“But…” The line was dead. She dropped her phone and cradled her head in her hands.
Think, Hailey.
There had to be a solution. She could borrow the money from her dad, but she wouldn’t. Not if her life depended on it. She’d figure something out. Beau would loan her the money—he’d made the offer more than once—but she wouldn’t do that either. This was her problem, and she’d fix it by herself.
Her only solution was to use the cash she’d set aside for the foundation she was going to set up in her mom’s name. It was her money, just sitting in a savings account until she got around to creating the nonprofit, but she hated to do it. It was a slippery slope to borrow out of that account, but she didn’t have a choice. She had to have insurance.
The sense of failure that had her by the throat only eased when she remembered how practical her mother had been. And the practical thing to do was pay the insurance out of that fund. After all, her mother had made her promise to keep Boon’s open, not start a charity in her name.
Her phone rang, and she grabbed it without looking at the screen. “Hailey Odom.”
“Hailey, it’s Derek.”
Shit. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with him so soon after last night. “Yes.”
“I’m not… What I mean is that I’m not going to be able to take Lottie for Thanksgiving.”
The relief that she wouldn’t have to subject their daughter to anyone in that house was so profound that she couldn’t speak.
“It’s just that Piper is upset with Lottie and, well, it would be awkward.”
Still, she said nothing. What was there to say?
“Hailey, you still there?”
“Yes. That’s fine.” She wondered if it was too late to take Beau up on his offer of them all going away together.
“Piper said Lottie was bragging about singing at the dance last night and it’s really hurt her feelings. You might want to talk to Lottie about that.”
“Lottie hasn’t spoken to Piper since before she got on stage, so it’s fairly clear that Piper is lying, so you and Ariel might want to talk to her about that. I have to go. Bye.”
“Hailey—”
She disconnected and immediately called Beau.
“Hey, beautiful. What’s up?”
Just the sound of his voice lit a match on the powder keg that seemed to be living in her gut since she met him. “Lottie’s plans to be with Derek on Thanksgiving just changed. Any chance we can all still go to Nashville?”
“Hell, yeah.” The smile in his voice warmed every part of her. “Let me make some phone calls.”
“Okay, I’ll need to make some too. And, Beau, thanks.”
“Anytime, sweet cheeks.”
She disconnected and immediately called Newt. “Hey, it’s Hailey.”
“Hello, Boss Lady,” the man said around a mouthful of something.
“Is there any chance you could cover for me Thursday through Sunday? Beau’s invited Lottie and me to go to Nashville with him.”
“No problem.”
That was fast. “Are you sure?”
“More than sure, Carol-Ann’s asshole brother is coming into town for Thanksgiving, so I’ll take any excuse not to have to spend time with him.”
She laughed. “I know the feeling.”
“Yeah, I suppose you do.” More chewing. “Hey, Carol-Ann told me what happened at the dance last night. I’m so damn proud of you for standing up to that asshole of an ex-husband of yours.”
“Thank you. Wait. Was Carol-Ann at the dance?”
A soft burp carried across the phone line. “Naw, she heard it at the cafe this morning. Seems everyone’s freakin’ out because you took yourself off every damn committee in town. But I thought you’d also want to know that Carol-Ann said you had as many supporters at the cafe as you did asshole critics.”
That was surprising. “Really?”
“Mmm-hmm. Except for the old-timers and some of Derek’s friends, everybody else thought you’d been treated badly for too long. Honey Jenkins told Lonnie he should be nippin’ at Derek’s behind instead of yours.”
Good ol’ Honey. The woman was a saint. Hailey had already decided she didn’t care what the town thought of her, but it was nice to know she had a few allies in her corner. “I should’ve known it would be the talk of the town, but that was fast even for Zachsville.”
“Good news travels fast.” He chuckled. “Anyway, I don’t mind covering for you at all. In fact, I’ll owe you one.”
“Just run my bar for me, and we’ll call it even.”
“You got it.” He crunched down on something else. “Anything special I need to do?”
“No, I’m handling all the ordering right now, and we’ll go over everything tomorrow night.”
“Sounds good. Oh, did you call the electrician about the vent-a-hood in the kitchen? I think it’s got a short.”
Crap. One more thing to put on her list of things to take care of that would cost money. “No, I forgot. I’ve made a note to myself. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then.” He disconnected but not before he let out a not-so-soft belch.
Excitement jangled her nerves when she thought of how much she wanted to spend Thanksgiving away from Zachsville with Beau and Lottie, but there was one more person she needed on board.
The phone rang three times before May picked it up. “Hailey, is everything alright?”
She chuckled at May’s worrywart personality. “Everything’s fine. I was wondering what your plans are for Thanksgiving.”
“Oh, well, I’m taking green bean casserole to my sister’s and spending the day with her crazy-as-hell family.”
Hailey’s heart plummeted to her stomach. “Sounds fun.”
“It’s not. If I got a better offer to do…oh, I don’t know, proctology examinations on a pack of rhinoceros, then I’d take it.”
A snort shot from Hailey’s mouth. “I might have a slightly better offer.”
“Lay it on me.”
She crossed her fingers and made the offer. “How would you like to go to Nashville with me, Lottie, and Beau?”
“I’d say, you better not leave without me.”
Hailey laughed. “We wouldn’t dream of it. We’re planning a little getaway, which you are welcome to be a part of, then Beau has the awards show on Sunday night, so I’ll need you to keep Lottie for that, if that’s okay.”
“That’s the best offer I’ve ever received. When are we leaving?”
“Thursday morning, I think. I’ll have Beau get in touch with you about travel arrangements. Thank you so much, May.”
This was going to happen. She couldn’t wait to tell Lottie.
One more call to make, and she wasn’t looking forward to it. She picked up the phone and made the call. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hailey.”
“Listen, I wanted to let you know that I won’t be there on Thursday for Thanksgiving.”
“Why not?” The stoic tone of his voice let her know he wasn’t happy. Too bad.
“Beau’s invited Lottie and me to spend the holiday with him in Nashville. I think Lottie needs to get out of town.” So did Hailey, but she wouldn’t give her father the satisfaction of knowing that she wanted the same thing as her daughter—to see the world, and get out of this small-minded town with the long memory, if only for a few days.
“Does this have anything to do with what happened at the dance?”
“Not directly, but sort of.”
“Then that’s fine. We’ll see you both next week. Have fun.”
Hailey stared at the dead phone in her hand. That hadn’t gone at all like she thought it would. He was downright pleasant when he got off the phone.
What are you up to, Daddy dearest? What are you up to?
Chapter 29
Beau couldn’t believe how fast Clay and Marissa had gotten things together. In just a few days, during a holiday week, they’d arranged for a suite big eno
ugh to accommodate him, Hailey, Lottie, and May. He was footing the bill, but they’d done all the work. He owed them big.
“Beau, this is ginormous!” Lottie squealed as she followed him into the room.
He tipped the bellman and closed the door. “That it is, Lil’ Bit. I hope you don’t get lost.”
“She might. Good Lord, look at that view.” May handed her phone to Hailey. “Here, take our picture. Come here, Lottie.”
Hailey laughed as May and Lottie stood in the middle of the room with their arms outstretched and their mouths and eyes wide open. “You two are a couple of hams.”
May took the phone and examined the photo. “Oooooh, my sister is going to be green with jealousy. I’m here in this swanky suite while she’s home with her hand up a turkey’s behind listening to her obnoxious son tell yet another totally fabricated story.”
“Sounds like you dodged a bullet, May.” Beau snaked his arm around Hailey’s waist from behind. “I’m starving. Who’s up for lunch?”
“Me!” May and Lottie said at once. Right at that moment, it was hard to tell who was the adult and who was the kid.
“Good, because Marissa and Clay arranged for a real Thanksgiving dinner to be brought up to us in about thirty minutes.”
“Room service?” May asked. “Well, aren’t we fancy?”
Lottie threw herself into an oversized chair and swung her legs over the arm so that they hung over the side. “Of course you’re fancy, Ms. May. Remember that time you wore that blue hat with the lace and big flower on it to church?” Lottie smiled like she was the keeper of all knowledge. “Fancy.”
“How about you, Hailey?” Beau asked. “Are you hungry?” She turned in his arms, and her amber eyes had lost a little of their spark. He wondered why. Did she not like the suite? “You okay?”
Her smile wobbled a little at the corners but held in place. “I’m great, just a bit tired.”
She wasn’t fooling him one little bit. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and turned her toward one of the two bedrooms. “May, you and Lottie look in that book right there.” He pointed to a leather-bound spiral book on the desk. “And see what there is to do around here. I need to talk to Hailey for a minute.”
She didn’t resist him, but let him guide her into the bedroom. Her warm, vanilla sugar fragrance filled his head. What was going on with her?
He closed the door, and she stepped out of his hold. Arms still crossed against her chest and a wrinkle of her brow as she surveyed the room told him it must be something about the suite that she didn’t like. “What’s the matter?” The bathroom light flicked on as she examined the space. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms and legs and waited. She’d tell him eventually.
The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows was spectacular, and she stood in front of it for a long time. He checked the time on the clock next to the bed. They still had twenty minutes before the meal would arrive. So, he waited.
A sigh that rose from her toes escaped her throat, and she turned to him. “This place is very nice.”
Nervous energy that had been hiding in his neck and shoulders disappeared. “Yeah, it’s pretty swanky.”
“This is your life now.”
Pride at what he’d accomplished straightened his back. “I guess it is for today, but not always.”
Her thumb went to her mouth, and she chewed the nail. “It’s just… This is a long way from Zachsville.”
He went to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Hailey.” He hooked his finger under her chin and tilted her face up to meet his. “Look at me.” Something he didn’t understand was in her eyes, then she blinked, and it was gone. “I didn’t have to stay here. In fact, I’d probably be bunking on Clay’s couch if you weren’t with me. I did this for you and Lottie.”
“And May?” She smiled, and all was right with the world.
He snorted. “That was just a happy surprise.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and bent his knees, so that he was eye level with her. “The point is, this is my gift to you to make our time here special, since we may never get to do this again.”
There was that flash of emotion again. Her lip disappeared between her teeth, and she seemed to make some decision. Gooseflesh sprouted on his skin when she slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and looped them around his neck. “Then I have a lot to thank you for.” When she smiled this time, it was a real, genuine, Hailey smile.
The touch of her lips was like home to him. He wanted to drown in it. That was what being with her was like—the safest place in the world where the most exciting things happened. Better than cutting a record, better than the publicity, better than being in the spotlight. She was the only place he wanted to be. It meant nothing without her and Lottie.
These two females had become such an integral part of his life that none of the things he’d been working for, basically his whole life, meant anything to him without them. The room tilted, and all of the things he thought about himself slid away.
He wasn’t a loner. He did need family. And this woman and her child were his family. He was capable of falling in love because he’d fallen in love with her.
“Um…yeah.” Happiness pumped through him. He wanted her to know that he loved her. Hell, he wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but he feared she wasn’t ready to hear it. Every time she talked about their relationship, she spoke about it like it had an expiration date. Besides, there were things for him to figure out before he made any bold statements.
A discussion with Jack and Gavin was in order. Moving to Nashville was out of the question now. He wasn’t going anywhere without Hailey and Lottie. It would be hard enough to leave them to tour, but they’d figure that out.
If only she’d give up on the bar, then they could go on the road together. He mentally slapped himself and silently asked her forgiveness. He’d never ask her to walk away from the bar as long as there was a chance she could save it. He knew what it meant to her, even if he didn’t agree. She didn’t need his approval. She needed his support.
He took her hair in his hand and used it to angle her neck. He teased the sensitive place under her ear until they were both moaning and clawing at each other. “I’m so damn glad you’re here with me.”
She pulled back and looked at him. “I’m so glad you asked us. This means the world to Lottie…and to me. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
He took her thigh in his hand and hooked her leg around his waist. “I can think of a few ways.”
Her hand went to his chest. “Dear me, Mr. Callen, are you talking about sexual favors?”
“I plead the fifth, on the grounds it may incriminate me.” His lips found his favorite place just below her ear.
“Beau! Food’s here!” Lottie yelled from the other room.
Hailey pulled away and gave him a sexy grin. “Later, Heartbreaker.”
Hailey snuggled into Beau’s side in the early morning dawn. She inhaled the cedar and musk of his skin, while his fingers drew circles on her bare back. She couldn’t have moved from the happy bubble they’d created for all the money in the world, especially with his heartbeat steadily thumping under her ear. “This trip has been so fun. Lottie’s having the best time. We all are.”
He hummed deep in his throat. “What do you think her favorite part’s been so far?”
She huffed out a laugh. “That’s easy, our time at the Opryland resort. She loved breakfast with the Grinch and the gingerbread house contest.”
He chuckled. “We kicked yours and May’s butts.”
“Ha! You try working with Meticulous May. Everything had to be just right before she’d move on to the next section. That’s why we were the last pair finished. And I use the word pair loosely because she pretty much took over and didn’t let me help at all after the first five minutes.”
He laughed. “I thought I’d die when she slapped your hand out of the way.”
“I know.” She snorted. “I truly feared for m
y life when I put the red candies on the roof.”
“I think she’s had fun too. Don’t you?”
“Oh, yeah. This is a huge treat for her. She’s never been farther than Dallas, just like me. She loved the carriage ride. Did you see her face as we drove under the Christmas lights? She looked like a kid.” She tilted her head so she could see him. “You did a nice thing for her. You didn’t have to bring her along.”
He glanced down at her, little lines creasing his forehead. “She’s family. I wouldn’t even think of leaving her behind. And I can’t take full credit for everything. Marissa and Clay set a lot of this up.” He played with a loose piece of her hair that hadn’t gotten caught up in her messy bun. “Sorry about having to film that quick promo spot yesterday. That was sort of part of the deal.”
She waved off his concern. “I understand, and so did Lottie.” This was his life. Everyone wanted a piece of him. She hoped he was ready for that. It was a lot of pressure to be “on” all the time. “It gave me, Lottie, and May a chance to explore the resort. It’s just beautiful.”
“Next time we come, we’ll have to stay there.”
The certainty in his statement caught her off guard. He said it like there’d be a next time. It made the hope buried deep in her soul poke its head up like a little prairie dog. She whacked at it and tried to squash down the feelings. But like Lottie’s favorite arcade game, Whac-a-Mole, it kept popping up, and she wasn’t fast enough to catch the emotion before it spread to her heart. Hope was a dangerous thing. She needed to be careful, but they’d passed careful miles and miles ago. “Um…okay.”
“Can I ask you something?”
Her radar went on high alert. It wasn’t like him to ask permission to get in her business. He’d been barreling through her life since they first met. “Sure.”
“Will you sing backup for me tomorrow night, please?”
“Beau, we’ve talked about this. I—”
“You’re not a singer. I know. Which, by the way, is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You have an amazing voice, and you should be proud of it. I wish you would stop letting that jackass ex-husband of yours have a say in who and what you are.”
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