23. PAIGE
23
PAIGE
Baylee takes the towel off my head. “You’ve been strangely radio silent about what all’s been going on at the ranch.”
We’re at her mom’s salon, but it’s early, and I’m the first customer. I swivel my chair away from her so I can face the mirror. “Actually, something really funny happened the other night. I walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water, and Jace and one of his groupies fell out of the pantry half naked.” I snort. “I left a container of Clorox wipes outside his bedroom door with instructions to sanitize any area that his bare ass might’ve touched. I woke up the next morning, and the whole house smelled like bleach.”
She laughs and shakes her head.
I tug on my hair, debating whether I should try bangs. “Oh, and Rhett built me a henhouse. He and Beau painted it red with white trim. They even made a sign over the doorway that says ‘Paige’s Little Cluckers.’ It’s freaking adorable. Then we went to the tractor supply store and got some Rhode Island Reds, and soon we’re going to have farm-fresh eggs.” I clap like a little nerd. “I’ve always wanted chickens. The ranch dogs get a little crazy around them, but Rhett says they’ll get used to my cluckers soon enough. Let me show you some pics.”
After I scroll through twenty-three photos of my chickens, Baylee chuckles. “Look at you, farm girl.”
“I know. I love the ranch so much. Last night, I sat out by the fire pit and read a book on my Kindle. There were a million stars out. It felt like a slice of heaven. I even forgot about the Marcus situation for a bit.”
She grabs a comb. “I’m kinda sad Rhett didn’t at least punch him.”
“I don’t want Rhett to get in trouble. What if Marcus tells Harlan we dated? That I broke up with Marcus days before I married Rhett? Then he’ll know Rhett just got hitched so he could get that loan. But we saw Harlan last weekend at the grocery store, and he just waved. Still, I’m paranoid.”
She combs out my wet hair. “It’s crazy that Marcus is related to Harlan.”
“It is, but it isn’t. Marcus is an investment banker or something, and Harlan owns banks. Or maybe his family does? I’m not really sure.”
“Are we doing the same shade of red?” she asks as she studies my roots, which aren’t too bad since my real hair is auburn.
“Yeah. Rhett loves it.” The fiery color has grown on me. I want to be the kind of woman who can pull off bold hair.
“I’m sure the Harlan stuff is stressful, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Do you mean the sabotage? I talked Rhett into waiting to hear back from the sheriff before he storms the McAllister compound. But it’s been weeks, and I’m starting to worry we’ll never find out who’s been cutting our fences. But isn’t Cash smarter than that? Would he really mess with Rhett? I don’t think he has a death wish.”
“I’m not talking about the sabotage.” My best friend rolls her eyes. “I’m talking about the hot monkey sex you’re obviously having.”
I laugh and cover my mouth. “Baylee.”
“What? You’ve wanted to bed Rhett Walker since we figured out what sex is, and now you’re not gonna tell me anything?”
“He’s my husband, not some hookup.”
She makes a face. “It’s that good, huh?”
I grin. “It’s ah-maze-ing. It’s so good, I’m sore.”
“Bitch. I wanna have Animal Planet sex.” She pouts. “I’m definitely getting on dating apps. I’m gonna hop on some hot guy’s dick and forget all about Maverick Walker once and for all.”
I reach behind me for her hand. “It’s his loss.”
“Will you help me do my profile? I’m terrible at this stuff.”
“Absolutely. It’ll be fun.”
Her phone rings with a video call, and she peeks at the screen. “It’s Abby!”
“Answer it. I haven’t talked to her since she and Nick moved to Houston.”
Baylee slides her finger over the screen and angles the phone so we both fit in the little window. “Hey, girl! I’m here with Paige.”
“My two favorite people!”
“Hey, roomie! I miss you!” I shout. Abby was briefly my roommate last year. We had so much fun together. I wish I could’ve stayed with her instead of moving in with Marcus, but if that had happened, she and her boyfriend Nick might not have gotten together.
“How’s the NFL treating you and Nick?” Baylee asks. “And how’s Hazel?”
Hazel is Nick’s adorable five-year-old daughter. Her mom passed away in an accident when she was a baby, and Nick hired Abby to be Hazel’s nanny last fall. One thing led to another, and now they’re a serious item.
Abby grins. “Nick and Hazelnut are doing great, but it’s been a whirlwind—the draft, packing and moving, getting to know the new team. And it’s so humid here in Houston. I’m dying, especially now that I’m the size of a beached whale.” She shifts the camera, and we get a good look at her baby bump.
“You’re perfect, and that baby is just the right size,” I say wistfully. All of a sudden, I want a baby so bad. And that’s crazy. I just graduated from college. I have lots of time for kids.
Baylee pulls a chair over and sits next to me. “Okay, I need to spill the tea here since Paige obviously isn’t going to. Guess who married her high school crush?” She points at me.
Abby’s eyes go wide. “You married Rhett? The guy whose calls you never answered?”
I can admit now that was immature, but I wasn’t ready to talk to him. “The one and only.”
Baylee puts the phone up to her face and whispers, “And now she’s having all the sex and pretending like Rhett’s not banging her through the headboard every night.”
“Baylee Reyes.” I elbow her but laugh. “It’s true. I’m having all the sex. I’ve never come so many times in my life.”
At that moment, Aunt Syl walks through the back door. She lifts her brow at that statement, then shakes her head. “I’m just gonna pretend I didn’t hear that. Morning, girls. Glad you’re enjoying your husband, Paige.” She disappears into her office.
“Oh, my God,” I whisper as I cover my face.
Baylee and Abby howl with laughter before Abby leans close to the phone. “How in the world did this happen?”
I take the cell away from Baylee. “It’s a long story. I’ll call you when I get home and give you the scoop.” I don’t think Rhett would care if I told Abby, since she lives in Houston, but I’ll run it by him.
“Paige, I’m glad I caught you with Baylee because I need your advice.” Abby motions to her belly again. “I don’t fit into anything. I’m excited to go to all of Nick’s games and events, but I’m not sure what to wear. I don’t even fit into the jersey he got me, and I’m not sure I will after the baby comes. You’re so good with clothes and fashion. Can you help me again?”
“I’d be happy to. And just to be clear, you look gorgeous pregnant, and Nick is going to love you no matter what you wear.”
She smiles. “I know I’m just being self-conscious, but I want him to feel proud when he sees me at his games.”
I know the feeling. “Can you send me the jersey? I can tailor it for you or make a jacket or vest you can wear over something more comfortable.”
“Really? You’d do that for me?” She starts to sniffle.
“Of course. What are friends for?” In retrospect, I probably should’ve gone into fashion. I love sewing and clothes, but those skills are probably even more useless in Wild Heart than my communications degree.
“And please don’t worry about the weight,” Baylee says. “My sister always loses fifteen pounds within days of having her babies.”
“That’s so good to hear.” Abby wipes her eyes. “I love you guys so much. Paige, I’ll pay you for your time. I don’t want you to think I expect this for free.”
I frown. “You don’t have to pay me.”
Baylee shakes her head. “Abby, don’t listen to Paige. Send her money. Whatever you think is fair.”
“Baylee!” I turn to my childhood best friend. “I wouldn’t charge you, so it’s not fair to charge Abby.”
“What? Her baby daddy is in the NFL. If my boyfriend was in the NFL, I’d pay you too.”
Abby chuckles. “She’s right. I’m sending you money no matter what.”
Smiling, I hold up my hand. “I can’t defend myself against you two.”
We chat a few more minutes, and then Abby and I agree to talk later to figure out how she wants me to customize her jersey.
When we hang up, I sigh. “I love her to pieces, and I’m so happy she and Nick found each other.”
Baylee puts her phone back on the counter. “They’re perfect together.” She finishes brushing out my damp hair. “Back to Rhett. I wanna say this one thing, and then I’ll shut up. I’m psyched y’all are getting along and he’s sexing you up so much that you’re walking funny, but…” She whirls my chair around so that I’m facing her. “I don’t want you to get your heart crushed. Those Walker brothers don’t know what kind of voodoo they wield with their little smirks and tight asses.”
She’s right, and that makes me sad. “I hear what you’re saying, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid, but I want to give this a real chance.”
My best friend’s eyes narrow. “Be sure to tell Rhett that I have a shotgun, and I’m not afraid to use it. Does a man really need two kneecaps? One seems sufficient.”
I laugh and lean over to hug her. “Thank you.”
When I let go, she grabs the hair dye. “Have you had any trouble with the twatwaffle?”
“I’ve made myself scarce when Amber picks up the boys or drops them off. I’m just not sure how long my luck will last.”
The front doorbell rings, and my eyes widen when I see who it is.
Honey McAllister glances around nervously. “Hi. Is it okay that I’m here?”
Wild Heart has invisible lines of loyalty. There are people who are fierce Walker supporters and those who are McAllister ride or die. The whole thing is stupid. It makes nice women like Honey afraid to go to the damn salon.
I wave her in. “Of course.”
She points behind her. “I usually go to Darling Divas, but they had a scheduling conflict.”
Baylee mumbles, “We are starting shit today. I love it.” Then she turns to Honey. “Whatcha need? I might be able to fit you in.”
Honey was a year ahead of us in school. We never really spoke, but I liked that she always seemed friendly, unlike her brothers.
She pulls at the end of her hair. “I need a trim. I’m starting my new teaching job, and I want to look the part.”
I point at the chair next to me. “Grab a seat.”
She gives me a hesitant smile as she sits. “I heard you married Rhett this summer. Congrats.”
“Thank you.”
Putting a hand over her mouth, she whispers, “Don’t tell my brothers, but I had a huge crush on him in high school.”
I laugh. “Girl, join the club.”
She glances at Baylee. “Are you dating Maverick? I always see y’all together.”
“We’re not dating.” My best friend’s lips go flat. “We’ve never dated.”
Honey glances between us. “I’m guessing there’s a story there, but I don’t wanna pry.”
“There’s no story. We’ve always just been friends.” Baylee turns me around in my chair. “Honey, let me get Paige’s color on, and then we can talk about your trim.”
An hour and a half later, my hair is done and Baylee’s blow-drying Honey when the front door opens again. It’s Beau.
“Paige, Rhett’s running late—” He freezes when he sees Honey.
She rolls her eyes and mutters something I can’t make out.
He stares at her a long minute, tilts his hat to her. “Little Mac.” He ignores her scowl and turns to me. “I’m due at the fire station, but if you wanna head home, I can give you a ride right quick.”
Beau calls her Little Mac. Oh, my God. That’s so cute. Baylee must think so too because she gives me a look.
I gather my things and hug my best friend. Then I wave to Honey. She’s busy giving my brother-in-law a death stare, which morphs into a smile for me.
As my brother-in-law drives me back to the ranch, I can’t resist teasing him. “So what’s up with you and Honey McAllister?”
It’s his turn to scowl. “Not one thing, Miss Nosey.”
“If you say so,” I sing-song.
There’s definitely a story there.