Chapter 20 #2
“Yup. She’s my go-to source, though I’ve had to get my info from others about you and what you’re doing here.
” He leaned in as if to relay a secret. “We’re not into highfalutin people around here.
Sometimes people come to the Falls with attitudes like they’re better than us ‘cause they’re from the city and make Ms. Dottie cry.
” His gaze turned from friendly conspiratorial to warning in the blink of an eye. “You gonna do that?”
Who the hell was Ms. Dottie? I didn’t want to give the impression that I didn’t know or was going to make the woman cry. “No, sir.”
“Good.” Wally nodded and lifted the cup to take a sip. “I own the hotel in town. Personally, I think it’s better than the B&B, but that’s an old man’s prerogative. You gonna help them?”
“Possibly.”
“What’s that mean? You either are or you ain’t.” He shrugged, giving me a look that suggested he questioned my intelligence. “Not that hard.”
“Well,” I said as I grabbed the menu and signaled for a cup of coffee to the server, “I’ve got some hoops to jump through before the family will listen to my ideas.
” Reese. Hopefully Reese will listen. I hadn’t really contemplated what would happen if she actually said no.
I was working off the assumption that once I fulfilled her little challenge, we could work together, but what if Reese still didn’t think it was the right move?
Then I was fucked.
The man nodded. He was exactly the type of older guy I’d expect to find in a small-town diner.
Faded jeans, plaid shirt, and a ball cap reading “Falls Motel” on his head that had seen better days.
“You mean Reese? She’s a tough one, but the family will go along with her.
You havin’ trouble winnin’ her over?” He pointed at the menu when the server stopped with my drink.
“Get the club sandwich, potato salad to die for. It’s my favorite, right, Ms. Dottie? ”
An older woman behind the counter, whose gray hair was swept into an impressively high up-do making her appear taller than she was, stopped right in front of us. She glanced away briefly when Wally spoke to her, a blush tinging her cheeks. Ah. The aforementioned Ms. Dottie.
Good Lord, had I found myself in the middle of a small-town soap opera?
“It is, indeed, Wally.”
“Good enough for me.” With a nod, she moved on her way. “Ms. Dottie seems nice.”
“Yup.” Wally stared me down, paying no attention to my attempt to match-make. Who even was I? “So, you need help with Reese.”
Lifting the cup to my lips, I took a sip of the potent brew.
“I didn’t say that.” It hadn’t felt like I had needed any help with her last night.
Every second, every minute together had flowed perfectly, as if we’d known each other for years, not merely days.
But given that I’d woken up alone, maybe I needed more help than I thought.
Then again, sex wasn’t everything, especially between Reese and me.
It was an added complication I hadn’t been expecting.
My priority needed to be getting the Henleys to work with Montgomery, not how good it felt to be with her.
Not how she tempted me or pushed me. I’d never say I needed help with a business deal before, but this wasn’t a normal deal.
Working with the Henleys was as much about working with the town and the people as much as it was with the family and the land. If that help was to come from what I assumed to be the town’s nosy old man, who was I to refuse.
“You didn’t not say it either. Cyrus, her grandpa, was one of my best friends. That girl was the apple of his eye.”
Now I was getting somewhere. I wanted to learn more about the woman who’d captured my attention, and not only because of the way we lit the night and the sheets on fire.
Everything about her intrigued me. Logan had hinted at her relationship with their grandparents, but Reese had been decidedly tight-lipped so far.
I had a feeling it was because they meant so much to her.
It felt similar to my relationship with Grandmother. They weren’t simply the older generation. They were the ones whose opinions mattered, who guided us in business and in life. What was it like for Reese not having that presence any longer?
I wasn’t about to lose Wally and his information. “She mentioned him. Wondered what he’d think of her plans.”
“That man would go to the ends of the Earth for his Reese. Maybe it was because she was the first girl after havin’ three sons and a few grandsons, or maybe—” He smiled and winked my way.
“It’s because of who she’s been since the moment she was born.
Reese is a lot like her Grams, feisty from the word go.
Betty had Cyrus runnin’ in circles when she showed up in town.
Then she never left. Reese may not look like her, but man does she have her spunk. ”
A grin pulled at my mouth. Wally’s description of Reese couldn’t have been more spot on, and she sure as hell had me doing my own laps around her.
“Ah, see you noticed it, too. That girl is something else. He always thought she’d do the opposite of Betty. Take off and see the world for a bit, then come on back here to settle down. That didn’t happen. If you ask me…”
I nodded when he paused, clearly waiting for me to do exactly what he said.
“When her Grams got sick, she decided to stay close to home. Now she wants to do this expansion or whatever she’s callin’ it, so it’s going to take her focus. She’ll get it done though, and her Gramps will be watchin’ down on her with a smile.”
I thought about all she said the other night. About how much she wondered if he’d approve of it all. “Did you ever tell her that?”
“Nah. Not my place. Cy will figure out a way to tell her. He always knew what his family needed. His friends too.” Wally glanced away, lost in his own memories of his friend. With a cough into his hand, he turned back to me. “Like Betty, Reese is stubborn. Don’t let her ruin this for herself.”
Ms. Dottie placed a plate loaded down with a sandwich and potato salad in front of me with an, “Enjoy,” and moved away once again. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I started eating. Apparently, a full night of sex increased my appetite.
“Wally, you were right about lunch.” Not as good as pizza with Reese and Abby last night, but that had more to do with the company than the food.
“I’m right about a lot of things, Clayton.
Reese being one of them. She wants to do everything on her own.
Partially ‘cause she’s worried about you takin’ over.
Partially ‘cause that’s who she is. Like her granddaddy.
Never wanted to accept no help, but was always the first to offer it.
” Bracing his hands on the counter, he got up and stared me straight in the eye.
“You gonna let her do it all on her own?”
“Not if she lets me help.” I didn’t hesitate to answer. I wanted to help Reese and her family. I wanted Montgomery to come roaring back by helping them build their vision.
I wanted Reese.
He slapped me on the back, the force a lot stronger than I expected, before waving his hand toward the door as the bell overhead jingled.
“Well, well, look who’s here.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Make sure Reese knows that. Make sure she knows she can count on you. Make sure she knows this is the right move. Don’t forget that I’m watchin’ you though.
For her Granddaddy, I have to.” Steeliness crept into his voice.
“You do right by her, or we’re gonna have problems.”
As he strode away, I watched Reese and Everleigh cross the room. His words rang through my head. I was beginning to think I wanted Reese to count on me for a hell of a lot more than expanding her business.