“Not that there’s any good service in this godforsaken town, but what’s your cellphone number?” When she hesitated, he looked at her and cocked an eyebrow until she gave him her number. A second later, her cellphone rang from the cup holder where she’d left it. Like an idiot, she picked it up and answered like she always did.
“Officer Gentry.”
Jaxon’s voice came through the receiver . . . and next to her where he stood with a smile. “Hey, partner.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tully: I found oak flooring for the dance floor at a great price!
Jaxon: We haven’t even finished getting the plumbing in and painting. NO OAK FLOORING YET!
Tully: It’s being delivered today. What happened with the plumbing? I thought the plumbers were supposed to be done today.
Jaxon: The guy had the wrong pipefittings. I’ve learned that when contractors have the wrong anything, they take off work for the rest of the day. Did you even know how much flooring to buy? Stupid question. Of course you know. You probably have the dimensions of the dance floor memorized. You are truly possessed. I’m surprised you’ve been able to stay away.
Tully:
Jaxon stared at his cellphone screen waiting for Tully’s text reply. It never came. Which was weird. She always had to have the last word. They’d been keeping an ongoing text thread for the last three weeks. His phone was always pinging with questions from her or ideas she had.
Strangely, he’d grown used to the pings.
“More texts from Tully?”
He glanced up from his phone to see Huck standing there splattered with paint from head to toe with a grin on his face. The grin faded when Jaxon spoke.
“Did you give Tully a key to the dancehall?”
Huck cleared his throat. “Umm . . . well, she is our financial partner.” When Jaxon scowled, he rushed on. “Come on, Jax. She’s so damned excited about every little thing we do, I didn’t think it would hurt if she got to see it for herself . . . rather than just hear about it from you.”
“How often does she come?”
Huck cringed. “Every night.”
Of course she did. Which was why she had a list of questions every single morning. He should have known she wouldn’t be able to stay away. But he hadn’t thought his brother would keep secrets from him. Huck was not a secret keeper.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Umm . . .” Huck shot a quick glance over at Dawson who was talking to the electrician.
That was all the answer Jaxon needed. Without another word, he headed over to Dawson. He waited for him to finish talking with the electrician before he spoke.
“What’s going on? Why did you ask Huck not to tell me about giving Tully a key?”
Dawson shot an annoyed look at Huck who had followed Jaxon. “Because I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
“You want to tell me why?”
Poppy strode up. She wasn’t as paint splattered as Huck, but close. “Because we knew if you found out Tully was here every night you wouldn’t be able to stay away.” She glared at Huck. “Some people are too stupid to realize their brother getting hooked up with the town sheriff’s daughter is a disaster waiting to happen.”
“I’m not stupid!” Huck said. “And neither is Jaxon. He’s not going to mess around with Tully—especially now that she’s our partner.” He looked at Jaxon. “Ain’t that right, Jax?”
“That’s right. I’m not interested in getting involved with Tallulah Gentry.”
Poppy snorted. “Which is why your face lights up like a Christmas tree every time your phone pings. And no matter what you’re doing, you drop everything to answer.”
“Because she’s the reason we’re still here! Without her money, we wouldn’t have a chance of getting our inheritance.”
“Exactly! Which is why you need to stay away from her. She’s not even close to being in your same league, Jax. She’s the type to fall hard and fast. And a woman scorned is the worst enemy you can have. Especially if that woman has access to a gun and a sheriff daddy.”
