Chapter 27

27

Powell was looking for Cara and the girls. She was a woman on a mission now.

Mac and Alex were off with Brandt—her twin had stubbornly insisted he was going to go back to his new place for a while, even though it was obvious he was in pain.

He was the stubbornest Barratt in creation, Brandt Barratt. She just hadn't been able to train that out of him completely yet. No matter how hard she'd tried. She probably never would.

Maybe Meyra Talley could, though. Powell was seriously holding out hope there. But Powell had another mission today while her hot Viking barbarian was out there with Heather and Daniel fighting dragons. Cara had said some things the night before that had concerned Powell when Powell was helping her bathe the girls—Ember had been so wiggly and slippery, Powell had been terrified—while Heather met with Daniel.

Powell wanted answers. About what Cara said and about what was going on with Hope. If nothing else, Powell was going to speak with Heather. See if she could represent Hope right now. Or put Hope in touch with some attorneys who owed Powell a favor or two. Or even speak with her own mother. Her mother had experience in fighting for workers' comp cases. She'd know how to help Hope.

Powell had to do something.

What was going on with Hope wasn't right.

Powell had called Haldyn and informed her of what Cara had said about Hope's compensation for what had happened. Powell was almost certain Haldyn was about to go through the roof. She just hoped the rest of the Finley Creek TSP was prepared.

Haldyn in a temper was kind of frightening sometimes.

Haldyn was going to do some digging of her own—or get her new pet Jarrod on it. Those two were beyond adorable now. All they did was make cooing sounds at each other. Or oogly eyes.

It made Powell a bit giddy to think about. Her bestie on the whole planet was in love. Seriously in love.

Haldyn deserved a man who loved and adored her enough to see how wonderful she was. And commit fully in a way Daniel never had. That it was the man Haldyn had been snarling at for years was just hilarious, though.

Powell was thinking about how quickly life could change when she rounded the corner and almost slammed into a tall man in a baseball cap headed to the same stairs she was. "Ohh!"

She looked up. Into hazel eyes and a face she was sure she had seen somewhere before. "I'm sorry. I was lost in my own head. I should pay better attention."

His eyes flared. With interest. He had his hands around her waist. And he wasn't letting go. In fact, the man lifted her closer. Far too close.

Powell stepped back. Fast. Talk about personal-space violation. "I'm sorry. Please excuse me."

"No, I'm sorry. I was just as distracted." He put a respectable distance between them so fast that maybe she'd imagined him tightening his grip on her before. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No. I'm good. I'm a bit clumsy sometimes." She looked at him again. He looked really familiar. "Have we met before?"

He hesitated a moment. A look of irritation went over his face. "No. I don't believe we have. If you'll excuse me, I do have a colleague waiting."

And Powell was right in the middle of the hallway. She felt like an idiot, just standing in his way. "Of course. I'm a bit more rattled than I expected. I need to find my brothers. Have a good day."

"You too." He touched the brim of his ballcap lightly. His eyes were still hard and irritated. Powell resisted the urge to shiver.

She knew she had seen him somewhere before.

And it hadn't been here in Wyoming.

She just couldn't figure out where.