Brides on the Run (Books 1-4): Small-Town Romance Series

by Jami Albright

  Like hell Charlie didn’t.

  “Fine, but you remember what I said.”

  “Bye, Dad.”

  He patted Charlie on the shoulder. “Good to see you, Charlie.”

  “You too, Mr. Lawson.”

  “He always did like you better than me.” Hailey still stood in her office doorway. “Did you get an earful?”

  “Ummm… Do you want to talk about it?”

  Her boss turned on her heel and closed the office door. Guess not. Mr. Lawson’s threats kept playing through Charlie’s head while she did the setup for her shift. By the time the first customers began to show up, she had a plan in place.

  “Chester, it’s a shame you don’t sing every night.” Charlie leaned against the bar and chatted up the old guy. The man was at Boon’s every night it was open. Mr. Lawson had even set up a cot for him in the back in case he got so drunk he couldn’t drive home, which was pretty much every night. He only performed on the weekends. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the house band played.

  “Why, thank ya, darlin’.” The alcohol vapors coming from Chester’s throat were enough to give her alcohol poisoning. She stepped back so Pod didn’t get a contact high.

  With a finger point, he ordered another drink.

  “Are you sure you need another drink, Chester?” She had a plan, but the man’s health was more important than her plan.

  He flicked his finger again. “Don’t you worry about that. I can handle my liquor.”

  Not in this life you can’t.

  Hailey slid his drink across the bar. “Last one, Chester.”

  He brought his hands under his chin like a praying child. “Awww, Hailey, you can’t do that.”

  “I can and I will, and go ahead and give me your keys.” She reached her hand out, palm up, and wiggled her fingers. “You can sleep here tonight.”

  He grumbled and cussed but handed the keys to Hailey.

  Charlie patted the older man’s shoulder. “It’s alright, Chester.” Hailey gave her a squinty-eyed glare, no doubt wondering what she was up to. When Chester did a combo hiccup/burp thing and sloshed his drink into his beard, she had a moment of doubt.

  Her scheme was solid, but her conscience was standing in the way of its execution. Then again, the man had no business being on stage, as drunk as he usually was.

  She flipped her hair and plastered on her most coquettish Charlie Kay smile. “I love it when you sing Amarillo By Morning.”

  He threw back his drink, winked, and thanked her, but it came out, “Sank you.”

  Her elbow went to the bar, and her chin went in her hand. “I do love it when you sing that song.” She tried to add as much longing and dreaminess to the statement as she could.

  “Charlie, don’t you have tables?” Hailey reprimanded.

  Dang it. She could see that Chester was almost there. He just needed another nudge. But she didn’t want the wrath of her boss coming down on her. “I better get back to work, Chester. I’ll talk to you later.”

  A jaunty salute was his response.

  She glanced over her shoulder at Hailey, then put her lips to Chester’s ears. “She really should let you sing more.” Hopefully, that would be the nudge he needed to get on stage. If not, then she’d have to come up with a plan B.

  That blasted guilt hit her again. She honestly liked Chester, he just had no business singing at Boon’s Saloon, and he was hurting her friend by doing it. She resolved to try and get him some help when this was over.

  Chapter 34

  Hank didn’t know if he could sit through one more night of listening to Chester’s drunken wailings or watching Charlie sashay around the club taking orders. If he had to endure her talking and flirting with everyone in the place, men and women alike, then he might tear the club apart with his bare hands.

  He wished to hell that Thomas Chang would find another place to hang out. But as long as he was here, then so was Hank. If for no other reason than to try and keep Charlie safe from the man and his drug-smuggling buddy, especially since she was hell-bent on doing business with them. It’d taken all his resolve to not to bust in on the meetings she’d had with them in the last six weeks.

  The good news was that with his pending divorce, no one questioned why he was in the bar nearly every time the doors opened.

  Well, no one but Hailey. The woman in question sat down next to him. “I’m about to tell Monk at the door to stop letting you in.”

  “On what grounds?”

  “On the grounds that you don’t belong here.”

  “That’s discrimination. I’d hate to have to report you.”

  She snorted. “Try it, and I’ll have Lottie bedazzle your uniform.”

  He laughed. “She does love to bedazzle. All of my dish towels sparkle since I let her loose with that thing when she was over last week.”

  “What in the hell is she doing?” Hailey growled.

  “Lottie?”

  She pointed across the bar to Charlie and Chester. “No, your girlfriend. She’s flirting with Chester. Sometimes I wonder if Hollywood sucked every bit of common sense from her body.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  “That’s what you got from what I said?” Charlie flipped her head and giggled, pointed to the stage, then pushed on Chester’s shoulder. “If she’s trying to get him on stage, I’m goin’ to kill her.”

  “Go easy on her. She’s having a bad time.”

  “Oh, yeah, the poor little starlet has the worst time.”

  Hank angled his head so no one else could hear him. Not that they could anyway, but just in case. “She’s not working here because of researching a role.”

  “But…”

  “She’s broke, Hay. Her mother stole all her money, and the money she’d set aside for Wardell. She says she’s done with show business.” He sat back and took a swig of the beer he was nursing.

  Hailey’s mouth opened and closed like a baby bird’s. “I didn’t know.”

  “Her crazy mother stole from her.” He didn’t even try to hide his bitterness. His hatred of Shelly Klein went way back.

  “I… Her mother?”

  “Yeah.” He knew why Hailey was having trouble digesting the information. She’d worshipped her own mother, and for good reason. Her mother had been a saint.

  Chester laughed and nearly fell from his barstool. “Look at him.” Hailey sounded like she was about to blow a gasket.

  “Mmhm.” He couldn’t look at Chester because his gaze was fixed on Charlie.

  “This martyr routine is really getting old.” Hailey stood, and her hands went to her hips.

  “What?”

  “It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that you want her, but you’re denying yourself happiness. For what? Something you didn’t even do.”

  “That’s not—”

  “Yes. It is.” She glanced in the direction that Charlie was heading. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to chew my employee’s ass.”

  He followed Hailey’s progress as she stormed up to Charlie and said something. He didn’t like it, but she wasn’t his business. With an eye roll, the only woman in the club for him walked away from Hailey.

  Charlie laughed and joked with her customers, then made her way to his table. “You got everything you need?”

  No, damn it. He needed her. All he’d ever needed was her. The words stayed trapped in his chest, and he nodded his head. She was better off without him. The Odom men were broken, and until he understood why he was staying far away from her. He wouldn’t be responsible for hurting her more than he already had.

  Without a word, she made her way back to the bar. He fought the urge to go after her and tell her everything he felt. Instead, he sat mutely and let her go.

  The snick of a door closing reverberated through her heart. She wouldn’t be surprised if tears trailed behind her like lackluster unicorn dust as she made her way back to the bar. If she’d had a heart left to break, his indifference would’ve cracked it.

&nb
sp; “Charlie!” Hailey caught her arm and pulled her behind the bar. “What have you done?” She pointed, and they both turned toward the stage where Chester stood. “Look at him. Why would you encourage him to get up and sing?”

  “Hailey—”

  “Don’t lie to me. I know that’s what you were doing.” Hailey jabbed her fingers into her dark hair. “Oh, for the love of… Look at him.” It seemed the old guy was having a hard time getting his guitar strap over his head. One of the guys in the band had to help him put his arm through the hole. “This is my only night to make any money, and now you’ve convinced him to get on stage and sing. On most nights he’s bad, but tonight I’ll be surprised if he can stay upright for even one song.”

  Charlie tapped her chin. “You may be right. He does look like he could fall down drunk at any moment.” She extracted her arm from Hailey’s grip at the same time Chester swayed several times then headed for the floor. Thankfully, the bass player caught him just before he crashed to the stage. After a quick look around at the other band members, he dragged Chester to the back corner of the stage to let him sleep it off.

  Hailey’s wide gaze bounced from the stage to Charlie and back. “You…”

  She handed Hailey her drink tray and apron. “You’re welcome.” With purposeful strides, she headed to the stage.

  Charlie grabbed the microphone. “Hey, folks. It looks like Chester needs a little break.” She glanced at Chester sleeping in the corner. “But if it’s okay with you, I’ll fill in for him. Hey, boys. You know any Miranda Lambert?”

  “Kerosene,” the lead guitarist said.

  “That works. After that, we’ll wing it. Sound good?”

  “Let’s do it.” The drummer raised his sticks above his head and counted her in.

  Adrenaline and the thrill of performing exploded inside her at the sound of the first note. She sang like she had nothing to lose, which was the most freeing thing she’d done in a long time. She loved performing, but she had no desire to do it beyond this little club and this small town.

  By the end of the first song nearly everyone in the place was dancing.

  By the end of the second set, she had her best friend back.

  And by the end of the night, she was running from the law.

  Chapter 35

  The applause and whoops were the loudest Hank had ever heard inside Boon’s.

  Charlie was mesmerizing. Her brilliant smile lit up the dark bar, and the gold of her hair sparkled in the neon lights as she spun and danced on stage. She was a honky-tonk angel. His dead heart rose up and called him the biggest fool around. What was he doing? Hailey was right. He was punishing himself, and for what? Some overgrown sense of duty and pride.

  It stopped tonight.

  Charlie was the only woman he’d ever loved, and he was pissing his chance away. A sense of rightness melted into his bones. They were meant for each other. He’d get her back, and he wouldn’t wait another day. As soon as she got off work, he’d tell her everything.

  Her booted foot kicked out and her hand went into the air when the song was over. She turned to say something to the band, the music started, and he lost his damn heart all over again.

  “Can you believe it?” Hailey plopped down in the chair she’d just vacated.

  “No.” He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the beauty on stage.

  “She planned this. That’s why she kept chatting Chester up.”

  He tore his gaze away from Charlie and stared at Hailey. “What are you talking about?”

  Hailey rested both elbows on the table and spoke behind her hands. “She overheard my dad say that Chester had to stay unless he fell down drunk on the stage.”

  “And she…”

  Hailey motioned to the stage and dance floor. “She sure as hell did.”

  He glanced around the bar. Most everyone was on the dance floor, including Thomas. Those that weren’t either had their phones up recording Charlie, or were furiously texting. “I bet she’ll be trending by the time the night’s over.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears.” The words were a prayer from Hailey’s mouth as she watched everyone dancing. She turned to him, and after a beat of silence, they both cracked up. “I better get back to the bar. Is it me, or are there more people in here than there were twenty minutes ago?”

  “No, I believe it’s more crowded than it was.”

  “Hot damn.” She stood to leave.

  He grabbed her hand. “Hailey.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You’re right. I am being a martyr, but no more.” He squeezed her hand. “Thanks.”

  “Well, now this night just got even better.” The current song ended, and Hailey pointed to the stage and yelled, “That crazy chick is my best friend!” Charlie’s head jerked in their direction. She made a heart with her hands, and Hailey did the same. It was corny, sappy, and like being in the middle of a sorority party, but he couldn’t control the grin that stretched across his face.

  The smile slid away, though, when Charlie started the next song and twirled around. Her baby doll top flew away from her body. What the hell? He scrutinized her every move. When she jumped up and down during Jason Aldean’s Hicktown, he saw it again. There was a distinct rounding to her belly. Wasn’t there? Maybe the lighting was off.

  Or was she…

  No, it couldn’t be. He was losing his mind.

  The songs kept coming, and so did the people. He kept one eye on Thomas and the other on Charlie. She took a couple of breaks, and he wanted her to come by his table again, but each time she went the other way. He couldn’t help the happiness when the two old friends embraced behind the bar, both crying and laughing at the same time.

  By the time the third set started he’d convinced himself that what he’d seen was just a play of the light. He spent his time rehearsing the speech he’d give her. It wouldn’t be easy. He’d hurt her. Regret for what he’d done was a noose around his neck. He hadn’t meant to lie that first night, and even though he’d tried to tell her, it didn’t change the fact that it was guilt by omission. But he’d make it up to her.

  From the corner of the stage, Chester stirred. The confusion on his face communicated that he had no recollection of what had happened. Hank’s concern escalated as Chester’s confused look turned to anger. His clumsy attempts to stand went unnoticed by Charlie and the band.

  Before he registered that he was moving, Hank was up and heading for the stage. But there were too many bodies between him and the drunk heading for Charlie. He shoved people aside as his anxiety and adrenaline skyrocketed. Cologne, perfume, and body odor curled his stomach that was already on heightened alert. The screams of the people being knocked out of the way got the attention of the band. Unfortunately, that meant they didn’t see the pissed-off man marching straight for the woman he loved.

  “Hey.” Chester grabbed Charlie by the arm and shouted something in her face.

  It looked like Charlie was trying to extricate herself from the drunk’s grip, but he wasn’t having it. The lead guitarist tried to pull him off her. Chester released her long enough to punch the guy. When he turned back to Charlie, she was backing away from him. He tripped and fell into her, and she went flying.

  Time stopped.

  It was a five-foot drop to the dance floor below, and she was falling backward. Hank pushed the last person out of the way and caught her facing away from him.

  She jerked her head around to see who had her. “Oh, Hank. Thank you.”

  He didn’t say anything. Every word he knew jumbled and shredded in his head, because he was holding a definite baby bump in his right hand. His brain tried to make it something else. Too many biscuits, bloating, a beer gut, anything but what he was sure it was.

  Betrayal.

  Chapter 36

  Charlie grabbed her purse from the locker and poked her head into Hailey’s office. “Do you want me to wait on you?” The tight muscles from her fall loosened when she saw her friend’s smile.
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  Hailey put a bank bag in the safe and locked it. “No, Monk is going to walk me to my car.”

  Monk was one of the bouncers, so Charlie felt okay about leaving Hailey. “Okay, don’t stay too long.”

  “I won’t. I’m exhausted.”

  She hiked her purse higher on her shoulder. “Goodnight.”

  “Charlie.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Shock zipped through her. She knew Hailey, and she never apologized. She’d do anything in her power to make things up to you if she wronged you, but she never apologized. “For what?”

  Hailey came to her and took her hand. “For being a bitch to you, for not believing you when you said you didn’t know I’d tried to get in touch with you…just for everything.”

  “Hailey, you don’t—”

  “Yes, I do. Can I take you to lunch tomorrow?”

  Charlie wrapped her friend in a hug. “There’s nothing to forgive, and I’d love to go to lunch.”

  Hailey stiffened in her arms. “Charlie, um…what’s that?”

  Oh, shit. “Ah…”

  Her boss pulled out of her hold and put her hands on either side of her bump. “Charlie.”

  The saliva in her mouth was so thick she could barely swallow it down. “Can we talk about it tomorrow?” She was bone tired and didn’t think she could rehash the whole thing right now.

  “Yes, but we will talk about it.” Hailey gave her a no-nonsense look.

  She nodded, but her head barely moved. “Goodnight.”

  “Do you need Monk to walk you out?”

  “No, I parked right outside the door.”

  The quick hug she got made her feel marginally better about Hailey finding out her secret. “’Night.”

  The cool, fresh air hit her lungs and refreshed her tired mind. And a good thing too, because a long, tall, pissed-off Texan was leaning against her car with his arms crossed over his chest. “Hank.”

  “You got something you need to tell me, Charlie?”