Her grin widens, and she grabs a towel to wipe up the spill. “You’re in my house now, so don’t be messy. Or rude.”
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “Wait—haveyoubeen to prison too?” I ask, lowering my voice conspiratorially.
She throws her head back, laughing. “Look, Hayes, I’d have to hustle a lot harder to keep up with my brother’s record. But no, I’ve managed to stay on the right side of the law, at least the side that hasn’t caught me yet.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I tease, smirking. “You had me completely under your spell the night we spent together. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you’d lifted my wallet.”
I catch the faintest pink rising in her cheeks from my unexpected compliment. “I actually did steal something,” she says, leaning in closer.
“What?”
“A pack of gum from your jeans.”
I smack my palm against the bar. “I fucking knew it.”
She shakes her head, laughing too. “No, you didn’t.”
“Alright, maybe not. I just figured Samuel took it.”
Her laughter is light and infectious, and as I take another sip of the whiskey, I know coming here tonight was the right call. I’d been sitting in my motel room, bored as hell like I am every night where I don’t work, wishing I had place to roam and move about. A place like the Mayberry’s where I could be off riding or doing manual labor.
And it is luck, or maybe fate, that Regan happened to be working here tonight. She’s still got that pull on me, magnetic and irresistible. And judging by the way she’s looking at me, I’m not the only one feeling it. Plus, I haven’t had a night off since I took the job at the community hospital in town and frankly, it’s good for me to meet some new people, make some friends.
“Samuel…” her eyes narrow slightly, “that’s a bit of a throwback name, huh? He was on the circuit with you, right? The young guy who rode right before you?”
I nod, gripping my whiskey glass a little tighter. I hadn’t meant to bring him up, especially not tonight. Samuel’s not exactly my favorite topic to discuss, and definitely not when I’m trying to take it easy and unwind.
“Yep,” I say simply, taking a long sip to shut myself up.
“Hm,” she hums, watching me closely but thankfully, doesn’t pry further.
“So, what’s got you so invested in Mrs. Mayberry’s property?” I ask, steering the conversation back to her. “Other than the fact that it sounds like it holds all your childhood dreams and memories.”
She bites her bottom lip, holding back a smile. “Obviously, the wedding business.”
“You really want to expand the Marshall empire, huh?”
“Is that a problem?” she counters, her voice sharp, but there’s a spark of passion in her eyes. “I love it. I love the idea of making couples’ dreams come true. There’s nowhere in town to get married. People have to drive to Charlotte or Raleigh, or they end up tying the knot in someone’s backyard. Mrs. Mayberry’s property is perfect for a venue. Cash has already started developing an outdoor building on the Marshall land for ceremonies, but…”
“So why not just stick to your family’s property?” I ask, cutting her off.
She stiffens, her nose wrinkling like I just suggested something disgusting.
“Because it wouldn’t be mine,” she says, her voice low but fierce. “Not fully, notsolely. The cottages on Mrs. Mayberry’s land are ideal for overnight stays—for the bride, the groom, the wedding party. And it’s private, unlike the Marshall property, which already feels like Grand Central Station with all our other businesses and homes. Beyond that…” She pauses, her gaze softening, almost wistful. “This was her and Mr. Mayberry’sdream. I love the idea of honoring that and bringing their vision to life.”
Her eyes take on that far-off, dreamy look that reminds me of my sister Scarlett when she’s waxing poetic about something. It’s a little endearing, and for a moment, I just watch her, savoring how pretty she looks when she’s lost in her own head. But I can’t help myself. I have to bring her back down to earth because the reality of her situation is that she’s not going to get the Manor without a major change in her life.
“Is it really that much of a goldmine?” I ask, one eyebrow raised.
“Weddings are expensive,Hayes,” she says, rolling her eyes. “We’re talking twenty grand, minimum, for a weekend. I take it you’ve never been married before?”
“I haven’t, but that’s a hell of a lot of money to spend on one day,” I say, leaning back. “Maybe it won’t be such a bad idea for me to do that when I buy the place.”
Her eyes narrow dangerously as she groans. “Don’t even think about it. The property will be mine. I have a plan.”
“Oh yeah? What’s your plan?” I lean forward, grinning. “Gonna re-propose to your ex?”
Her mouth drops open, and for a moment, she looks like she’s too stunned to speak.
