Or one Hennessy.
One tattooed fallen angel who thought she still had an infatuation with him.
She hoped her bringing the blueprints to him would set things straight. She was infatuated, but it was no longer with Jaxon.
That had ended the night he robbed the gas station.
Besides the huge construction dumpster sitting in front and the boards being taken off the window and doors, Honky Tonk Heaven didn’t look any different on the outside than it had before the Hennessys had started work. The major changes must all be inside.
She parked by the river in the shadow of the old oak. The moon was full and bright so she didn’t need her flashlight to guide her to the back door. It wasn’t locked. In fact, it didn’t even have a doorknob.
There was no way to describe the excitement that coursed through her as she stepped inside, skirting piles of lumber scraps and power tools as she took it all in. She knew it was silly, but she couldn’t help feeling like a kid entering Disneyland for the first time. But instead of smelling like freshly fried churros, the air smelled of fresh sawdust.
Surprisingly, there was no sign of a fire. New beams stretched across the ceiling, some of the framing in the outside walls had been replaced, and framing on the inside walls had begun.
It looked like the Hennessys were following Tully and Rosie’s plans.
A bubble of joy burst inside her and she couldn’t help imaging what it would look like when it was finished: The high-polished mahogany bar gleaming in the light of the neon beer signs that hung on the walls. The bartenders, efficiently, grabbing bottles of liquor and glasses from the mirrored shelves behind them or standing at the taps filling glasses with frothy beer for the old cowboys bellied up to bar.
The stage with a crowd of rabid country music fans gathered in front, cheering on the live band with their tooled leather guitar straps hooked over their shoulders and Stetsons tugged low as they crooned an Alan Jackson tune.
Tables filled with cuddling couples whispering love words or celebrating football fans arguing over what team was best or groups of women giddily enjoying girls-night-out.
And finally the huge oak floor filled with high-stepping polka dancers and jaunty two-steppers and graceful waltzers.
Tully moved to the bare cement section where the dance floor would eventually be. Moonlight flooded in through the open window holes like multiple spotlights, sawdust dancing in the beams like fairy dust.
Soon, she thought as she turned in a full circle. Soon everyone in Promise Springs will be gliding across this floor.
Everyone, but her and her daddy.
They both had been born with two left feet. Her mama had attempted to teach them, but after numerous bruised toes, she’d finally given up. Daddy wasn’t too upset about it. Tully, on the other hand, was devastated. Even now, she tried to dance around her apartment and dreamed of one day dancing at Honky Tonk Heaven.
One day?
She glanced around.
What about now?
Just in case the Hennessys didn’t succeed she could still say she once danced at Honky Tonk Heaven.
After casting another quick glance around, she lifted her arms and imagined a partner. A partner with broad shoulders to balance her and strong hands to right her if she stumbled.
She closed her eyes and tried to remember how to waltz. Did she start with the left or right foot? Was it two-steps or three? Quick, quick, slow? Or slow, slow, quick? Or was that the two-step?
She started awkwardly shuffling around the cement floor as she hummed Birdie’s favorite song, “The Tennessee Waltz.” She had just gotten into a semi-rhythm when a sleepy, gruff voice had her stumbling.
“What the hell are you doing?”
She caught herself before she face planted and turned to find Jaxon standing there . . . in nothing but a pair of unbuttoned blue jeans and boots. Her gaze quickly wandered over his naked chest before lifting to his moonlit eyes.
“Well?” he said.
Once again, her high-pitched voice gave away her nerves. “I was . . . patrolling.” She cleared her throat. “You shouldn’t leave all these tools in an unlocked building. Someone could easily walk right in and steal them.”
“Which is why I’m sleeping here at night.”
That explained the mussed dark hair and naked chest.
