“What kind of money are we talking about?” Dawson asked. “Enough to finish the bar?”
“If it’s not, I’ll get more.” The words just popped out of Tully’s mouth. What was she saying? Where would she get more money?
Poppy’s eyes narrowed on her. “Why? Why would you loan us money?”
She hesitated, knowing full well that Poppy wasn’t going to believe any of her reasons. And why would she? Tully’s reasons didn’t even make sense to herself. Why was she so obsessed with a stupid country bar? So obsessed she was willing to chance losing her house?
Jaxon must have realized she was struggling to find a reply because he answered for her. “She sees it as a good investment. If we succeed, in only a few months, she’ll get her money back in full plus interest.” He didn’t mention getting a share of Honky Tonk Heaven. Since they weren’t keeping the bar, she figured he couldn’t help her with that dream.
“The key word being if.” Poppy stared at her. “Why would you believe the Hennessy Hooligans will succeed?”
That she did have an answer for. “Because y’all have always been tenacious and determined when you set your mind to something.” She glanced at Huck. “Whether it’s building Texas’s first igloo.” She looked at Poppy. “Or filling Ms. Myrtle’s car with Lucky Charms after she said you had a bad Irish temper.” She turned to Dawson. “Or somehow getting that longhorn bull into the high school principal’s office.”
Huck laughed. “That did take tenacity, Dawg.”
Tully smiled at him before letting her gaze move to the other Hennessys. “I figure if you can make this amazing treeboat in one summer. Y’all can finish a bar in a few months.”
“Hell yeah, we can!” Huck yelled before looking at Poppy. “Come on, Pops. Vote yes.”
Poppy shook her head. “My vote is no. We don’t need Gentry money.” Her gaze pinned Tully. “I refused to let her benefit from our hard work after what her daddy did to Jaxon.”
“Stop being such a grudge holder, Pops.” Huck reached out and ruffled his sister’s hair . . . which earned him a hard punch in the arm. He rubbed it and winked at Tully. “I vote yes. We’d be stupid to turn down the offer.” He looked like he was going to punch the air again, but Jaxon shot him a look and he settled back down.
“And what about if we don’t reopen the bar on time?” Dawson asked. “I have no desire to have a loan that size hanging over my head.”
Before Tully could come up with a solution for that, Jaxon spoke.
“I’ll be responsible for taking care of the loan if we should fail.”
“You’re voting yes, Jax?” Poppy asked. “Even after what her daddy did to you?”
Jaxon nodded and turned to Dawson. “Up to you, Dawg.” If Dawson voted against taking the loan, it would be tied. And Jaxon said it had to be a majority to pass. Tully held her breath and didn’t release it until Dawson spoke.
“Yes.”
If Tully had been on solid ground, she would have pulled a Huck and jumped for joy. Instead, she just released her breath and smiled.
With the help of the Hennessys, she was going to see Honky Tonk Heaven become the most famous bar in Texas again . . . if she ever made it down from the treeboat.
Getting down turned out to be easier than getting up. Probably because Jaxon stayed close behind her every step of the way. This time, she noticed every flex of his muscle. Every brush of hot skin. By the time she reached the ground, she was feeling more than a little dizzy and wobbly legged.
Just not from fear.
“You want to stay for supper, Tully?” Huck asked as soon as they were heading back to the house. “Jaxon is an amazing cook.”
Tully wasn’t surprised. Jaxon seemed to be good at everything. Cooking. Dancing. Making a woman weak-kneed.
Which was why Tully declined the invitation. If she was going to be partners with the Hennessys, she needed to keep her wits about her. Which meant keeping her distance from Jaxon.
“No, thank you. I should be going.” She glanced at Jaxon. “Thank you for showing me the treeboat.” She turned and headed to her granddaddy’s old Ford truck. Before she reached it, Jaxon was there opening the door for her.
“Nice truck.”
She glanced at him, expecting a smirk. Instead, he looked sincere. “I plan to fix it up, but I just haven’t had time.”
He nodded. “Dawson fixed up mine. He might be willing to help you with yours.”
She climbed in with a muttered thank you, expecting him to slam the door. Instead, he rested his tattoo arm over the top and pulled out his cellphone.
