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that Ryan returned. Maya, too, and also Piers when Ryan introduced him as another employee of the federal fish and wildlife organization. And all of them made a fuss over a clearly pleased Rocky.

      Even bartender Buck did so, as did the guy who’d been flirting with Maya—Trev Garlona. He’d introduced himself, as well.

      So at least some of these wolf advocates had recently moved here and purchased businesses, intending to stay.

      Of course Ryan could be completely wrong. They might have had different agendas when they decided to settle in Fritts Corner, nothing at all to do with wolves—or shifting.

      But he had a feeling he would get to know some or all of them a lot better.

      Maybe starting tonight.

      For now, though, he needed to prepare, perhaps even to rest. He soon said goodbye to the gang of wolf supporters who’d joined them, and they all headed back to their seats—after Buck promised to refresh their drinks. The place remained busy, and the sound of conversations picked up once more. Other bartenders had remained active, so Ryan also inhaled the scent of different kinds of alcohol.

      All seemed well again.

      Even so, he asked Maya, who had also turned to go, “Where are you off to now?”

      The people who’d given her a hard time were no longer in the bar. They surely wouldn’t be waiting outside to give her a hard time—would they?

      He’d rather be there for her, though, just in case.

      “I’m heading back to my hotel,” she said. “I may even take a nap. It’s stressful to give a talk, and to act happy and energetic and all...anyway, I’m glad how things have turned out so far and really appreciate your support.”

      “You’re very welcome,” he said, knowing his face mirrored her large smile. “How about if we walk with you?”

      “Which hotel are you staying at?” Piers asked. He was now at Ryan’s side and had taken Rocky’s leash.

      “The Washington Inn,” she said, unsurprisingly naming the largest one in town.

      “So are we,” Piers said.

      “Great,” Ryan said. “Let’s get on our way.”

      * * *

      Maya saw Trev waving goodbye as she prepared to leave, and she briefly aimed a wave back at him. But her mind was on something else altogether.

      Ryan, Rocky and Piers were all staying in the same hotel as she was.

      How close was Ryan’s room to hers? That question kept intruding into Maya’s mind as they walked out.

      No matter. They could be next door to each other and still be worlds apart.

      They had to be. Sure, he was a great-looking guy. A nice guy who clearly wanted to walk with her to protect her in case those nasty folks who’d confronted her were still around. He didn’t have to say so for her to know that.

      But other than their love of wildlife, they most likely had nothing in common. Even if they did—well, she’d been involved with a guy not long ago who’d professed to love wild animals but acted like a jerk when it came to maintaining a relationship with a human being. He’d even publicly slammed WHaM.

      She didn’t need anything like that—especially since she’d soon go home to Denver and figured a guy with the US government would return to the DC area, far from her.

      “I don’t see your buddies out here,” Ryan said. “Guess they decided not to harass you again.”

      “I sure hope so,” she said. “Maybe they can start picking on each other instead.” She admired the few buildings they passed. “This is such a cute town. Where do you live? Is it anything like this?”

      “We live near Washington, DC, not Washington State,” Ryan responded. Near it? Not in it? That made Maya wonder where, but before she could ask he got in his own question. “And you? Where are you from? Colorado? Isn’t that where WHaM is headquartered?”

      She acknowledged that it was, and they talked a bit more about her organization as they continued down the block, with Piers behind them.

      Rocky trotted between Ryan and her, and she got a truly warm and fuzzy feeling about this short walk and the males near her, including the dog. In a minute they had reached her car and said goodbye.

      And because she didn’t have far to drive, she arrived at the Washington Inn about the same time as the two men and the dog did. Or maybe, driving slowly, she had unconsciously planned it that way.

      The inn, like so many other buildings in town, was quaint, with multipaned windows and circular turrets. The concrete exterior looked substantial, though, and Maya figured it was either a much newer structure than it appeared, or it had been remodeled recently.

      She parked in the lot beside it and walked quickly to the front—just as the others arrived, too. She joined them.

      “Hi again,” she said, waiting while Ryan stopped at the grassy area near the front with Rocky. “So where are your rooms?” she asked Ryan casually, as Piers preceded them inside.

      “First floor, toward the back. It’s a good spot to take Rocky into the yard if he needs to go. How about you?”

      “Third floor,” she said, “around there.” She pointed toward the right, glad that the windows there indicated multiple rooms so she didn’t exactly tell him which was hers.

      They proceeded up the walkway to the steps and, crossing the porch, entered the quaint-looking lobby. There were only a few people there, mostly in line at the reception desk. Piers stood nearby reading a newspaper. He joined them.

      Ryan lifted his arm with the loop of the dog leash over it and Piers slipped it off him. “You can put him in my room,” he told Piers. “I’ll be right there.” He then said to Maya, “I’ll walk you to your room, just in case.”

      In case her new enemies were around, she assumed. She hadn’t seen any sign of them on the road and didn’t really need Ryan accompanying her—she hoped—and yet she didn’t object.

      They soon were in her room, which was as charming as the rest of the inn. He even went inside, glancing around, walking past the bed with a fluffy, lace-trimmed coverlet.

      She had a momentary urge to ask him to stay. Just to talk a little longer, of course. About wolves and other wildlife.

      Not about a wild life. The guy was one delicious-looking man and had started to get her internal juices flowing when they were together. But he was mostly just a nice guy with similar interests to hers. And he’d given no indication he thought of her in any sexual or other way—a good thing.

      That meant she didn’t have to worry about any interest on her part that could lead to disaster, as her recent relationship had.

      Even so, she found herself asking, “So do you have any plans for this evening?”

      She couldn’t quite read the odd look that quickly passed over his face, replaced by a smile that almost appeared pleased. “Sleeping,” he said. “I intend to order in pizza later for Piers and me. I brought food for Rocky. I’m already a bit tired and may do some hiking tomorrow, so I’ll go to bed early.” He looked her over. “No offense intended, but you appear a little sleepy, too. Maybe you should do the same thing.”

      That had been what she was considering...unless they worked out a dinner date, which would undoubtedly be a bad idea.

      She noticed that he didn’t suggest that she join them for pizza, either.

      “I just might do that,” she said. As he walked to the door of her room she added, “Have a good evening. And thanks again for all your help.”

      * * *

      Rocky was well trained, but even so he wasn’t staying alone in Ryan’s room that night.

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