Running After a Heartbreaker (Brides on the Run #4)

by Jami Albright

  Luanne dropped onto the sofa. “How?”

  His conscience pricked at telling her business, but it’d be around town by the end of the day anyway. “She forgot to make the payment before we left to go to Nashville.” He sat next to Luanne. “She blames me because I took them away, and she wasn’t here when it happened.”

  Scarlett took a fussy Molly from Gavin. “What? That’s ridiculous.”

  “Not to her way of thinking, and she’s made up her mind. We’re done.” He shrugged. “So, I was wondering, could I stay here until I move to Nashville?”

  “Of course,” Jack said. “Are you sure about that? Moving, I mean?”

  Beau rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands between his legs. “Yeah, you guys are right. I need to be there. This week’s proven that.”

  “If you’re sure, I can start setting that up.” Jack sat on the other end of the sofa.

  Was he sure? He sure as hell couldn’t live in Zachsville, seeing Hailey and Lottie and not being a part of their lives. “Do it.”

  Luanne shoved at his leg. “Don’t just sit there, help me get up from this sofa.”

  Beau laughed. “Sure thing, mama. How far along are you now?” He placed his hand on her back and pushed.

  She made it to her feet a little unsteadily. “Thirty-seven weeks. I’m about to give these kids an eviction notice.”

  “Um, Luanne? Baby?” Jack’s voice sounded weird.

  “Yeah?”

  Jack placed his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Luanne’s dark brows slanted over her blue eyes. “Yes, Jack. I’m a grown woman, and I think I know when I need to go to the bathroom.” She searched his face, which appeared to have lost all color. “Why?”

  He pointed to a wet spot where she’d been sitting. Beau jumped back like the spot might spontaneously grow and consume him.

  “Oh,” was all Luanne could say. Just then, a dark stain began to spread down the legs of her pants.

  “Your water broke!” Scarlett squealed.

  “What?” Jack dropped into a chair.

  A huge smile split Luanne’s face. “My water broke, Jack.”

  “No. No. No. It’s too soon.” Jack sat stiff as a board, with a shell-shocked expression on his face.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Jack. Dr. Shelton said they could come early.” Luanne waddled to the bedroom. “Scarlett, will you help me with my bag?” She glanced at Jack still murmuring in the chair and shook her head. “Beau, can you drive us?”

  “Absolutely.” He was as flustered as Jack, but he had less skin in the game.

  “The keys are on the hook in the kitchen. We should take our vehicle. And Gavin?”

  “Yeah?”

  She cocked her head toward Jack. “Do something with him.”

  Gavin chuckled. “I’ll try.”

  Beau grabbed the keys and pulled his phone from his pocket to call Hailey, then remembered everything that’d happened. Strange that in such a short time she’d become his person. The one he wanted to tell all the good news and the bad news. With a heaviness that he was pretty sure would be around for a while, he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

  Jack hadn’t moved, and Gavin was squatting in front of him. “Come on, man. This is exciting.”

  “It’s too soon. What if they’re not ready to be born?” Jack sounded like he’d been huffing helium.

  Beau stifled a chuckle. His cousin was losing it.

  “Jack, these are your kids. They’re too arrogant to be anything but healthy.” Gavin slapped him on the knee. “Now come on. Luanne needs you.”

  Green eyes so much like his own studied Gavin’s face, then Jack nodded and stood. “Okay. Okay. Okay.”

  Luanne and Scarlett came back into the room with Aiden and Molly in tow.

  Jack was pacing around the living area, still mumbling, “Okay. Okay. Okay.” He stopped and glanced around the room with his hands in front of him like he was about to lead the choir at church. “Alright, everyone just calm the hell down.”

  The other four adults in the room exchanged looks and all tried to stifle a laugh. Even Aiden looked at Jack like he was a few bales short of a load.

  “Luanne, have you called Dr. Shelton?”

  “Yes, Jack. She’s going to meet us at the hospital.”

  Still with his hands in the air, he nodded.

  Luanne handed Beau her bag. “Take this to the car. I’ll get him.” She went to Jack and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hey, Daddy. You ready to go meet your babies?”

  That seemed to jar Jack from his stupor. He glanced down at his wife with a look so fierce and loving that it sucked the air from the room.

  Beau turned his head. It physically hurt to look at the two of them. He jangled the keys. “Ready?”

  Jack slapped him on the back. “Born ready.”

  Beau grinned. “Hell yeah you were.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Hailey spent the evening making a list for the repairs and writing down the contractors she needed to contact for quotes. She quickly came to realize that even with the money she’d set aside for the nonprofit, she was still thousands short. A hot lava rock burned in her belly. With every phone call, the news became more and more grim.

  Thankfully her father had taken pity on her and invited Lottie to spend the night. She loved her daughter, but she couldn’t take her hero worship of Beau tonight. Hailey was holding on by a thread as it was. The last thing she needed was Lottie going on and on about how amazing Beau was.

  Her phone rang and she dug through piles of papers to find it. Shit. “Hello, Derek.”

  “Hailey, um… I wanted to let you know that…”

  She heard Ariel in the background say something to Derek. The absolute lack of emotion she had at hearing her former friend’s voice was a relief. She’d fought hard to move past that betrayal. “Do you need to call me back, Derek? It sounds like you’re busy.”

  “No. I’m calling to tell you that I’m moving.”

  Ariel said something else she couldn’t make out.

  “I mean, we…we’re moving.”

  “To another house or another city?”

  “Another city and another house.” His chuckle was like him, totally inappropriate.

  “Where?”

  “Atlanta.”

  “Georgia?”

  “Yes, Atlanta, Georgia. That’s where Ariel’s family is from.” His clipped, defensive tone told her that he knew what he was doing wasn’t right.

  “When?”

  “Four weeks.”

  That meant this had been in the works for some time. “What about Lottie?”

  “I was going to tell her today, after Piper’s party, but she refused to come with me. So…I was thinking you could tell her.”

  Her meditation breathing was barely taking the edge off her anger. “You’re a chicken shit, Derek.”

  “Oh, like you’re any better.”

  “I am better than you.” The truth of her words rang through her mind. Her life might be falling apart, but even on her worst day she was better than him.

  “No—”

  “Thanks for calling. I’ll take care of your mess, just like I always have.” He was yelling when she hung up. She didn’t care. It was shitty of him to leave it to her to tell their daughter, but honestly, he’d probably screw it up, so she’d happily do it if it saved Lottie more heartache.

  A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She peeked out the peephole and saw that it was her father.

  Cold dread shot down her spine, and she yanked the door open. “Is Lottie okay?”

  “She’s fine and asleep. Carol’s with her. Can I come in?”

  “Suit yourself.” She swung her arm toward the living room.

  He took a tentative step inside. She guessed she couldn’t blame him—she hadn’t been terribly welcoming the few times he’d
come to get Lottie or drop her off. “Want something to drink?”

  He waved her off. “Naw, I’m good.” The nervous hunch of his shoulders put her on edge.

  She crossed the room to him and moved a stack of bills and legal pads so he could sit down. “How was Lottie tonight?”

  He visibly relaxed and chuckled. “That girl’s a pistol. She talked me into taking her to get pancakes for dinner.”

  A snort shot through her nose. “She’s a con artist, that’s what she is.” She retook her seat on the sofa. “Sit. It was nice of you to take her.”

  The surprised look on his face gave her a pang of guilt. She rarely said nice things to him and she knew it. Then again, he rarely had anything nice to say to her either. “So, what’s up?”

  “Well…um…” He rested his elbows on his knees, clasped his hands between his legs, and hung his head.

  “Dad?”

  The pain in his face when he raised his head hit her right in the chest. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “Everything. Just every damn thing.” The wrinkles on his face seemed to have deepened just in the last few minutes.

  “Okay.” She had no idea what to say. “What’s brought this on?” He looked so guilty that for a horrible moment, she thought he was going to say he’d set the fire, but quickly dismissed that thought. He was a lot of things, but a criminal wasn’t one of them.

  “I was putting Lottie to bed tonight and she was trying to work another con on me.” A ghost of a smile pulled at his lips. “And I just realized how much I love that girl and how empty my life would be without her. Then I was reminded of all the horrible things I said to you when you got pregnant.” With his elbows still on his knees, he cradled his head in his hands. “I said things no father should say to his daughter. No wonder you ran and hid with your mother in the bar.”

  Hailey shrugged. “She’s the only one who didn’t judge me or hold it against me.”

  He nodded. “I know. And that added fuel to my anger because I’d been the one to raise you while she slaved away at that bar, and I lost you to that place just like I lost her.”

  That was something she’d never considered. He was right of course. Her mom hadn’t been there to get her to school or to help with homework. “Dad, I don’t know what to say.”

  He went on like he hadn’t heard her. “I felt so guilty because you got pregnant on my watch, and I failed. Then when you fell into your mother’s footsteps it scared me and made me so angry that I couldn’t get over it.” His dull brown eyes cut to her. “That’s on me. I was the adult.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “Of course you didn’t. I never said anything. And when the town turned against you, it was so much like what happened to your mother that I knew I’d lost you to that place.”

  “What happened to Mom?”

  One bony shoulder rose and fell. “She was always an outcast because of her association with the bar. First when she was growing up, and then when she took it over. The people in this town… A bunch of petty hypocrites.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I thought I could save her, but she didn’t want to be saved. That bar took her from me twice. Once when she started running it, and once when she got breast cancer and died.”

  “Dad, the bar didn’t cause the breast cancer.”

  He sat back in the chair, his gaze on fire. “No? Once she was diagnosed she refused to slow down, to let you run things. She pushed and pushed until the exhaustion and stress made it impossible to fight the disease.” He laced his fingers on top of his head and a tear ran through the lines on his face. “I knew from the moment she was diagnosed that it would take her.”

  “Oh, Dad.”

  “I know you think I’m being terribly disloyal to your mom, but I had two years to grieve and come to terms with her death before she ever died. Right or wrong, I don’t want to be alone anymore, and Carol is a wonderful woman and even better company. I’m sorry if that hurts you.”

  “No, it doesn’t.” And she was surprised to realize that it really didn’t. She could see how her mother had made the bar her life because that was where she had control. Was she doing the same thing?

  “Hailey.”

  She was so deep in thought that she hadn’t realized he was speaking again. “Yes?”

  “I’m asking for your forgiveness. You didn’t deserve my scorn, you deserved my love and protection and I failed you.”

  Words she’d wanted him to say for years soothed the anger inside her head. The ball of crap she’d carried around in her chest began to unravel. She knelt in front of him and placed her hands on his knees. “Yes, Dad. I forgive you. Can you forgive the terrible things I’ve said to you?”

  He wrapped her in a hug. “It’s already forgiven.”

  “I’ll talk to Carol. I have some road to mend with her too.”

  His big hand cupped her cheek. “She’d love that.” The gentleness of his thumb wiping away her tear caused her heart to expand and contract.

  He glanced around the room at the notebooks and bills. “What’s all this?”

  She sat back on her heels. “Oh, nothing.” The last thing she wanted to do was ruin their tentative treaty by bringing up the bar.

  He took the notebook she’d been using. “These are contractors. For the bar?”

  “Yes.”

  “How’s it coming?”

  Terrible. Awful. Horrible. “It’s fine.”

  “Is that why you’re so joyful?”

  She snorted without humor and sat back on the sofa. “It’s pretty terrible. Even with the money I have set aside, I don’t have enough, and I’m not sure the bank will give me another loan.”

  “What do you mean, money you have set aside? Has Sandra said how much the insurance will pay?”

  The legal pad in her hand shook slightly. She did not want to have to tell him this part. “Dad, I was uninsured.”

  “No, you weren’t. Who told you that?”

  “Nobody had to tell me. I forgot to make the payment and the policy lapsed.”

  He nodded. “I know you didn’t pay it. Sandra called me Wednesday. She said you told her you were bringing by the payment, but hadn’t shown up, and they were about to close for the holiday. So I paid it.”

  English, he was speaking English, but she couldn’t make the words understandable. “What?”

  “I made the payment. It’s my bar too.”

  “But you hate it, and after all you’ve told me, I understand why.” Her feet and her nerves demanded she get up and move. “Why would you do this?”

  “Because I’ve been a jackass, and you were finally getting out of this town to enjoy your life.” He stood and stopped her pacing by placing his warm hands on her shoulders. “It was the least I could do.”

  Her arms went around his waist. “Thank you, Dad.”

  Boon’s could be saved with the insurance money.

  She hadn’t failed.

  The thousand-pound weight choking her since Hank’s phone call should’ve released, but instead it yanked tighter, and she wondered if she’d ever be able to breathe again.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Take another picture, Beau.” Jack held both babies and grinned like an idiot.

  Luanne laughed. “Jack, leave Beau alone and let him hold the boys.”

  “Yeah, Jack, leave me alone.”

  Jack mouthed asshole to Beau, but handed him one of the infants.

  “Which one do I have?” He glanced from one baby to the other. They were identical in every way, except the first baby born weighed a half a pound more than the other.

  Jack snuck a peek at the hospital bracelet of the baby he was holding. “I have Grey and you have Rivers.”

  Luanne held up her phone. “You guys smile.”

  Beau grinned like a fool. He was so happy for these two. Grey started to fuss, so he tried the bouncing thing he’d seen Luanne do, but the kid was having none of it.

  “Bring him to me,
Beau.” Luanne held out her hands and made a gimmie motion with her fingers.

  He gently laid the boy in his mama’s arms. Luanne looked tired, but happier than he’d ever seen her. He kissed her forehead. “Woman, how is it you’re even more beautiful than before?”

  Jack growled, and Luanne laughed and shoved him away. “Beau Callen, stop teasing your cousin.”

  He shot Jack a grin over his shoulder. “Sorry, Jack.”

  “Now you’re just lying.” Luanne laughed.

  “He’s also asking for an ass—”

  “Hello.”

  He knew that husky, sexy voice.

  Hailey.

  Luanne shot him a look. “Come in.”

  The woman who’d ripped his heart from his chest strolled into the room in a gold sweater and jeans that hugged every one of her curves, carrying two blue bags with tissue paper sticking out of the top. The only indication that she was surprised to see him was the slight widening of her eyes.

  She gave him a tentative smile that he wanted to kiss off her face. “I come bearing gifts.”

  “Hailey, come meet my sons.” Jack moved to stand next to Luanne.

  “Oh, my Lord, they are adorable.” Her voice rose an octave as she made her way to the side of Luanne’s bed. “What are their names?”

  Luanne smoothed the black hair of the baby she was holding. “This is Rivers and that’s Grey.”

  Hailey played with Grey’s foot that was peeking out of his blanket. “Oh, Luanne, they’re beautiful. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m good. Sore.” Luanne laughed.

  “Yeah, I definitely remember that part. Lottie weighed nine pounds.”

  The conversation continued, but Beau couldn’t participate. Thoughts of Hailey and the future they wouldn’t have together tormented him. “Hey, um… Sorry to interrupt, but I better get going.” He hitched his finger over his shoulder.

  Something passed across Hailey’s face, but then she turned back to the baby in Luanne’s arms and touched his black hair.

  He guessed that said it all. “Alright, I’m out of here. Call if you need anything.”