His store. He still couldn’t believe it. He was so thrilled to be the owner. He was more excited about the future than he’d ever been while playing ball. Then again, his future had always been uncertain when he was a ballplayer, despite how hard he worked and how dedicated he was. He still had the work ethic and dedication, and now he could transfer it to something stable. Stability had become important to him, and he was starting to see it was also something Riley needed, even if she didn’t know it.
Maybe one day she’d allow him to give that to her.
* * *
Riley turned the sign on the yarn shop door to Open, then went back to the counter. She had decided when she woke up that morning, exhausted from a rough night’s sleep, that she had to put Tracey out of her mind. Surely her mother had gotten the message that Riley didn’t want her around. Even if Tracey had decided to come back to Maple Falls permanently, it wouldn’t last. How many times had Riley heard the same thing from her mother, that this would be their forever home? Forever only lasted two weeks, or maybe a month. One special time it meant half a year, but nothing more than that. Tracey never stuck to her promises. Now wouldn’t be any different.
Business was slow this morning and, desperate for a distraction, she thought about the back storeroom, then remembered Lorri, the customer who came in a few weeks ago who owned a yarn store in Malvern. She’d talked about her yarn-dyeing business, and Riley had considered it off and on while she was redoing the shop. She had also been pondering the art pieces she promised her grandmother. Dyeing her own fiber would not only be fun but would also make her art more unique. She decided to call Lorri that afternoon and arrange a time to visit her and learn about the process.
Later that morning, two women Riley wasn’t familiar with walked into the store. Their reactions bolstered her mood.
“I haven’t been here in years,” one told Riley as she paid for several hundred dollars of yarn for various projects. “I just happened to mention to Susan that it was time to check out this place again. We live in Hot Springs Village, so it’s not that far to travel.” She looked around the shop again. “It’s so different from what I remembered.”
“We just remodeled.”
“Oh. Are you the new owner?”
Riley paused, a tiny bit of disappointment tugging at her heart. “No. I’m her granddaughter, but I’m helping run the shop for a little while.”
“Well, you’re doing a wonderful job.” The woman smiled, revealing shiny white teeth that were either dentures or veneers. From her advanced age, Riley thought they were the former. “Have you thought about advertising in our Village paper? We have two groups of knitters and crocheters that meet periodically. I know they would love to check out the changes here.” Her friend nodded, pushing her fluffy gray hair back with her tortoiseshell reading glasses.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll check into it.”
After they left, Riley wrote herself a note to talk to Mimi about advertising. That led her to the idea of having a grand reopening, maybe later this summer. Then in the fall they could—
She wouldn’t be here in the fall. The shop might not be either if Mimi had been serious about her desire to sell the place. The renovations on her house were nearly done. The roofer had finished up last week, and all she and Hayden had left were some cosmetic touches. The job that had seemed overwhelming at first had gone smoothly and quickly, thanks to Hayden, who not only knew a lot about rehabbing a house but was also organized and precise.
A wave of sadness consumed her, nearly taking her breath away. The reality of leaving slammed into her. She had talked to Melody a few times over the past three weeks, and her friend was expecting her to come back. Charlie had found a new apartment and would be moving sometime this month. Riley wouldn’t leave her roommate high and dry.
But the thought of leaving Mimi tore at her heart. They had gotten so close, even closer than they’d been before. Their relationship was different now that Riley was an adult, and while she still saw Mimi as her grandmother, she also saw her as her best friend. She’d also grown closer to Harper and Anita and Olivia and the Bosom Buddies and even had friendly interactions with the softball players. While she still wasn’t the assistant coach, she was the chief water girl, making sure everyone had enough to drink during and after the games.
Then there was Hayden. Her chest squeezed even harder. She would have to leave him too. He had just bought his father’s store, and he had grand plans for revitalizing Maple Falls. She wouldn’t even think of asking him to go with her. He wouldn’t agree to it anyway. They were friends, with a few romantic benefits. Not boyfriend and girlfriend. Not lovers, although she often dreamed that they were. They hadn’t even gone public with their relationship.
She would leave Hayden behind, like she would leave the others. Her home, her life, was in New York. More importantly, New York was safe. She had no connections, no ties other than Melody. No chances of getting hurt.
Another customer arrived, and Riley turned her attention to work, spending the rest of the day helping the few customers who visited the shop and discovering she was a halfway decent salesperson when she wasn’t trying to sell her own work.
But when she was alone, she was a wreck.
“I’m right across the street.” Hayden’s words echoed in her mind, and more than once she nearly went to him, knowing he would give her the comfort she denied herself. But she forced herself to stay put. Riley McAllister had always handled her own personal business. This time wasn’t any different.
As soon as five o’clock arrived, she closed up and hurried to Mimi’s car. When she got behind the wheel, she turned on the engine and waited for the air conditioner to kick in as her shoulders relaxed. She hadn’t realized how tense she was all day. How every time the bell rang over the door, she expected Tracey to walk in again. But she hadn’t, and Riley took that as a sign that her mother had left Maple Falls again. Soon it would be her turn.
Her cell phone started to ring as she pulled out of the parking lot. She glanced at the screen. Hayden. She knew she should answer it, but she couldn’t talk to him right now. Just seeing his name made her reconsider leaving, and she couldn’t afford to do that. She tossed the phone on the passenger seat and headed home.
* * *
That Sunday Hayden sat in his usual seat at church—fifth pew from the front, right side, at the end of the row near the middle aisle. He tried to focus on the upcoming service, but all he’d been able to think about was Riley. She’d been distant, first ignoring his calls on Friday, then barely saying anything Saturday when they worked on the flower beds together. When he offered to take her out to dinner that evening, she declined, saying she had to work on one of the art pieces she’d promised Erma. He left Erma’s deeply disappointed.
The disappointment hadn’t abated much, but he tried tempering it with logic. She was still reeling about her mother, and he needed to remember that. He’d already suspected she might close in on herself anyway, so he shouldn’t be surprised that she had. His receding well of patience would have to suffice until she worked through this. One thing was for sure, he wasn’t going to give up. Hayden Price never threw in the towel on anything unless forced to, like his baseball career, and that had turned into a positive.
The only way Riley was going to get rid of him was if she pushed him too far away—and he was worried she might do just that.
He glanced behind him, relieved to see her sitting there with the Three Musketeers, as he called Olivia, Harper, and Anita. At least she had come to church, which was a good thing. Erma was with her BBs, which was also good. He was glad they had people in their lives to support them.
Tanner slid next to him on the pew. Hayden glanced at him and noticed his ponytail tied up in a bun and white gauges gleaming in his ears. That edgy style contrasted with the red-and-white gingham shirt and khaki pants he wore.
“Anyone sitting here?” he asked.
Hayden shook his head and scooted over.
“Good.” Tanner settled in the seat. “I thought maybe, you know.”
“Know what?”
“You were saving this seat for Riley.”
Hayden pointed his thumb in the direction behind him. “She sits there.”
“Oh. It’s been a while since I’ve been in church. Didn’t realize there was assigned seating.”
Smirking, Hayden shook his head. “Technically there isn’t, but everyone knows there really is.”
Tanner leaned over and whispered, “So, you and Riley. What’s going on there?”
“We’re friends.” He stared straight ahead. Tanner normally wasn’t so nosy.
“Just friends?”
“Yes.” Hayden clenched his jaw.
“Good. So you won’t mind if I ask her out?”
Hayden shot him a deadly look.
Tanner chuckled and held up his hands. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I also got close to the truth, apparently.”
Jesse started playing guitar, and Hayden was glad for the interruption because he was ready to throttle Tanner, which was not appropriate church behavior. Tanner was still grinning when Jesse finished the worship song. He was about to start another when a low murmuring started in the crowd.
Tanner glanced around. “What’s going on?” he asked Hayden, as everyone focused their gazes at the back of the church.
“I don’t know.” But when Hayden twisted around in his seat, his stomach dropped. Walking into church, head held high, was Tracey McAllister.
Hayden spun around and saw Riley staring straight ahead, iciness returning to her eyes. Uh-oh. He glanced at Erma, who was gripping Bea’s arm. Double uh-oh. If he were a cursing man, he would have been thinking much worse.
* * *
Riley forced herself not to let her mother bother her. Tracey had walked straight to the front row and sat down, passing everyone else in the church, some who might have recognized her, despite her hard life having erased any semblance of the youth she had when she left Maple Falls. She crossed her legs and set her purse next to her, as if she were as much of a fixture on Sunday mornings as the Bosom Buddies were.
Gripping the edge of the pew, Riley yanked her gaze from her. Tracey was doing this on purpose, disturbing the service and drawing attention to herself in the most dramatic way possible. Riley didn’t know why, and she didn’t care what her reasons were. She wasn’t going to give her mother the satisfaction of bothering her. But as soon as the service was over, she was getting out of this building.
Before Jared could say amen to the final prayer, Riley slid out of the pew and dashed outside, heading straight for Mimi’s car. Her stomach churned. Being outside in the hot, sticky air contributed to her nausea. But she’d rather be out here than inside with her.
She turned her back to the church, fishing for the key in her purse. She found it and opened the driver’s side door, then got inside, put the air conditioner on full blast, and slammed the door. As soon as she started to put the car in reverse, she saw Hayden rush out of the church and run toward her.
She gripped the gear shift. She’d been an absolute jerk to him yesterday and had outright ignored him the day before. Which was wrong. But she couldn’t help it. Her mother showing up reminded her of how this would end. The same as everything ended—with Riley getting hurt.
Hayden tapped on the window. She hesitated before pressing the button and rolling it down. “What?”
He blinked. “Let’s go.”
She frowned. “Go where?”
“I’ll tell you.” He rounded the car and got into the passenger’s seat. “Drive.”
“Where—”
“Just trust me, okay?”
She put the car in Reverse, and they left. Then she gasped. “Mimi! I left her at church.”
“Don’t worry about her,” Hayden said. “She’s a grown woman. She’ll find a ride home.”
Knowing her grandmother had her pick of personal taxi drivers, she followed Hayden’s directions until they came to a dirt road right at the edge of Maple Falls. She trusted him, but she was annoyed that he wouldn’t leave her alone.
“Where are we?” she snapped, wishing she’d driven off as soon as she saw him coming out of the church.
“You’ll see in about half a mile.”
Her hands ached from gripping the steering wheel so hard as she continued driving. Finally he told her to slow down, then to stop in front of a house and small barn that were both leaning in an alarming way.
She threw the car into Park and turned to him. “All right, Hayden. What’s going on?”
He looked at her, but his characteristic twinkle and cheerful expression were missing. “I saw Tracey walk into church.”
She crossed her arms. “So did everyone else.”
“I figured you’d want to get away. This was as good a place as any.”
“Which is?”
He stared straight ahead at the questionable buildings in front of him. “My house.” He opened the passenger door. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
She paused as he got out of the car. This was the place he’d assured her he could fix up by himself? He was the most optimistic person she’d ever known, but clearly he had bitten off more than he should have. All she wanted to do was go back to Mimi’s and be alone. But what if Tracey showed up there too? Hayden was right about coming here. Tracey would have no idea where they were.
“It’s three bedrooms,” he said, gesturing to the front of the house, partially hidden by tall weeds and intermittent grass. “But I’m planning to add a fourth. I’m going to raze the barn, though. There might be some wood to reclaim, but I won’t be sure until I get in there and take it apart.”
He started to talk about the kitchen, then the living room, and the bedrooms as they walked around to the back of the property. “See that huge elm tree? I thought that would be a good place for a tire swing.”
“Uh-huh.” How could he act like a real estate agent when her life was in pieces? She had no choice but to humor him.
He turned to her, a bead of sweat dripping down his face. The day was unbearably hot, even more than usual for early July. “If I’m boring you, please tell me.”
His words, along with the hurt expression on his face, softened her heart a bit. “It’s not boring. I’m just . . .”
“I know. You’re upset about Tracey.” He moved toward her, his arms open. “It will be okay.”
“No, it won’t.” She backed away from him. “It’s never okay when it comes to her.”
“All right.” His arms went to his side.
“I want to go back to Mimi’s.” She turned around and started to leave.
“Riley, don’t—”
“Don’t what?” she whirled around and faced him. “Don’t be upset? Don’t close myself off? Too bad, Hayden, because that’s what I do.” Her throat closed as she hit her fist on her chest. “This is me. The real me. And I know how this ends.”
He shook his head, his expression bewildered. “How what ends? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She backed away, unable to stop the tears. “I end up getting hurt.”
He hurried to her. “I’m not going to hurt you, Riley.”
“You will. You’ll get tired of my issues, tired of my pity parties, tired of me wanting more than I deserve.”
He held his hands out to her. “Where is this coming from? I won’t get tired of you, Riley. Everyone has issues, including me. Especially me. Are you saying you’ll get tired of me?”
Without realizing it, he was giving her an out. She lifted her chin. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I don’t need anyone’s extra baggage.”
“Wow,” he said, flinching.
She continued her onslaught. “I’m going back to New York, Hayden. Mimi’s fine, the shop is in good shape, and the house is finished. There’s no reason for me to stay.”
“No reason at all?” He scowled. “Not a single one you can think of?”
&nb
sp; She fought to keep her chin from trembling. “Not a single one.”
He stood still. “Then I guess you’d better get packing.”
His words pierced her. He was giving up that easily? Of course he is. They all did, even Mimi at one time. Where was her grandmother when Tracey was dragging Riley all over the state, even into Oklahoma and Missouri, when Riley was a child? Why had she only agreed to let Riley live with her when she was a teenager?
Hayden pulled out his cell phone, then turned his back on Riley. “Tanner. Hey. Can you pick me up? Cool. Here’s the address.”
Riley stared at Hayden’s back. The calm way he was talking to Tanner drove the spear deeper into her heart. So much for all his words about patience and never leaving. It didn’t take much time—what, four or five weeks?—before he gave up on her. That had to be a record. At least Tracey and Mimi had kept her around for years.
Her heart burned as she got into the car and sped out on the dirt road. The tears fell, cool on her hot cheeks. Anger filled her. This was all her fault. She never should have let Hayden get close to her, but she’d ignored all the alarm bells in her brain. She wouldn’t be feeling this intense pain if she had kept her distance and blocked him out of her heart. But he had been so persistent. So charming. So wonderful. So perfect and everything she had ever wanted . . . but knew she could never have.
She wiped the tears from her cheek with the palm of her hand and let out a bitter laugh. What a fool she’d been to think life could be any different. That he was different. But I’m the one pushing him away.
She had to admit to her part in it, but better she cut ties now than later. Because she had been well on her way to falling in love with him. And if she was hurting this much now, she would have been fractured into a million pieces if she’d admitted she loved him. There would have been no way she could put herself back together then.
Hooked on You Page 21
