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

by Jami Albright

  A sigh that rose from her toes escaped her throat, and she turned to him. “This place is very nice.”

  Nervous energy that had been hiding in his neck and shoulders disappeared. “Yeah, it’s pretty swanky.”

  “This is your life now.”

  Pride at what he’d accomplished straightened his back. “I guess it is for today, but not always.”

  Her thumb went to her mouth, and she chewed the nail. “It’s just… This is a long way from Zachsville.”

  He went to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Hailey.” He hooked his finger under her chin and tilted her face up to meet his. “Look at me.” Something he didn’t understand was in her eyes, then she blinked, and it was gone. “I didn’t have to stay here. In fact, I’d probably be bunking on Clay’s couch if you weren’t with me. I did this for you and Lottie.”

  “And May?” She smiled, and all was right with the world.

  He snorted. “That was just a happy surprise.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and bent his knees, so that he was eye level with her. “The point is, this is my gift to you to make our time here special, since we may never get to do this again.”

  There was that flash of emotion again. Her lip disappeared between her teeth, and she seemed to make some decision. Gooseflesh sprouted on his skin when she slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and looped them around his neck. “Then I have a lot to thank you for.” When she smiled this time, it was a real, genuine, Hailey smile.

  The touch of her lips was like home to him. He wanted to drown in it. That was what being with her was like—the safest place in the world where the most exciting things happened. Better than cutting a record, better than the publicity, better than being in the spotlight. She was the only place he wanted to be. It meant nothing without her and Lottie.

  These two females had become such an integral part of his life that none of the things he’d been working for, basically his whole life, meant anything to him without them. The room tilted, and all of the things he thought about himself slid away.

  He wasn’t a loner. He did need family. And this woman and her child were his family. He was capable of falling in love because he’d fallen in love with her.

  “Um…yeah.” Happiness pumped through him. He wanted her to know that he loved her. Hell, he wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but he feared she wasn’t ready to hear it. Every time she talked about their relationship, she spoke about it like it had an expiration date. Besides, there were things for him to figure out before he made any bold statements.

  A discussion with Jack and Gavin was in order. Moving to Nashville was out of the question now. He wasn’t going anywhere without Hailey and Lottie. It would be hard enough to leave them to tour, but they’d figure that out.

  If only she’d give up on the bar, then they could go on the road together. He mentally slapped himself and silently asked her forgiveness. He’d never ask her to walk away from the bar as long as there was a chance she could save it. He knew what it meant to her, even if he didn’t agree. She didn’t need his approval. She needed his support.

  He took her hair in his hand and used it to angle her neck. He teased the sensitive place under her ear until they were both moaning and clawing at each other. “I’m so damn glad you’re here with me.”

  She pulled back and looked at him. “I’m so glad you asked us. This means the world to Lottie…and to me. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  He took her thigh in his hand and hooked her leg around his waist. “I can think of a few ways.”

  Her hand went to his chest. “Dear me, Mr. Callen, are you talking about sexual favors?”

  “I plead the fifth, on the grounds it may incriminate me.” His lips found his favorite place just below her ear.

  “Beau! Food’s here!” Lottie yelled from the other room.

  Hailey pulled away and gave him a sexy grin. “Later, Heartbreaker.”

  Hailey snuggled into Beau’s side in the early morning dawn. She inhaled the cedar and musk of his skin, while his fingers drew circles on her bare back. She couldn’t have moved from the happy bubble they’d created for all the money in the world, especially with his heartbeat steadily thumping under her ear. “This trip has been so fun. Lottie’s having the best time. We all are.”

  He hummed deep in his throat. “What do you think her favorite part’s been so far?”

  She huffed out a laugh. “That’s easy, our time at the Opryland resort. She loved breakfast with the Grinch and the gingerbread house contest.”

  He chuckled. “We kicked yours and May’s butts.”

  “Ha! You try working with Meticulous May. Everything had to be just right before she’d move on to the next section. That’s why we were the last pair finished. And I use the word pair loosely because she pretty much took over and didn’t let me help at all after the first five minutes.”

  He laughed. “I thought I’d die when she slapped your hand out of the way.”

  “I know.” She snorted. “I truly feared for my life when I put the red candies on the roof.”

  “I think she’s had fun too. Don’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah. This is a huge treat for her. She’s never been farther than Dallas, just like me. She loved the carriage ride. Did you see her face as we drove under the Christmas lights? She looked like a kid.” She tilted her head so she could see him. “You did a nice thing for her. You didn’t have to bring her along.”

  He glanced down at her, little lines creasing his forehead. “She’s family. I wouldn’t even think of leaving her behind. And I can’t take full credit for everything. Marissa and Clay set a lot of this up.” He played with a loose piece of her hair that hadn’t gotten caught up in her messy bun. “Sorry about having to film that quick promo spot yesterday. That was sort of part of the deal.”

  She waved off his concern. “I understand, and so did Lottie.” This was his life. Everyone wanted a piece of him. She hoped he was ready for that. It was a lot of pressure to be “on” all the time. “It gave me, Lottie, and May a chance to explore the resort. It’s just beautiful.”

  “Next time we come, we’ll have to stay there.”

  The certainty in his statement caught her off guard. He said it like there’d be a next time. It made the hope buried deep in her soul poke its head up like a little prairie dog. She whacked at it and tried to squash down the feelings. But like Lottie’s favorite arcade game, Whac-a-Mole, it kept popping up, and she wasn’t fast enough to catch the emotion before it spread to her heart. Hope was a dangerous thing. She needed to be careful, but they’d passed careful miles and miles ago. “Um…okay.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  Her radar went on high alert. It wasn’t like him to ask permission to get in her business. He’d been barreling through her life since they first met. “Sure.”

  “Will you sing backup for me tomorrow night, please?”

  “Beau, we’ve talked about this. I—”

  “You’re not a singer. I know. Which, by the way, is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You have an amazing voice, and you should be proud of it. I wish you would stop letting that jackass ex-husband of yours have a say in who and what you are.”

  “I don’t…”

  Yes. You do.

  She could see it all so clearly now. Maybe it was the distance from Zachsville, maybe it was her confrontation with Derek the other night, but all of his bullshit was crystal clear to her. For years, she’d let him dictate how she saw herself. The truth of it broke her heart for that stupid sixteen-year-old girl who’d given her whole self to a man who didn’t deserve her. But she wasn’t sixteen anymore.

  “Shit, Hailey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”

  “You’re right.”

  “What?”

  She leaned up on her elbow to look him in the eye. “I can sing, and I love singing with you.”

  He hauled her onto his stomach and took her head in his hands. “Will you do it? Sing wi
th me tomorrow night?” He kissed her. “I can’t imagine performing that song without you.”

  Her pulse hopped around like a toddler learning to skip. The cotton gathering in her mouth made it hard to swallow. Could she get up in front of millions of strangers, and put herself on display for all the folks of Zachsville to see?

  You’re done caring what they think, Hailey.

  “Okay.” The answer was out before she could give herself time to change her mind.

  His eyes flashed with excitement. “Really?”

  She nodded. That was all she could manage.

  Beau rolled them so that she was on the bottom and he was on top. “I promise to make it worth your while.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  He nuzzled her neck. “Yeah.”

  He’d pushed this issue for her, to encourage her to step out of the shadows, something she’d needed to do for a long time. Her arms tightened around his shoulders and held him to her for a long moment.

  He pulled back, studied her face. “Are you okay?”

  She pushed his hair from his eyes, her love for him so big that she could barely keep the words from slipping off her tongue. And why should she? That was something else that needed to come out of the shadows. “I’m great.” A deep breath for courage. “I—”

  “Moooooom! I’m hungry,” Lottie yelled from the other side of the locked door.

  Their happy, safe bubble burst, and the three little words quickly retreated back into the recesses of her heart. “Alright. I’ll be right there.” She scooted out from under Beau and grabbed her robe.

  As she slipped her feet into her slippers, Beau grabbed her hand. “What were you going to say?”

  “Nothing.” It wasn’t nothing. It was everything. But without the warm fuzzy glow of that moment, the enormity of what she’d almost said hit her in the face.

  She’d tell him, she’d already made up her mind, and if he couldn’t handle it, then that was his problem. She was done hiding, and that was his fault too. But the eve of the biggest night of his life wasn’t the time to drop an emotional bombshell on him. She kissed his sweet lips. “Tell you later.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  Chapter Thirty

  “Mama, you look beautiful.”

  “Thank you, baby.” Lottie’s worshipful words eased some of the anxiety clogging Hailey’s veins.

  May looked up from the celebrity magazine she was reading. “She’s right, Hailey. You are a sight.”

  “Gorgeous.” Beau came in from the bedroom, adjusting his cuffs.

  “Good Lord, Beau Callen!” May fanned herself with her magazine. “You’re hot as blue blazes.”

  Lottie’s face turned bright red, and she began to giggle uncontrollably. But Hailey had to agree with May. Beau Callen was the finest man she’d ever laid eyes on. The deep copper western-cut suit made his green eyes shine. The top two buttons of his shirt were open, and a skinny tie hung loosely under the collar.

  He yanked on the tie. “I can’t get this thing to look right.”

  “Here, let me.” Hailey moved to him, slipped the tie free and stuck it in his jacket pocket. She unbuttoned one more button of his shirt and smoothed out his collar. “There. Perfect.”

  A lopsided grin lifted one side of his mouth. He covered her hand that rested on his chest with his. “Yeah?”

  The heat in his eyes nearly burned the clothes from her body. “Yeah.”

  “Ahem.” May cleared her throat and cut her eyes to Lottie, who was watching the two of them like she was at a Saturday matinée.

  Hailey stepped away from Beau and smoothed down the skirt of her dress. “I guess we both clean up well.”

  Beau winked. “I guess we do.”

  The doorbell to the suite rang. “I’ll get it.” Lottie jumped up and ran to the door.

  Marissa entered wearing a beautiful black sequined gown, followed closely by Clay in a black suit that fit him perfectly. Though they were partners, it was clear who was in charge. Marissa was definitely the alpha in this arrangement.

  The woman looked Beau up and down. “You are going to have to fight the women off tonight, Beau Callen.”

  Beau slipped his arm around Hailey’s shoulder. “Hailey’s the only woman I care about, and I won’t be fighting her off any time soon.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Clay said.

  Marissa didn’t say anything for several long moments. Hailey readied herself. She knew what would come next—a backhanded compliment or something more obviously passive aggressive. Just like the women in Zachsville.

  She readied herself to take the hit. But it never came.

  A dazzling smile spread across Marissa’s face. “Hailey, you are stunning. I love your hair. How do you get it so smooth and shiny?” She waved her hand around her hair, pulled into a tight updo. “I have to wear it up, or my curls take over my head.”

  That was a sincere compliment. Any response she had got lodged in her befuddled brain. It took her so long to answer that Marissa said, “I understand if you don’t want to share your secret.”

  “No. It’s not that. It’s just…” She shook her head. “Never mind. I use products from my friend Charlie’s store. I can give you The Emporium’s website, and I’ll write down the products I use.”

  Marissa whipped out her phone. “That would be fabulous. What’s your number?”

  Hailey gave her the digits.

  “Got it.” Marissa smiled and slipped her phone into her bag. “Now we’re best friends.”

  The burst of laughter that came from Hailey’s mouth was so carefree that she almost didn’t recognize herself. “I guess we are.”

  “Um…Beau.” Lottie sidled up to him and slipped the elastic bracelet he’d given her from her wrist. “Here, take this for luck.” The multicolored rhinestones sparkled in the light. Tears pricked the back of Hailey’s eyes when Lottie took his fingers and slipped the bauble over his hand. It was a testimony to how much her daughter loved Beau, because that bracelet was her most prized possession.

  Beau knelt in front of Lottie, took her face in his hands, and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, Lil’ Bit. I’ll wear it all night and if I win, I’ll treat you to the biggest ice cream sundae you’ve ever seen.”

  “Can I get in on that action?” May asked.

  He laughed. “Sure. Ice cream for the two of you if I bring home the trophy.”

  Lottie punched the air and shouted, then threw her arms around his neck. “Break a leg, Beau.”

  Clay clapped his hands together. “Alright, we better get going.” He turned to Lottie and May. “Goodbye, little person and little person’s caregiver.”

  “Lottie and May,” Marissa added. She turned to Hailey. “He’s horrible with names. But he’s pretty, so I keep him around.”

  Clay chuckled. “That’s right, Lottie and May. Please forgive me, ladies.” He bent low in a courtly bow which made both the little girl and the big girl giggle.

  Lottie hugged Hailey so tight that it probably wrinkled the form-fitting gold dress she wore, but she didn’t care. She needed that touchstone of reality in this fairytale night. “Have fun, Mom, and do good.”

  “We’ll be watching.” May pointed to the giant television mounted over the fireplace.

  Beau took her hand and followed Clay and Marissa. “She’s going to be great.”

  “They both are,” Clay said as he held the door open for everyone.

  Hailey wished she was as sure as Beau and his team. Their rehearsal that day had gone very well, but that was without an audience, or television cameras pointed in her direction. But if he believed in her, she’d borrow some of his confidence. “Night, y’all. Have fun, and don’t get into too much trouble.” She pointed at her daughter and May.

  “We won’t.” The two gave each other a conspiratorial look. “You kids have fun,” May said. “Knock ’em dead, Beau.”

  “Thank you, darlin’. I’ll try.”

  In the limo, M
arissa began to go over the schedule. “When we arrive, there will be a brief reception.”

  “A word of warning.” Clay straightened his tie. “The liquor runs free at these things, and it’s sometimes hard to know when to stop, especially when your nerves are on edge.” He made a finger gun and pointed it at them. “So, be careful.”

  Beau nodded. “Got it.”

  Hailey could see tiny beads of perspiration at Beau’s hairline. He was nervous. It was kind of adorable.

  “Wait until after you win. Then we’ll all celebrate together.” Marissa squeezed Beau’s hand. “You’re gonna be great.” She glanced around Beau and extended her other hand. Hailey took it. “Both of you.” Another tight squeeze then Marissa released their hands.

  Clay pulled out lanyards and handed them to her and Beau. “These are your passes. You can go anywhere with these.”

  “Yes, hang on to them,” Marissa said. “They give you access backstage.” She checked her phone, and Hailey could see she was reading the schedule. “You’re the last nominee in your category to perform. During a commercial break, someone from the production company will come and get you. I’ve placed both of your changes of clothing in the dressing rooms. You’ll have time to change before you go on.”

  Clay consulted his phone as well. “Your award will be directly after your performance, so you’ll still be backstage. Any questions?”

  “What happens if Beau wins?” Hailey squeezed his hand. “Does the plan change?”

  Marissa shook her head. “No, but that will mean interviews at the after-parties.”

  Clay cleared his throat. “If you win this, which we totally believe you will, it will change everything. You’ll go from a relative unknown to everyone wanting a piece of you in a matter of minutes. Do you think you can handle that?”

  Beau gave that Heartbreaker smile. “I’ve been waiting for this all my life. So, hell yeah, I can handle it.”

  Hailey’s heart dropped to her stomach. She wanted him to win, believed he deserved it, but this would change things between them too. This was his launching pad, and it was a ride for one. But she refused to think about that now. For right now, she was in a limo, dressed up for a party with a handsome boy, having a wonderful time, and that was where she’d keep her focus.