Closing the distance between them, he placed his hands on her small shoulders and gave her his most reassuring smile. “Then let’s go get your stuffnow, this weekend, while the offices are closed and before you spring the plan. You can leave your key behind and give your landlord notice after you’ve cleared out. That way Meissner won’t know a thing, including whereyou’ve gone—unless Keating finds out and tips him off. Even if he does come up here looking for you, he’ll have three pissed-offbrothers waiting for him, not to mention the rest of this town ready to tangle. We look after our own, sweetheart, and you’re one of our own.”
Her eyes turned glossy, and a big fat tear spilled down her cheek, shredding him inside. She swiped it away. “What do I do with my stuff? Where am I supposed to live?”
“You have lots of choices. You can stay with me. If you don’t want to stay with me, you could stay at Reece’s—his place is huge, and he has plenty of storage space. In fact, he rattles around in there. Plus, he’s gone a lot of the time. There’s also my parents’ place, which is sitting empty right now.”
“I can’t impose.”
“You’re not. Come on. You helped me. Let me help you, surfer girl.”
She nodded. “I’ll think about it?”
“Okay, you think about it. In the meantime, what do you want to do for our date?”
A smile broke out on her face, and he could have sworn the sun pierced the clouds. “I want to go dancing.”
“Where?” he guffawed.
“I don’t know. I just spewed the first thing that came to mind. Whenever I go to Denver, I like to hit the clubs and get my booty shaking to some good old eighties disco. It’s been a while.”
“I’ll take you to Denver sometime and get your booty shaking—that’s something I’d like to see.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Besides, I’d like you to meet my cousin and his wife. You’d really like Serena. You two are birds of a feather.”
In that moment, he was struck by how much he wanted Wyatt and Serena to meet Hailey. It also struck him that in the blink of an eye, he’d become one half of a couple, and while the notion should have terrified him, it warmed him instead. Deep down, he’d been looking for someone like Hailey. He hadn’t known she existed until now, and he’d never dared to hope.
Chapter 31
When Shiitakes Hit the Fan
Hailey hung up, leanedback in her chair, and puffed out a lung-emptying breath. She looked around the Loose Moose’s cozy interior, telling herself she was safe. Would she be after dropping her bombshell, though?
Her phone buzzed with a text from Noah.Everything go all right with your call?
Hailey:Haha!Do you have ESP? I just hung up, and I’m feeling a little shaky.
Noah:I got you. Want me to stop by?
Hailey:Yes, please. How soon can you be here?
Noah:I’m here now, surfer girl.
A light rap sounded, and Hailey’s heart fluttered as she hightailed it for the front door. When she flung it open, the organ somersaulted in her chest at the sight of Noah on the front stoop, all hunky in his mountain-man flannel and puffy vest. He canted his head, a tentative smile curving his generous mouth.
She flew into his arms and clung to him, closing her eyes as she breathed him in. “How long have you been standing here?”
“About ten minutes. I wanted to be here in case you needed me.”
Oh my God! This man.
His warm chuckle ruffled her hair. “Does this mean that was a good call on my part?”
“The best,” she murmured and hauled him inside.
He slipped off his vest and pulled her into his lap as he sat down on the couch. “Tell me how it went. Did you lay it all out there like we talked about?”
She locked her fingers together at his nape and swallowed the lump in her throat. “I did.”
“And how did the HR director take it?”
“She was in neutral the entire way, so I have no idea if she thinks I made up a wild story or believes my reasons for quitting are legit. And now all I can think about is whether I did the right thing.”
