Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set

by Maddie James

  Lori’s eyes flitted around the dining room, before she looked up. She signed pancakes to him.

  He kissed her forehead. “Pancakes it is.”

  Anna patted her niece’s shoulder. “Why don’t we sit in the booth over there, sweetie? Go on and wait for me.”

  Nate leaned through the window into the kitchen, “Two orders of pancakes.” When he turned back, Anna was in his face.

  “She’s already asking about going to the barn. She’s going to be devastated.”

  “I’ll explain. Let me get her breakfast then we’ll talk.” Nate picked up a carton of milk out of the cooler and the coffee pot from the burner. “It’ll be okay, Anna. We’ll figure something out. I already have a plan.” A scheme that had more than one obstacle to overcome.

  Nate crossed to the table where his daughter sat. She took the carton of milk from his hand and opened it, sticking in a straw. “Can…Aunt Anna…take me to… the barn?”

  He leaned in, kissing her forehead, “I don’t think you’re going to be able to go today, baby.”

  The bright smile faded. She turned her full attention to the table and her milk.

  “When your breakfast is ready, I’m going to sit with you and explain.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Hailey heard her name being called…by her cousin? She turned, shocked to see Rhonda standing in the doorway.

  “What are you doing here?” Hailey left the chair next to her father’s bed and went to Rhonda with open arms.

  “Jake called me first thing this morning and told me about Uncle Bill’s fall. I came here as soon as I got into town. I figured it’s where I’d find you.”

  Now she felt bad. It hadn’t even occurred to her to call any of the extended family.

  Rhonda stepped out of the hug and crossed to her father’s bedside, she took him in with a look reserved for a concerned parent.

  “This is all my fault,” Hailey said.

  Rhonda sat in the chair Hailey had just vacated. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

  “I didn’t believe everyone who told me he was sicker than I thought. Then I left him alone. That’s when he fell.”

  “Where could you possibly go late at night in this town? It’s not like you’re going to find a twenty-four hour deli.”

  “I went to see Nate Jenkins.”

  Rhonda focused her gaze, and twisted in the chair so she was facing Hailey. “I saw this coming the other night. Do you really think it’s wise to go messing with that fire?”

  “It’s not like that.” Though in a way it was. She detailed the events of the previous day. How she had blown up in the diner when she found out about Jake wanting to lease the house to Nate. How she later toured Pioneer and then went to apologize.

  “And that’s all you talked about? Your house?” Rhonda asked.

  “We talked about our past too,”

  “Honey, is a couple of dates really a past?” Her words rode a ragged exhale.

  Hailey wrung her hands as she walked to the opposite side of her father’s bed. “We’ve always had a lot of chemistry.”

  “Yeah…sometimes with chemistry you get big ol’ explosions too. Did your talk at least give you closure?”

  “It opened the possibility of a future.”

  “How’s that going to work when you live in New York?”

  “I’m thinking about moving back here to take care of Dad.”

  Rhonda searched her eyes. “Why?”

  Hailey knew she could see clear through to her soul. “Dad needs me, and I need to be here, like I wasn’t for Mom.”

  “Isn’t everyone going to get suspicious when you don’t have to go back to work?”

  “I told Jake the truth.”

  Rhonda’s breath hitched. When the shock settled in, she exhaled slowly, shaking her head. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but you will get another job.”

  “I became a lawyer to help people. People like Mrs. Otero who deserved justice, even if it didn’t have a huge payout that lined the partners’ pockets.”

  “That law firm is a business. They have to turn a profit.” Rhonda’s defense had been the exact same words her boss had used when he ordered her to get rid of the wrongful death case.

  “Everyone deserves justice, even if they can’t afford the price tag. That’s the foundation of our legal system.”

  “Look, I’m not trying to be cold. Maybe that client did deserve your help, but—as someone who runs her own business—I also know the importance of the bottom line. You can’t continue to operate in the red.”

  “You think my partners would end up in the red if I took on one case like my clients?”

  “Just one? No. But where do you draw a line?”

  Hailey crossed her arms, and let Rhonda’s words sink in. She made a lot of sense, but that didn’t mean Hailey had been wrong to stand her ground. “You’re oversimplifying the situation.”

  “Am I?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, what are you going to do? Come back here and play house with Nate?”

  When Rhonda put it that way, it sounded like she was running away from real-life. Just like Nate had accused her of always doing. That wasn’t accurate, though. Or was it? “The last time I was really happy, was when I was with him.”

  “You were with Nate for one night, a long time ago.”

  “Now is the perfect opportunity to try and see if maybe there’s more there. We’re just going to see where it goes. No long term plans.”

  “Until you get a job offer.”

  She shrugged. “I feel like I’ve applied to every law firm in the state of New York and had every door slammed in my face.”

  “You know that’s an exaggeration.”

  She shrugged her shoulders and sat at her father’s bedside. She smoothed out the blanket that was covering him. “I’m still waiting to hear from a handful of places.”

  “And if one of them calls and wants you to start right away? What would you do?”

  “It would complicate things.” It surprised her that her first instinct, when pushed, was to go back to New York. Was that just because it was habit?

  “Would it? Really?”

  “Yes.” When forced to think about it, she knew the truth. “If I had a job waiting for me in New York, things wouldn’t be so cut and dried.”

  “Don’t play games with him. That’s not fair.”

  “I’m not. If I had a job offer, it wouldn’t change how I feel about it him. I’m just saying it would complicate things.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The bell above the door announced Hailey’s presence. Nate looked up just in time to see her unwrap the dark brown scarf, letting it fall to her shoulders.

  He was struck with how polished she looked: every hair in place, flawless makeup, and clothes that came from a designer rack instead of the local box store.

  Quite an accomplishment given he knew they were both operating on just a few hours of sleep.

  The leather computer bag that was slung over her shoulder completed the urban professional look. It didn’t matter that she’d grown up here. Time and distance had changed her. She looked more like an outsider than a local.

  When their eyes met, she smiled and approached.

  He met her half way. “I expected you’d take longer at the hospital.”

  She leaned in close to whisper low but still maintained a little distance. “I’m happy to see you too, sweetie.”

  Her use of a pet name melted his heart. He wanted to pull her in, kiss her cheek—at least—but didn’t. Not when the eyes of everyone in the restaurant were on the two of them. “Of course, I’m happy to see you. I only meant…”

  “Dad was still asleep. I talked to his doctor, and my cousin Rhonda came by to visit. I thought I’d let him sleep a little longer and take you up on your offer to make me breakfast.”

  “You just missed your brother. He said he was heading up to the hospital.”

  “Well then, if D
ad wakes up he’ll have company while I eat.”

  “Why don’t you have a seat at the counter? I was just making the rounds with the coffee pot.”

  Her eyes flashed to the booth. “Is there a reason why I can’t sit with your sister and your daughter?”

  Was there? Yes, because he was about to shatter Lori’s heart into a million pieces. He touched Hailey’s arm, guiding her out of the center walkway. “I need to talk to Lori. I didn’t get a chance to mention it last night, but Anna lost her job at the farm. Lori isn’t going to be able to take part in the therapy program anymore.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I can’t afford it.” It was a simple truth, but the way Anna’s firing complicated everything weighed on him. Lori had needs and he wasn’t meeting them. Even if it was through no fault of his own, it still felt like failure.

  The way Hailey dressed, he doubted she could understand what it meant to have to count pennies.

  “She’s not going to take it well,” Nate said.

  She patted his shoulder. “It’s a daddy-daughter moment. I get it. Is it okay if I take a table though?” She patted the laptop bag hanging from her shoulder. “I’ve got some email to answer.”

  “Of course. I’ll be over to take your order in a few minutes.”

  “I know what I want.” Her focused gaze got the meaning behind her words across. Funny, he didn’t mind feeling like a big stack of hot, buttered pancakes, when she was the one eyeing him.

  “You do?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, I’ll take a house special, no rush.”

  Nate approached the large round table first, refilling the farmers’ association wives’ cups, making light, yet personal conversation with each one. His gaze kept flipping back to Hailey, who had made herself at home in the booth adjacent to his sister and daughter. He watched her set up her computer and hook up a personal Wi-Fi connection, Jake’s words from this morning nagging at him the whole time.

  The day before he’d seen the same old headstrong Hailey he’d always known. Last night, she’d been the woman he fantasized about, even eight years later. Today, even though she’d greeted him warmly, she seemed entirely out of reach—like back in high school.

  His waitress filled a coffee cup for Hailey, making polite conversation. To any other pair of eyes in the diner, it might look like Hailey had successfully crossed the bridge between now and then, fitting in as if she’d never left. So, why did Nate suddenly have his doubts?

  The voice that warned him she would leave sooner rather than later was growing impossible to ignore.

  After making the rounds to all the tables, he returned the carafe to the warming plate and picked up the two plates of pancakes from the ledge. “I’m going to need one more stack,” he called through the window. On his way back to the table where his sister and daughter sat, he let the head waitress know Hailey’s breakfast would be up soon. He then set the plates he carried in front of his family, slipping into the opposite side of the booth.

  After taking a large bite of pancakes, Lori dropped her fork and began signing to Nate, asking him why she couldn’t go ride.

  Anna reached over, grabbing her hands. “Lori, honey, you need to talk.”

  She swallowed hard and then sipped from the carton of milk. “But Daddy… says not when… my… mouth is full.”

  Nate couldn’t stop the chuckle, but the news he had to share quickly chased the light mood away. “You know your aunt had to go take care of a sick horse last night?”

  Lori nodded. “And you… made me… stay home.”

  Nate squeezed her hand tight. “The horse was very sick, and Anna had to pay attention to the doctor. They did everything they could, but the horse didn’t make it.”

  Lori’s eyes glossed over with tears. Her head snapped to Anna. “Sonny died?”

  Anna turned away, shielding her own sorrow. Slowly, she looked back to Lori. “It’s very sad, isn’t it? Everyone at the barn is very sad. My boss got mad at me about it.”

  “It’s not… your fault. Sonny… was… fine.”

  “But it’s my job to take care of them. Mrs. Crawford got very angry with me. She told me I couldn’t work at the barn anymore. That’s why you can’t ride today.”

  Lori pushed her plate away and folded her arms on the table. Burying her head, she collapsed into sobs.

  Anna leaned over her, hugging her. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t want this to happen.”

  Nate clenched his jaw. Anna wasn’t to blame for the horse’s colic and it wasn’t fair that his daughter had to suffer for something that wasn’t her fault either. “Lori, I know you’re upset. I want you to remember that you and your aunt are not to blame. Sometimes bad things just happen.”

  Neither looked up or acknowledged what he’d said. Feeling helpless, Nate tried to lift her spirits. “Give Daddy a little bit of time. I’m going to fix it so you can have your own horse to ride. I promise. I’m going to help Anna too. You’ll see.”

  Lori looked up and nodded pushing the tears off her cheeks. “I know… I’m not… worried. I’m sad… about… Sonny.”

  Anna rubbed her back. “It’s okay. We all are.”

  Feeling Hailey’s presence even before she spoke, Nate looked up to see her by their table.

  Her computer bag was back on her shoulder and her coat on. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” She turned her full attention to Anna. “Nate said last night that you worked for Betty Crawford?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you’ll allow me to represent you I think I can get your job back.”

  Anna looked at her dumbfounded at first, then nodded emphatically. “Of course. Thank you.”

  Hailey turned to leave, but Nate grabbed her arm. “Wait!” He flipped his gaze to Anna. “Can you really afford a lawyer and a lawsuit?”

  “Don’t worry about cost,” Hailey said. “I’m not going to charge you.”

  Nate’s gaze shot back to her. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. But I need Anna’s permission to pursue it.”

  Nate turned his attention to his sister. “Think about this? It might make things worse.”

  “She doesn’t have a job,” Hailey said. “How can I make the situation worse?”

  Anna was quiet for a moment while she considered what was being offered. “Yes. I want to do it. It wasn’t my fault, and Betty had no right to fire me.”

  Hailey’s whole face lit up with a smile that Nate recognized all too well. She was a dog with a bone, and it thrilled her. “All right then, let me get to work. I’ll call you after a while.”

  She briskly walked toward the door. Nate slid out of the booth and followed her, catching up to her on the sidewalk out front. He grabbed her arm, turning her back. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Your sister’s rights are being trampled on. They’re not going to get away with hurting her and Lori.”

  He stepped closer and stroked her arm. “I feel like it’s more than that.”

  She placed a hand against his chest. “I want to do this for you and your family because it broke my heart to hear your daughter crying. But really, fighting injustice is why I wanted to be a lawyer in the first place.”

  The wall that Nate hid his heart behind crumbled. This wasn’t a promise to stay from Hailey, and seeing her now in full battle mode, he wasn’t even one hundred percent sure he wanted to keep her from what she was meant to do. He did want to hold her—thank her—and not worry about what anyone in this town thought about it.

  Nate stepped closer and slid a finger under her chin. As he leaned in, she pushed up on her toes to meet his kiss. “Thank you for caring enough to try.”

  He escorted Hailey to her car, held the door for her, and kissed her cheek before she slid in. Only after she’d driven away, did he turn back to the diner.

  In the moment, it had been easy to show Hailey the affection burning inside him. Now that every eye in his restaurant watched him come back in and cross to the t
able with his family, he wondered if his heart had made him a fool.

  “Do you really think she can get me my job back?” Anna asked as he slid back into the booth.

  “I know she’ll do the best she can. Jake and Kelly both say she’s a top-notch lawyer.”

  “And she’s… your… friend.” Lori said.

  Nate nodded. “That’s right. Remember? I told you last night that I used to go to school with her.”

  Lori took another bite of her pancakes, chewing them thoroughly.

  “She used… to have… her own pony.” She said we can go visit it.

  “She told me earlier she’s going to call her uncle today.”

  Lori picked up her fork and took another big bite of pancakes. Nate could see the wheels spinning in her head. “Do you have a question for me?”

  She dropped her fork and signed. You kissed her. Does that means she’s your girlfriend?

  Nate took a deep breath, considering his next words carefully. This was just what he didn’t want to happen. It was one thing to take chances with his own heart but Lori’s didn’t deserve any more heartbreak. “She’s a good friend. I’m very happy that she’s trying to help your aunt get her job back. If she can do that, you’ll still be able to go ride horses.”

  I like that she’s going to do that, too, Lori signed.

  “But, she’s only in town for a little while. She doesn’t live around here anymore.”

  “Far away… like Gram… and Papa?”

  “Not quite that far, but yes. Like that.”

  “They visit… She can… visit… sometimes?”

  Nate rubbed the back of his neck. “Sure. She can visit.”

  A large smile brightened Lori’s face. She seemed proud to have figured out the dilemma. If only it was that easy.

  She put another large forkful of pancakes into her mouth and then dropped her fork so she could talk with her hands. She’s nice.

  After Lori had finished eating, Nate said. “Why don’t you run into the kitchen and say hi to Aunt Wanda? I know she’d like to see you.”