by Katie Lane
Summer waited for the waitress to walk off before she lifted an eyebrow at him. “Don’t like women ordering for you, huh?”
“Your sister orders lunch for me every day, but she always asks me what I want first.”
Summer shrugged. “That’s Spring for you. She likes to make people happy. Which is what gets her in trouble. The bum who lived in the alley behind our store is a perfect example. Spring was so busy running back inside to get a hundred-dollar sweater to give to him so he wouldn’t be cold, she forgot to lock up thousands of dollars of merchandise.”
Waylon had wondered what had caused Spring to leave Houston. Now he knew. It made sense. Spring was the type of person who always put other people’s needs before her own. She never got frustrated with Mrs. Miller. Or with Jonas or Tucker. She was kind to a fault. And suddenly he realized there was no fault in being kind. He smiled at the thought of Spring giving an old bum a designer sweater to keep warm.
Summer scowled. “It’s not funny. She could’ve bankrupted us.”
“But she didn’t.”
She released her breath. “No, but she could’ve. And I had every right to get pissed. I’ve been working my butt off trying to make sure we don’t lose the store, and then Spring pulled that stunt. Sometimes she can be so ditzy.”
Waylon didn’t know why his hackles got up. He’d called his little brothers much worse. It was a sibling’s right to call each other names. Still, he couldn’t help defending Spring. “She’s not ditzy. She just gets distracted easily. Usually by something that’s important. And keeping a homeless person warm is important. While she’s worked for me, she’s brightened everyone’s lives in one way or the other.” He paused. “Including mine.”
Summer studied him for a long moment. “You obviously are more infatuated with Spring than I thought.” Her eyes narrowed. “Have you boinked my sister?”
“No!” he said so adamantly and loudly that the truck drivers sitting at the bar turned and looked at him. He lowered his voice. “I did not have sex with your sister. She’s just my employee . . . and my friend.” The last words just popped out, but he realized their truth as soon as they did. Somewhere amid the morning coffee, daily teasing, and flu nursing, they’d become friends. He had wanted a female companion, and Spring fit nicely into that slot. She was funny, smart, and honest. And he trusted her not to gossip about him. He also desired her. But he wasn’t going to do anything about that desire.
Summer must’ve believed him because her shoulders relaxed. “Spring makes friends with everyone. It’s annoying how easily she makes friends. Customers invite her to their homes for dinner. Professors in college gave her A’s just for showing up to class. And she was voted the most popular in high school and never tried out for one thing. Not one.”
Waylon was starting to get the picture. “I guess you tried out for everything.”
She lowered her gaze and picked at her paper napkin. “Class president. Head cheerleader. Captain of the softball team.” She paused. “But I worked my butt off for everything I got. All Spring had to do was smile.”
“Which made you resentful.”
Her gaze snapped up. “Hell yeah, I was resentful. I’m still resentful. I’m resentful that my little sister dances through life wearing rose-colored glasses while Autumn and I have all the work and stress. She never once worried about the store going bankrupt and only offered a measly sorry when she forgot to lock the door. Then she gets her feeling hurt and spends all her money on a stupid travel trailer and runs off without a word.”
She glanced around. “I don’t know what I’m doing here. If she wants to run off in a stupid vintage trailer, I should let her. It’s just that Autumn is upset about Spring being gone. She has this stupid triplet theory that we aren’t whole if we’re not together. I don’t think that, of course. I’m fine without Spring.”
She protested a little too much. She missed Spring. It was there in her eyes when she spoke about her sister.
The waitress showed up with their food, and Waylon waited until she left before he spoke. “It’s not easy being the oldest. The responsibility gene that comes with the title isn’t fun. I still worry about my little brothers and they’re married with families of their own. It’s just part of loving them.”
She sighed. “I shouldn’t give a damn. I should let her live her sunshine daisy life and see where it gets her.”
He put mustard on his hamburger bun. “So is that why you wanted to meet today? You want me to try to talk Spring into coming back to Houston?”
She picked up a French fry and munched on it. “It was a stupid idea. Spring is as stubborn as the day is long. Once she gets something in her head, there’s no getting it out. And she seems to want to prove she can make it without us.”
“Is that what you’re worried about? Spring making it without you and Autumn?” Before she could reply, he continued. “I get that you three are close. I’m close to my brothers and we didn’t share the same womb. But we knew when it was time to let go and let each other live our own lives.”
Her blue eyes turned angry. “Spring isn’t ready to be let go. She’s too immature. She’s a baby bird who isn’t ready to fly.”
“The Spring you describe and the Spring who works for me sound like two different people. My Spring seems to be flying just fine and has no problem taking responsibility. She answers most of my emails, fields all my phone calls, and keeps the office running smoothly while I’m away. I trust her with my files and to lock up the office. And I trust her to distinguish between an emergency and a little old woman who just needs company. She’s capable, dependable, and hardworking.”
Summer studied him. “Obviously, she’s hoodwinked you. So I take it that you’re not going to talk her into coming back to Houston?”
“No. If you want her to come back, you’ll have to talk to her yourself.”
Her forehead knotted. “I can’t. I promised Granny Bon I would leave her alone. She thinks I’ve been suffocating Spring.”
So that was why she’d wanted to meet outside of Bliss? She didn’t want anyone seeing her and reporting back to Granny Bon. He wondered if he should tell her about Spring being there, but then decided he didn’t want to open up that can of worms. He agreed with Granny Bon. Summer was suffocating. The lengths she’d gone to said it all. He should be mad at her for deceiving him on the online dating site, but he wasn’t. She might be controlling, but it was obvious that she loved Spring and worried about her.
“Maybe you should listen to Granny Bon, Summer,” he said. “Maybe a few months away from each other will be good for you and Spring. And you don’t have to worry about her. She has an entire town looking out for her.”
“Including you.”
He nodded. “Including me.”
She studied him for a moment before she shrugged. “I guess I don’t have much choice.” She picked up her cheeseburger and took a big bite.
For the rest of the lunch, they didn’t talk about Spring. Instead, they talked about work and Dirk, Gracie, and the triplets. As with messaging, they seemed to have no trouble conversing. When they finished lunch and he walked her out to her Mustang, she sent him a quizzical look.
“Are you disappointed that I didn’t turn out to be the woman of your dreams?”
He wasn’t disappointed. In fact, he almost felt relieved. And he figured if he felt like that, he had no business being on a dating site. “I’m not looking for the woman of my dreams. Thanks for lunch, Summer. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again soon.”
“You can count on it, Sheriff. I’ll honor my promise to my grandmother. But if Spring isn’t back in a month, I’ll be coming to get her.” She climbed into her car and gave him a brief wave. Then with no regard to his profession, she backed out and peeled out of the parking lot.
Waylon watched her go, and one thought stuck in his head. A month. He only had one more month with Spring.
It didn’t seem like nearly enough time.
Ch
apter Seventeen
Summer.
Waylon’s online girlfriend was her sister.
Spring still couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe that fate would be so cruel as to pair together her main infatuation and her meanie sister on an online dating site. But that’s exactly what had happened. And she shouldn’t be surprised. They made a perfect couple. They both enjoyed being the boss, control, and working themselves to an early grave.
Still, it wasn’t fair.
Spring had first dibs on Waylon. And there was a first-come-first-serve rule between the three sisters. Of course, Spring hadn’t exactly called dibs. Whenever Spring talked with her family members, she acted like Waylon was just her boss.
But he was more than that. She didn’t realize how much more until she read his messages to her sister. Each word had felt like a punch in the stomach. And that was when she thought it was some faceless woman he was flirting with. Now that she knew it was Summer, she was even more hurt. Which made her come to the realization that she wasn’t just sexually attracted to Waylon. She was mentally attracted . . . and even worse, soulfully attracted. She liked him. And she had started to think that he liked her too. Not just the person who hid behind a bright smile, but also the person beneath those bright smiles.
But she’d been wrong.
He liked Summer.
“You look beautiful.”
She glanced behind her to see Dirk standing in the doorway of the guest bedroom with a proud brotherly look on his face. She looked back at her reflection in the mirror. She had loved the daisy-print sundress when she’d bought it, now it just looked childish and stupid. “I’m not beautiful,” she said. “I’m the cute triplet, remember? Autumn is the beautiful one.”
Dirk walked into the room and stood behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and studied her reflection. “Okay, what’s going on? You’ve been moping around here for the last few days like your favorite dog has run away. Even my adorable daughters haven’t been able to pull a smile out of you. Are you missing Summer and Autumn, is that it?”
She had been missing her sisters, but now she only missed Autumn. She never wanted to see Summer again. But she couldn’t tell Dirk that without explaining why.
“I’m fine.” She moved over to the dresser and picked up her mascara. “I guess I’m just tired. I’ve been working long hours at the sheriff’s office, and I stayed up late last night helping Joanna Daily with the dance decorations.”
He sat down on the bed. “I overheard Joanna and Ms. Marble talking at the diner the other day. Joanna said she hoped that you and Waylon were working things out.” Spring almost poked herself in the eye with the mascara wand. “What things was she talking about? Are you two not getting along? I thought you liked working for Waylon.”
She put the wand back in the tube. “I do like working for Waylon.”
At least she had before she found out that he was dating her sister. Not that a truck stop lunch could be considered dating. But they could’ve gone out again and Spring just didn’t know it. Waylon had spent a lot of time out of the office in the last few days. When he was there, Spring had tried to avoid him as much as possible. She was afraid if they were alone together, her anger over his and Summer’s deception would spill out. Then he really would know how much she liked him.
Dirk pointed a finger at her. “That look right there is what I’m talking about. When you’re not looking all sad and depressed, you look like you want to kill someone.”
She unclenched her jaw and smiled. “You’re imagining things, little brother. I don’t think you’re getting enough sleep at night.”
He flopped back on the pillows. “I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since the triplets were born. Gracie wants to go to the dance tonight, but I’d rather keep Mrs. Miller and just sleep.”
“You can’t do that. Gracie is really looking forward to the dance. She bought a new dress and boots and has spent most of the day getting ready.”
Dirk rubbed a hand over his face. “I know. For the last week, all she’s talked about is dancing until past midnight like we did on our wedding night. I just don’t know if I can do it.”
Spring didn’t want to go to the dance either. She would much rather climb into bed and try to pretend that Waylon and Summer getting together was all just a bad dream. But that would be cowardly. And Spring might be ditzy, but she had never been cowardly. She lifted her chin and walked over to the bed.
“Come on, little brother.” She took his hands and pulled him into a sitting position. “We Hadleys can do anything we set our minds to. Now go get your wife. We are going to rock the spring dance!”
When she walked into Zane’s barn, Spring couldn’t help feeling proud of the decorations she’d helped with. The barn looked like it belonged in a country magazine. Strings of clear lights hung from the rafters and reflected off the pretty oak dance floor. Tables were set up on the sides with blue and white checked gingham tablecloths and bales of hay for people to sit on. Vases of bluebonnets graced each table, and the barn doors had been opened wide to let in the star-filled sky.
Spring immediately went to the table in the back where Ms. Marble and Joanna were serving punch and cookies to see if they needed any help.
“We’ve got this handled,” Ms. Marble said. “You go on and enjoy the dancing.” She glanced around. “I wonder where the sheriff is. He usually arrives early to town activities.”
“Maybe he has a date,” Spring said a little too snidely. When both women glanced at her in question, she forced a smile. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
“Spring!” Tucker came weaving through the crowd toward her. “I was worried you weren’t going to show up.”
“Of course I showed up. I promised you a dance.” As if on cue, the band that had been warming up started to play a Blake Shelton song.
Tucker held out his hand. “Then let’s get to it.”
Tucker was as enthusiastic at dancing as he was at everything else. He whipped her around the dance floor like they were two of the last competitors in a dance competition. Spring tried to keep up, but her heart just wasn’t in it. After two country swings, a line dance, and a polka, she was exhausted and had to beg for a break.
“Sure,” Tucker said as he led her off the dance floor. “You want me to go get you some punch?”
“Actually, I think I’d like some air.” Once they were outside, she leaned against the side of the barn and looked up at the sky. “It’s a beautiful—”
Tucker’s lips cut off her words. She tried to push him away, but he kept coming back with wet, sloppy kisses. She finally had to get a little mean. “Stop it, Tucker!”
She shoved him hard enough that he stumbled back into the paddock fence, then slid to his butt. In the moonlight, his face looked confused. Obviously, dancing so many dances with him had led him to believe that there was more to their relationship than there was. She was about to explain that she only liked him as a friend when Waylon stepped out of the barn. Spring’s heart almost jumped out of her chest.
“You have a little too much to drink, Tuck?” Waylon asked as he helped Tucker to his feet.
“No, sir, Sheriff. I was just . . .” Tucker swallowed. “I was just getting some air with Spring.”
Waylon didn’t even glance in her direction. “Looks like you’ve had enough air.”
Tucker nodded before he picked up his hat and slapped it against his leg. “I guess I’ll see you inside, Spring.” He walked away. Since she had no desire to be alone with Waylon, she quickly went to follow.
Waylon blocked her path. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. I just wanted some fresh air. Tucker thought I wanted more.”
She couldn’t see his eyes in the shadow of his hat, but as always, she felt them. “Come on.”
“Come on where?”
“If you want some air, let’s go for a walk.” He turned and headed around the paddock to the open pasture. She didn’t have to follow, but s
he couldn’t stop herself. Nor could she stop herself from bringing up Summer when she finally caught up.
“When were you planning on telling me that you were online dating my sister?”
He glanced over at her, and his white teeth flashed in the moonlight. “Why would I have to tell you when you snoop on my laptop and read all my messages? Or when you follow me on my lunch date and skulk around watching me?”
Her mouth dropped open, but she quickly snapped it shut. “You knew?”
“You aren’t very good at spying.” He took her hand and led her around a pile of cow manure. Once they were clear, he didn’t release her. In fact, he linked their fingers and held on tight. She should have tugged her hand free. She didn’t.
“I wasn’t spying.” When he shot a glance over at her, she acquiesced. “Okay, I was spying. But only because you didn’t tell me you were messaging someone and I was curious about who she was.”
His thumb stroked over the back of her hand, and a shower of tingling heat shot through her like sparkler sparks. “So why are you so mad? I thought you wanted me to find a woman.”
She stopped and turned to him. “Not my sister!”
“Hmm? So it’s okay for me to date other women. Just not your sisters.”
She wanted to say yes, but the word got stuck in the back of her throat. Probably by the image of Waylon being with any woman . . . other than her. When she didn’t answer, he pushed.
“Answer the question, Spring.”
“No,” she said. “It’s not okay.”
“Why not?”
Knowing she liked Waylon and saying it to him were two different things. She pulled her hand away. “I better get back to the dance.” She started back, but Waylon’s words stopped her.
“I’m not dating Summer, Spring. I didn’t even know who she was until she showed up at the truck stop. She was the one who planned the entire thing.”
