He couldn’t argue with that. He took a deep breath and released it. “You’re right. Which is why I’m staying away from her. I haven’t seen her in weeks.”
“But you want to. You can continue to deny it until the cows come home, but I’ve seen the way you look at her—how freaked out you got when she was hanging from the rope ladder.”
“I wouldn’t want anyone to fall to their death, Pops.”
She rolled her eyes. “Men! Y’all are so disconnected from your true emotions it’s not even funny.” She stomped away.
When she was gone, Jaxon looked at Dawson. “You think the same thing, Dawg? You think I’d endanger everything we’ve worked for just because I might feel a little attraction for a woman?”
Dawson studied him. “Is it just a little, Jax?”
“Nothing I can’t deal with. I could care less that she’s showing up every night to see our progress.” He headed back to work.
But as it turned out, he did care.
That night, after he’d taken a shower and gone to bed, all he could think about was Tully being at the dancehall that very second. Did she like the sky blue color she’d helped him pick out for the bathrooms? Were the rustic stall doors what she’d been hoping for? What did she think of the light sconces they’d chosen for behind the bar? Were the mirrored shelves what she’d envisioned?
The questions circled around and around in his head until he thought he’d go crazy. He knew he could text her all those questions in the morning . . . including why she hadn’t told him of her late night visits. But why should he wait to get his answers? His siblings might think he had no self-control. But he knew differently. He could talk to Tully face-to-face and not do anything stupid.
Which didn’t explain why he snuck out of the house and chose to walk to the dancehall.
As soon as he crossed the bridge over the river to the main road, he could see Honky Tonk Heaven. There was no light shining from the windows, which meant Tully wasn’t there. Or had already been there. He should turn back around and go home. But before he could, a flash of light hit one window.
Once he got to the dancehall, he found Tully’s old truck parked outback.
He had just reached the back door when he heard a loud crash. He threw open the door so quickly it bounced off the wall.
“Tully!” He flipped on the lights and hurried into the building, searching the cluttered construction site for any sight of her. “Tully!”
“I’m here.”
He glanced to his right and saw a John Deere hat peeking over the boxes of oak flooring. He hurried over to find her sprawled on the floor. When she saw him, she forced a smile.
“I see the flooring got here.”
He stepped over the boxes. “What the hell are you doing? Why didn’t you turn on the lights?”
“I didn’t want anyone to see them.”
“Anyone or me?”
She shrugged. “All of the above.”
He huffed and crouched down next to her. “Are you okay?” She hesitated too long and he instantly grew concerned. “What hurts?”
“I twisted my ankle when I fell.”
He glanced down at her feet. “You wore flip-flops to a construction site?”
“I’ve been doing it for wee—” She quickly cut off and her cheeks heated.
“So I’ve heard.” He sighed and sat on a box of flooring. “Which foot?” She lifted the right one, wincing in pain. He carefully supported her heel in his palm and slipped off the flip-flop before testing the area around her ankle.
“Oww!”
“Sorry. Can you wiggle your toes?” She did, but not without cringing. He carefully set down her foot and stood. “I think we should take you to an emergency room.”
“Absolutely not. It’s just a little ankle sprain. It will be fine in the morning. Believe me, I know. I’ve twisted my ankle more times than I can count.” She started to get up, but he scooped her into his arms, ignoring how right she felt there.
