She couldn’t. But she couldn’t let him continue to believe Jaxon had robbed the hardware store either.
“Jaxon wasn’t at the hardware store tonight, Daddy.”
“How do you know that?”
Before she could answer, Jaxon spoke behind her. “Yes, how do you know, Officer Gentry?”
Tully whirled to find him standing not more than ten feet away, close enough to hear everything she and her daddy had said. She couldn’t see his eyes in the dark, but she could feel the anger radiating from him. She knew exactly why he was angry. He believed she hadn’t just stopped by to see how the renovations were going. He believed she’d stopped by to check and make sure he wasn’t robbing the hardware store.
Which meant he thought she’d lied about believing he didn’t rob the gas station.
He tipped his head. “Cat got your tongue, Officer Gentry?”
She swallowed hard and looked back at her daddy. “He’s been here ever since I got here and it was obvious that he just got out of the shower.”
“So observant, Officer Gentry,” Jaxon said. “But I could have quickly jumped in the shower after I robbed the hardware store.” He looked at her daddy. “You here to arrest me again, Sheriff Gentry?”
Her daddy’s jaw tightened. “Since no money was missing and Tully claims you were here, then it must have just been a false alarm.”
“Must’ve been.” Without a glance in her direction, he turned and headed back to the house.
She wanted to call out to him. She wanted to apologize and explain. But how could she explain not having enough guts to stand up to her daddy and tell him the truth. She and Jaxon were business partners . . . and more. Much more.
“Come on, Tully,” her daddy said. “Let’s call it a night.”
Tully hesitated for only a moment before she turned and headed to her patrol car.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Painting is finished.” Dawson said. “Which means we should be able to get the flooring installed and start on the outside next week.”
Jaxon pulled his gaze from the blueprint he’d been staring at and looked at his brother. “That would put us a little ahead of schedule.”
Dawson nodded before glancing at the blueprint. “What has you so concerned? Structurally, we should be all set.”
Jaxon glanced back down at the plans spread out on the dropped tailgate of his truck right next to where Huck sat. “I was just . . .” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
“You were just what, Jax?” Huck asked. “Dreaming of all that money we’re going to have?”
“Actually, I was thinking that maybe we could use the spare time to add a kitchen to the back room.”
“A kitchen? Honky Tonk Heaven never had a kitchen?”
Jaxon shook his head. “You’re right. Stupid idea.” He stared to roll up the blueprint, but Poppy stopped him.
“Wait a second. I don’t think a kitchen is such a stupid idea. Most bars have kitchens nowadays. It might help it sell quicker.” It was the first time Poppy had taken his side on anything and Jaxon took that as a sign she might eventually forgive him for leaving her. Eventually. “Not that you don’t have stupid ideas,” she added.
“I agree,” Dawson said. “Since the plumbing is already there for a dishwasher and sink, it wouldn’t take that much to turn it into a kitchen.”
“I agree.” Huck jumped off the tailgate and pulled out his cellphone. “Let’s see what Tully thinks.”
Jaxon quickly snatched the phone from his hand. “No!” When all his siblings stared at him with surprise, he realized he’d overreacted. “Sorry.” He handed Huck back his phone. “I just don’t think we need to ask Tully. If we all agree, it’s majority rules.”
His siblings exchanged looks.
“What?” he asked.
Poppy opened her mouth to speak, but Dawson cut her off. “Why don’t you and Huck go get us some dinner at Sloppy Joe’s, Pops?”
