A huge swallow to moisten her vocal cords. “In…” She cleared her throat. “In here, Newt. We got locked in.”
The door opened, and the bright light of a phone’s flashlight blinded her. “Lower the light, Newt.”
“What in tarnation…”
“Beau was helping me with the boxes and didn’t know the door had to stay propped open, and we got locked in.” She smoothed down her shirt. “Can I borrow the light?” She pointed to the place where the edge of the fuse box peeked out.
“Here, let me help.” Beau moved behind her and edged the three big boxes out of the way.
“Thank you.” She didn’t dare look at him, may never be able to look at him again. She’d all but begged him to kiss her. He was right. They’d agreed this was a horrible idea because it was.
The fuse box opened just enough for her to remove the old fuse and replace it with the new one. The lights flicked on. “Oh, thank God.”
Newt held the door open for them as they exited. “I bet the fuse just got overheated. It gets hot in this closet.”
“You have no idea,” she and Beau murmured at the same time.
“I came to tell you the beer guy’s here,” Newt said.
The thrumming of her pulse refused to stabilize. “Alright. Will you tell him I’ll be there in a minute?”
“Sure.” He left without a backward glance—good ol’ Newt, as oblivious as ever.
Beau clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “So, fishing on Sunday.”
“Yep.” She grabbed the band from her wrist and pulled her hair into a ponytail. “Fishing on Sunday.”
His green eyes searched hers. “We going to…um…talk about—”
“Temporary insanity.”
“Huh?”
“That—” she pointed to the closet “—was temporary insanity, for both of us. Right?”
The tilt of his lips revealed his relief. “Right.”
“Okay, well I need to go. Thanks for the…help.” She turned, and with every step she took away from him, her sanity came back to her. By the time she made it to the beer guy, her mind and body agreed.
Beau Callen was off limits—way, way off limits.
Chapter Sixteen
Beau set up his amp on Boon’s stage. The rehearsal for next weekend’s set at the bar was a must, since he had a completely new band.
“Rusty, do you have everything you need?”
His new road manager gave him a thumbs-up while he adjusted some knobs on the sound board next to the stage. “I’m good.”
“Is this me, Beau?” Tabitha, his new backup singer, asked.
The slight laugh lines around her pretty hazel eyes crinkled when she smiled. The ten years she had on him looked good on her. She’d been the perfect pick—loads of experience, a beautiful voice that blended well with his, and she hadn’t so much as given him an extra look. She hadn’t even shaken his hand when they met. Perfect.
Excitement that this could be how things got back on track rushed through him. “Yeah, I gave you a stool in case you want to sit. If not, just set it to the side.”
“Great.” She opened her bag and began to set her things onto the stool.
She unloaded antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, a spray for her throat, a bottle of Benadryl, tissues, and a small spray can of Lysol.
He gestured to her items set up on the stool. “Are you fighting a cold?”
Her chin dipped and she looped a piece of hair behind her ear. “Oh…um… I’ve had a bit of a sore throat for a few days. I’m sure it’s allergies, but better safe than sorry.”
Unease pricked his scalp, then traveled south to land in his stomach. He hoped she wasn’t getting sick. That would be bad for so many reasons. “Lord, yes. Do what you have to do to stay healthy.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Rusty said from beside the stage.
Beau glanced around for the owner of Boon’s and saw Hailey come in from the beer garden. They hadn’t spoken or even seen each other since the night before last when they’d left the storage closet.
“Hailey, do you have a minute?”
She made her way to the stage in a blue shirt that made her brown eyes sparkle, jeans that should be illegal, and that glorious head of hair piled on top of her head. He imagined what it would look like after sex. Shit. He had to stop obsessing over her.
“What’s up?”
“I want to introduce you to a few folks.” He held his hand toward a skinny guy with shoulder length black hair poking out from under a straw cowboy hat. “I want you to meet Tom, a kickass bass player that Jack found for me, and my new amazing back-up singer, Tabitha.” He pointed to the soundboard. “And this is Rusty, my road manager, sound guy, and babysitter.”
Rusty laughed. “Guilty.”
Hailey chuckled. “Good. He needs one.”
“Everyone’s a critic.” Beau tried to joke off, but the thought of him needing a babysitter still stung.
“Guys, this is Hailey Odom. She owns Boon’s.” Beau motioned to her.
Tabitha raised her hand in a wave. “Good to meet you, Hailey.”
She gave Beau’s new backup singer a polite smile. “Nice to meet you.”
He watched for any sign of territorialism from Tabitha. Nothing. He shook his head. Jack, Gavin, and Luanne had him more paranoid than a middle-school girl at a slumber party.
The tingle of a high-hat cymbal rang through the air. “’Scuse me, don’t I get an introduction?”
“Sam, I’ve known you forever. Plus, you’re in the house band, and I write your paychecks.” Hailey laughed.
“Yeah, but I don’t like to be left out.” Sam pouted and fluttered his eyes.
Beau gave a put-upon sigh. “Hailey, this idiot is Sam, he’s filling in on drums until Buddy gets back, or until I get tired of his foolishness.”
Sam smacked his lips in an exaggerated kiss. “You know you love me and wish my wife would let me hit the road with you guys.”
The truth was, the guy was good, but the drummer’s job was Buddy’s as long as he wanted it. Beau chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that, Sam. Keep telling yourself that.”
“Well, I need to get back to work. Can I get anyone water before I tackle my inventory?” Hailey asked.
A chorus of “Yes” went up from the band.
Tabitha held up a state-of-the-art water bottle. Seriously, this thing looked like it could be something NASA created. “No thanks. I brought my own.”
“Alright, be right back.” Hailey moved to the bar and began filling glasses of water.
He turned to the band. “Everybody ’bout ready?”
“Yeah,” the guys said.
“Give me a minute.” Tabitha pulled out one of her antibacterial wipes and swept it over her mic and the stand, then meticulously wiped her hands and fingers.
Hailey returned with the water glasses and set them on the edge of the stage. “Here you go. If you need anything, I’ll be behind the bar doing inventory.” She turned to leave.
“Wait up, Hay.” Beau jumped from the stage and caught up to her in three long strides. “Are we still on for fishing on Sunday? Gavin said we could use his johnboat, so I thought we’d go out to Wilson’s Lake.”
“Oh, I’d forgotten…”
No, she hadn’t. He could see she was trying to come up with an excuse to not go. Time to pull out the big guns. “I know Lottie really wants to go, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking her around water by myself.”
“No offense, Beau, but you’re not taking my daughter anywhere by herself.”
He chuckled and held up his hands. “I hear ya, loud and clear. So, Sunday…”
She huffed out a breath. “Fine. Did you say one p.m.?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll be ready.”
“Great, it’s a date.”
“No. It isn’t.”
Hailey took inventory while Beau and the band rehearsed. Tabitha had a beautiful voice that blended well with Beau’s. Haile
y hadn’t detected anything inappropriate in her behavior toward Beau. Not that she’d been paying attention.
Liar.
Okay, she’d totally been paying attention. It was hard not to. Something that burned in Beau drew the eye even in the most mundane situations, but the stage transformed that flame into a brilliant bonfire. Impossible to tear your gaze from, and something that could consume you if you let it.
It wasn’t a good idea for her to spend more time with him than she was already. That was why she’d tried to get out of the fishing trip.
If Newt hadn’t interrupted them the other night…
He was too tempting.
And she knew what that kind of temptation did to a person. No thank you.
Her phone buzzed on the counter. She checked the display. Ugh, Marla. Probably trying to micromanage the father–daughter dance. She’d already fielded two calls from her about how she thought Hailey should start organizing the volunteers. She also reminded Hailey that some of the children might have food allergies and to be sure to keep that in mind. She should probably let it go to voicemail.
She swiped the screen. “Hello, Marla.”
“Hailey, I was just talking to the other moms at lunch.” Yes, Marla was a mom who lunched. “And we’re concerned about what DJ you might pick for the dance.”
“How so?” Of all her responsibilities, this was the easiest.
“Well…I don’t know quite how to say it.”
“Just say it.”
Marla took a put-upon breath. “Since you deal with the, shall we say, seedier part of society, we want to make sure you understand what would and would not be appropriate for our children to be exposed to.”
Was this bitch serious right now? “Marla, I can assure you that I’m well aware of what is appropriate for elementary school children. I have one, remember?”
“Yes, but because of what you do, your standards may be lower than the rest of ours. We don’t want a DJ who will play that horrible rap music or anything by that female singer who wears strange clothing and hangs out with the gays.”
Hailey couldn’t find one thing to say that didn’t begin with an F and end with U. This town. So small-minded and petty. She wanted out, but since she was stuck here, she had to make it work for Lottie if nothing else. “No need to worry, Marla. I’ll protect the impressionable ears of our children.”
“Oh, good, but I think I should have final approval on whoever you choose. You understand.”
No, she sure as hell didn’t understand. She had to beat this woman. She just had to, but she couldn’t make it too obvious. How, though? A quick glance at the stage, and Beau smiled at her while he sang some song she’d never heard before. Would he do it? Could she convince him? “Oh, I’m sorry, Marla. I’ve already booked the entertainment.”
“You have? Already?”
“Yes, Beau Callen is going to perform. You can’t beat some good old-fashioned country music.” She was going to hell for lying, but she had to get this woman off her back.
“Oh. Really.” Marla’s cool voice warmed considerably. “Well, that should be very nice. Good job, Hailey. I told the girls that you had everything under control.”
Uh-huh. “I hate to rush you off the phone, but I have a delivery coming in. Have a good day.” She disconnected the call.
“What’d you think of that one, Hay?” Beau asked through the microphone at the end of the song.
She hadn’t even registered the song except that she hadn’t heard it before. She gave him a nod of her head and a smile that was held up by sheer force of will. “Is it new?”
“It’s the next single. We’re releasing it in a few weeks.” He swung his guitar behind him and bent to pick up a glass of water.
“I like it.” Did he notice the unease in her voice? How was she going to get out of this mess she’d just created with Marla? Her thoughts looped around her head. She had to convince the rising star to sing, for free, at the Zachsville Elementary PTO Father–Daughter dance.
No big deal.
Chapter Seventeen
Hailey popped a couple of ibuprofen and chased them with the last of her lukewarm tea. A slight headache and muscle aches had her feeling a little off, but nothing would stop her from going on this fishing trip, not when Lottie had her heart set on it.
“Mom, did you pack the sunscreen?” Lottie dug through the bag they were taking with them.
“Yes, it’s in the side pocket.” Hailey loaded her teacup in the dishwasher. “Find it?”
“Yep. Will you help me?” Lottie held up a giant white glob of sunscreen in the middle of her palm.
“Think you’ve got enough?” Hailey laughed.
Lottie’s toothy grin squeezed Hailey’s heart. “Just a little. I thought maybe you needed some too.”
Hailey dipped her fingers in the lotion and began rubbing it on Lottie’s face. “Hold still.”
“Don’t get it in my eyes.”
“I’m not, baby. But if you don’t hold still, it might accidentally happen.”
That was enough of a warning for Lottie to become still as a statue. This close to her girl it was easy to see the resemblance to her ex-husband. Her long, dark lashes and the dusting of freckles on her cheeks were all Derek Odom.
An old familiar pain pinched under her ribcage. Lord, had she loved that boy, had loved the man too. But the relationship never stood a chance. It was never good when one person was all in, and the other only had one foot in the door. And if she was honest, she’d been more in love with who Derek could’ve been than who he was.
He could’ve been supportive and kind when she got pregnant.
But he hadn’t.
He could’ve been a loving and faithful husband.
But he wasn’t.
He could be a present and adoring father.
But…
And that was the worst of all his sins. He hurt Lottie at every turn.
She kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Okay, I’m done with your face. Let me have some more for your arms.”
Lottie held up her hand, and Hailey scooped up more lotion. “Mom, have you ever been fishing?”
“Nope.”
“Me either. I’m excited.”
With one of Lottie’s skinny arms slathered up, Hailey reached for more sunscreen and went to work on the other. “Why the sudden interest in fishing?” She released Lottie’s arm and wiped what was left of the lotion in the girl’s smaller palm into her own hand and began smoothing it over her face.
“I was kind of sad, kind of mad because Dad took Piper and Colt fishing. I told Beau that Dad’s never taken me fishing, and he said every girl should go fishing at least once, so he’d take us.” She slipped a fishing hat she’d found at Hailey’s Dad’s house on her head. It was too big and covered most of her forehead. “How do I look?”
“Like a real fisherwoman.” Hailey struggled to keep the emotion out of her voice. Derek was an SOB, and Beau had been the one to be there for her girl. He’d never know what this meant to her daughter…to her.
A rap, rap, rap on the door and a sharp bark announced Beau and Walter’s arrival. Lottie ran to the door and swung it open. “You’re here!”
Beau grinned. “Nice hat.”
“Thanks. Hey, Walter.” Lottie threw her arms around the hound’s long neck.
Hailey tapped her daughter’s shoulder. “Lottie, why don’t you make one more potty run before we head out?”
“Okay. Be right back.”
“Wash your hands when you’re done,” Hailey called after her.
“Duh, Mom. I’m not a baby,” Lottie yelled.
Hailey poked her head around the corner. “Watch it, girl.”
Her girl’s laughter rang from beyond the closed bathroom door.
Beau went to the bag on the table. “Is this all—”
Hailey moved to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you.”
His warm arms came around her. “You’re welcome, but for wh
at?”
“Lottie just told me how sad she was about Derek taking Piper fishing. Thank you for stepping up for her.” She stepped out of his embrace and wiped her eyes. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He shrugged. “You love your daughter.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
His hands went to his front pockets. “I figured that was her story to tell.”
This man was going to be the death of her. Why did he have to check all her boxes? Why him? The worst possible man for her in the world. “Well, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
A sincere Beau was dangerous. She needed out of this moment with him. Where was her daughter? “Lottie, are you ready?”
“Born ready!” Lottie hollered and sprinted into the kitchen.
Hailey whirled around and stared at Beau. “You have got to be kidding me. You’re bringing it back using my kid?”
He threw his head back and laughed so hard he had to hold onto the kitchen chair. Correction, a laughing Beau was far more dangerous.
Lottie glanced from one adult to the other. “What?”
“Nothin’, Lil’ Bit.” Beau wiped his eye with the heel of his hand and grabbed the bag. “I thought we’d pick up some burgers on the way out of town. Have a picnic before we start fishing.” He placed his hand on Lottie’s head and moved the too-big hat from side to side. “That okay with you?”
“Can I get a milkshake?”
“That’s your mom’s call.”
Lottie turned big doe eyes to Hailey and folded her hands under her chin. “Pleeeeease, Mom?”
Hailey and Beau both laughed. “Only if I get one too,” Hailey said.
“Really?”
Hailey grabbed her ball cap and slipped her ponytail through the hole in the back, then slid it onto her head. “Sure. Strawberry milkshakes are the best.”
Lottie and Beau shared a look that communicated some people ain’t got no sense.
“What?”
Beau shook his head and opened the door. “Everybody knows that chocolate is the best kind of milkshake.”
“In the whole world,” Lottie added, and slapped Beau’s hand as he held it out for her.
Running After a Heartbreaker (Brides on the Run #4) Page 13