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

by Jami Albright

  “Hailey?”

  All her self-resolve hadn’t prepared her for the pain she saw etched on his face. “Yeah?”

  He had her in an embrace in three strides. “I’m so sorry, baby. For everything, but mostly for this. I know how much this place means to you.”

  Before she could stop herself, she melted into his body, the safe place she’d found beyond the walls of this bar. All she wanted was to grab his hand and run back to Nashville, where she didn’t have to worry about burnt bars, cancelled insurance policies, or broken promises. But she couldn’t do that, so she pushed out of his hold. “Thank you.”

  His hands went into the front pockets of his jeans and he surveyed the area. “What did the insurance company say?”

  She picked up a half-melted plastic spoon and threw it to the side. “That I’m shit out of luck.”

  “What? Surely your policy covers fire. That seems pretty standard. You might need a lawyer.”

  A humorless snort filled the air. “No lawyer needed. My policy would’ve covered fire if I had one.”

  He took a step toward her, and she took two backward. “I don’t understand.”

  “My insurance lapsed last week because of nonpayment. I forgot to make the payment before we left last week. The bar was uninsured for…” She spread her hands wide. “This.”

  His big hands were on her shoulders before she could step away. “We’ll figure this out.”

  The tears were like acid against her eyes. The burn helped to center her, and she pulled away from him again. “No. We aren’t gonna figure anything out.” She waved her hand between them. “There is no we. I’m putting a stop to this.”

  “Hailey, don’t do this. If it’s about me not getting back with you last night—”

  “It’s not. Though that’s another glaring example of why none of this will work. You have your new life, and I have my place here.” The irony of her standing in the middle of a burnt-out building and calling it her place wasn’t lost on her. “You weren’t there when I needed you because you were living that glamorous new life. I get it, and I’m not mad. But I’m not part of that world and never will be.”

  “All of that shit means nothing to me without you there.”

  Her hands went to her hips to hide the way her chin trembled. “I know that’s not true. You can’t bullshit me, remember?” He hung his head, and her conscience stabbed her repeatedly in the heart, but she wouldn’t stop. She had to make him understand. “There’s always going to be something that keeps us apart. You on the road, Lottie’s activities and health, my business.”

  “It doesn’t have to be that way.” He said it so softly that she barely heard him.

  “What?”

  He raised his head and looked into the very center of who she was. “I said, it doesn’t have to be that way. You, Lottie, and May could come with me. You could get paid for your talent and for doing something I know you love. We could homeschool Lottie, and take her and May on the road with us. We could start a new life in Nashville.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest to keep the beautiful picture he painted from penetrating her heart. “And what about the bar?”

  His spread his long arms. “This bar? The one that’s half gone, and you don’t have the money to repair? That’s the bar you’re talking about?”

  “I do have the money, or at least enough to get started with repairs.”

  The confusion on his face quickly turned to understanding. “You’re going to use the money you set aside for the nonprofit.”

  Not a question but an accusation.

  She looped her hair behind her ear and couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “My mother made me swear to keep the bar, so I think she’d approve of me using the money to honor her this way.” The nausea swimming in her belly tried to escape. Even with the money she had set aside, how could she possibly meet her father’s deadline?

  His arms went across his chest now. “The bar where she hid from you and your dad, and the place you hide from the world.”

  The air evaporated in her lungs. “That’s not true. This is where I belong. I’m going to rebuild, and then things will go back to normal.”

  “Normal?” He cupped her face in his hands. “Is that really what you want, Hailey?”

  She was so damn tempted to wrap her arms around him and never, ever let him go, but she knew she’d just be prolonging the inevitable. And if he stayed with her, then she’d ruin his life just like she’d ruined the biggest night of his life with this mess, and she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if that happened. She wouldn’t mean to, but that’s what she did. Just ask Derek and Roger.

  He was beautiful and glorious, and she was damaged goods. She had to cut this off, and the sooner the better. “Of course I want things to go back to normal. If I’d stayed here like I was supposed to instead of letting you talk me into leaving, then maybe this wouldn’t have happened. I know I wouldn’t have been distracted enough to not make my insurance payment.”

  He dropped his hands and blinked several times. “You’re blaming me for this?”

  She shrugged. “Now that I know how you feel about the bar, I can’t say you’re unhappy about what’s happened.”

  “You’re unbelievable. You know that? I’ve done nothing but support you while you tried to save this sinking ship. Not your dad. Not your ex-fiancé. Not your ex-husband.” He jabbed his finger into his breastbone. “Me.” His hands went to his hips, and he turned his head and closed his eyes. His nostrils flared as he sucked air through his nose. When he looked back, resignation painted his expression. “You’re never going to hear me, are you?”

  Her lips were sealed with so much pain that she thought she might die from it.

  “You’re going to hold on to this place and this life that is killing you and keeping you down because you think, what… You deserve it?” His fierce green eyes bored into her. “I’m here to tell you that you don’t deserve what this place has come to represent to you.”

  “You don’t—”

  He held up his hand. “Let me finish. The promise she extracted from you was unrealistic and cruel.”

  “She wasn’t cruel. You take that back.”

  He scuffed his boot across the charred remains of her bar. “I won’t. It’s the truth. And here’s another truth. There are about a million ways to honor your mother that don’t have to do with you rebuilding this cage. I want us to be together. I’m willing to do just about anything to make that happen, but I can’t do it by myself. Don’t you know how I feel about you? I—”

  “It’s not a cage!”

  His inspection of her peeled the skin from her bones. His resigned nod let her know that he knew she didn’t want to hear what he was about to say. He laced his fingers on top of his head. “What are you going to tell Lottie?”

  She couldn’t meet his interrogating gaze. “I’ll tell her what I’m telling you. This will never work.”

  The lips she’d spent hours kissing were a severe line on his grim face as he nodded. “I see that now, but it’s not because of my career or because you live in Zachsville, and it’s certainly not about Lottie. It’s because of you, Hailey. Because you insist on living in the past. Plain and simple.”

  “Beau.”

  Without a backward glance, he turned and walked back to his truck, leaving her in the middle of the prison she’d made for herself.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Beau slammed the butt of his hand into the steering wheel as he drove through Zachsville. He was on his way to the slut hut to pick up his things and move back to Jack and Luanne’s. No way was he living behind Hailey’s house. She didn’t want him? Fine. But he couldn’t see her every day.

  There were lots of women who would come running the minute he snapped his fingers. Always had been. They appreciated him, and didn’t blame him for shit that wasn’t his fault. This was why a relationship and family were impossible for someone like him. He’d forgotten that for a while, but now he rem
embered. He grabbed his phone from the cup holder in his truck and punched a button.

  “What’s up, Beau?”

  “Hey, Buddy, why don’t you, me, and Tom go out tonight and celebrate?”

  “Sounds good. I’ll set it up and call Tom. I’ll call you back in a bit with the details.”

  “Awesome, man. Thanks.” He disconnected the call, tossed his phone aside, and tried to work up some excitement for the night ahead.

  He swung into Hailey’s driveway and pulled to a stop. It shouldn’t take him long to pack. What he couldn’t carry, he’d send someone to load up for him. He climbed out of the truck, and his boots skidded to a stop when he saw Lottie, May, and Derek on the back porch.

  Derek was standing with his hands on his hips and the ever-present scowl on his face. “Lottie, get the hell in the car. I don’t have all day.”

  Lottie clung to May’s waist. “I don’t want to go, Daddy.”

  “Derek, we’ll just send Piper’s gift with you. Lottie missed school today and has make-up work to finish. She also had a bad asthma attack last night, so she should probably rest.” May’s reasonable tone wavered a bit.

  “No. Piper invited her to the party to be nice, and she’s going.” He grabbed Lottie’s arm rougher than Beau thought he should and pulled her away from May.

  Oh, hell no. Beau was in Derek’s face before the jackass knew what was happening. “Let go of her.”

  Derek stumbled back a step and Lottie wiggled out of his hold. “Get the fuck out of my face.”

  Beau never took his eyes off Derek. “May, take Lottie inside.”

  “You got it. Come on, darlin’.”

  He didn’t turn around to make sure they complied, but when the door closed he struck…literally.

  The weasel dropped to one knee and covered his left eye. “Are you crazy?” He scrambled to his feet. “I’m calling the law. Let’s see how the press likes that.”

  “Call ’em.” Beau pulled his phone from his pocket. “In fact, I’ll call Hank right now. How do you think he’ll react to you manhandling Lottie?”

  Derek’s tan skin turned the color of weak beer. He knew what Hank would do. “Call him. I’m her father.”

  Beau shrugged. “Fine.” He began punching numbers.

  “Alright. I’ll go.” He took two steps back and pointed his finger at the house. “But you can tell Hailey I’m not coming back.”

  “Tell her yourself. I’m not doing your dirty work for you.”

  “Fine, I’ll tell her.”

  Beau shook his head. “I don’t get you. You’re so lucky to have a great kid like Lottie, and you don’t even care. All she needs from you is a little kindness and she’d worship you, but you can’t pull your head out of your ass long enough to see that.”

  Both Derek’s hands plowed through his hair. “You think you can do it better than me?” He flung his hand toward the house. “Then be my guest.” The guy stormed off holding his eye.

  He could’ve done a whole hell of a lot better than Derek. But now he wouldn’t have the chance. His battered and cracked heart shattered into a dusty pile of rubble. He was a fool to think he could talk himself out of the fact that Hailey and Lottie were his family and that a life with them was what he wanted more than he wanted anything, including all the attention and accolades getting up on stage brought.

  He punched a button on his phone. “Buddy—”

  “Hey, man, I was just about to call you. I’ve set it all up. You, me, Tom and some other people are heading to Sixth Street in Austin. Be ready at nine.”

  The dry grass made a crunching sound as he scraped the toe of his boot back and forth. “Yeah, that’s what I’m calling about. Something’s come up, and I’m not going to be able to make it.”

  “But this was your idea.”

  “I know.” He was an idiot to think he could party his feeling for Hailey away that easily. “I’m sorry. Y’all have a drink for me.”

  “Alright, man. Talk to you later.”

  The phone went dead before he could answer. He couldn’t bring himself to care that Buddy was pissed at him. He just didn’t have the energy.

  “Beau!” Lottie flew out the back door and threw herself into his arms.

  He caught her easily. “Hey, Lil’ Bit. How are you?”

  “Better now that you’re here.” She put her lips to his ear. “Thank you.”

  That just about broke his damn broken heart all over again. He set her down and gave May a pleading look.

  “Lottie, why don’t you go bag up some of those cookies we made for Beau?”

  “Okay!” She ran full steam into the house and slammed the door.

  He slipped his fingers into the back pocket of his jeans. “Thanks.”

  May crossed her arms over her chest. “No problem. I take it by the hound dog look on your face that you went to see Hailey, and Hailey being Hailey, she shut you out.”

  All he could do was nod. The ache in his chest wouldn’t allow any words to form.

  “I had a feeling that was what she’d do. The girl is as stubborn as Spud Lawler’s mule. I once saw that donkey dig his heels in three feet from his feeding trough because Spud put a lead on him. Stupid animal refused to eat for two days until Spud took the lead off.” She shook her head. “Hailey’s a lot like that mule. Cuttin’ off her nose to spite her face.”

  Another nod. What the hell was there to say? “I’ve come to get my stuff, then I’m going to stay at Jack and Luanne’s. Do you think you could keep Lottie occupied until I get out of here? I have no idea what to say to her until I’ve had a little time…” Just the thought of saying goodbye to Lottie hurt like fire.

  May came down the porch steps and wrapped him in a hug. “Aw, darlin’, I’m so sorry.”

  Well, hell, now the burn migrated to his eye sockets. “Thanks,” he managed to squeeze between the misery constricting his vocal cords.

  The older woman’s strong hands grabbed his shoulders and her dark soulful eyes roamed his face. “Maybe she’ll change her mind.”

  “Even if she does, I don’t know if I can get over the fact that she’s blamed me for the bar, and for her not being here. I don’t deserve that, and I don’t know if she’ll be able to accept someone loving her. Shit, I didn’t mean for that to come out.”

  May’s white teeth flashed at him from her cat’s grin. “Don’t be embarrassed, Beau. I’ve known for a long time. I’m pretty sure she feels the same way, but she’s just so damn scared. Also, unless you’ve lived here for the last ten years you can’t understand the kind of hell she’s been through.” She patted his cheek. “Still, that’s no excuse for blaming you for something that wasn’t your fault. But I know you. Your heart’s big enough to forgive her.”

  The back door slammed. “Beau! I got ’em. I gave you extra, and here’s a dog treat for Walter.”

  He cleared the emotion from his throat. “Thanks Lil’ Bit. That’s very sweet.”

  “Wanna go get Walter and go to the park?” Lottie used the toe of her right shoe to scratch her left calf. “I’m sure he’s missed me.”

  “Oh…um…”

  “Lottie, girl. You’ve got school work that we need to get busy on, or your mama will skin us alive.”

  “Buuuuuuut…” The kid turned the one-syllable word into six.

  May raised a dark brow and pointed to the back door. “Go, before I get your goat.”

  Lottie tried hard for a mulish scowl, but her lips twitched, and then her giggles took over. “May, I don’t have a goat.”

  The adoration on May’s face was clear. “Yes, you do, and I’m going to get it if I don’t see you at that kitchen table working on your make-up homework. Tell Beau bye and then get goin’.”

  “Bye, Beau. See ya later.” Like the oblivious child she was, she waved and skipped up the steps and into the house.

  “Thank you.” He placed his hands on May’s face and kissed her forehead. “Take care of ’em.”

  She gripped his wrist i
n a surprisingly strong grip. “Take care of you, and don’t give up.”

  He nodded and made his way to his apartment. Hailey was the one who’d given up and wanted nothing to do with him, and like every other time, he couldn’t deny her what she wanted.

  Thirty minutes later he swung into Jack and Luanne’s driveway. The walk to the porch took twice as long due to the heaviness weighing down his legs. He pushed through the front door and nearly jumped out of his skin.

  “Congratulations!” Jack, Luanne, Scarlett, and Gavin yelled. “Congratulations,” Aiden repeated several moments later. Baby Molly squawked from Gavin’s hip, where he held the redheaded beauty. Walter got into the spirit of the celebration and barked his approval too.

  Fucking emotion clogged his throat again. He swallowed once, twice. “Thanks, guys.”

  Luanne waddled up to him and threw her arms around him. “Beau Callen, I’m so happy for you I could just…cry.” She hiccupped a sob.

  He chuckled and smoothed his hand down her head. “Thanks, Lou.”

  She pulled back and wiped her face. “Sorry, it’s just that I know how proud Clyde would be of you.”

  “It’s okay, Lulu.” Jack slid his arm around Luanne. “Yesterday, she cried at a toilet paper commercial.”

  “That mama bear just loves her baby bear so much.”

  Everyone laughed, including Luanne.

  Jack released Luanne and grabbed Beau in a hug that stole his breath. For a second he stood frozen, then he hugged his cousin and friend back so tight that the other man groaned. Jack was his family, and right about now he needed family more than anything.

  His cousin pulled back with concern on his face. “Hey, you alright?”

  He sucked his lips between his teeth, glanced out the window, and shook his head.

  “Hailey?” Luanne’s blue eyes searched his.

  “There was a fire at Boon’s last night.”

  Scarlett’s hand went to her chest. “Oh, no. Was it destroyed?”

  Beau shucked off his jacket and swung it over the back of a chair. “No, but it might as well have been. She’d let her insurance lapse, so…”