Free Badland Bride (Book 2 - Dakota Hearts) by Lisa Mondello Page A

lip. “There was. The property is on the river. But the ice and rain did the damage to the structure.”
    Mike’s heavy sigh sounded distorted through the phone. “You’re one of the most thorough adjusters I have, Regis. But this one is cut and dry. They have flood insurance so the most we can approve for this is what is listed in their policy. We can repair the roof, although I have my doubts it was the storm that damaged that and the siding. My records show this property has been empty for quite some time.”
    “The amount of the payout for those won’t be enough to cover the structural damage.”
    “You need a vacation, Regis. You’re getting attached again. I’m sorry but I can’t approve the full amount of this claim. If you’d prefer it, I’ll send the letter.”
    She closed her eyes to the disappointment filling her. “No, I’ll do it.”
    “Fine. Regis?”
    “Yes?”
    “Why don’t you pack up? I’m sure you’re tired and could use a break. I’m not kidding about the vacation.”
    “I’m not done here.”
    “End of the week you are. I’ll bring in someone else to give you a break.”
    “But—” she started to argue, but he’d already hung up.
    She was leaving. But before she could do that, she had to break the bad news to some people who’d counted on her.
    * * *
    “Are you all right?” Keith's voice brought Regis out of her reverie as she sat at the kitchen table and cradled her morning coffee in her hand. She tried not to read too much into the concern in his voice. Things were complicated enough as it was. She decided it was probably a good idea to keep things simple. There was no reason to bring up the reasons for her insomnia.
    “I didn't sleep well last night.”
    “I noticed.”
    “I’m sorry. Did I keep you awake?”
    “No, but clearly something kept you awake. What was it?”
    She shrugged. She hadn’t written up the letter to the town yet about the outcome of the claim for the Buxton Mill. She wanted to write it and then tell Ian McKinnon personally. He’d worked hard on plans to develop the property for the town that he deserved to hear it from her first.
    “You're awfully quiet,” Keith finally broke the silence, bringing his empty coffee cup to the sink. “Something is bothering you.”
    Regis glanced over at Keith’s handsome face. When had she become this attached to seeing it, having it bring her comfort.
    “I have a lot of work to do before I leave.”
    His expression fell. “You’re leaving?”
    “End of the week. I got the call from my supervisor yesterday.”
    He opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped.
    “I knew last night,” she said, answering the question he didn’t put into words. “I just didn’t know…how to tell you. I didn’t want to talk about it.” She abruptly got up from the table and dumped the rest of her coffee in the sink, and turned on the faucet to rinse the sink and her cup.
    “Stop,” Keith said.
    She didn’t look at him. “I don’t want to leave these dishes in the sink.”
    “Stop,” he said again, turning off the water and pulling her around to face him.
    “We knew this day was going to come eventually,” she said, looking up at him. The light in his blue eyes had faded with his disappointment.
    “Did we?
    A cynical laugh escaped her lips. “How could you not know that I’d be leaving?”
    “I don’t know. I didn’t really think much about it. I just thought about how I was feeling. How I thought we were both feeling.”
    She fought tears as he pulled her into his arms. “Right now I’m feeling rotten. To make matters worse, my boss is insisting on my taking a vacation.”
    With raised eyebrows, Keith said, “Well, there’s an excuse for you to stay longer.”
    She pulled out of his arms and went back to the sink. “I can’t even think that far. There is still so much for me to do this week.”
    “Okay, here’s a radical idea.”
    She stopped washing a coffee cup and glanced at