“Would you join me? I hate eating alone.”
Haley was anxious to get to ROOTS, but Marlon was there to supervise the kids who’d stopped in. “Sure. I’ve got time for my favorite mentor. How ungrateful would I be to let you sit here by yourself?”
She slid onto the bench seat just as Erin delivered a Cobb salad, bleu cheese dressing on the side.
“Can I get you anything else?” Erin smiled automatically.
“Nothing, thanks,” Carleigh answered.
“Okay, then.” She looked at Haley. “My shift is over. See you tomorrow?”
“I’ll be here.” Haley watched the other woman walk away. What was her story? So far she’d been long on questions and short on personal details.
Carleigh dipped her fork into the dressing then speared some lettuce and egg. “So, I just came from ROOTS. It’s really shaping up.”
The social worker had been incredibly generous with her suggestions for dealing with the kids and setting down reasonable rules. She’d shared information on behaviors that were within normal teenage parameters, which ones to watch and when to get involved. Haley wished she’d had Carleigh when her brother was acting out after their mom died.
Haley smiled across the table. “It all came together really fast.” Thanks to Marlon. Just thinking his name made her heart skip a beat and she tried to ignore it.
“The mural is terrific. Who did you get to do it?”
“Me.”
Carleigh’s eyes opened wide in surprise. When she finished chewing, she said, “You’re pulling my leg. I had no idea you were so talented.”
Haley shrugged off the compliment. “I’ve been taking art classes at the junior college.”
“It shows.” The other woman’s gaze was intense and perceptive. “You really should think about a career in that field.”
“I have thought about it.”
“And?”
“It will never be more than a hobby.” That didn’t stop her from thinking about it, though. “Creative endeavors are time-intensive without guarantee of any reward. I’ve got bills to pay and family to take care of.”
Carleigh nodded. “I understand. But you’re really good. Not that I’m an expert. But I know what I like.”
“Thanks.” Now let’s change the subject, Haley thought.
“I met some of the kids while I was there,” her friend said.
“Don’t tell me. Roy. Kim. Jerilyn and C.J.” The four had come in every day since that first time and seemed to enjoy hanging out.
“Yeah. Along with a few others. Seth. Ilene. Eric and Danielle.”
“Word is spreading. They’re checking out the new place. Boredom must be setting in after all these weeks of summer.”
“Then your timing in getting it open is perfect. Imagine what they’d be doing if there was no ROOTS.” Carleigh set her fork down for a moment. “I met Marlon Cates, too.”
Just hearing his name made Haley’s chest feel funny and she shifted to ease it. “Without him, the place couldn’t be open until I got off work. It gives the kids more time to hang out with supervision.”
“He told me about his community service.”
Haley looked up quickly, hoping that wouldn’t be a problem for her fledgling project. “He’s just temporary. He won’t be around long enough to have a negative effect on the kids.”
“I’m not second-guessing your decision.”
Haley wished she could say the same. Every time she saw him her heart beat too fast and she could barely breathe. That wasn’t a neutral reaction when neutral was how she so desperately wanted to feel.
“No?” she asked.
Carleigh shook her head. “When I was there he was explaining to Seth why he was ordered by the court to do community service. He broke the rules and got caught. It’s good for the kids to see someone taking their punishment like a man.”
Man being the operative word. Broad shoulders, wide chest, strong arms, a face to make women sigh with longing. He was a man all right.
“I’m glad you think it’s okay for him to be there.”
“I definitely do.” The other woman smiled. “We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. That doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. Part of flourishing is being able to admit when you’re wrong and take responsibility for your actions.”
Haley blinked. “So you’re saying he broke the law and is a good role model anyway?”
“I wouldn’t exactly put those two thoughts together back to back without qualifying them,” Carleigh explained. “But yes. If a mega-successful businessman like Marlon Cates isn’t above answering to the law, what chance do teenagers have against it? He’s rich, powerful and doing his time. It sends a very strong positive message. It’s a good lesson for the kids.”
Not just the kids, Haley thought. Marlon had tried to tell her he could give the teens a different point of view, but she hadn’t really bought into it. Not until she’d seen him with Roy and the other kids. The truth was, she’d been looking for excuses to push him away in order to keep him from hurting her again. In the end, getting ROOTS open had to take priority over her feelings.
“He’s been a big help,” she admitted.
“Another plus is that he’s not hard on the eyes.” An appreciative smile curved up the corners of Carleigh’s mouth.
Haley wasn’t surprised when once again she felt a twinge of jealousy in her chest.
“I didn’t notice,” she lied.
“You’re kidding, right?”
Haley’s cheeks heated when she realized it was the second time in the last couple of days that she’d been caught. Marlon had seen through her when she’d claimed not to remember kissing him. In her mind, she could still picture that moment when their lips touched. It hadn’t been her only kiss, but nothing else had even come close to the way Marlon had made her heart race and her body hum. And she had thought far too much about doing it again.
He’d said she wouldn’t admit that there was something simmering between them, and he was right about that. She refused to let it be true. Even if it were, there was no point in admitting as much. It would just make everything harder when he was gone.
Now Carleigh accused her of not telling the truth. Was it still a lie if the person it was directed at didn’t believe you?
“Okay. You’re right. I have noticed. He’s pretty cute.”
“But?” Carleigh frowned.
“What makes you think there’s a ‘but’?”
“I can tell by the look on your face. What’s wrong, Haley?”
“I like him.”
Carleigh toyed with her paper napkin and started to shred it. “And that’s bad…why?”
“Because it’s not good,” she hedged.
“Again I ask…why?”
“He’s not staying. And even if he were, he’s experienced with women.”
“So?”
“I’m not. Experienced with men, I mean.” She met the other woman’s gaze and the words came tumbling out. “I was too busy studying in high school to date. Then I went away to college and met a guy. We were heading in that direction—”
“You mean sex?”
“Yeah.” Again heat flared in her cheeks. “My mom always said I should wait, make sure I loved the person before taking the step.”
“And did you?”
She shook her head. “I never had the chance. My mom was killed in the car accident and I came home to take care of Angie and Austin. That was the end of my college experience.”
Carleigh knew her story, but the expression on her face was sympathetic. “And sex?”
Haley couldn’t answer, just stared across the table, feeling the warmth of embarrassment creep up her neck.
“You’ve never had sex?” Carleigh asked, struggling unsuccessfully to act as if that didn’t make Haley a mutant in this day and age.
“The technical term is virgin.” She shrugged. “I’ve been raising my siblings and working. There’s been no time, energy, or even a
guy who interested me.”
“Until now?” Carleigh’s eyebrow rose questioningly.
Haley nodded miserably. “My lack of worldliness never bothered me before. But what if things between Marlon and me go there? What if he laughed at me?”
Carleigh was making a pile of white confetti with her napkin as she thought about what to say. “Can we agree that I’m a pretty good judge of character?”
Haley knew her friend saw all kinds of people and sized them up quickly and accurately. “Yes.”
“Okay. I observed your Marlon interacting with those teenagers and did not see a man who would hurt a woman’s feelings by laughing at her. He appeared to be sensitive, smart and insightful.”
“Okay.”
She looked at the watch on her wrist and sighed. “I’ve got to run. But let me leave you with this thought. Life is not a spectator sport.”
True enough, thought Haley. But if one just observed there was little danger of getting beaned by a fastball. Status quo didn’t rip your heart out or turn your life upside down. She knew how that felt and was determined to stay in status quo territory.
Marlon was right about her being the queen of denial, but that was okay with her, because he wasn’t now and never would be her Marlon.
Chapter Seven
Marlon paced the length of his room above The Hitching Post for the umpteenth time. Fridays in Thunder Canyon were fun, but Monday night the place was dull as dirt. TV wasn’t his thing and nine-thirty was too early to turn in. He knew the devil had a seat in hell with his name on it when thoughts of going to bed made him picture Haley lying by his side.
He walked to the window and lifted aside the lace covering for a better view of Main Street and ROOTS. Light from inside the teen center spilled onto the wooden walkway in front, which meant someone was there. It had to be her.
He’d only seen Haley for a few minutes earlier that day. She’d dropped into ROOTS a couple of times to check on things. Then she’d relieved him of duty after her shift at the bar and grill ended. Clearly she hadn’t wanted to chat. The last time they had, he’d accused her of lying. He’d bet everything he owned that she remembered kissing him. And bringing it up with her earlier had been tempting, but with kids wandering in and out it wasn’t appropriate.
Maybe she was alone now.
The thought was too tempting to resist. He left his room and went down the rear stairs, taking his usual back route to Main Street. There weren’t a whole lot of folks around, but he didn’t want to chance running across someone who felt like chatting him up. He wasn’t in the mood for idle conversation. Only one brown-eyed girl was on his mind and he was pumped for a chat with her.
The dull thud of his boots sounded on the wooden sidewalk outside the teen center. He was right about her being here. Through the window Marlon could see her sitting on the sofa, with pencil in hand and a pad of paper on her lap. No one else was with her.
She was sketching something and looked especially cute and far too appealing with her forehead furrowed in concentration. One foot was tucked up underneath her and she’d caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
He’d like to bite her bottom lip. Not hard. Just a nip, something to show her that thoughts of her mouth had cost him a decent night’s sleep ever since that first day he’d seen her here working on the mural. He pushed open the door and decided leading with that particular revelation would not be the best way to go.
She looked up. “Marlon. What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“This place is my project. What’s your excuse?”
His punishment, he wanted to say. But he wasn’t talking about legal obligations. Thoughts of her tortured him pretty much all the time.
He moved farther into the room, just on the other side of the coffee table. “I saw your light on. Isn’t it kind of late?”
“Kids have been in and out all day. Because they’re still on summer break it hasn’t been quiet.” She shrugged. “I’m keeping the place open until ten. Just in case someone wants to come by and talk.”
As it happened, someone did want to talk, although he probably wasn’t on her approved list. But it occurred to him, and not for the first time, how selfless her dedication was to this project. She was giving up a lot of precious personal time for the benefit of teens who didn’t have much of a clue how hard she was working to make this happen.
“What?” she asked, eyes narrowing on him.
“Nothing.” He sat down beside her. “I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“Do the kids have any idea how much time, effort and sacrifice you’ve put in to make this place a reality for them?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?”
“Not really,” he said.
“Too bad, because I really don’t have an answer for you.”
“Why do you do that?”
She looked up from her sketching. “What?”
“Make light of your efforts. This has been a time-consuming venture, and I’m sure it was frustrating at times. But you didn’t give up and now ROOTS is a reality.” He met her gaze. “You’re a giver and I’m guessing it’s not because you expect to get anything out of it. Most people would rather be home with their feet up.”
“Wait a second.” She tilted her head to look at him and the end of her ponytail brushed her slender shoulder. “Number one, don’t make me out to be something I’m not. I get something out of this.”
“What?”
“The satisfaction of giving back to the community.”
He nodded. “If that was number one, there must be a number two. Care to share?”
“Right now all I’m doing is sitting here. It’s exactly what I’d be doing at home. No big deal.”
He leaned over to get a look. “What are you sitting here doing?”
“Sketching.” Quickly she flipped the cover over her work. “Just doodling really.”
“Looked like more than that to me.” He reached out a hand to take the pad, but she hopped up and backed away.
“It’s nothing.”
“I’d like to see it.” He stood and moved toward her.
“You don’t have to be polite.”
“I’m not. Trust me. It’s genuine interest.”
“Like I believe that. This is you we’re talking about.” But she put the sketch pad behind her back.
Marlon stared at her. “If I weren’t so secure and self-confident, that dig might have hurt my feelings. But I’m pretty sure you’re trying to pick a fight in an effort to distract me.”
He moved closer until they were practically touching. Her eyes widened and the pulse in her neck fluttered wildly. While he had her where he wanted her, he reached around her and tried to snag the notebook.
They wrestled for several moments, her small firm breasts brushing against his chest. Now that almost distracted him but he persevered. In the end, it wasn’t his superior strength that finally won out. He had his arms around her and they were both breathing hard. Her lips parted and her chest was rising and falling rapidly. It was either kiss her or take advantage of her guard being down.
The latter seemed a wiser choice and he easily grabbed the sketch pad from her limp fingers.
“Hey,” she said. “That was cheating.”
“Define cheating.” When she didn’t, he continued. “I simply saw an opportunity and made my move.”
But not the one he’d wanted most. And when she pressed her full lips together, he was pretty sure she felt the frustration, too. But he’d missed his chance with her after kissing her six years ago. He needed to let the whole thing go. Leaving town right now wasn’t an option and when he finally did, he didn’t want any regrets. While he was stuck, he couldn’t make a move on her.
He turned around and started flipping through her notebook. She made several attempts to take back her work but he was taller and quicker, evading every grab. As he turned the pages and saw her sketches, s
omething buzzed in his businessman’s brain. The drawings were of jeans, shirts, jackets, scarves, and handbags. She didn’t just use charcoal pencil, but colored ones as well. The purses especially caught his eye.
The designs had fringe, buckles, snaps and zippers. Inside, the lining was done in plaids, polka dots, and different patterns. Some had snowflakes. Horses. Saddles.
He looked at her. “These are really good, Haley.”
“You’re just saying that to make up for being a jerk.”
“I’m not that nice.”
“No kidding.” Her look was wry.
“Seriously.” He looked down at the sketches. “You’re very talented.”
“Now you’re starting to scare me.”
“Whatever your opinion is of me personally, I probably deserve,” he said. “But when it comes to business success, I’ve earned that, too. I didn’t take MC/TC to where it is by being an idiot. Or being nice. The fact is that I know talent when I see it. And these are very good ideas.”
“Thanks.” She blinked up at him. “So the company is doing well?”
“As well as can be expected in this economy. Well enough that I’ve had buyout offers and I’m considering them.”
“You’d sell it?”
“I’m weighing the pros and cons.”
“But you started it all by marketing your merchandise at D.J.’s Rib Shack at the resort,” she reminded him. “I thought MC stood for Marlon Cates and TC is Thunder Canyon.”
“It is,” he admitted.
“Your company has local roots. I think that’s worth holding on to.”
A whole lot of heart was shining in her eyes and he couldn’t say what he wanted to. Business was all about the bottom line. Sentiment didn’t make a company worth fighting for. But as he studied her drawings his mind was going a mile a minute.
“MC/TC could use fresh and innovative products to give it new life and jump start sales. Your designs could do that.” He didn’t realize he’d said that out loud until she responded.
“That would be exciting.”
Taming the Montana Millionaire Page 8
