She sat up and shook her head. “My decision has nothing to do with my daddy wronging you. It has to do with me finally accepting the fact that I’m a horrible deputy. Probably because I hate it. I hate the regiment of waking up every morning at the same time and making sure my uniform is spotless and my hair is tidy. I hate doing the same patrols day and night. I hate filling out reports. But mostly I hate getting after people for breaking the rules. I no longer want to be Tully the Tattler. I’ve done that all my life because I thought it would make my daddy happy. But I’m tired of making my daddy happy.” She thumped her chest. “I want to make me happy.”
Jaxon placed Dumplin’ on the floor before he turned to Tully and took her hands in his. “And what is it that will make you happy, Tallulah Gentry?”
One word popped into her head.
You.
But she knew she couldn’t say it. Knew it was just a pipe dream when Jaxon was leaving. So she said the next best thing.
“I want to buy Honky Tonk Heaven.”
He studied her. “Not as a secret partner?”
She took a deep breath. “No.”
“Your daddy isn’t going to like it. Just like he’s not going to like you . . . hanging out with the Hennessys.”
She knew he meant hanging out with him. “He’ll have to get over me owning a bar . . . and as for us hanging out together. I don’t think he needs to know the details. Especially when you plan on leaving.”
Something entered his eyes. Something that looked a lot like hurt. But as quickly as it came, it was gone and he nodded.
“Yeah, when I’m leaving.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
For the first time in his life, Jaxon was enjoying working his ass off at Honky Tonk Heaven. Bringing the dancehall back to life was no longer a means to an end. It had become something else. Something he couldn’t put into words. Or maybe something he wasn’t ready to put into words.
And maybe his enjoyment had nothing to do with Honky Tonk Heaven.
Maybe it had more to do with enjoying being with his siblings after so many years of being apart.
He’d missed his family. He hadn’t realized how much until now. He’d missed talking with Dawson about anything and everything. Dawson had always been a good listener who never judged. He’d missed Huck’s jovial optimism. No matter what setbacks they encountered, Huck never lost his sense of humor or his faith that they could finish on time. And Jaxon had even missed Poppy’s sarcasm and fire.
Although her sarcasm and fire toward him had burned down to only a few popping sparks. The other day, she had actually complimented him on the old jukebox he’d found online—then fifteen minutes later, called him a jackass for tracking dirt on the oak dance floor she’d just polished.
But that was the Hennessys for you.
They were feisty and strong-willed and determined.
And they were Jaxon’s family.
He never wanted to be without them again.
Which posed a bit of a problem when they all had their own plans after they inherited their money.
Dawson wanted to start his own custom truck shop in Dallas. Huck wanted to invest in some tech company in Austin. And Poppy wanted to bankroll her boyfriend’s band and travel on the road with him.
As for Jaxon, he didn’t know what he wanted to do once he got his money. He’d thought he wanted to attend culinary school and then open his own restaurant. Now he wasn’t so sure. The person causing him to feel so uncertain, at that very moment, was sitting at the Hennessys’ kitchen counter arguing with his family.
“Absolutely not!” Tully said to Poppy. “The bar has to be solid mahogany. Not oak. Not pine. Not maple. Mahogany.”
“Do you have cotton in your ears, Princess?” Poppy snapped back. “Huck just explained we don’t have the money for a solid mahogany bar. So no mahogany bar. Got it?”
There was a time when Tully would have backed down. But in the last few weeks, Jaxon had watched his little Bambi grow some horns. She no longer let Poppy intimidate her.
Or any of the Hennessys.
Jaxon included.
