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"Huh I’m Dalton--"

"McKay," she finished with hirade," he corrected

Rory walked around him and scrambled on top of the rock "This is my rock"

"Says who?"

"Says me"

"Bet I can knock you off and irls, remember?"

That’d put him in a dilemma He’d scra It’s like a contest Or a gaaht be fun to play with a girl for a change He used to play with his cousin Keely but she bossed him around as much as his brothers did Not that his brothers wanted to play anyet to be in charge "We could play pirates! The rock could be our ship" Dalton struck a pose "I could be the pirate king You could be the princess I rescued from another ship"

"No way," Rory said "I don’t wanna be soirl, you can’t be a king," he scoffed

"Then I’ll be the queen of the jungle" She’d pushed hihed at her audacity

Surprised by his laughter, she laughed And they’d becoh the woods, splashing in the creek,their teen years, but they’d been a constant in each other’s lives

Dalton needed to remind her there was more than just bad history between the her he’d swing by her place at noon But Rory’s dog, Jingle, was a lot happier to see hirowled at him

Only not as much as Rory did "You cannot just show up at my house whenever you feel like it, Dalton McKay"

"I texted you"

Arms crossed over her chest, she blocked the entrance to her cabin "You didn’t ask if you could co difference"

Man, her hackles were up as le’s--not that he’d voice that colazed donuts and raspberry-filled bisling fro ive your breach of etiquette"

"Then why don’t you go ahead and add this onto my list of broken rules" He pressed histo share a sweet kiss But the instant her lips parted, he couldn’t help but sneak his tongue inside for a tiny taste of her, which wasn’t enough So by the time he forced hi

Good thing he wore a long coat

"Not fair," she onna play fair" He kissed her temple "I haven’t seen you for two days Which is two days too long So you gonna let le?"

"Come in"

Dalton kicked off his boots and headed for the set plates Would you like coffee?"

"Sure"

Neither spoke until they were both settled at the table with food and drink "How late did you work last night?" Dalton asked

"Till it closed at two The bar side was hopping so I helped out" She ran a hand over the top of her head "That’s why I’m a mess I slept in"

"You don’t look a mess to reen eyes turned shrewd "Yeah, I’m some stunner today Nosweats"

Dalton shrugged "I stick by what I said Ain’t the clothes that make a wo her donut "So why are you here?"

"To bully-kiss you, ’cause I know you ht I’d see what your plans were for today"

"Notfor work Why?"

"Because I need furniture You’ve got great taste so I’d like your help"

"That’s it? You’re falling down in the char for coeous, sinfully sexy, surprisingly sweet, whip-smart and all-around perfect dreas, I’ll buy ood" Dalton leaned forward, the picture of earnestness "Please, goddess of all that requires a shrewd eye and a deft hand, saveinto Rapid City?"

"I thought we’d start in Spearfish"