Chapter 4
4
Bailey
B ailey gripped the steering wheel, her face flushed and tears threatening to spill over her cheeks again. How dare that guy eavesdrop on her conversation with her daughter? It infuriated her that he thought he was allowed to interject himself into their afternoon like that.
She glanced in the mirror at her daughter, who was now poring over her book. Anya was thrilled; that much was clear. She’d gotten the book she wanted. On top of that, the cowboy had only solidified that Santa was real. Bailey didn’t know how she felt about that.
Anya’s childlike wonder hung in the balance, and Bailey had to decide whether she should tell her daughter the truth or fight to the death to retain it.
Her heart stumbled in her chest. The latter was going to be easier said than done. Five-year-olds shouldn’t have to bear the weight of what they were dealing with. She shouldn’t have to sit down with her mother and discuss how they were going to make financial cutbacks.
“Mommy?”
She jumped and met her daughter’s eyes through the mirror. “Yeah, hun?”
“Do you know who that man was?”
Bailey nodded. Though she didn’t know his name, she’d recognized him from when she’d dropped off the extra keys for Emma. “He’s Emma’s friend.”
Anya’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Her daughter might be young, but the second she’d learned who Emma Hart was, she couldn’t get enough. The country music star was the biggest thing to come to Copper Creek since Shane opened up his country club.
Bailey let out a sigh. “I think he’s Caleb’s brother. They might even be twins.” She’d only met Caleb once. And from what she remembered, the resemblance was striking.
“He was really nice,” Anya said in her cute little voice.
“Yes, he was,” she agreed through gritted teeth. He was nice, but she couldn’t figure out a reason why. He’d come to her rescue at the club when that other guy had been hitting on her. Then he’d bumped into them at the bookstore. It was almost like he was following her.
That didn’t make sense, though. She was a single mother. Men took one look at Anya, and they ran the other way. Whatever his reasons, they weren’t romantic. The best she could hope for was that he was interested in helping her because of her business transaction with Emma.
She glanced once more in the mirror at her daughter in the back seat. For now, she’d let the magic remain alive. There were four more weeks until Christmas. If she hammered out the numbers, maybe she’d be able to make Christmas work. It would be small, but no one ever said Santa had to go above and beyond.
When they got home, Bailey made her daughter supper—an off-brand box of macaroni and cheese. They shared the budget meal, and then Anya hurried off to her room to play. Bailey returned to her piles of bills and account statements.
She’d hoped that simply walking away for the afternoon would highlight something she’d missed. There had to be a small something—a bill she’d paid twice or an expense she no longer needed.
Unfortunately, there was neither. There was absolutely no wiggle room in her budget, and it didn’t appear it would materialize any time soon.
She settled back in her seat forlornly. More shifts at the club. That was her only option. Or maybe she could call up the stores in town that needed seasonal help. She’d have to find someone to watch Anya in the evenings if she took on any more work than what she already had. But she was desperate, and that was what desperate people did.
Bailey dug her hands into her hair and tugged, but the momentary pain did nothing to help ease the tension building in her head. She had no options before her. Zero miracles to call her own.
It had been a few days since she’d seen Emma’s future brother-in-law at the bookstore. She couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed about that fact. Anya hadn’t asked about him—a fact for which she was grateful. She didn’t need her daughter displaying an interest in someone they didn’t even know.
But when she exited the bathroom at the club after doing a deep clean, she noticed the chairs had been set up in a circle and were halfway filled.
Not only that, but a certain someone was already seated there.
The cowboy’s eyes stared her down, unnerving her. He watched her with clear interest, causing her throat to close up and her hands to shake. Bailey forced her eyes away from him and headed for the supply closet. She needed to run a dust mop over the floor around the Christmas tree.
She strode across the room, head held high, ignoring the cowboy at all costs. Still, while she worked, she could feel his focus on her and only her. Normally, she wouldn’t care. These guys were typically harmless. They had to be or Shane would kick them to the curb. He was one of the best bosses she could remember having.
Unfortunately, this cowboy in particular had other plans lately. He’d stayed late the last time he’d been here. He’d intervened when another man had made her uncomfortable. What would he do today?
Probably nothing , she assured herself. They didn’t even know each other’s names. He wasn’t interested in her. He’d just been a good Samaritan. She was officially reading too much into his actions.
Bailey continued to work, making sure she dusted every surface of the main dance hall area. December was one of the busiest months, what with all the holiday parties that Shane liked to host. The restaurant got busier, too. Bailey had planned on asking about being trained to be a waitress, but Shane hadn’t been in his office when she arrived. Her mind continued racing with all the options she had at her fingertips—or the lack of them. Everyone had probably already hired their holiday help. Chances were slim she’d be able to get more work.
She swiped her rag across the last windowsill and then did her best to glance over at the group without being noticed. The cowboy was still watching her. For heaven’s sake! What was wrong with him? By the time the session was over, she was antsy and irritated. She slipped off to the bathroom to wait for him to put his chair away and leave. While in there, she took note of everything she could tidy up when she grabbed her cleaning cart.
At least ten minutes had passed with her just waiting for the group to disperse. She could hear their voices as they took the donuts that had been brought to the meeting. When the voices dissipated and no sounds echoed down the hallway, Bailey pushed the door open. She turned the corner and let out a yelp before stumbling back against the wall. Her wide eyes stared up at the cowboy, and she immediately scowled at him.
“What is your problem?” she said, moving to get around him. “Did you wait out here that whole time?”
He shifted his position to stop her from leaving and her heart sped up. All she’d have to do was scream. It would be simple enough. He couldn’t hurt her here. She took in a breath to tell him as much when he dug into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Here,” he muttered gruffly.
She eyed the small envelope with narrowed eyes. “What is it?”
He took a deep breath and shrugged. “It’s not much, but it might help.”
Confusion replaced the irritation. “But… what is it?” she repeated.
He let out a flustered sigh and then flipped it open, revealing several bills. “Two hundred dollars.”
Bailey stared at the money, tempted. That would be enough to cover the difference for the car insurance and get them some better groceries. If she was really careful, she might have enough for one Christmas gift for Anya.
Yes, she’d have a paycheck coming in a week and a half, but this would help her get to that point. She gnawed on the inside of her cheek, considering the implications of what this would mean for her—but then a realization hit her hard in the chest. It knocked the wind right out of her as she made eye contact with the individual making the offering.
Bailey shoved his hand away. “No, thank you,” she said measurably.
He actually had the gall to look not only surprised but genuinely upset. The cowboy pushed the envelope toward her. “I know you need it.”
She shook her head, her desperation and fury mixing together in a volatile combination. “You don’t know squat . Who are you to make rash judgments based on one interaction we had at a bookstore?”
“My judgments are warranted,” he growled, attempting to reach for her hand so that he might force her to take the envelope.
She scooted away from him, hiding her hands behind her back. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you couldn’t be more wrong.” It was a bold-faced lie—one that she was certain he could read, and yet she didn’t care. There was something wrong about this whole situation. No one simply gave money away—not unless they were being watched by someone else, or they could brag about it or get recognition for their service.
This cowboy had cornered her in the hallway. No audiences. No receipts for a good deed. He wanted something, and she wasn’t about to give it to him. A scream hovered in the back of her throat as he inched closer, the envelope outstretched.
“Would you just take it?” he said, sharper this time. “If not for you, for your kid.”
Her face flushed hot at the mention of Anya. Was he insinuating that she couldn’t take care of her own child? Her hands balled into fists, and she took a decided step toward him, ready to do whatever it took to prove that she was more than capable.
“Ms. Nichols? Is there a problem?” Shane’s deep, warm voice echoed in the small hallway.
Bailey jumped at his arrival and her eyes darted from him to the cowboy.
“There’s no problem,” the cowboy muttered, shoving the envelope into his coat pocket.
“No problem,” Bailey agreed before slipping past the cowboy and hurrying in the direction of the supply closet. Her heart hammered. Her hands shook. The legs she stood on were about to buckle beneath her, and all because some hotshot cowboy thought he’d manipulate her. She covered her warm face with cool hands the second she was hidden away in the closet. For a good ten minutes, she huffed and puffed, attempting to get her bearings.
Shane was a good boss. He likely could tell she was under duress, and he’d simply intervened to help her. But at the same time, he might think she was going to be more trouble than she was worth. No employer wanted to be on their guard when it came to situations like this one. What if he gave her a warning? She could try to explain, but it would be better for her to tell the cowboy to leave her alone. She didn’t need the drama any more than she needed that money. Bailey was a capable woman who was just going through a rough patch.
By the time she left work, she was fueled by mama-bear energy. She was going to give that cowboy a piece of her mind on his own turf. And if Caleb or Emma were around, they’d back her up. She was sure of it.