Chapter 7
Haylee climbed out of her truck and slammed the door shut before walking to the sidewalk in front of Maisey’s Treasures, the town’s only consignment shop. Haylee would be meeting in a little while with Helen Lang for a few last-minute changes she wanted to make for tomorrow’s event. Haylee sighed. Helen was prone to doing things on the fly, which made things challenging.
Tacos sounded good for lunch, so she headed toward the little hole-in-the-wall Mexican eatery on the other side of the hardware store.
“Haylee.” A man’s voice from behind her made her groan. She turned to face Clint Taylor, who jogged across the street toward her.
She pasted on a smile as he reached her. “Hi, Clint.”
He grinned at her as if they’d never stopped dating. “Hi, darlin’.”
She worked to keep her tone friendly but firm. “We’re not dating anymore, Clint, so drop the darlin’.”
“About that.” He shoved his hands in his front pockets. “I think we should start seeing each other again.”
Haylee wanted to roll her eyes but kept them focused on Clint. “We agreed to be friends, and I want to leave it at that.”
He shook his head. “I never agreed to that.”
She put her hands on her hips, exasperated. “Clint, that’s what I want, so let’s not do this.”
“Give me another chance.” Now, he reverted to begging. “We were good together.”
She held back a sigh, struggling not to recite a litany of reasons why they were not good together. “I’m seeing someone else.”
His expression turned dark. “It’s that asshole, Tyson Donovan. You were with him at the barn dance.”
She clenched her teeth before speaking. “He’s a good guy.” She relaxed her jaw, frustrated with herself for feeling like she had to defend Tyson. “I’ve got to go, Clint.”
He scowled. “Haylee?—”
“I’ve got to go.” She cut him off and turned her back on him. She kept her pace normal even though she wanted to rush away from him.
She cast a look over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t following her. Thankfully, he was staring toward the Arizona Savings Bank instead, an angry look on his ordinarily attractive features. The expression made him look ugly, and she wondered what she’d ever seen in him.
She faced forward, relieved his attention wasn’t on her anymore. When she reached Ricardo’s, she felt calmer and back to her usual good spirits.
A tall form ahead caught her attention, and she smiled and called, “Tyson.”
He rotated away from the window he’d been looking in, and his lips curved into a sexy grin. He started toward her, and they met in front of Ricardo’s.
“Fancy meeting you here, hon.” He rested his palm on her upper arm. “How do you feel about public displays of affection?”
Haylee laughed. “A kiss wouldn’t hurt a thing.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Tyson stepped in and cupped the back of her head before giving her a sweet kiss that sent tingles throughout her body. He raised his head, his gaze lingering on her, and she couldn’t take her eyes from his. “Have you had lunch?”
She managed to pull herself together and tipped her head in the direction of the small Mexican restaurant. “I’m hungry for tacos.”
“That makes two of us.” He settled his fingertips at the small of her back, heat traveling from his fingers and through her shirt as they walked to Ricardo’s. Tyson held the door open for her, and they moved to the counter.
Ricardo peered out of the back room. “Ah, two of my favorite people.”
“I’m ready for some of the best food in the southwest.” Haylee leaned against the counter.
The older man came toward them. He was short, about the same as her five-five, with a thick mustache and stout figure. “You have come to the right place, Se?orita Haylee.” He turned his attention to Tyson. “Buenas días, Se?or Tyson.”
Tyson gave the man a nod. “Good to see you, Ricardo.”
The owner looked at Haylee. “Your usual two tacos? Shredded beef?”
She smiled. “Yes, and a medium drink.”
The man addressed her companion. “And you?”
“The same,” Tyson said. “But make it three and a large drink.”
Ricardo set two empty paper cups on the counter for them to fill at the soda dispenser.
Haylee pulled her wallet from her purse, but Tyson raised his hand. “I’m paying.”
Her body tensed. “I can pay my share.”
“I know you can.” Tyson spoke quietly and firmly. “But I was raised right by my mama.” He held her gaze. “Please.”
Haylee forced herself to relax. She’d been raised in a family of cowboys who were just as stubborn about the man always paying, and she knew she’d be wasting her breath. So instead of arguing, she said, “Thank you, Tyson.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He paid, then nodded toward the small metal tables with plastic chairs after Ricardo said he’d bring out the food when it was ready.
The door opened, bringing with it a cool October breeze, and the man turned his attention to the next customers.
After filling their cups with ice and drinks, Haylee sat, and Tyson seated himself across the table from her. She cocked her head. “What brings you into town?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I need to go to the bank to make a deposit. After that, I’ve got to get a sack of horse feed and place an order to be delivered.”
“I’m meeting a client after lunch.” She shook her head. “Helen is notorious for last-minute changes, and tomorrow’s event is no different.”
Ricardo delivered their tacos, then returned to the front counter to take the next person’s order.
Tyson picked up a taco. “I’d like to go to one of your events to check it out and give you a hand.”
He crunched a large bite, and she raised an eyebrow. “You’d be bored silly.”
Tyson chewed, swallowed, and washed it down with a drink of soda. “Try me.”
She laughed. “All right. I can always use an extra pair of hands. You’ll be sorry you made the offer—I’ll run you ragged.”
He flashed her a grin. “I can use the exercise.”
She let her gaze drift over the expanse of his chest, shoulders, and biceps. “I’d say you get plenty.”
He looked amused. “You’re making me feel like a sex object looking at me like that.”
She snorted with laughter. “I bet all women give you the once or twice over.”
He shook his head. “I’m not the jealous type, but I’d rather not think about other men checking you out.”
“I don’t mind if you do.” She gave him a flirtatious smile. “Anytime.”
He laughed. “You might regret that offer.”
They finished their meals, the banter flirtatious and fun.
He braced his arms on the tabletop. “How would you like to go to Apple Amy’s for their fall festival this Saturday? We can get lost in the corn maze and pick out a pumpkin when we find our way out.”
“I’ve never tried their maze.” Haylee smiled. “I’ve always been afraid I’d get lost and have to be rescued.”
“I’ve got a good sense of direction.” He gave her a sexy grin. “But if we can’t figure a way out, at least we’ll be together.”
“True.” She laughed at the thought of it. “I think they have hayrides and other fun things, too.” She considered her weekend. “I’ve got an event on Saturday, but I’m free Sunday.”
He put his hand over hers, and she loved how he enveloped her, not just his hand on hers but his very presence. “How about I pick you up at 2:30?”
“That’ll work.” She stood with him, and he gathered their trash. “I’ll have time to do my laundry and a few chores beforehand.”
They walked to the entrance, and Tyson tossed the trash in the bin. When they stood on the sidewalk, he smiled down at her. “What time and where is the event tomorrow?”
She eyed him. “You’re serious?”
“Yep.” He nodded.
“All right.” She gave him the relevant information. “I’ll be there early to unload and set up. If you can make it, I’ll start at four.” *She glanced at her phone. “I’ve got to run, or I’m going to be late for my meeting with Helen.”
“Then I won’t hold you any longer.” He brushed his lips over hers in a soft caress before he raised his head and looked into her eyes. “I’ll see you then.”
Haylee smiled then reluctantly parted from him before she took off down the sidewalk to Helen’s office at her insurance agency. She couldn’t help herself—she glanced over her shoulder, saw him watching her, and gave him a little wave. She had to fight to keep from looking back yet again.
Yeah, she had it so very bad.
Tyson couldn’t get enough of looking at Haylee—she had the cutest ass and a great figure. He loved watching her as she walked away from him. Damn, but he loved everything about her.
More than anything, he loved the person she was within. She was lovely inside and out.
When she had disappeared into the insurance agency, he jogged across the street to Arizona Savings Bank. He stopped in front of the revolving door. A man came out and bumped into him hard enough to make him take a step back.
Tyson narrowed his gaze and looked into the glaring face of Clint Taylor. “Stay the fuck out of my way,” Clint said in a hard voice before he strode away.
What the hell? Tyson shook off the encounter and headed through the revolving door and into the bank.
The tellers and managers were the same women who had worked there when he was in middle school. They’d all been in their early twenties at the time, and he could swear the six of them hadn’t aged a day since then. They’d made it through three or four bank changes as they were sold and bought out and survived it all.
“Hey, Michelle.” Tyson reached the first available teller. “How are the grandkids?”
“Precious as ever.” Michelle gave him a mischievous smile. “I can spoil them, send them home, and let them terrorize their parents.”
Tyson grinned as she took his deposit, which was from his most recent sale to an elderly buyer who was old-school and insisted on paying with a handwritten check. He trusted the man, and his checks always cleared, so Tyson didn’t have a problem with it.
They chatted a bit as he made the deposit. “Would you like me to write the amount in your checking account on your deposit slip?” Michelle asked.
“No, I’ve got it.” He knew every dollar he made and spent. And soon, he might be making a hell of a big purchase if he did buy out Goldman.
He mentally shook his head at the thought of Haylee teasing him about becoming a jerky tycoon.
Michelle smiled. “See you next time.”
“You bet.” Tyson gave her a nod before he strode into the revolving door, which spit him out onto the sidewalk.
It reminded him of his literal run-in with Clint Taylor. He had a feeling the man had purposely slammed into him. Then he remembered that Taylor had tried to cut in with Haylee at the barn dance, and Tyson had all but told him Haylee was his for the night. She had dated Taylor and broke up with him in the past, but it was clear the man wanted her back.
Well, he sure as hell wasn’t getting her. She belonged to Tyson now, and he was never letting her go.
He let out a harsh breath. Haylee wouldn’t take too kindly to Tyson’s thoughts about her, the caveman part of him forcing itself through. He’d keep those thoughts to himself.
As he headed back to his truck, his cell rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the screen. Goldman.
He brought the phone to his ear. “Donovan here.”
“Tyson, my boy.” Goldman sounded like his usual cheerful, enthusiastic self. “The lawyers have looked the books over frontward and backward, and they’ll have a report to you by the end of the week.”
“Looking forward to taking a look at them.” Tyson gripped the phone as he reached the parking lot where he’d left his truck. He beeped the doors open with the remote. “I’ll call you when I’ve had a chance to go through it.”
He ended the call with Goldman and climbed into his truck. He started the vehicle, his mind full between his ranch, the potential purchase of the jerky company—and Haylee most of all.
Tyson was glad to have the time with her tomorrow, even though he knew she’d be busy as hell. sShe was never far from his thoughts, and he looked forward to every minute with her.
Ah, hell. He needed to get his head back on straight sooner rather than later.