Page 12 of Make Me Whole
"Sorry," the single word fell from her lips just above a whisper.
All I could do was give her a curt nod when she turned those eyes on me. They were big—impossibly big—and greener than the grass outside. My gaze slid along her nose and down to her slightly parted lips.
Once I realized I was still holding on to her, I dropped my hands immediately. Wordlessly, I side-stepped her and lowered my frame into the nearest chair. Doing my best to hold back a grunt, I removed my Stetson and placed it on the floor.
"Real smooth," Sawyer chuckled under his breath, after he seated himself next to me.
"Piss off," I bit back.
His chuckle morphed into laughter which drew my sister's attention across from us. Tilting her head, Talia's questioning gaze flitted between Sawyer and me. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but quickly snapped it shut when Mavis and my father entered, trays in hand.
I couldn't help but notice how Hailey's face lit up when Mavis gently squeezed her shoulder before she sat down next to her. I didn't know much about their connection, only that Mavis and Hailey's mother had been friends. Maybe Talia knew something since she liked to have heart to heart moments with Mavis.
The woman was the closest thing my sister and I had to a mother figure. It took a few years, but when my father finally realized he couldn't do everything alone, he'd hired Mavis. By that time, it was too late for me. I'd taken my emotions and shoved them into a box labelled:Do not open. Ever.
A hard nudge from my left snapped me out of my daze. My head whipped to the side; brows pulled down. "What the—"
"Everyone has dished up, except you," Sawyer whisper-shouted through clenched teeth.
I looked from one person to the next, and sure enough, each one had a plate loaded with food sitting in front of them. They were all studying me too. Well, all besides one.
Hailey had her head down, fork toying with the green beans.
"Right." Chatter around the table resumed while I added spoonful's of Mavis's delicious spread to my plate. As it always did, conversation shifted to the ranch and things which needed our attention.
Only, I couldn't focus on Talia and my father discussing the new guests and everything they needed. The woman across the table had my full attention. She never looked up, not once. I got the feeling she preferred to be inconspicuous. It had me wondering whether she'd always been like this or if she was only doing it now.
It also had me wondering if she had something to hide.
Ignoring the fact that people were still talking, I started, "So, Hailey…" At the mention of her name, she lifted her head slightly; training those eyes on me. "Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?"
We had the attention of everyone around the table. I saw her work down a swallow right before her tongue darted out to glide along her bottom lip. "What do you want to know?"
Why you're the first woman to have this effect on me?I couldn't ask that, though. Leaning back in my chair, I folded my arms across my chest. "How come it was so easy for you to change your plans and stay on?"
Her eyes went wide as the color drained from her cheeks. "I'm sorry, what?"
I pushed my plate away and perched my folded arms on the table. "You come for a visit, but instead, you turn into an employee. Don't you have a job back home—wherever that may be?"
"Bradley," I heard the warning in my father's voice.
"What?" I feigned innocence. "I'm curious how someone's plans could change so easily." I pinned her with a stare. "Don't you have people waiting for you to come home?"
Again, I watched her swallow. A deer caught in headlights would look less spooked than she did in that moment. Her gaze flicked to her lap before meeting mine again. The sound of her chair scraping along the wood as she pushed it back, almost deafening.
Once she straightened, she closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them again, there was a fierce determination shining in those green depths. "With all due respect." Her voice had an unmistakable edge to it. "That's none of your business." She looked at Mavis who gave her a little nod, then she turned her attention to everyone else. "Dinner was lovely, thanks. If you'll excuse me."
She glanced my way one more time before marching out of the dining room. There was no doubt Hailey intrigued me.
She was a mystery.
One I intended to solve, no matter what.
