Heart Of A Hero. Debra & Regan Webb & Black

it bad,” she scolded herself while she started a pot of coffee. A few dates was way too soon to be this enthralled over any man, but especially irresponsible when the man was new to town.

      Still, she’d wanted to spin in a happy circle as she left his place last night, after he’d asked her for a pool game rematch at the pub tonight. This was almost like having a boyfriend, though they hadn’t really discussed it in those terms.

      She suffered another nearly deflating moment thinking the feelings were only on her side, but then she remembered the way he’d looked at her when she left last night. There’d been a certain chemistry—or at least something that felt distinctly warmer than friendship in his clear blue eyes.

      Catching her reflection in the glass of the half door between the storefront and the back room, she wondered what Will saw when he looked at her. She paused, taking stock. With her hair pulled back from her face, a company ball cap on her head and only a sweep of mascara, she felt plain. Bland.

      Not ugly, just...unfinished. Unpolished was the better word. But she had no intention of changing her habits. Makeup didn’t go well with her career, though Will had seemed to approve of her effort in that area last night. She wasn’t sugar and spice and everything curvy and nice like other women. A total tomboy, she’d spent her youth proving she could keep up with the nature-loving men in her life instead of embracing the critical differences that made her a woman, from chewing tobacco—once, on a dare—to splitting wood every winter. It was simply who she was. She wouldn’t change for any man, no matter how hot and ripped or funny or intriguing. With an irritated huff for letting anything as silly as a reflection erode her good mood, she pushed through the door and into the storefront.

      She hit the power button for the computers, then went out and took a quick stock of the displays. Tammy had everything neatly organized, and while she might not be a big fan of the great outdoors, she was an asset here in the shop.

      “Here’s hoping she’s that efficient with spreadsheets, schedules and financials.”

      Charly filled a tall mug with coffee and returned to her desk, the same simple and scarred desk her father and grandfather had used. Now it was hers. Feeling connected to all they’d handed down to her, she started on the email.

      She discarded the obvious spam and answered the easy ones before dealing with the rest of it. Inquiries ranged from advertising offers to shipping confirmations. A new shipment of ball caps was scheduled to arrive today, and she smiled when she saw they were coming by the US Postal Service. She’d make herself available to sign for that package when the hunky new mailman delivered it.

      The time slipped away as she dealt with necessities and soon she heard the security system chiming as someone came in the back door. Her eyes went to the little monitor perched on the corner of her desk that kept an eye on the back entrance. Tammy and Clint.

      Well, that should keep spirits high around here today. Charly stood up, stretching her arms and grabbing her empty coffee cup to go greet them.

      After catching up and successfully dodging direct questions about her evening, she shared one of the more intriguing email messages with Clint.

      “Take a look,” she said, handing over the page she’d printed out. “It’s a team-building thing. Sounds like we can name our price.”

      Clint gulped his coffee while he read the short message. One of her father’s hires, Clint had joined Binali Backcountry almost on his first day in Durango. Blond, lean, with sun-kissed skin and deep dimples, Clint was a good-looking guy, and she understood Tammy’s wistful crush on him.

      But Clint had his own priorities. When he’d invited Charly to dinner, it had been for the sole purpose of learning all he could about the trails she’d been running tame on her whole life.

      She valued his friendship, work ethic and love of the job. When Charly’s father stepped back from the business, Clint stepped up, helping her maintain the reputation of excellence. And as each of her brothers followed their careers away from Durango, Clint had filled the void, becoming an important partner and friend.

      “Says he’ll be in this afternoon.” Clint set the printed email aside in favor of a fast-food bag of breakfast. “Want me to be here?” He stuffed a big bite of a breakfast sandwich into his mouth.

      Charly cut short the urge to tease and judge him. For a man comfortable eating off the land, he made up for it whenever he had the chance. “Something like this will take two guides for sure.”

      He nodded, chewing thoughtfully. “What are you thinking of charging?”

      She tossed out a number. “Plus the rental gear.”

      Tammy whistled, but Clint’s eyebrows dipped low. “For seven software geeks in this weather? Add in another grand for pain and suffering.”

      “You charge the customer for the chance to suffer?” Tammy was aghast.

      “No, darlin’.” Clint’s dimples showed up. “That’s for our pain and suffering. Desk jockeys tend to whine.”

      “I wouldn’t whine,” Tammy vowed.

      “I’d never give you cause,” Clint said, his voice oozing charm and innuendo.

      Charly rolled her eyes. Tammy looked as though she might dissolve into a puddle. “Why don’t you unlock the front door,” she instructed Tammy. Clint had no idea the destruction his little flirtation could leave behind.

      “Come on,” she said to Clint. “Let’s hammer out a few ideas and price points. We can give them options.”

      “You really don’t want to risk losing them, I guess,” he said, following her to the office. “But our books can’t be that dire.”

      “They’re not. We’re doing great,” she assured him.

      Clint pushed aside some catalogs, making room for his coffee cup on a corner of her desk. Settling back in the only other chair, he finished off his breakfast while they came up with a few package ideas.

      “Seems sudden,” he said when she was printing out the varied proposals.

      “What do you mean?” She shot him a look as he worked the wrapper of his meal into a ball between his palms. A sure sign he was thinking.

      “Come on. You think this guy just plans to hand out plane tickets when his crew comes in today or do you think they’ve been in on the planning process?”

      “Does it matter? The email says they just wrapped a project. They want to cut loose and get out of the office.”

      “In their place I’d go to Vegas.”

      “Then be grateful they’re coming here and want to give us their money.”

      “If you close the deal, I’ve got plenty of ways to spend my cut.” Clint flipped through the pages once more. “Should we pad that pain-and-suffering number a little more?”

      “There’s padding and then there’s outright greed.”

      His dimples flashed again. “True.” He leaned forward, his eyes twinkling. “But if they go the mountain route, they’ll be cold.” He stood, pretending to shiver. “We could make a side bet that you’ll cave to the inevitable whining before I do.”

      “No deal,” she said on a chuckle. “I can be just as much a hard-ass as you when it’s necessary.”

      Clint scoffed. “Then start practicing, sister, and get the payment up front.” He clapped her on the shoulder. “I’ve got a feeling these soft, cube-withered geeks will have us earning every penny once they get a taste of nature up on the mountain at this time of year.”

      “You’re a cynic.” She shooed him out of the office with orders to make space in the back room for the delivery coming in. “And put some polish on your professional charm while you’re at it.”

      * * *

      A FEW HOURS LATER,