble. Love those inspectors!" He threw Hailey a sly wink.

Hailey clapped. "Looks like the timing couldn't be better for the tavern to reopen!"

Noah updated Charlie on the inspection, and the brothers high-fived and whooped while she, Dixie, and Dewey looked on and laughed. Her heart filled to full capacity.

Later that evening, she and Noah relaxed together on his couch watching Blizzard hockey while Chance dozed on the floor beside them. Noah stretched out lengthwise, and she rested in between his legs in a shirt and socks, her head lolling on his chest as she balanced a bowl of popcorn on her tummy and tossed kernels into her mouth.

She craned her neck and peered at him. "This game's got me thinking."

"Can it wait? I want to watch the boys play."

"Just hear me out for a sec. Why don't you leverage your cousin's celebrity to promote the Miners Tavern and Silver Summit?"

He gave her a blank look. "How?"

"He and his friends like the resort, right? Get him on board and present that option to Silver Summit. Only the Miners Tavern has to be part of the deal, like a cooperative promotion or something. You support one another, and he promotes you both, so it's a double whammy. I bet if you consult his PR wife, she could come up with all kinds of terrific angles."

His jaw swung open. "Why didn't I think of that?"

She buffed her nails in triumph against her chest. "Because you're still a genius in training, whereas I've already made it to the big league."

He smirked. "Does this mean you're so far out of my league I can't kiss you anymore?"

"Oh, I think I can stoop for a kiss or ten." She rolled to her side, balancing the popcorn, and pressed a hand against his chest. "Before you scramble my brains, I want to get another thought out there."

Delight danced in his eyes. "I scramble your brains? In a good way?"

"Yes, slugger. Don't let it go to your head, though. Now here's what I'm thinking: Why don't you also cozy up to the other restaurants? People might be more inclined to come to Fall River if they know they have a choice when they get here."

"Whatother restaurants?"

"Not Dell's, but there's the Brothel, the Grand Majestic, Amy's coffeehouse, and that other cute little bar that's only open May to October. You could band together. Power in numbers and all that."

"I like it. I'll talk to Serena about how to approach Silver Summit, and I'll set up some meetings with the other restaurant owners in town and gauge their interest." He picked up a hank of her hair. "I'm starting to feel good about running the bar again."

Her insides broke out in a happy dance, and she rolled onto her back, nestling against him and returning the popcorn to her belly.

"Babe, I want to celebrate. Let's plan a big-ass party for the reopening."

"Like a mini version of your grand opening?"

"Exactly. I wonder if we can pull it off in only a few days?"

She tilted her head to look at him. "Between you, me, and Dixie? Absolutely. I bet Amy would help too."

"Speaking of openings, any news about the changeover to Mountain Coffee and Books?"

"Still in a holding pattern. Charlie's working on the shelving, and I'm still trying to figure out my first order. I knew there were lots of books to choose from, but I didn't realize how many! I have to be extra careful because I'm limited by space."

He sifted her hair through his open fingers. "Are you nervous?"

"Terrified! But so excited. And honestly, starting at this small scale is pretty low risk, but still, it's so new and different."

"You're going to kill it," he chuckled. "I'll probably lose my best waitress to that business in no time."

"No, you won't. I'll be splitting shifts between the two places. Mornings are for Amy, but my nights are for you, barkeep." She batted her eyelashes at him.

"Damn straight." He gave her tresses a tug. "Are you still okay living here?"

"Yes. It's been surprisingly easy." And blissful. "Are you okay with me living here?"

"I am, except for one thing." He removed the bowl of popcorn and set it on the coffee table.

She shot him a quizzical look. "What's that?"

He unbuttoned the top button of her shirt—well, it was technically his shirt, though she'd appropriated it and a few others for herself. "You keep stealing my clothes." His fingers deftly moved to the next button and the next, undoing them as he went.

She smirked. "And I suppose you want me to hand them over?"

"Definitely want you to hand this one over right now." He had worked all the buttons free and pulled the shirt apart, leaving her bare except for her tiny panties. The chilly air puckered her nipples, and he smoothed his rough palms over her breasts, hardening her peaks into tighter pearls. Closing her eyes, she arched her back, chasing his touch.

"Oh yeah," he growled.

"Thought you wanted to watch hockey." Her voice was thin and breathy.

"Fuck hockey." He fondled and played, pulling contented whimpers from her that soon became pants. Gliding his hands down her body, he slipped them beneath her lacy waistband, tugging it down as far as he could reach.

"Take these off," he demanded in a voice low and harsh.

She sat up and wriggled out of them, and before she could settle back against him, he pulled the shirt from her arms and tossed it somewhere over his shoulder. Strong hands spread her legs apart. A heel rested along the back of the couch, and the other foot landed on the floor. While one hand returned to toy with her breasts, the other cupped her mound. He dipped long, thick fingers inside her, moving them in and out until she bucked and cried out. Cupping her again, he kissed the top of her head until she came back down, murmuring how gorgeous she was and how he loved watching her pleasure build and break. As soon as she caught her breath, he started all over again. The pattern repeated twice more until she was a twitching mass of putty under his hands.

He sat her up, swung his legs over the couch's edge, and unzipped his jeans, yanking them off along with his underwear. As he arranged her on his lap, green eyes darkened with desire held hers. "Ride me, surfer girl. Ride me like I'm a wave you want to conquer." Exhausted and boneless, she slid down his engorged shaft until he was seated to the hilt.

He sucked in a breath. "Fuck, I'm gonna need a minute. I'm not used to this yet." They had abandoned condoms days before, and the sensation was overwhelming. Cradling her head in his big hands, he pulled her mouth to his. "Never knew anything could feel this good. You feel fucking incredible," he murmured right before he kissed her long, wet, and deep.

He broke the kiss and captured a nipple, circling it with tongue, sucking it in hard, releasing it to gently tease with a flick and a lick while his eyes stayed fastened on hers. He kissed his way to the other side and lavished it with the same devotion, and soon her body started sliding against his on its own.

Gripping her hips, he dropped his head back. "I love being inside you," he exclaimed in one breathless rush.

The way he took charge during their lovemaking made her hot, but now it was her turn, and she began a sensual dance. Her body moved up and down, up and down, slowly at first, picking up the tempo.

With her hands clamped on to the couch on either side of his head, she lifted herself up, slammed back down, over and over and over. She watched the fascinating play of emotions sweep across his chiseled features, shifting between agony and ecstasy. After submitting herself to his skillful torment earlier, she flared inside with satisfaction that he was clearly straining to hold it together—for her. When he was on the verge, she let herself fly over the edge, and he followed, yelling her name in a string of incoherence.

Chance whimpered, and her eyes popped open to find Noah's fiery green ones riveted on her. "You scared him again," she partly panted, partly laughed.

His hand moved erratically to pet the dog's head. "He'll get used to it," he gasped between labored breaths. "He has to 'cause I'm not stopping."

The dog calmed, and Noah reclaimed his hand, pushing Hailey's hair away from her face. "You are so beautiful," he murmured, his tone filled with awe.

He cupped her jaw and looked at her with such tenderness tears built behind her eyes and wedged in her throat, making it hard to swallow. "I'm in love with you, Hailey Bailey."

Taken aback, she could only choke out, "I love you too." Her clumsiness didn't seem to faze him. He merely smiled and drew her mouth to his, sealing their words with a slow-moving, toe-curling, spine-numbing kiss. She sank into it, happy to remain there and drown.

More days passed, and the Miners Tavern was packed for its grand reopening. Hailey read off a list of drink orders to her hottie bartender. Between snatching glasses and bottles, Noah poured her a shot of tequila and pushed it toward her. "Here. You earned this."

She leaned across the bar and whispered in his ear, "Barkeep, are you trying to get me drunk so you can take advantage of me later?"

"Thought never crossed my mind." A low chuckle rolled through him as he worked the soda gun.

She gave him a flirtatious grin. "There were two thoughts there. Which one didn't cross your mind?"

"The one about getting you drunk. But that second thought?" His smirk told her exactly what he had in mind. She clamped down on her lower lip to rein in the tingles of anticipation running along a live wire inside her.

He looked around and, seemingly satisfied no one was paying attention, traced his forefinger along the inside of her wrist. The intimate touch made her blood sizzle. "Now stop distracting me so I can keep this crowd lubed and happy."

Charlie was also working the bar, so she refrained from sharing aloud the wholly inappropriate ways "lubed" and "happy" were lining up in her imagination. Switching gears, she instead offered in her most seductive voice, "I'm not trying to be a distraction."

Mouth twitching at one corner, Noah scooped ice into a shaker. "You're standing there. That's a distraction."

Satisfaction soared inside her, and she gleefully took in the distraction that he was while he finished up the order.

As she loaded the drinks onto her tray, he glanced up, and his eyes fastened on a commotion at the front. "Oh fuck."

Hailey swiveled her head. Bruno Keating's beady gaze burned into Noah. On either side of him stood the twin towers. That hard gaze slid to her and widened. Then the smirk she wanted to wipe from his arrogant face formed. He strolled toward the bar as if he owned the place, his bodyguards bringing up the rear, and Noah growled, "Hailey, get those drinks to the customers."

"But I don't want to leave—"

"Now."

"Do it, Hailey," Charlie chimed in from beside Noah, his expression as dark as she'd ever seen it.

Dixie motioned at her from across the room and mouthed, "Get over here!" Luanne, standing beside Dixie, flapped her hand with urgency.

A large frame loomed from the side. "Go!" Reece barked. Backing him up was Deputy Shane.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!

She hoisted the tray, feeling like a coward for fleeing, but when three Hunnicutt brothers and Dixie Dobbs told you to get the heck out of there, you didn't mess around.

Unfortunately, she got caught in a current of customers, and Miami Vice Thor intercepted her. He gripped her arm, and she nearly dumped the drinks on an unsuspecting customer who was in the middle of delivering a punch line.

"You're smearing my reputation with your baseless accusations, sister."

She glared down at his hand. "And you're verging on assault, brother."

He released her with a malevolent chuckle. "You're good at throwing that term around." Obviously, he and Cliff had talked.

Amy appeared and lifted the tray from her arms. "I got these."

Hailey thanked her and inched up her trembling chin. "What would these baseless accusations be?"

"You filed a report with the health department accusing me of bribing an official, and I'm going to sue your ass for everything you've got." His icy blue eyes scanned her from her toes to the ponytail on her head. "Which doesn't appear to be much, but that's not important because I'm going to enjoy every fucking minute I make your life a living hell."

Suddenly, Hailey had her own trio of towers—Reece, Shane, and Micky—with reinforcements on the way, if Noah's snarls somewhere behind her were an indication.

God, she was sick of Bruno Keating's bullying! With a calmness she didn't feel, she folded her arms across her chest and leveled him with the fiercest glower she could muster. The place had grown quiet, and anyone within earshot heard her say, "You might want to check your sources because they seem to be inaccurate. If you somehow gained access to my written resignation—which is the only recent document of mine on file with the health department—you'll note that ‘Bruno Keating' is nowhere in there. Perhaps your name was supplied by the official in question in an attempt to save his own hide."

Doubt flickered in his orbs. He regained his high-and-mighty attitude in a flash, turning it on Charlie and Noah, who now added to her semicircle of protectors. He pointed an accusing finger at Charlie. "And you, asshole, filed a bogus complaint against me and not only told the building inspector to pay me a visit, but you told him to invent a bunch of shit that's gonna take weeks to work through."

Charlie scoffed. "For someone throwing around the term ‘baseless accusations,' you're doing plenty of slinging yourself, and I don't appreciate it. Do you have a piece of paper with my signature on it? Did you see my name in writing anywhere? Is the inspector even from this county? Do you have any idea if I've ever even met the guy?"

Noah's hand wrapped around Hailey's bicep, and he tugged her back with a mild touch. That gentleness was at odds with the harsh tone he unleashed on Dell's owner. "How does being shut down feel, Keating?"

Keating took note of Noah's grip on her arm. "You two have been conspiring against me since the beginning, and I will burn you down. You can stake your life on it."