Hot Zone. Elle James
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stepped forward. “Mr. Martin, you might not remember me, but I’m Olivia Dawson, Everett Dawson’s daughter.”
“Yeah. So?” He ignored her outstretched hand. “That doesn’t give you the right to butt into a private conversation.”
Hawkeye had to stop himself from snorting. The way Ernie had been yelling, the entire town of Grizzly Pass had to have heard his “private” conversation.
Olivia continued. “Since my father passed—” she swallowed hard and pressed on “—my foreman has broken his leg. I could use some help. CJ can work for me out at the ranch. He can make some money to tide you over to better times, or at least pay for his own meals.” Olivia caught Ernie’s stare and held it. “What do you say? You and my father were friends at one time. He’d be proud to have your stepson help me out.”
Ernie bristled. “If you need help, why not me?”
Olivia smiled gently.
Hawkeye could feel himself melt. The woman needed to smile more often. She went from pretty to stunning in less than a second.
“I wouldn’t dream of taking you away from your ranch. I know how hard it is to keep things running. Besides, I can’t afford to pay much.”
“I’ll take it,” CJ said. He turned to his stepfather. “I’ll do my chores before I leave the house and when I get back.”
“And how will you get there and back?” Ernie asked, a sneer pulling at one side of his mouth. “You have school starting in a couple weeks.”
“I’ll manage.”
Ernie snorted and turned back to Olivia. “If he steals something, don’t come crying to me. He’s been nothing but a pain in my rear since I brought him to the ranch.”
CJ’s eyes flashed, but he kept his mouth firmly shut. How he put up with Ernie, Hawkeye had no idea. Just standing near the belligerent jerk made Hawkeye itch to shove his fist in the man’s face.
“Fine.” Ernie waved at Olivia and his stepson. The drunk swayed and practically fell into the backseat of the sheriff’s SUV. As he leaned out to close the door, he said, “He’s your problem now.”
“You got a way home, CJ?” Sheriff Scott asked.
The teen nodded. “Yes, sir.” He glanced toward the sheriff’s vehicle as if it was the last place he wanted to be.
The sheriff shook his head and slid behind the wheel. A moment later, all Hawkeye could see of Ernie Martin were the taillights of the sheriff’s SUV disappearing at the end of Main Street.
Olivia clapped her hands together. “Well, that was lovely. I have the help I needed.” She smiled at CJ. “How soon can you start?”
The young man dug his hands into his pockets. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to start in the morning. Right now, I need to get home.” He gazed in the direction his stepfather had gone.
“Do you need a ride?” Hawkeye asked.
CJ shook his head. “No, sir. I’ll just let my boss know I can’t work here anymore. I have a bicycle. I’ll get myself home.”
“That’s got to be about five miles out of town. And it’s getting dark.” Olivia frowned. “Let one of us take you.”
The young man shook his head. “I’ll need my bike to get to work in the morning.”
“I live three miles out of town,” Olivia said. “Between you living on one side of Grizzly Pass and me on the other, that’s over eight miles several times a day. You need some other way to get there and back.”
“I promise.” CJ stepped forward. “I can do it. I’m used to riding long distances. It’s nothing.” He edged toward the tavern. “I really need to get home.”
Olivia still frowned, but she stepped out of the youth’s way. “Tell you what—don’t worry. We’ll figure something out.”
“Thank you, Miss Dawson. I’ll be there in the morning, right after I do my chores.” The teen darted into the tavern, leaving Hawkeye and Liv where they’d been when the ruckus started.
“Are you two ready to go?” a voice said behind Hawkeye. Kevin Garner descended to the bottom step of the staircase leading up to the loft apartment.
“Not quite. We had a little delay.” Olivia started to reach for the door.
Hawkeye beat her to it and opened it wide for her and Garner. As his boss passed, Hawkeye nodded. “I’ll fill you in as we wait for our orders.”
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