He gave her a toothy grin. “Good, ’cause I likesaying it.”
“You’re staying for cake and ice cream, right?”
He shook his head. “Got a date after this.”
She still wasn’t used to his short hair. The golden waves that used to brush his shoulders were gone. “It gets in the way,” he’d complained right before he’d had it lopped off.
Hailey cocked an eyebrow. “Anyone I know?”
“Nope. And you’re not going to know her either.”
“Which means—”
“It’s casual,” he finished for her.
“Doessheknow it’s casual?” Shades of Sandy the Stalker would forever haunt Hailey.
Charlie threw his head back and guffawed. “It washeridea.”
“Are you disappointed?”
“What? Hell no.”
“Charlie Hunnicutt, I can’t wait to meet the woman who snags you. She is going to be one interesting character.”
“Ha! Not gonna happen. Now hurry up, woman!”
She pivoted toward the house, slowing when she picked up Noah’s and his father’s voices.
“I like what you’ve done with the tavern, Noah. And I like how you went after the Silver Summit guys. That took some cojones. I know I’ve been tough on you, and maybe that’s because you remind me of me.” A throat clear. “I, uh, want you to know I always believed in you. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and I have a feeling you’re going to do what your mother and I couldn’t and get our town turned around. Yep, damn proud.”
Noah mumbled words she couldn’t make out. Silence stretched. She took another step but stopped when his father spoke once more.
“I also like your girl. A lot. She’s good for you, and I like that you treat her with respect.”
“Scared the shit out of me when I thought I’d lost her.”
“I get it.” Another silent pause. “You know, I almost lost your mom once. Still tears me up to this day thinking about how close we came to her not being here.” His father’s voice cracked, and Hailey’s heart squeezed.
“When was this?”
“You guys were little knee-biters, so you probably don’t remember, but she came down with a really bad case of appendicitis. I was out of town, and she put off going to the doc. By the time I got home, she was undergoing emergency surgery because it had burst. Touch and go,” he choked.
“That’s the time Grandma and Grandpa came to stay with us?”
“Yep.”
“Christ, Dad. I had no idea.”
“So when I say I get it, Ireallyget it.” His father let out a warm chuckle. “Can you imagine? Me raising you three hellions on my own?” A few muttered words from Noah, and his dad continued. “No, me neither. Well, enough of that. What do you say we find out where the grub is? I’m starved.”
Hailey cleared her throat loudly and rounded the corner. “Did someone call for grub?”
Hailey insisted on cleaningup the kitchen, and Kaylee insisted on helping her. “You can’t do a five-thousand-square-foot kitchen alone, Hail.”
“You’re exaggerating a teeny-weeny bit, Kayl. Besides, we mostly used the grill.”
Kaylee bumped her hip. “I like your fella.”
