Hailey laughed at the shock in her daughter’s face. “Yes.”
“Can we ask Beau too?”
The words crashed into the tattered organ behind her rib cage. “Not today, baby. He’s busy.” Busy getting ready to leave her.
They pulled into the ice cream shop’s parking lot. Lottie was out of the car before Hailey could get her seatbelt undone. She took her girl’s hand and they made their way inside the store. Once they’d gotten their treats they sat at a table by the front window.
Lottie took several licks of her blue bubble gum ice cream. “Can I call Beau later? I want to tell him my dad is moving.”
Hailey nearly choked on a nut from her nutty coconut cone. “You know about that? But how…”
“Piper told me.”
“I know you’re sad, but you’ll still get to see him.”
Lottie chewed her lip and glanced out the window. The look of distress on her kid’s face made Hailey want to hurt someone. “Mom, is it bad that I’m glad they’re moving?” She whispered the sentence as if saying it out loud would be breaking some kind of rule. When she turned back to Hailey one tiny tear rolled down her cheek.
“Oh, honey, no. It’s fine to feel what you feel.”
Lottie took another bite of ice cream and nodded. They sat in silence for a few moments. “It’s just that…” She huffed out a breath. “Dad’s not a very good dad. And it makes my stomach hurt when I have to go see him, and if he doesn’t live here, then I don’t have to have a stomach ache.”
Hailey stuck her spoon in her ice cream and set the cup down. “You’re right, Lottie. He’s not a very good daddy.”
“Is it okay that I told you? Beau said I should tell you how I feel.” She dug a piece of bubble gum out of her scoop with her finger and popped it in her mouth. “But I was afraid it would make you sad.”
This kid. Hailey didn’t think it was possible to love her any more than she did. “Of course it’s okay that you told me. You can talk to me about anything, even if you think it’ll make me sad. I’m the grown-up, it’s my job to handle this stuff.”
Lottie’s teeth bit down on her blue-stained lower lip. “Why isn’t Beau living in the garage anymore?”
Hailey and her big mouth. The dairy treat she’d just ingested curdled at the question. “Beau’s decided to live at Jack and Luanne’s for a while.” She took Lottie’s sticky hand. “You know that he’s about to leave for his tour, so he wasn’t going to be around that much anyway.”
Black curls bobbed as Lottie nodded. Ice cream ran over the edge of the cone and down her daughter’s hand.
The lip tremble was almost imperceptible, but Hailey saw it, and it crushed her. “Oh, honey. Come here.” She held her arms open.
Lottie climbed into her lap, sticky hands and all, and the dam broke. Her miserable sobs filled the ice cream parlor. She cried and cried. This was the response Hailey had expected when she told her about Derek, but she wasn’t surprised that the grief was over Beau. He’d given so much to Lottie, not the least of which was unconditional love. Hailey smoothed Lottie’s hair down and rested her chin on her child’s head. “Shhhhh,” she soothed. “It’s going to be alright.”
Lottie leaned back to look up at Hailey. Her eyes and nose were red and swollen. “No, it won’t be. I’ll miss him and your smiles.” Another round of sobs wracked her small body.
“What?”
Lottie took several shuddering breaths and grabbed a napkin to mop up the tears and ice cream from her hand. She toyed with Hailey’s abandoned cup of ice cream. “You have a different smile when we’re with Beau.” Her words were still weak from the tears, but they hit their mark.
Hailey tried to keep her voice even, like Lottie hadn’t just kicked her in the gut. “Like how?”
“When you’re with Beau—” she sniffled and blew out a breath “—your smile is big and real, not fake. And you laugh more when he’s around.” She shrugged. “It’s like you’re not invisible when Beau’s with us.”
Kill her now. “Oh, baby, I promise I’ll be less invisible even if Beau’s not around.”
The hope in the face that she adored stirred a guilt in her gut because she knew Lottie was right. “Okay.” Lottie wiped her wet cheeks with another napkin. “Can I be excused to go to the bathroom?”
She hugged her daughter to her chest. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, but you’re smushing me.”
Hailey laughed and released her. “Sorry. Go to the bathroom.”
The most important thing in her world made her way to a pink door with a chocolate ice cream cone on it.
She was less invisible.
Wasn’t that what she was the most afraid of? Being seen. There seemed to be a theme with the people she loved. Hadn’t her dad and Charlie said that her mother hid at the bar, and that she was doing the same? Beau had accused her of building a cage to hide in, and now her precious girl’s fear was that she’d become invisible again.
They were all right. She’d spent the last ten years hiding who she really was and being small to appease a town that would only ever see her one way. No, that wasn’t right. She knew now it wasn’t the whole town, but a handful of people whose opinions didn’t matter to her anymore. Now that she knew what living big was like, why would she ever want to go back to that life?
But what about her promise to her mother?
Charlie’s words flashed in her mind like a neon sign. If you love running the bar, then rebuild it. If you don’t and still feel compelled to rebuild, then you have to examine the reasons why.
Because it was safe.
Well, screw safe.
Her love for her mother would never die, and she’d do everything in her power to honor her mother through the foundation, but she wouldn’t sacrifice her future happiness to keep a vow she should’ve never made.
She knew what she wanted, and she was going to get it. Her phone was in her hand in an instant, and she dialed the number.
“Hello.”
Could she do this?
“Hailey, is that you?”
Her pulse thrummed in her ears, but her voice was strong. “May, how much do you love me?”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The probing eyes of the postpartum woman leaning against the door jamb of Beau’s room were about as comfortable as having a thousand-pound steer fall on you. “Need something, Luanne?” When he’d found out she and the babies were getting to come home today he postponed leaving so he could see them. Unfortunately, it took them longer to get home than he expected. Now it was early afternoon and he was feeling antsy to get on the road, even though he was leaving his heart here in Zachsville.
“Not a thing.”
“Where’s your husband and your babies?” He searched in the closet to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything.
“The babies are asleep, and Jack had to run a quick errand. He’ll be back in a minute.”
“So basically, you’re bored, and you’re stalking me.” He gave her a wink that had zero effect on her.
She shrugged. “Basically.”
He tossed his phone charger into the bag. “You’re not going to try and talk me into going to see her, are you?” They’d had a long conversation after his encounter with Hailey in the stairwell, and she’d tried to get him to go after Hailey.
“I just can’t stand to see you sad.” A huge yawn cracked her jaws, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry, sleep is a precious commodity.”
He kissed the top of her head, and moved past her into the hall. “Then you should go sleep while those boys are sleeping. Stop worrying about me. I’m going to be alright.” That had become his mantra. If he just kept saying it, then he’d believe it. “I told you I’d go after her if I thought it would do any good, but she’s not ready, and I don’t know if she ever will be. But it’s her move now.”
Her warm hand rubbed up and down his arm. “I just have to believe it’s all going to work out.”
&nb
sp; “I hope you’re right.” Though he didn’t see any way it could. “But either way, I’m going to be just fine.” Nope, still didn’t believe it. When he got to the living room he checked his bag to make sure he had his headphones. “Rusty and the guys are already on the bus, so I better go.” He leaned down to give her a hug.
She hugged him back with the fierceness of a mama bear. “I’m so sad to see you go, even though it’s the right thing for your career. But you can’t leave until Jack gets home.”
“I’ll FaceTime him later. I really want to get on the road.” He hoisted his bag onto his shoulder. “Tell Jack—”
“Tell Jack what?” Jack sauntered into the living room and whispered something in Luanne’s ear, which made her smile, and Beau’s heart took another hit. At this rate, he wouldn’t have much left to keep him alive.
“That I’m about to head out.” He dropped his bag and gave his cousin a hug. They embraced for a long moment. “Thank you for everything. If it weren’t for you, none of this would be happening.”
Jack slapped him on the back, and the two men broke apart. “You would’ve made it with or without me. You’re that good. Now, go make us proud.”
Beau picked up his bag and squeezed Jack’s shoulder. “I will.” He whistled and slapped his leg. “Let’s go, Walter.” The dog loped up beside him and followed him outside.
Luanne and Jack walked with him out to the porch. Then he made his way to the side drive where Rusty had the bus idling.
“Make good choices,” Luanne yelled.
He raised his hand in acknowledgment without turning around. “Yes, Mom.” Despite feeling like half of him was missing, excitement still simmered in his belly for what was ahead. This was his dream and he was on his way to live it. How many people could say that? Though, as he climbed the steps of the bus he had to admit it would be so much sweeter with his family with him.
“Ready to roll, boss?” Rusty buckled his seatbelt.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“What? No born ready?”
The ache in his chest intensified by a thousand. “Not today.” He tapped his friend on the shoulder with his fist. “Take us to Nashville, old man.”
“I’ll show you old man.”
Beau chuckled and moved between the two sofas where Buddy and Tom were playing some video game. He gave the men a chin lift, which they returned. He knew better than to try and engage them in conversation while they were playing.
Walter jumped up beside Buddy and closed his eyes.
“Rusty, I’ll be in the back if y’all need me. But don’t need me.” He passed between the six bunk beds, all with their curtains drawn, to his room in the back. As soon as he closed the door all the excitement left him and loneliness filled every empty space. His bag hit the ground then he hit the bed. Staring at the sunroof above the bed, he tried to tell himself he was alright. The results were no different than the last twenty times.
The bus rolled forward and he closed his eyes. Maybe he could escape the pain if he slept. A sudden stop and his name being called ruined any hope of that happening. “What?” he yelled through the closed door.
“I think you need to come out here,” Buddy called.
He rolled to his feet and yanked the door open. “I told y’all not to need me. What’s so all-fire important…” But his brain drained of words at the sight out the front window. Hailey, Lottie, and May all stood directly in the bus’s path with their suitcases on the ground beside them.
Rusty opened the door and the three climbed aboard. Lottie was the first to mount the stairs. “Beau!” She dropped her suitcase and ran into his arms.
“Hey, Lil’ Bit. What are y’all doing here?” But he wasn’t talking to Lottie, he was talking to her gorgeous mother, who was making her way to him.
Lottie laid her head on his shoulder. “We’re going with you, silly.”
“You are?” Still to Hailey, who now had tears rolling down her face.
She nodded. “If the offer still stands.”
“Lottie, darlin’. I’m going to put you down so I can hug your mama. Is that okay?”
The girl giggled. “Duh.”
He sat her on the sofa next to May, who’d already confiscated a controller from Buddy and was betting Tom she could beat him. He placed one hand on the leather cushion and leaned over to kiss the woman on her soft cheek. “I’m sure glad to see you, Ms. May.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re screwing with my concentration.” She waved him off, but not before a quick wink of her happy, dancing eyes.
He grabbed Hailey’s hand and practically dragged her to the back room. The door closed behind him and she jumped into his arms, knocking him to the bed. Fine with him—he planned to get her horizontal as soon as he could anyway. They reunited with lips, tongues, arms and legs. He took her head in his hands and though it about killed him, he pulled her away so he could see her eyes. Those beautiful sunlight-through-whiskey eyes. “How’d you get here? I didn’t see your car.”
“Jack came to get us. He and Luanne have been in on the plan since last night. It took us longer than anticipated to get our things together.” She placed her elbow next to his ear and rested her head in her hand. “Are you sure you’re up for the three of us?”
“Totally.” He skated his finger along her collarbone. “Tell me.”
“What do you want to know? Besides I love you.”
He couldn’t have stopped the grin that consumed his face if he’d wanted to, and he didn’t want to. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that. I love you. But what about the bar?”
“I had a long talk with my dad, and we think the best thing to do is sell it, or the land it sits on.”
He looped a strand of hair behind her ears. “But that’ll mean whoever buys it will tear it down. I know how important the place is to you.”
One shoulder rose and fell. “It is, but only because of my mother’s memory. And like you said, there are a million ways to honor her that don’t include rebuilding the bar.” She cupped his cheek. “Plus, nothing is as important as you and the life we’re going to build together.”
Dancing bears and unicorns could’ve burst through the door and he wouldn’t have paid them one bit of attention. His focus was completely on the woman beside him. “Are you proposing to me, Hailey Odom?”
She slipped the first button on his shirt open. “Here’s the thing, I could live my life without you, if I wanted to. But I don’t want to. I want us to be together and make a life. A big, messy, unconventional life.”
He flipped her to her back and stared into her happy face. “You’re serious.”
She nodded and a tear slid into her hair at her temple.
“No more running scared?”
A sly grin snuck onto her face. “I’ll only ever run after you, Heartbreaker, for the rest of my life, wherever that takes us. We’re in this adventure together…forever.”
Together forever.
He could live with that.
Epilogue
“Beau Callen, if you don’t take this blindfold off of me right this minute, I’m gonna—”
“Gonna what, darlin’?” Beau’s warm, minty breath fanned across Hailey’s ear. And just like every time he was this close to her, the solidity of her bones failed, and she melted into him.
“I’m gonna kiss your whole face,” she breathed. As threats went that one was pretty wimpy. She should be ashamed, and would be if he wasn’t slowly seducing her by running his fingers up and down her bare arms.
The chuckle that rumbled in his chest vibrated against her back. “That’s not very much incentive to obey. I like it when you kiss my whole face.”
Her hands went to the bandana tied around her eyes. “Beau…”
“Ah, ah, ah.” He stilled her movement. “Leave it on just a few more minutes… Please.”
“Fine.” Her heels clicked along concrete as he walked her toward an unknown destination. She must look ridiculous. He’d told her he was takin
g her someplace special and asked her to wear the dress he’d bought her before they left Nashville, a beautiful champagne sheath that fit her perfectly. She had no idea what he had planned, but it must be something special if he was going to this much trouble.
He’d known this trip home to Zachsville to finalize the sale of Boon’s was bittersweet for her, so he was doing what he did best—making her feel treasured and adored.
Strong hands gripped her shoulders and brought her to a stop. “Hang on. Let me get the door.” There was a loud creak of hinges sliding against hinges. Then he took her hand to usher her across the threshold. “Careful.”
Two steps into the building and even with the blindfold, she knew where he’d brought her.
Boon’s.
Her pulse jackknifed in her veins. And for a moment she considered turning around and leaving without lowering the blindfold. She’d been trying to decide if she wanted to visit one last time before the papers were signed. This place harbored so many memories, good and bad, but the minute the smell of stale beer, cologne, and peanuts hit her nose, she knew it was right for her to be here one last time. Like a well-worn and favorite sweater that no longer fit exactly right, it was time to say goodbye.
She slowly removed the bandana from her eyes, and things came into focus. The place where she’d found shelter for so many years was hardly recognizable, mostly because it was empty, except for the flowers, their friends and family, and a long white runner lined with twinkle lights that led to the beer garden. Her heart beat against her ribs, and her brain refused to make sense of it all. She turned watery eyes to him in question.
He tilted her face to his. “Marry me tonight?”
Tears ran unbidden down her face, and she nodded.
“I want the words, baby.”
“Yes! I’ll marry you.”
Their audience cheered, and suddenly there was a flurry of activity. And all she could do was stand there stunned at what this amazing man had done for her.
“I love you.” He kissed away her tears.
Her fingers pushed into his hair, and she pulled him to her for a long, slow kiss, that she filled with all the emotions in her heart. “I love you…so much.”
Running After a Heartbreaker (Brides on the Run #4) Page 29
