Hayden left the car running as he turned to her. “I had a great time tonight. Thanks for helping me talk through my ideas and how to approach my parents. I feel more confident about that now.”
“You’re welcome.” The silver light from the single lamppost in the parking lot shone inside the car, lighting up his face. Her hand went to her necklace and she fiddled with the gold chain, her nerves spiking again. For a supper that had been friendly, the electric tension between them right now definitely wasn’t. She wouldn’t have to move much to kiss him. Just a few inches and she could experience another wave of bliss like their last kiss. More than anything she wanted to do just that.
“Riley—”
“I’ve gotta go.” She opened the car door, forgetting that she had agreed to let him do it. “Mimi has an early doctor’s appointment.” Which was true, but it wasn’t that early. She scrambled out of the seat. “Thanks. Bye.” She slammed the door and fumbled in her purse for her keys. She didn’t glance back as she got in the car and fled from Hayden—again.
Although this time she had to do everything in her power not to go back to him.
* * *
On Thursday morning, Hayden was ready to talk to his parents. That, however, was not what was on his mind after he’d gone for a quick run before breakfast. Riley was, particularly the way she ran off last night. He’d been serious about having a good time with her, especially when she relaxed while they were discussing business. Then she’d turned playful during dessert, and that was when he’d been a goner. Although she sped out of his car like a jackrabbit, he’d been sure she wanted to kiss him again, maybe as much as he wanted to kiss her.
Strangely enough, he was glad she hadn’t. That would have complicated things, and he’d rather be around Riley as friends than kissing her and destroying their fragile friendship. The best thing he could do right now was get her off his mind and focus on his meeting with his parents.
After returning from his run, he quickly showered and dressed, then went downstairs and into the kitchen where his mother was finishing breakfast. When they were all seated at the table and had started eating, he told them he wanted to talk.
“About what, dear?” Mom sipped her white coffee that was mostly milk and sugar with a splash of actual coffee.
“The store.”
Both parents gaped at him. “You want to talk about the hardware store?” his dad asked.
“Yes.” Hayden leaned forward. “I know you’re selling the business.”
His parents exchanged a glance, then his father spoke. “How did you find out?”
Hayden told them, apologizing for reading personal mail. “I called Henry and he confirmed it, but he didn’t give me any details.”
“I’m sorry, Hayden.” Mom grimaced. “We were going to tell you—”
“—when the time was right,” Dad said.
“You’ve been so busy with baseball and then rehabbing your shoulder.”
Hayden moved his hands under the table as he tried not to clench them into fists. His parents had never been deceptive about anything before. He needed to hear them out.
“I understand,” he said evenly. “But I’ve been back more than six months.”
“We didn’t have a deal in place until recently.” Dad tapped the handle of his coffee cup. “I thought—”
“We thought,” Mom interjected. “It was a joint decision.”
“We thought we would tell you after the sale.” Dad turned to Hayden. “I’m surprised you’re upset about this.”
“Why wouldn’t I be upset?”
“We weren’t keeping it a secret from you,” Mom insisted.
That was debatable but not the point. “I don’t care that you didn’t tell me. I’m upset about the sale. I can’t believe you don’t want to run the store anymore.”
His shoulders drooped. “I’m tired, son. I’ve been tired for a while. It’s hard having a business nowadays. Not just in a small town, but in lots of places. Although small-town businesses have been hit the worst. People are shopping in bigger cities, bigger stores.”
“Those strip malls.” Mom sniffed. “They and online shopping have been the death of small businesses.”
“I’m tired of fighting, son. Maybe if I was younger I’d be able to handle it better.” Dad sighed, then took Mom’s hand. “We have things we want to do. Travel. Go see the grandkids together. We always have to take separate trips because someone has to mind the store.”
Hayden sat back in his chair. “I didn’t realize how difficult it was for you.”
“Oh, you know your father,” Mom said. “Never wants anyone to think he’s anything but a ray of sunshine.”
Dad frowned and tugged on his salt-and-pepper mustache. “That’s not true. Not totally anyway.”
“Honey, it’s a done deal. Your father is signing the papers tomorrow afternoon.”
Hayden stilled. He’d hoped for more time than that, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, especially in a situation like this. “I want to buy the store.”
“What?” his parents exclaimed.
“I have a good chunk of money saved from playing ball. Enough to make a decent offer, I’m sure.” He didn’t think it was necessary to explain financial details further than that.
“It’s not about the money,” Dad said. “You don’t understand what you’re getting into.”
“Then tell me. Explain everything I need to know about running a hardware store. I can’t imagine there’s anything else you didn’t teach me about the place when I was growing up.”
“There’s a few things. That’s still not the point. Hayden, it’s not just hard. Running a failing business is defeating.”
Hayden thought for a moment. “Maybe it doesn’t have to fail. What is the buyer planning to do with the property?”
“I’m not sure. Henry is handling the sale, and I’ve never met the guy, but he’s bought up two other buildings on the street too.”
That didn’t sound good at all. Mass purchases of buildings or land usually meant new development. Hearing that made him more determined than ever to go through with his plans for Maple Falls. He’d just have to get through to his parents first. “That doesn’t bother you?”
“It does, but what can I do about it?” Dad frowned, his expression somber. “I don’t want to saddle you with this, Hayden. I’m sure you have other things you’d rather do with your future.”
“Other than finish rehabbing that house I bought two months ago, I can’t think of anything more important than this.” Riley instantly came to mind, but he had to keep his focus on Price’s Hardware right now. He had to get his point across to his parents.
“You’ve had a lot of changes in your life in a short time.” Compassion filled his mother’s eyes. “It’s been less than a year since . . .”
“Since the injury that ended my career. You can say that, Mom. We can talk about it too.”
Dad shook his head. “I don’t see how you accepted it so easily.” His gaze was direct. “I’m not sure I believe you have.”
Anger flared inside Hayden, but he tamped it down, reminding himself that his parents didn’t know the whole story. Maybe it was time they did. “Two years before I signed with Detroit, I started seeing a counselor.”
Mom drew in a breath. “You did? Why?”
“I was having trouble keeping my emotions in check.” It wasn’t easy to admit this, and he hadn’t said anything because he didn’t want his parents to worry. But he could see the alarm on their faces. “I’m in a good place now, ironically. Better than I have been in a long time. But I was frustrated back then. I couldn’t seem to break through into the majors—my game was suffering. I wasn’t myself, and my temper was flaring. So I went to counseling. I lucked out and got a good counselor. He even came and saw me in the hospital, and then we did sessions over the phone and online.
“I’m telling you all this because while it might seem like my decision to buy the store is a last-minute one, i
t isn’t.” For some reason, discussing his struggle to keep his emotions under control was making him emotional. Add another checkmark in the irony column. He swallowed the lump in his throat.
“We had no idea,” Mom said, tears in her eyes. “If you were struggling so much, why didn’t you tell us?”
“You did a good job of hiding it,” Dad added.
“Because I didn’t want to have this conversation. I didn’t want to worry you. And I’m a grown-up. I take care of my own problems. I learned that from you.” He smiled, relieved that his secret was out in the open now. But that didn’t mean he wanted to derail the topic at hand. “Enough of all this emotional talk.”
“Now you sound like your father,” Mom mumbled. Then she touched Hayden’s arm. “I’m so proud of you, Hayden. I didn’t think we could be any prouder than we were when you realized your dream of making it to the majors.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “But we are. Right, Harrison?”
Dad sniffed. “Yes,” he said, turning to Hayden. “Very proud.”
Hayden appreciated the support they had always given him without hesitation. Yet as much as that meant to him, there was something else he needed even more.
“Mom, Dad, are you willing to sell Price’s Hardware to me?”
Chapter 12
“And here’s where you and the Bosom Buddies will have your knit and crochet nights.” Riley gestured to the middle of the store. Bins and small shelving units stuffed with yarn crowded the area.
Her grandmother rested her forearms on the wheelchair’s armrests. This morning the doctor said Mimi needed to use the chair for one more week because he was concerned that moving her to crutches too soon might cause more problems. Her grandmother wasn’t happy with the decision, but she didn’t give the doctor too much trouble about it.
“Do you think there will be enough room here?” she asked. “At least this week, since I’m still stuck in this chair.”
“Once we clear out everything there will be plenty of room.” Riley pulled over the Man Chair and sat in front of Mimi. “Right now all the inventory is out on display. It’s overwhelming.” She flipped open her sketchbook, making sure she moved quickly past Hayden’s portrait. She should have torn it out, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. In fact, she had done more work on it this week. “I’ve also designed some storage ideas for the back room. Instead of putting everything on the floor, we limit the merchandise to a few skeins, and when customers want more of a particular yarn, we can go in the back and fetch it for them.”
Mimi nodded. “I’ve just always done what my mother and grandmother did. They had fewer yarn options and more customers, so the inventory turned over quickly.” She surveyed the shop. “You’re right. All my friends are right. I let the shop get out of control.”
“Don’t worry, Mimi. It won’t take too much work to rein it back in.” Riley smiled.
“There it is again.” Mimi beamed. “That beautiful smile. If redoing this shop will keep that smile on your face, let’s do it!”
“Don’t forget about your house,” Riley said. “I have plans for that too.”
“I’m sure you do.” Mimi tilted her head. “I’m worried you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. It’s going to take time to do all that work, even with Hayden’s help.”
“I know.”
“What about your job in New York? I’m sure Melody is ready for her roommate to return.”
Riley explained about Charlie, and how the rent was covered at least for the next month. “As for my job . . .” She touched the sketch in her lap. “Let’s just say the New York art world won’t miss me for a little while longer.”
Mimi shook her head. “I’m sure that’s not true. I thought you told me you had several shows recently, although I’ll admit my memory ain’t what it used to be.”
Inhaling a deep breath, Riley admitted, “They weren’t exactly shows. More like sales.” Her cheeks heated and she knew she finally had to be honest. “As in flea market sales.”
“Oh.” Surprise flashed across Mimi’s face, then she nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Were your customers satisfied with their purchases?”
“I think so.” Riley remembered one young woman who had moved to the city from South Carolina and was picking up furniture and décor from the flea market to furnish her new apartment. “It’s tiny,” she’d said in a sweet, Carolinian accent. “But it’s all mine, and this picture will be perfect for the wall above my sleeper sofa.”
Riley had remembered being just like her when she first arrived in New York—full of excitement and anticipation, ready to take on the city and make her mark. Fortunately this woman had a business degree and wouldn’t end up another failed artist like Riley. For some reason, the thought didn’t carry the sting it had in the past. She also didn’t want to think about New York. She wanted to focus on her work here.
“I have an idea,” Mimi said. “Once everything is finished, how about I commission a few pieces of original Riley McAllister art to decorate the walls?”
“Well, I was thinking about doing one anyway.” Before I leave.
“That would be jim-dandy. You can use materials here in the shop for inspiration.” Her smile was warm. “I’ve always loved your work, even if I’m a little biased. I think it will also help sell the store when the time comes.”
Riley paused as unexpected sadness washed over her, and this wasn’t the first time her emotions were out of whack since supper with Hayden last night. She’d been kicking herself for being so abrupt with him, but if she hadn’t, she would have ended up kissing him, and that would have made a complicated situation worse. Before she fell asleep last night, she thought about Hayden’s passion for his hometown and about all the work she was putting into Knots and Tangles to improve it, only for it to be sold. That’s what I want, though. Right?
“Riley? Is that idea okay with you?”
She turned to Mimi, seeing her expectant look. “I’d love to create art for the store,” she said, tamping down her sadness and trying to be as enthusiastic as her grandmother.
“Wonderful! Now you’re really going to be busy! Let me know what you need. Money, supplies. I can even get a couple of the BBs to help do some things around here. Myrtle should be back from her trip next week, and she’s going to pass out from shock that I’m actually letting all this happen.”
Riley laughed. “That sounds good. We need to settle on a budget.”
Mimi waved off the idea. “I can afford anything you need.”
“But a budget is always a good idea.” Despite her lack of money, she’d always had a budget that she tried to follow to the letter. Tracey had never had enough money, not even for food sometimes. Riley always made sure that even if she was flat broke, she had enough to keep a roof over her head and something in her stomach.
“All right. I’m coming to realize you know best.” She lifted her chin and looked at Riley. “How about we go to the diner and get some lunch? You can tell me all about these storage plans for the back room.”
A short time later, they were in the diner, which was half empty even though it was lunchtime. Mimi wheeled her chair on the opposite side of a table that had bench seating on one side.
“Oh shoot,” she said. “We should have invited Hayden to join us.”
Butterflies danced in Riley’s stomach at the mention of his name. She’d managed not to think about him while going over her plans with Mimi, but she should have known the distraction wouldn’t last long.
“Next time we’ll invite him,” Mimi said.
Anita came over and offered them menus. She had gotten a haircut since the last time Riley saw her—a cute pixie style with caramel highlights throughout her auburn hair. She looked adorable.
“Hi, Riley,” she said, then added, “How are you feeling, Ms. McAllister?”
“I’m feeling like some sweet tea, sugar. Extra sweet, please.” She grinned. “I’m also doing well, thanks. Next week I’ll get my crutches, and
then there’ll be no stopping me.”
Anita laughed. “I’m so glad. We miss you on the team. Myrtle too.” She pulled a notepad from her apron, then wrote down the drink order. “What would you like, Riley?”
“I’ll have water, thanks.” Before Anita could leave, she added, “I like your hair.”
She blushed and touched the back of her head. “Thank you. I got it done yesterday after my shift.” She checked the kitchen before turning to Riley again. “You’re the first one to notice.” She jotted down their orders. “A water and a super-sweet, sweet tea. Got it. Be back in a jiff.”
As Anita walked away, Mimi leaned over. “She’s such a darling girl, but I feel bad for her.”
Riley frowned. “Why?”
“That uniform she and the other waitresses have to wear. It’s hideous.”
Anita had disappeared into the kitchen, but another waitress Riley didn’t recognize was taking a customer’s order on the other side of the diner. Riley had to admit her grandmother was right. The uniform was a throwback to the diners of the fifties, even though this diner hadn’t been updated since the seventies. The dresses were short-sleeved with white trim and a white collar, along with a hemline that hit above the knee. All of which was fine, but the rest of the dress was a bright shade of Pepto-Bismol-pink.
“Talk about something that needs to be updated. This entire place could use an overhaul.” Mimi sat back in her chair, a catty expression on her face. Then she started observing the room. “I’ll be right back,” she said as she started to roll away from the table.
“Where are you going?”
“To talk to Jasper Mathis. He’s lookin’ a little lonely over there all by himself.” She went over to the old man who was at a small table with only two seats. Riley watched as Mimi rolled right up to him. He seemed more annoyed than glad for Mimi’s company.
Anita arrived with the drinks, then pointed her thumb at Mimi and Jasper. “I wonder if there’s something going on with those two,” she said.
Hooked on You Page 17
