10. Fall River Royalty
Hailey exited the clinic between the twin towers of Charlie and Noah. On a brand-new lead attached to a brand-new harness Noah had bought inside, Lex Luthor fell in beside his new owner.
“Someone trained this dog to heel,” said dog’s new owner declared.
“And maybe they were none too gentle about it,” Charlie threw in. “Look how he’s watching your every move, like he’s afraid he’ll do something wrong and get in trouble for it.”
Noah stopped mid-stride to pat the dog’s head. “Let’s get something straight, dude,” he said to the animal. “Adjusting to each other will take time, but I will not hit, kick, or otherwise whale on you.”
Lex Luthor sported a pathetic look that broadcast he desperately wanted to believe. He gave a tentative wag of his tail, and Noah scratched the pup’s chin. “Good talk.”
Miniature bubbles of joy rose and popped inside Hailey, releasing a giddiness she had difficulty restraining. Lex Luthor had hit the jackpot. He had found a forever home with a marshmallow man who would take good care of him.
They ambled toward the Miners Tavern, and she was lost in thoughts of needling Noah about his “hole-in-the-wall” workplace when her phone pinged with a text from Kaylee, wanting to know if the mega storm had affected her in Montrose. How much to tell her sister?
Noah’s green-fire gaze dipped from her face to her phone. “Everything all right? You look … worried.”
She barked out a mirthless laugh. “I’m debating what to tell my overprotective big sister. If she learns the truth—that I’m stranded because my broken-down car is sitting at the top of a mountain covered in a gazillion feet of snow—she’ll freak out and send in the Mounties.”
“Uh, they’re in Canada,” Charlie offered.
Hailey darted him a look. “Exactly. Kaylee spreads her net far and wide.”
Charlie’s hazel eyes popped. “Kaylee Bailey? Did your parents do that on purpose?”
Noah sent his brother a warning frown.
She placed her hand on Noah’s forearm and quickly pulled it away before it got too comfortable there. “It’s okay,” she reassured him. To Charlie, she said, “Our father didn’t take parenting seriously, which is one of the reasons Kaylee is a mama bear. Now I have to craft an answer that walks a fine line between lying and getting her so agitated she commandeers a tow truck.”
Noah’s brows cinched so tight they nearly touched. “You didn’t tell her?”
Charlie raised his hands in surrender. “Back off already, dude. We’ve been kinda busy.”
Hailey looked from one brother to the other. “Tell me what?”
Charlie grinned. “Your 4Runner is in the shop as we speak. Micky says it’s only the battery, and he’s ordered one from Durango. It might not be here until tomorrow, but I checked, and you’re welcome to stay at the Moose until your car’s fixed and the roads are passable.”
“When … How … Who …” she spluttered.
“I think you’re missing what and where,” Noah deadpanned.
“How did my car wind up at Micky’s?”
Charlie shrugged. “Micky drove up to Coal Bank late yesterday and towed it to his place.”
She stared at Noah. “What about your truck?”
“It’s at Micky’s too. He’s going to throw on a new pair of tires so it’s drivable until I can get it into a body shop.”
Realization struck her like a bowling ball mowing down pins. “Oh my God! I completely forgot to call my insurance company.”
“For what? They won’t cover your battery.” Charlie leaned down to pet Lex Luthor, but the dog shrank from his touch and began shivering. Not a beat passed, and Noah crouched beside the dog, stroking his head and soothing him with quiet words Hailey couldn’t hear. The dog stopped shivering and seemed to stand a little taller.
“For Noah’s truck! I’m the reason—”
“My insurance is covering it,” Noah said evenly. He swiveled his head and looked up at her. “I told them it was a combination of the crappy conditions and some semi that barreled past me so close I couldn’t get his license plate.”
“But … but … that’s not what happened,” she protested. No, this wasn’t right. “I have to at least pay for your new tires … and a new bumper … and ...”
“And nothing.” Noah stood. “You saved my dog during that storm, so we’re calling it even.”
My dog. Hailey’s heartstrings stretched a little farther.
Noah tilted his head and peered at her. A corner of his mouth twitched inside his neatly trimmed beard. Huh. He’d cleaned up since yesterday, and damn, it was a good look on him. But so was the deliciously rumpled look. “Relax, Hailey Bailey. It’s all taken care of.”
Relax.That one little word transported her back to him spooning her in the cold truck. He’d told her to relax then, and she’d clung to his steadying presence. She’d also been so focused on the feel of his body snuggled against hers she had completely forgotten about Lex Luthor until the man had made sure the dog was all right. Did that make her a bad person? Probably. But would anyone blame her? She’d been cuddled up with a hunk who’d caused heat to flood her body … like he was doing right now.
She excused herself. “I’m, um, just gonna text my sister back.” If I can string a coherent message together.
Noah borrowed Charlie’s truck and drove off with Lex Luthor, so Charlie walked Hailey to the back entrance of the Miners Tavern. They stepped inside a compact hallway with a half-dozen doorways. Past a closed door to her left, Hailey caught a glimpse of a sparkling stainless-steel kitchen where several people bustled around. One of those people stopped and headed toward them with a broad grin.
“Well, hi, hon. Didn’t think I’d see you again so soon, but I’m glad I am.” Today Dixie wore an apron over too-tight blue jeans and a silk top in a kelly green so violent it assaulted the senses.
Klieg lights fired up at once in Hailey’s brain. Noah Hunnicutt, the owner, was also Dixie’s boss. Therefore, he was also the man who’d sent over dinner last night.
Charlie snorted. “I guess you two have met.”
“Mm-hmm. I delivered one of your mama’s chicken pot pies to this little china doll last night. How was it?”
“Fantastic.” China doll?
Charlie’s eyebrow dipped. “She’s not Chinese.” He looked at Hailey, and that same eyebrow flew to his messy blond hair. “Are you?”
“I never said she was,” Dixie retorted. “But she reminds me of one of them porcelain dolls I had as a little girl. It wore these black silk pajamas and—”
Charlie spun her in place. “Noah needs you to get this place ready for the lunch crowd. Get a move on, now.”
Hailey shook her whirling head. These people were nuts … but in a fun way. Possibly.
“No one bosses me around.” Dixie glanced over her shoulder at Hailey and winked conspiratorially. “Unless we’re in the bedroom and he’s handsome.”
A stooped, scrawny man with more creases on his face than gray hair on his chin stepped from the shadows. Dixie let out a squeal. “Like this one right here!” She pulled him against her pillowy torso and kissed his temple, leaving a smudge of neon pink. “This here’s my man, Dewey. Ain’t he the cutest thing?”
Dewey wore metal-framed glasses and either a grimace or a smile, Hailey couldn’t tell. He extended a bony hand and, in a voice as scratchy as tumbleweeds, rasped, “Nice to meetcha, girlie.”
Hailey glanced at Charlie. He jerked his head toward the couple while obviously fighting a smirk. “This here’s Dixie and Dewey,” he repeated in an unidentifiable twang. “They run the place, and they do an awesome job making Noah think he does.”
“And just where is the boss?” Dixie demanded. “We’re shorthanded, and I know we’re gonna get a crowd ready to tie one on, seeing’s how it’s Saint Patty’s and there’s nothing much else to do in town right now. And I am not tending to those idiots by myself.” She released Dewey, and he faded into the background like a highway’s white lines in a blizzard.
Charlie chuckled. “Noah went to the feed store. He has a new dog.”
“He what? Don’t tell me he took on that mutt at Doc Embry’s. I thought it was hers.” She pointed a fire-red fingernail at Hailey.
Hello, right here.
Charlie nodded. “Noah got himself a dog. Thanks to girlie here.”
Dixie clapped her hands. “Oh, my lord! It’s about time he got himself something to love that won’t give him grief like … Well, never you mind.” She threw an arm around Hailey’s shoulders. “Are you hungry, child?” She flapped her hand at Charlie. “I won’t even ask this one. He’s always hungry.”
Despite the dizzying exchange, a warm, cozy sensation wrapped itself around Hailey. “I am, in fact, hungry.”
“Well, then you just sit yourselves down and Dewey will give you a taste of the Irish stew special he’s been working on since last night. What y’all want to drink? Bourbon? Tequila? Beer?”
At ten in the morning? “Just water for me,” Hailey demurred. Dixie gawped at her as if she’d grown a second head, so Hailey changed her order. “How about a Diet Coke instead?”
“Want bourbon in that?” When Hailey shook her head, Dixie kept going. “Whiskey? Rum? Vodka?”
Vodka and Diet Coke? “No, plain is fine.”
“You must not be Irish.” Dixie snorted and looked at Charlie. “Guinness, sugar?”
“Yes, gorgeous. I’m not working today.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you driving a nail through your thumb.” She parked a hand on her hip. “That’s one good thing about a storm like the one we just had. Gives folks a chance to take time off. Although it will bring every other misfit to this bar.”
“Yep, not just the regular misfits,” Charlie agreed.
She walked away, and he steered Hailey by the elbow into the main part of the restaurant, choosing a table at the back.
Hailey stifled a chuckle as she shucked her coat and sat. “Has she worked here long?”
“Ever since Noah opened. She mothers Noah worse than our mother, and I doubt he’ll ever get rid of her. Not that he wants to.”
“So tell me about the Hunnicutt brothers. What’s the birth order?”
“Reece is the oldest, I’m the youngest, and Noah is the middle child … which should explain a lot.”
Hailey cupped her chin in her palm. “How so?”
“Ever heard of middle child syndrome? He’s pretty sure he was the most unloved of the three of us. Not that any of us were unloved.”
“Yeah, somehow ‘unloved’ isn’t the word that comes to mind when I see you three. I thought Doc Embry’s lab tech might jump you.”
“Lauren? She’s the receptionist. And nah, she just likes to flirt. Sometimes I flirt back, but not when the doc’s there.”
Hailey straightened. “Oh. So you and Doc Embry? It seemed like you two were exchanging some secret signals.”
He shook his head. “No, Neve’s my plus-one.”
Hailey’s lips tipped up in amusement. “Meaning?”
“If she needs a date, I’m there. If I need a date … well, you get the idea. We help each other out.”
“You ‘help each other out,’ like in a platonic way?”
“Mmm, depends on your definition of platonic. We have fun together. I don’t see us picking out china patterns together in this lifetime, if that’s where you’re going. Besides, I’m not someone who kisses and tells.” His green-gray eyes twinkled with mischief.
Hailey smirked, idly wondering how many other women were willing to “help him out.” With his charm and looks, the line would probably snake around several Fall River blocks. Hailey had nothing against golden retrievers, but she preferred a less bouncy breed—like Irish wolfhounds or Siberian huskies.
Dixie materialized, slid their drinks on the scarred wooden tabletop, and sashayed away. For a robust woman, she was surprisingly stealthy.
Charlie watched her go. “That woman reminds me of a cat, the way she slips in and out without warning. It explains why she knows everything that goes on in this town.” He clinked Hailey’s glass. “Welcome to Mayberry in the mountains, where everybody knows your name … and your business.”
“Happy to be here.” And, oddly, she meant it. The vibe this Monday was so chill compared to her usual Mondays. “Noah said he worked at a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ bar—not that he owned it or that it was this nice.”
“He’s an under-the-radar dude. Life’s easier if folks think he just works here.”
“Makes sense.” Memories bubbled up. How quickly people’s attitudes toward her had changed when they’d found out she was a professional athlete. Suddenly, they wanted to be her BFF after snubbing her moments before. Yeah, she got it.
Dewey appeared with two steaming bowls which he deposited in front of them. “Irish stew.” He stood back, hands on hips.
The aroma wafting up from the savory beef chunks swimming in potatoes, onions, and carrots made Hailey’s stomach rumble with appreciation. “This smells amazing.” She nibbled at a piece of meat and moaned. “Oh. My. God. It tastes even more amazing than it smells.”
“Yeah!” Dewey executed a dance move that could’ve possibly broken his hips.
Charlie laughed. “I hope you made enough, Dewey, because this is what everyone’s ordering tonight, I guarantee.”
Dixie came up behind Dewey. “Problem’s not going to be whether he has enough to feed hungry folks. It’s whether we have enough hands to serve them all. I’ve had four calls from waitstaff who are stranded on the wrong side of the mountain. Land, I hate to tell the boss when he gets here.”
“Look at it this way,” Charlie offered. “If they’re stuck, so are the customers.”
“We’ve got plenty of folks in town looking to blow off a little steam who will gladly walk here.” She waddled away, her voice trailing behind. “I just hope they don’t all freeze to death when they walk home.”
A chair scraped beside Hailey. “Hey.” Noah plunked down in the seat and pushed truck keys toward Charlie. “Thanks for letting me use your truck.” He wore a gray long-sleeved waffle-weave T-shirt under a black-and-gray flannel shirt that brought out the deep green of his eyes.
Charlie greeted his brother with a grunt as he attacked his stew.
“Where’s Lex Luthor?” Hailey asked Noah.
“I put him upstairs. I have an apartment up there. Figured he might as well get used to the place, though I’m not sure having him here tonight is such a great idea.”
“Why not?”
“I have a feeling the place will be rocking.”
Dixie rushed over with a bowl of steaming stew for Noah. “If people can get here. Here you go, boss.”
Noah gave her a sidelong glance. “Do you hear everything I say?”
“Mostly. Now when can I meet your dog?”
Noah shook his head. “Maybe next time I go upstairs. He’s adjusting to lots of change. I’m not sure how he’ll react to it all.”
She pursed her lips. “Do you think him being here is a health violation?”
Unable to contain her eagerness to help, Hailey piped up. “If the access to your apartment doesn’t go through food prep areas and you keep him separated from your employees, you should be fine …” She trailed off, suddenly self-conscious as the weight of six eyes settled on her. “I mean, that sounds reasonable, don’t you think?”
“It would if we weren’t dealing with one of those bloodsucking inspectors,” Noah scoffed.
“B-bloodsucking?” Hailey stammered.
“Yeah. They suck the life right out of bar owners because they’ve got a little bit of power that they love to smash you over the head with. They’re always looking for something, and they have no qualms about inventing shit that isn’t there. They despise bar owners as much as we hate them. My biggest concern tonight, though, is people cutting loose and getting raucous. Not a great environment for a dog who’s afraid of his own shadow.”
Hailey fought to quell the ball of emotions in her stomach as the conversation continued around her.
“Your apartment is soundproof,” Dixie said, “and we can all take turns checking on him. If we accidentally touch him, we’ll take extra care washing after.”
Noah glanced up at her. “There’s no ‘we’ in this scenario. He doesn’t like men.”
Hailey recovered her wits and elbowed him. “Except for you.” He seemed to fight a smile, as though the comment made him proud, and her stomach relaxed a few of it kinks.
Dixie pointed between herself and Hailey. “I’m not a man, and neither is Hailey Bailey.”
“I’m well aware of that, but what are you getting at?”
“She and I will be the only ones, besides you, who check on him until you say otherwise, boss.” She gave Hailey a cheeky smile. “You don’t mind, do you, Hailey?”
“Um …” Hailey whipped her head between Noah and Dixie. Did Noah want her around through the evening’s festivities? And did he want her in his private space? If he knew what she did for a living, probably not. In fact, he probably wouldn’t want her in his sight. But who said he had to find out? “I don’t mind, but I’m not sure how long I’ll be here.”
“It’s settled, then.” Dixie turned on her heel and hurried into the back.
What’s settled?
Noah seemed oblivious to Dixie’s assumption as he dipped a spoon in the stew and blew on it. “How was the Loose Moose?”
“Lovely. With a really comfy bed.” She turned to Charlie. “You’ve done a nice job updating it.”
Charlie polished off his coffee-colored stout. His bowl was already empty. “Thanks. It’s been a fun project.”
She looked between the brothers. “How did the place get its name?”
Charlie stood. “All, yours, bro.” He patted Noah’s shoulder and loped toward the back.
Noah finished off a bite. “The owners added egress windows to the basement years ago because they were popping out kids and needed more room. One day they heard a loud crash and ran downstairs. Somehow, a moose yearling had fallen into the window well, breaking out the glass and landing inside the basement.”
Hailey’s mouth swung open. “What happened?”
“Wildlife officers tried to coax it out, but it turns out that holding kibble and saying, ‘Here boy,’ isn’t a good approach for a panicky moose.” His chest rumbled with a chuckle.
“Gee, imagine that,” she deadpanned.
“They eventually tranquilized it and hauled it up the stairs. They had to take out railings and doorjambs to get it out. I guess it was quite a mess. Charlie says there’s a framed newspaper article that usually hangs on one of the living room walls, but the owners stashed it during the rehab.”
“Did Charlie get to restore it?”
“No. It happened twenty-some years ago, so he would’ve been about six years old. But if he’d been old enough, he definitely would’ve landed the job.”
“Small-town favoritism?”
“No, he’s that good. Don’t let Mr. Casual fool you. He’s got a heavy dose of OCD and goes way beyond specs. He has a waiting list of clients from all over the Western Slope, including some Aspenites trying to hire him.”
“Not the guy who owns Dell’s, though, right?”
Noah’s brows knotted in puzzlement. “Right, but how did you know about Dell’s?”
Oops! Hailey let out a high-pitched noise meant to be a laugh. “It’s amazing how much a girl can pick up in this town in such a short time.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t take long to get the lowdown on everyone. I gather you know he and I aren’t exactly friendly rivals.”
She busied her mouth sipping her soda. “So I’ve heard.”
“If he weren’t such an arrogant dumbass, he wouldhave hired Charlie. Dell’s has been under construction for six months, but he can’t get shit to pass because his contractor doesn’t understand the town’s codes.”
“Is his contractor a dumbass too, or is he not a real contractor?”
“I think he’s legit, but we’re a historic district, and we have strict construction codes. Charlie’s on the building committee, and he helps shape those codes. Why not hire the guy who knows that shit inside and out? Instead, the guy’s out the wazoo on the remod and is stuck serving out of his outdated kitchen.” Noah flashed a devilish smile. “Not that I’m complaining.”
She watched as he dug into his stew with gusto and took a few more bites of her own meal. “What’s up with Bowen Street anyway?”
He raised a questioning gaze to hers. “It’s the main street through town.” The statement came out as a question; the only bit he left out was “duh.”
“I knew that. But Dixie alluded to something else, like the street is significant, and I should know why.” Hailey pushed her bowl to the side.
“Oh. She probably meant it’s our mother’s maiden name.” He placed his empty bowl to the center of the table, rolled up the sleeves of his flannel shirt, and shoved the waffle-weave up his forearms. Her mind took a detour down Weird Alley to ponder whether Noah sported any tattoos like those she’d noticed on Charlie.
She gave herself a mental shake. “You mean, like your mother coincidentally has the same last name or …”
“The ‘or’ part. Our mother—our father too—is descended from the original founders of Fall River.”
Hailey gave his bicep a playful bat. “You’re Fall River royalty.”
“What?” He shook his head. “No such thing.”
Dixie leaned in, and Hailey nearly vaulted from her seat like a jack-in-the-box whose lid had sprung loose. The woman needed a bell or some jangly jewelry as an early warning system!
“Don’t let him fool you, honey,” she purred as she lifted their bowls. “These boys are the princes of this town.” She turned toward Hailey and gave her a wink. “And they are in desperate need of princesses.”