Chapter 5
“Happy feet.” Haylee glanced at the nail tech giving her a deluxe pedicure before looking to her sisters, who were in spa seats to her right, enjoying similar treatments. “They always feel so good after a couple of hours here.”
“Same.” Leeann sighed with pleasure as a tech massaged her calves. “It’s wonderful after spending the last week on my feet.”
“The time in the spa chair goes too fast.” Jill’s tech finished giving her an apricot scrub. “We need to do this much more often.”
Haylee looked out the spa’s big picture window and watched pedestrians passing by. She wished she could see Tyson today instead of waiting until Saturday.
“Spill everything about your date at the barn dance.” Leeann drew her attention back. “I’ve been waiting on pins and needles to find out.”
“Ditto.” Jill nodded. “Everything.”
Haylee grinned. “Like I told you, a girl’s gotta have some secrets.”
“Nah.” Leeann shrugged. “You’re too open and honest to hold anything back from us, so get it over with.”
Haylee settled back in her seat and closed her eyes, picturing Tyson and how good he looked last night. “You saw the sexy man for yourselves, so you know things were off to a good start.” She sighed as the tech massaged her feet. “He is such a gentleman and aware of everything, including my feelings about some things. Clint Taylor tried to butt in on a dance, and Tyson got rid of him.”
“Go, Tyson.” Jill leaned forward so she could see Haylee. “Clint is such a loser.” She settled back in her seat. “And do I ever know losers—I just don’t recognize them right away.”
“If you’re talking about Carl, I’m glad you figured it out and got rid of him.” Leeann pushed her dark hair behind her ears. “Same for Clint, Haylee.”
Haylee rested her head on the pillow attached to the spa chair that doubled as a massager. She pressed the button for a back treatment, and the chair started vibrating. “I should have listened to Brady. When I asked him, he told me what he thought about Clint, but I chose not to listen.”
“Sometimes our brothers do know better.” Leeann smiled. “Just don’t tell them I said that.”
“They won’t hear anything from me.” Haylee raised both hands. “They all are so damned protective of us. I think they’ve chased off some good guys over the years, not just the bad.”
Leeann shook her head. “What guy wants to face a five-brother firing squad?”
“You successfully got us sidetracked.” Jill pointed her finger at Haylee. “Tell us more.”
“Tyson is a wonderful dancer and an even better kisser.” Haylee smiled dreamily before coming back to reality. “We ran into three of our brothers and their wives, and I got some teasing over asking Tyson out.”
Jill laughed, and Leeann grinned. “That was pretty cute and awesome.”
“Tyson told them he asked me out for our first date, which was technically true since he took me to the Prickly Pear in Scottsdale after my gallery showing.” Haylee wiggled her toes as she waited for the tech to open the bottle and paint fire-engine red nail polish on them. “It was sweet of him to say so. I was a little embarrassed, but Tyson said he’d planned to ask me out anyway.”
“Anything else happen that we should know of?” Jill sounded hopeful.
“Nothing more than we had a great time.” She watched the tech painting her big toe before looking at her sisters. “The enchiladas were all gone by the time we got to the buffet table after dancing, so he invited me to his place this coming Saturday—I bring the enchiladas, and he’ll get chocolate bunny tracks.”
“Oh man, I am living vicariously through you.” Leeann shook her head, her hair falling forward from behind her ears. “I haven’t found an available man who interests me. The good ones are taken.”
“I’m with you.” Jill sighed. “The sexiest cowboys are in committed relationships or married.”
Leeann groaned. “Maybe we should go outside of King Creek.”
“Carl was an out-of-towner, and look where that got me.” Jill looked disgusted. “And Clint just moved here not that long ago.”
“Because his daddy did.” Haylee grimaced. “If there was ever a daddy’s boy, that’s Clint, and he gets away with everything he can.” Her grimace turned into a scowl. “Three months of my life, wasted.”
“Better than an entire year—plus.” Jill’s scowl was probably worse than Haylee’s. “How could I have not known what a cheater he is?”
“Don’t feel bad, Jill. Some people are good at pretending to be a decent human being when they’re garbage.” Leeann shifted in her seat. “Carl did a great job faking it.”
“Forget the bastard.” Jill waved it all away. “I’m done ever talking about him, so his name is now vanquished from conversation. Deal?”
“I wish I had a margarita, and I’d drink to it.” Haylee smiled. “Let’s not talk about Clint, either. We’ll call them the ‘unmentionables.’”
“Hear, hear.” Jill laughed. “Perfect.”
Grinning, Haylee looked out the picture window. Across the street, she saw one of the unmentionables, and he was looking in her direction. Her smile vanished. Could he see through the spa window?
At least Jill didn’t have to worry about running into Carl in their small town. Clint, on the other hand, she saw often when she was out and about. He worked for his dad in the feed store but was hanging out all over town more than in his daddy’s business.
She cut her attention away from the street, back to her sisters, who were chatting about their brothers and sisters-in-law.
“Everyone’s had babies or pregnant.” Leeann sighed. “I’d never really thought about having children. I assumed I would someday. And now I’m nearing thirty, and I hear my biological clock ticking.”
“I’m right there with you, sister,” Jill said.
“When I was young, I was such a tomboy and didn’t get into Barbies or baby dolls.” Haylee thought about those long-ago days. “Motherhood was something I never considered.” She shrugged. “Now, I don’t know—I guess it will depend on the future.”
“Tyson is definite daddy material.” Leeann cocked her head. “I can just see him rocking a baby to sleep in his big, strong arms.”
Haylee shook her head even as she saw the image so clearly in her. Tyson would look so sexy and masculine with a baby in his arms, and she knew he’d be a great father.
“Too soon to start thinking about things like that.” Haylee saw that the tech was done with her pedicure. She wiggled her toes again. “I now have extremely happy feet.”
And right now, a very happy heart.
“I am considering your proposal, Henry.” Tyson leaned back in his desk chair behind his antique oak desk with one of his two border collies, Freya, curled up next to his chair. “I’d like to get a good deal of information from you before I take that step.”
“I knew you would, my boy.” Goldman sounded pleased. “Our lawyers can get together to review Dutchman’s Gold’s books and hammer out a deal.”
Tyson shook his head. He was seriously considering going into the jerky business, but there were a lot of steps between here and there.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Tyson tapped a pen on the calendar pad on his desktop. “I need to know what I’d be getting into before I make an offer if I do.”
“I want my company in good hands, son,” Henry said. “I’m willing to sell it to you for a price no one else could get. I’ve got all the cash I need—I want to make sure my pride and joy is taken care of.”
Tyson almost said, “It will be,” but cut himself off before he could. He had to make a sound business decision. He didn’t want to end up in debt, biting off more than he could chew. He had a more than successful ranch, solid investments, and money in the bank. He’d done better than even he had dreamed.
Adding a small-batch regional beef jerky business could be an excellent investment. But first, he had to make sure he ticked off all the necessary boxes.
“Give your lawyer my number, and I’ll put her in touch with mine, and we’ll go from there. I want you to feel good about owning my company—which will be yours,” Henry said. “Ask as many questions as you need to.”
Tyson’s chair squeaked as he leaned forward. “I’ll call her in the morning, then we’ll see.”
“Glad we’ll be doing business together, my boy.” Henry chuckled. “Not that I had a doubt.”
Tyson tossed his pen on the desktop and didn’t bother to try to correct Henry’s assumption again. “I’ll call you when I get some numbers back.”
The older man signed off, and Tyson pulled up the contacts app on his phone and found his lawyer’s information. He got lucky, and she could take his call, even though it was late. He went over everything he needed to know about Dutchman’s Gold that he could think of. More questions were bound to pop up.
Zoey, his other border collie, rested her head on her paws and looked at him with soulful eyes from where she lay by the fireplace.
“Not quite dinnertime yet,” he told his girls. “Got one more thing to do.”
Now that his calls to Goldman and his attorney were taken care of, he turned his thoughts to Haylee. She’d been so damned beautiful Saturday night. Hell, she was always gorgeous, but something about her that evening set his world on fire.
He wanted her so badly that his jaw ached from clenching his teeth hard enough to break a tooth. Her body would be supple and soft beneath his, but she would be wild in his arms. He didn’t want to tame her, but he did want her to know that one day, she would be his. Yeah, he’d made up his mind—Haylee was the woman for him, and he wouldn’t let her go. He’d have to be careful he didn’t go “caveman” on her, or that would push her away.
Last night, he hadn’t called her—he didn’t want to call too often, just enough for her to know how interested he was in her.
But one night without talking with her was enough. He located her number, which he considered putting on speed dial. They’d barely started dating, and he wanted to put her as number one on the list. Damn, but he had it bad.
Like he told her—he knew something special when he saw it.
He pressed her number, put the phone on speaker, and listened to the ringtone.
“Hi, Tyson.” The way she said his name made him want her all the more. She sounded breathless.
He leaned back in his office chair. “Are you in the middle of something, hon?”
“Just got home from meeting with a client in Phoenix.” She sounded happy to hear from him. “I’m yours now.”
He imagined the pretty flush in her cheeks as she added in a hurry, “I mean—well, you know what I mean.”
“Do I?” The words came out in a low rumble as he teased her. “I’ll take you any day.”
“I’m looking forward to Saturday.” She had clearly changed the subject to avoid more embarrassment. “I bought all the ingredients for the enchiladas.”
“I can’t wait for them.” He smiled to himself. Her being close again was what he couldn’t wait for, but he’d take the meal along with her. “I’ll have the ice cream waiting.”
“You spoke the magic words.” She gave a pleased sigh.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” And he would—anything to please his woman.
There he went again—was he going caveman? How he felt about Haylee was worse than Goldman being so sure Tyson would buy his company. Not that he could compare the two.
But he was positive about Haylee—was he setting himself up for disappointment?
No, not at all.
He leaned back in his chair and put his boots on his desk. “How was your day?”
“Not bad.” She groaned. “I did a lunchtime event for a women’s organization, and my feet are aching. I could use another foot massage.”
“I’d be happy to oblige.” Tyson smiled. “Would you like me to come over?”
“That would be wooooonderful.” She laughed. “But I’m sure you’ve had a long day, too. I think I’ll go to bed early—tomorrow, I have another busy day on my calendar.” She paused only long enough to take a breath. “How about you? Anything interesting come up?”
“Not much different than a normal day,” he said. “Had to free a steer from barbed wire in the north pasture, then repair the fence line and the usual ranch duties and chores. Nothing out of the norm.”
“Do you have dogs?” she asked. “Any other pets?”
“Two border collies, Zoey and Freya.” He glanced down. “Freya’s asleep under my desk, and Zoey is sacked out in front of the fireplace. I don’t have a fire here, but it’s her favorite spot.”
“Can’t wait to meet them.” She had a smile in her voice. “I adore dogs. One of these days, when I have a home of my own, I want to adopt one from a shelter.”
“How long have you lived with your sisters?”
“Gosh, about five months now,” Haylee said. “When Jill lost her job, she needed a place to stay between career jumps. Leeann’s roommate moved out, so she had to find a new one or somewhere else to live, and I was tired of living in a one-bedroom apartment. We found this home, which is perfect for the three of us. The elderly woman who rented the house to us is a family friend and gave us a reasonable rate, so that’s a plus.”
They talked a little longer before he heard Haylee yawn. “I’m so sorry.” She laughed. “That came out of nowhere.”
“I’ll let you get your dinner and head to bed.” He looked at Zoey, who had popped to her feet at the word “dinner,” and wiggled her butt. “My girls need to be fed, and I’m beat.”
“Thanks for calling.” She spoke softly. “Goodnight, Tyson.”
“Sweet dreams, Haylee.” He pocketed his phone and thought about this coming Saturday.
It couldn’t get here fast enough.