Juliette?
The door closes and Wes’s mom starts for me.
I sigh internally. I’m really not in the mood for Juliette after talking to my dad. I get up from my chair, ducking my head under the tent and striding out to meet Juliette. She wears a no-nonsense expression that sends a rapid tremble through me.
“Hello, Juliette.” I smile and greet her without a trace of the nerves I’m feeling. I get the feeling Juliette would see any nervousness as weakness and therefore be disgusted by it.
“Dakota,” she greets me, her tone clipped. “Can we speak privately?”
A lead ball forms in my stomach. “Certainly.” I guide her back to the tailgate of her truck. It’s not that much further from the jobsite, but at least it’s out of direct eyesight of everybody.
“What can I do for you?” I ask.
Juliette’s blue-eyed gaze is glacial. Jessie has the same eye color, but hers are warmer, more cornflower and less iceberg. “I find it awfully odd that you show up in Sierra Grande and decide to do a good deed for my son. Tell me, Dakota, why are you falling on the sword for him?”
Wow. Okay. I guess we’re just getting right to it. “I’m not falling on a sword, Juliette.”
“What are you doing then?” She cocks her head to the side, waiting for my answer.
“Marrying Wes.”
“But why?”
“Why not?”
“You don’t love him.” She emphasizes the ‘you’.
“Youdon’t know that.”
“I do know that some woman shows up in Sierra Grande and a short while later she’s got my son using marriage as a means to an end.”
I make a face. “Is that what you think happened?”
“I’ve heard how well you researched this town. I’d imagine those researching skills extended to Arizona’s divorce laws. You must have seen Wes and then dollar signs popped up in your future. Anybody with your amount of debt would have.”
My mouth falls open, the air from a gasp slamming to the back of my throat. “How did you—”
Juliette’s mouth stretches into a smug line. “My family is my priority. I’m not going to let a fox guard the henhouse.”
“What is it with you Haydens?” I ask through clenched teeth. A deep breath fills my lungs and releases slowly. This is Wes’s mother, and on a normal day, she’d deserve the utmost respect, but not when she’s coming at me with guns blazing. “Wes asked me to marry him. He came up with this idea on his own. And he knows about the debt.” She doesn't believe me. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. I square my chin at her. “I don’t appreciate you coming to my jobsite and questioning my integrity. Excuse me, I have work to do.” I sidestep her and walk away. It takes everything in me to walk at a normal pace. I want to stomp and yell, release my indignation, but there are eyes on me. Scott and the crew, for starters, and probably Juliette. My future mother-in-law.
I’m back in my makeshift office when I hear the diesel engine roar to life. My eyes remain trained on the computer screen as the sounds of the truck engine get further and further away.
I keep trying to focus, but I can’t. My leg bounces and I can’t seem to stop it, even when I push down on it with my hand. I need to blow off some steam.
I pack up my things and get in my car, waving at Scott as I go.
* * *
I’mat The Bakery buying a piece of lemon bar the size of an NBA player’s palm when I hear my name. Turning, I see Jo sitting at a small table with a laptop open and a notebook with a pen lying on top. I wave at her, then finish paying and walk over to where she sits.
“Hi, Jo.”
She stands up and wraps her arms around me. I’m still upset from my run-in with Juliette, and when I hug Jo back, I squeeze tightly.
“Thanks for that,” I tell her when we pull apart. I’m a little embarrassed. I don’t know Jo very well.
“It felt like you needed a hug,” she smiles sweetly, sinking back down into her chair. She motions to the empty seat across from her, and I sit.
