Ask Me to Stay (Honky Tonk Angels #4) (6 page)

“So, how’s your week going?” she asked.

“Not bad. Looking to hire some more men, but not having a lot of luck. Might have to run an ad in the county paper.”

“Is business that busy?”

“Yeah, it is. Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”

“No, I guess not.”

They took a seat on a nearby bench as Lily climbed up the steps of the slide. She entertained herself, sliding down and climbing back up.

“She sure seems to like coming here,” Jayce commented.

“Oh, she does. But Lily’s pretty happy wherever she is.”

“So, you grew up in Nashville?”

“I did.” She nodded and accepted one of the cups of coffee from him.

“What was it like?”

Callie shrugged. “About like anywhere, I imagine. We didn’t live in Nashville proper, but a little town south west of Nashville. Primm Springs.”

“You spent your whole life there?”

“In Primm Springs? Yes, until I graduated, then I packed my ratty little car and headed straight for Nashville.”

“To do what?”

“To become a star,” she said and smiled. “At least that’s what I thought.”

“You wanted to be a singing star?”

“I did.”

“You have the voice?”

“Maybe, but a lot of people have the voice.” She set her cup down and went over to the sandbox, where Lily was trying to dig her way beneath the slide. “Here honey, pile the sand up over here and build a big, big pile.”

Once Lily was focused on her new task, Callie returned.

“So, what happened?” Jayce asked. “With the singing career?”

“What you’d imagine. I sang on the street, at any small bar that would hire me, or let me sing for free. I waited tables, tended bar and almost starved until I wised up, went back to school and took accounting and IT classes so I could get a real job. And then I kept trying.”

“And had Lily.”

She felt the way her spine stiffened and hated it. She had to learn not to react that way whenever someone asked something about her having Lily, or about Lily’s father.

“Yes. I had Lily.”

Jayce angled a bit toward her. “I get the feeling that’s a sore subject.”

Callie shrugged. “Let’s just say that’s a story for another day.” She sipped the coffee. “What about you? What happened with your wife?”

“She took off one day and haven’t seen her since. I got some divorce papers in the mail just before Carson turned three, signed them and that was that.”

“She didn’t want him?”

“Nope. Thank god. I’d never have let him go.”

“You’re a good dad.”

“Don’t know that I’m all that good, but I love my boy.”

“And he thinks the sun sets on your shoulders.” Callie smiled at his reaction. “You can’t be surprised.”

“Just curious how you know.”

“I’ve run into him a couple of times when he’s come into town with his cousins, JD’s sons, Briggs and Dawson and once when he was with your father. He joined me and Lily at the park one day while he was waiting on your father and we talked a bit.”

“He never mentioned it.”

“Maybe he didn’t think it was significant.”

“Or he was vetting you. He did tell me I needed to ask you out.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, apparently the verdict is that you’re hot, nice and a really good mom, so you scored high on the dateability scale.”

“Well, I’m flattered.”

Jayce smiled and leaned back, watching Lily. “You can tell me to mind my own business, but I need to ask. Are you married?”

“No.”

“So, there’s no chance some angry husband is gonna show up trying to drag you back to Nashville or take Lily Belle?”

“There is no husband. Lily’s father and I weren’t married.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“It is?”

“From where I sit, it is.”

Callie smiled and turned her attention to Lily. For a few minutes, they just sat there. Jayce finished his coffee and set the cup on the bench. “I bet your folks hate not watching Lily grow. Kids change so much and so fast at her age.”

It hurt to even say the words, but Callie didn’t want to be dishonest. “I know they would have loved to, but they’re gone.”

“Both of them?” He looked at her.

“Yes.”

“How long have they been gone?”

“My dad died when I was seventeen. He was a long-haul trucker. His rig overturned in Pennsylvania when he tried to avoid hitting a herd of deer.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. He was a good man.”

“And your mother?”

“She died when Lily was three months old.”

“Callie, I’m sorry.” Jayce touched her hand for a brief moment.

“I am too.”

“So, you don’t have any family left in Tennessee?”

“No. I was an only child and all of my grandparents are gone.”

“I guess that’s why you decided to leave.”

Callie was saved from having to lie by Lily, who screamed and dug at her eye. Both Jayce and Callie jumped up and ran to her.

“Oh, she’s got sand in her eye.” Callie struggled to keep Callie from rubbing her eyes.

“I’ve got water in the truck.” Jayce ran to the truck and came back with bottle of water. Together they managed to get the sand out of Lily’s eye, but by the time they did, she was cranky.

“I guess I better get her home,” Callie said. “Thanks, Jayce. This was nice.”

“Thank you. And I guess I’ll be seeing you over at the Honky Tonk.”

“If you come by Wednesday or Friday night, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll stop in.”

“Then I’ll look forward to seeing you. Have a good day.”

“You too, Callie.”

Callie watched as Jayce walked to his truck, got in and drove away. She carried Lily to her car, thinking about the conversation. Why couldn’t she just be honest with Jayce and everyone here? She’d done nothing wrong, and yet she felt she had to hide her past. What did she think people would do if they knew about her? Again, she hadn’t done anything wrong. And yet she couldn’t bring herself to tell them about her life. Not even Jayce.

Which told her that she was ashamed. Ashamed of how she’d come to have Lily and ashamed of the choices she’d made that had finally led her to run as far away from Nashville as she could. Callie didn’t know how to combat that shame. She didn’t know that she ever would, but she did know that until she could, she didn’t stand a chance of ever having anything with a man like Jayce.

And that made her feel pretty damn hopeless.

Cody was stocking the bar when Nancy Denton walked in. “Hey Nancy.” Cody smiled. “How’re you doing?”

“Good.” Nancy climbed onto a stool and sighed. “God, that feels good. Can I get a draft?”

“Sure thing, hon.” Cody grabbed a mug to draw the beer. “Long day?”

“Girl, I had not one but three perms today and every one for one of those Red Hat ladies.”

“Poor thing.” Cody snatched up a bottle of tequila and a shot glass. “Here ya go, hon. On the house.”

“Bless you.” Nancy downed the shot and blew out a breath. “Wooo, that hit the spot.”

Cody had known Nancy for a long time. Nancy’s family had moved to Cotton Creek when she had been thirteen. Her mother was a hairdresser and had gone to work at the local beauty salon. By the time Nancy graduated, her mother had bought the shop and Nancy ended up following in her footsteps.

She’d been doing hair since she was twenty and Cody didn’t envy her one bit. Listening to women moan and gossip all day had to be tough. Kind of like being behind a bar, but without the alcohol, and no guys.

Men were a lot easier. They might come in sporting a bad mood, but after a beer and a couple of laughs, they tended to perk up. But then men didn’t like to hang onto their mad, sad or annoyed near as much as women. And the ones who did quickly found themselves sitting alone with no one to listen. Cody didn’t have time for all that negativity and she couldn’t tolerate whiners for more than five minutes.

“So what’s the hot topic at the Cut and Curl?” Cody asked.

Nancy shrugged, a gesture not exactly normal. She usually started spilling the gossip as soon as she downed her free shot.

“Everything okay, Nance?”

“Well.” Nancy took a drink of her beer. “Well, dang it, those Red Hats are on about you and Hannah.”

“Me and Hannah?”

“Yeah, ya’ll and them oil men. Wes Pursell and Cooper Quinlan and ya’ll’s going on’s.”

“Our what?”

“Well you know, there was some talk about you and Wes Pursell for a while, but it started to die down right about the time him and that Cooper Quinlan went into business. Then gossip started warming up about you and Quinlan.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. According to the Red Hats, you been cozying up with Quinlan for near on a month, but then starting a couple of weeks ago, people starting spotting him with Hannah. At the dry cleaners and gas station and one night here, when you were off. This morning they were outside that new boutique and they were looking mighty friendly.”

“Is that right?”

“That’s what they say. Seems like you and Hannah are both after the same man and it’s causing quite the stir in your family.”

Despite the annoyance she felt, Cody smiled. “Well, if
they
say it, then it must be the gospel, girl.”

“Oh don’t I know. I swear to god sometimes I think those ladies sit around inventing gossip.”

Cody chuckled. “Well, they need some way to pass their time.”

“This shit really doesn’t get to you?”

Cody shrugged. “Why should it? We all know how they are.”

“That’s the god’s honest truth. So, if you’re not having a hot and heavy with Pursell or Quinlan, what have you been up to?”

“Work, girl. Between this place and the ranch, a big night for me is eight hours of sleep.”

“I heard that. Oh, there’s also talk about your new employee. What’s her name?”

“Callie?”

“Yeah.”

“What kind of talk could there possibly be about her? She’s only been here a month.”

“Well, you know the Red Hats.”

“So, what are they saying?”

“You’re not going to like it.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“Okay, so the word is that she’s some druggie or drunk or something. A stripper, biker chick or some other unsavory type and she’s covered with tattoos – you know all trashy – and she’s after Jayce Weathers because she thinks the family has money and she’s a gold digger looking to latch onto some poor sap and take him for everything he has. Apparently, she’s using her child to make him fall for her or feel sorry for her or some shit and fucking him blind.”

Cody felt her anger rising like a furnace getting too much fuel. How dare those bitches talk about Callie that way? She’d like to slap their faces, give them a good cussing or something. But there was no way she would react to what she’d heard. Nancy was a sweet woman, but she liked to gossip, as was evidenced by the fact she’d just spilled everything she’d heard. Whatever Cody said, Nancy would repeat.

So rather than add fuel to the gossip fire, Cody shrugged. “Wow, they cooked up a doozy that time. Anyway, enough about that stuff. How’s Buster and Missy?”

Buster was Nancy’s husband. He was a welder and worked out of Midland, which was a good haul from Cotton Creek. They had one daughter, Missy, who was nine.

“They’re good. Missy’s with Buster’s mom tonight. Buster’s getting in late and we never really have any time alone so Mrs. Denton said Missy could sleep over.”

“Then no more shots for you.” Cody picked up the shot glass and the beer mug to put them into the sink. “You get yourself home and get ready for your man.”

Nancy grinned. “Yes, ma’am. Just let me pay—”

“On the house, Nance. Now get on home.”

“Thanks, Cody.”

“You bet. See you soon.”

She watched Nancy leave then looked around. It was too early for the regular crowd, but there were still things to do. She turned her attention back to checking her liquor inventory but her mind wandered.

It was hard to hold a grudge against the gossip girls. She knew they didn’t mean any ill-will, they were just so bored they latched onto any ordinary occurrence and turned it into something to gossip about.

The talk about Callie was just mean spirited. No one really knew her and it was easy to talk badly about strangers. It wasn’t right, but she understood how those women were. Just like seeing Hannah on the street talking with Cooper. It was probably nothing more than the two of them running into one another. Not a romantic hookup – just a chance encounter. But the Red Hats would turn it into a torrid affair by week’s end.

Hannah would hate that.

Unless it were true. What if Hannah is interested in Cooper?

Cody stopped what she was doing and marched back to the office. Hannah sat on one side of the desk with an inventory checklist and Callie sat on the other side, in front of the computer.

“Well for once, you’re the target for the gossip girls.”

“Excuse me?” Hannah, whose back was to the door, turned to look at Cody.

“Nancy Denton stopped by. Apparently someone saw you talking to Cooper a few times and now the gals are turning it into some contest between the two of us – both of us after the same man.”

“Oh my god!”

Cody hadn’t expected Hannah to look quite so horrified. “Hey, it’s just the gossip girls. No biggie.”

“Cody, I swear I wasn’t flirting. First, I just ran into him at the gas station and we got to talking about his new business. And the other time at the cleaners, we just talked about the prices of stuff here versus the city. And the night he came to the bar, we just talked – you know about nothing. This morning I was just looking at a dress in the window of the new boutique and he came by. He was headed for his new office. We just talked. I swear, it was nothing.”

Callie jumped up. “I think I’ll go get something to drink and let you talk.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Cody said.

Callie looked at Hannah. “Yeah, I need to take a break anyway. Excuse me.”

As Callie hurried from the room, Cody eyed her sister for a moment, then perched on the edge of the desk. “Okay, what the hell, girl?”

“I told you. It was nothing.”

“That’s not what I mean. Why are you getting so worked up? I don’t care if you talked to him. It’s not like I’m dating him or anything. But it’s becoming pretty clear. You
do
have a thing for him.”

“I do not.”

“Oh, yes you do.”

“No, I don’t. I mean I think he’s nice and—”

“You’re not seriously going to sit there and lie to my face, are you?”

Hannah’s eyes welled up with tears. “Cody, I swear I’d never try—”

“It’s okay, Hannah.”

“What?”

“It’s okay. I like Cooper, but you and I both know I’m not right for him and hell, he’s not right for me. If I had to guess, I’d say he likes the same sort of things you like – dressing up, going somewhere fancy – and you know I don’t give a hoot in hell about that.”

“But—”

“But nothing. If you like him, go for it.”

“Cody I—I am kind of attracted to him. And he likes Broadway shows and five star restaurants and he dresses so well and—”

“I get it. And I’m cool with it.”

“Are you sure? I mean, you’re not just saying it because you feel sorry for me because I’m becoming an old maid?”

“Watch it, girl. You’re younger than I am and I’m nowhere near an old maid. And no, you know me better than that. Like I said, I like him but he’s not for me. You want a man that’s refined and cultured and one who will take you to all the nice places you dream of. That’s not what I want.”

“Then what do you want?”

Cody didn’t have to think about it. She’d always known what she wanted in a man. “I want a man who will be my friend. I want a man who’s a little rough around the edges and doesn’t give two shakes about fashion or trends and says what he thinks. I want someone who is okay with the fact that I’m not sophisticated and have a bad temper. I want a man who knows what a hard day’s work is all about and has the strength and muscle that comes from those long days. I want a man who can put me in my place when I need it and one who can take it when I put him in his place. I want a man who will walk through fire for me and one who never questions that I’ll do the same.”

“Wow.” Hannah leaned back in her chair. “I never realized.”

“Realized what?”

“You want what mom has.”

“Hell yes, I do.”

“So do I.”

“Just in different packages,” Cody said and smiled. “And I want you to find what you want, Hannah. I want you to be happy. So, if Cooper lights a fire in you, go for it.”

“Well, he did ask if I wanted to have coffee.”

“Like I said, go for it.”

“And what about you? I mean, now that Wes is interested in Lily…”

Cody slid off the desk. “Well, who knows? Mr. Right might walk through the door any day now.”

Hannah chuckled. “And of course, you’ll know him the moment you see him.”

“You know it.”

“You don’t really believe that.”

“Oh, but I do. I’ll know him.”

“Sounds romantic but not realistic. But wouldn’t that be something? I mean, what if it really did happen? What if
the one
walked into the bar? What if you did take one look at him and
know
? What would you do?”

“Say hallelujah?”

“That’s kind of tame.”

“Body slam him and put a lip lock on him that will curl his toes?”

“Now that’s my sister.” Hannah smiled and hugged Cody. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For loving me?”

Cody hugged her back. “Girl, I don’t know how not to. Now, let’s get cracking. I’m hoping tonight will be bust ass.”

“Amen to that. And thanks again.”

“Nothing to thank me for. Okay, I need to talk to Callie. The Red Hats have been talking some nasty shit about her and it’s best she heard it from me.”

“What did they say?”

Cody told Hannah and saw anger appear on her sister’s face.

“Those mean old biddies.” Hannah stood. “I’d like to give them hell.”

“Yeah, wouldn’t we all? But you know that’d just appear to give weight to what they say.”

“But oh my god, Cody. Callie’s going to be devastated. You know her better than any of us and you see how she is so careful to never mention her past. It’s like she’s terrified to give anything away. I think something really awful happened to her.”

“Could be, but speculating is just speculating. And she needs to know. It’d be a lot worse for her to overhear something from someone else.”

“That’s true. Oh, I feel so bad for her. I wish those old women would just stop.”

“Well, they won’t, so we do what we can to minimize the damage and discount the gossip. I’m gonna go find Callie.”

“Okay, if you need me…”

“I know where to find you.”

Cody left the office to find Callie. It didn’t bother her that Hannah was interested in Cooper. In fact, it was a bit of a relief. She’d known that she and he were not a good fit, so there wasn’t much point in trying to pursue something doomed to fail.

Hannah, on the other hand, could very well be the perfect match for Cooper Quinlan. And she just might surprise him. She might be the member of the Sweet family who knew which fork to use at a fancy dinner, and which wine to serve with what, but she was still a Sweet. And the Sweets were all people who would only take so much shit before they crammed a handful of it back in your face.