Independence: #4 Hayley (26 page)

“We had superficial relationships,” Dane added to the train of thought.

“And made certain they stayed there,” Jack reminded him. “But we aren’t there now. We’re…hell, I don’t know what we are. But I know here…in this place, this location, it’s not the same as it was when we started out. It’s not even the same as it was two years ago.”

Neither of them would ever be able to put words to the action that had them turning slowly and watching her approach. There was no explanation for how they knew she was on the other side of the almost empty ballroom. She was talking to a redhead that they recognized from a photo.

“Logan’s wife,” Dane put the thoughts into words. “And there’s Logan and their daughter.” They laughed at the little arms wildly thrown up and aimed at her mother. Both wore matching deep blue velvet dresses with lace and ribbons. Both saw the love reflecting and almost sparkling around the couple.

“I don’t feel the urge to run for the hills,” Jack commented, a tinge of fascination in his voice. His stance straightened just a little more, a bit taller, when she turned from her friends and smiled at them.

Sparkle was the right word. She wore a Christmas green and red dress; a cluster of lace framed the modestly cut bodice that nipped her waist in and fell in soft waves of the skirt to her knees.

“No…and that’s a damn daunting feeling in itself,” Dane agreed softly. Both hands rose at once as she neared and she took both hands in hers. “You were beautiful up there, Hayley.” He bent slightly and kissed her cheek.

“Beautiful doesn’t cover it,” Jack repeated the action on the other side. “Dinner?”

“Thank you both and I’d love some. I’m starving. I was so nervous…”

“Do you neglect to eat a lot?” Dane asked with a chuckle, thinking back to their week together. “I think that’s something we’ll have to watch, Jack.”

“I do…” She confessed with a sigh. “When I first started working with Uncle James…I was a wreck. Afraid I’d make a mistake…either in action or words…that’s when I started drinking the protein shakes in a can.”

They entered the connected ballroom. Hayley was talking about the songs she sang and the other women in the very large collective. She wasn’t aware of the eyes that tried hard not to look in their direction. Jack was grateful of that and cast a quick look at Dane, who was very good at keeping her engaged. He spotted an empty table and guided them toward it.

Jack seated Hayley and bent to kiss her, their lips meeting and coaxing each other to play with gentle swipes of tongue. He forced himself to focus and stood tall.

“What would you like to drink? Dane will fill some plates and bring them over and you can continue telling us about the new experience,” Jack tipped his head slightly to the side. “And explain why you didn’t mention this when we thought we’d be picking you up at five.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Hayley kept the smile in place, despite the wince inside. Those little bouts of rebellion are going to start costing her, she realized. They didn’t seem to miss much. She chuckled to herself and switched seats so one of them would be on either side of her.

She caught sight of her brother across the room with Tasha, Crystal, Wyatt, Katie and Tara. There was laughing and carrying plates filled with food. The entire atmosphere in the banquet hall flowed with friendship and love in too many directions to keep track of.

It felt good, she thought, smiling when her guys returned, each bearing two plates filled with choices. She immediately grabbed the plate with half a dozen salad choices and began eating, stopping only long enough when Jack laughed and bent down to kiss her before sitting at her left.

She waited, looking expectantly at Dane.

Maybe she was becoming acclimated. Maybe accepting. Maybe even expecting the affections they’d showered her with since meeting.

Dane met her gaze without moving. “It’s your call, Hayley. We don’t want to cause you trouble with your family or friends.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” she said quietly, the fork set down and momentarily forgotten.

Jack leaned back in the seat, his jacket open and reaching for the glass of ale he’d bought. He took a quiet swallow.

“It isn’t us who will be…criticized, Hayley,” he said when Dane kept silent.

“Because you kiss me?”

Dane laughed at the genuine surprise in her voice.

“Because we both kiss you, Hayley,” Dane said with a laugh, his head shaking before he mentally said, ‘fuck it,’ and bent to kiss her before sinking into his seat. “But we’d never deny our girl…without reason.”

Laughter was soft at the face she made with a wrinkled nose and tip of her tongue out at them.

“It doesn’t bother you what people might think?” Hayley asked after several quiet moments of enjoying the delicious buffet food.

“I guess I want to be naïve and think that my personal life is just that,” Jack said, scowling at the hoot of laughter from Dane. “But I know differently. I also know it won’t be us people target,” he repeated firmly. “It’s you we have to watch out for.”

“I’m not your responsibility,” she replied very softly. “It’s sweet of you…protective…but if I’m going to walk in the world with my decisions, I have to be strong enough to hold my head up and tell anyone who is less than positive that there isn’t room in my life for their manners. I’m not passing judgment upon them, and I expect the same courtesy in return.”

Jack leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “Hayley, we’ve been involved in this…lifestyle choice…a lot longer than you. We’ve learned a few things…”

“Usually the hard way,” Dane injected sourly. “When you make a statement like that, it usually ends up hurting.”

“It would be sad to lose friends or…well, friends…because of something I’ve selected to enjoy in my private life,” she said softly. “But no matter which way I chose, I’m hurt.” She peered deeply into the eyes of the two men with her. “Isn’t that a true statement?”

For a quiet moment, she didn’t expect them to respond. But that would definitely be outside the norm for either man, she thought. The sadness in their eyes made her smile and she placed a hand on each of theirs.

“You don’t have to answer. I can see it and feel it in your eyes. I’m a big girl…I’ll get over it, either way.”

“I’m not sure your family will say the same, Hayley.” Dane flipped his hand and closed it around hers. “But I’m more on the selfish side and not willing to lose you.”

Hayley knew the hand holding the fork shook. Visibly.

She let her gaze wander to the plates of food but barely saw more than color.

“It’s a lot more than play dates, Hayley,” Jack said softly, reaching over and pacing two fingers beneath her chin. “You can feel it, babe. I know you can.”

“That isn’t what was supposed to happen,” she said after a very long pause. She didn’t raise her gaze from the plate and didn’t get to see both the strong men in her life holding their breath.

“Was there a prearranged script to follow?” Dane asked solemnly.

She finally looked up, expecting to see humor on their faces but there was none.

“Would you date one of us and lock the other outside?” Jack’s hands were wrapped tightly around the frosted glass. There were no words, but her head shook very slightly, the word ‘no’ mouthed but it had no power behind it.

“Then eventually we’ll have to sit and have a semi-serious discussion about what life’s laid out in front of us,” Dane released a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“What have you done to her?”

Those words managed to snap Hayley out of the haze that surrounded her. She straightened in the chair, thick lashes blinking rapidly over slightly misty eyes. Her palms flattened on the table. The sigh that sifted through her lips told of her frustration. But she buried it and bounced back with a bright smile.

“Dell…how nice to see you!” She was up and around the table. Her arms rose and she hugged him tightly, relieved when he embraced her. “Be nice. They haven’t done anything to me.”

“I think you were wonderful on the stage, Hayley,” Tasha told her warmly, accepting her hug. “I wish you’d told us you were singing. The girls were bouncing all over their seats,” she said with a laugh. “Eden and you made the ranch very proud. I heard the grandparents were here, too.”

“Gram?” Hayley looked around the large room, searching. Her smile broadened and she reached for Jack’s hand and then Dane’s. “Come on…I want you to meet them.”

“Hayley, that isn’t a smart…” Dell began, his tone low and flat.

“I think it’s a very smart thing,” she interrupted, her chin tipped up. “I’m your grown-up little sister, Dell. I love you…you’ve been the best brother a girl could ever have…but I’m making my choices. And you know what? I’m making them smart because you are my brother.” She held up her hand when he started to speak. “I’m not the naïve little girl I was, Dell.”

Her smile was a little sad when she turned to find Jack and Dane watching her.

“If you don’t mind…I’d like to introduce you to my grandparents.”

Dane pursed his lips. “Are you sure about this, Hayley?”

“I didn’t think much of anything frightened you guys,” she teased lightly, leaning to the side and kissing him before turning to the other side and brushing her lips across Jack’s. “We’re friends out for a fun evening. It doesn’t have to be more than that as far as my family is concerned.”

“Family and Christmas,” Jack murmured, his hand sliding around her neck and holding her firmly in place. “After this, we’re going to Independence.”

“Yes, Sir,” she responded without hesitation.

“And if she didn’t want to?” Dell demanded, his hand out to clasp his sister’s wrist.

“She…has a voice and knows how to use it,” Hayley told him, pulling her wrist free and shaking her head. “I’m not getting through to you.”

Tasha took Dell’s hand, her head shaking slowly. “You don’t have to understand, but you do have to accept, Dell.”

“The hell I do,” he ground between his teeth as they walked away.

“You’re going to lose her,” Tasha whispered.

Hayley felt the tears slip from beneath lashes she’d squeezed tightly closed for a brief moment. She was glad she’d dropped their hands and brought her fingers to her face, swiping at the dampness angrily.

“Hayley…” Jack’s voice ached with the sorrow they could feel from her.

“Gram!” Hayley shook her head and flashed a bright smile. She wasn’t sure where she pulled it from, but she refused to allow it to slip again. Her arms went around her grandmother’s shoulders with a strong hug. “I didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”

“You should have told us, missy,” she chastised with a tsk of her tongue. A tone that slipped to a soft chuckle. “You were beautiful, Hayley.”

“She’s our granddaughter,” stated Neal Russell. “Of course she was beautiful. She has your lungs.”

“Oh, gramps…” the cry was soft and barely heard but she almost fell into his arms, her head on his shoulder and her hug tight.

“And don’t you let anyone stop that gorgeous smile I saw when you were singing up there, girl,” he whispered hoarsely. His hands moved to her shoulders with a confident squeeze. “Introduce us to your nervous looking friends.”

“I think our girl has inundated them with her exuberance with Christmas and thrown in a few relatives to sweeten the mix,” Charlotte Russell studied the handsome men standing before them. “Join us, please.”

“Dane Landon,” he said politely, offering his hand to each of them.

“Jack Bennett,” Jack spoke into the opening for their introduction.

“My grandmother, Charlotte and grandfather, Neal,” Hayley announced formally, wrinkling her nose at the laughter from the guys.

“My granddaughter has excellent taste,” Charlotte said with an approving nod at first Dane and then Jack. “I could tell from the look in her eyes…”

“I…Gram…”

“Take the boys and get something strong to drink, Neal. I want to have a talk with Hayley,” Charlotte said quietly, her smile soft when she met the gaze of her husband.

Hayley felt their confusion but swallowed and nodded when they seemed to be waiting for her agreement.

“Very considerate, too,” Charlotte stood and held her hand out to Hayley. “Walk with me. We need some privacy.” She gave her hand a firm squeeze. “And you keep your head high and dare anyone to ruin your happiness, child. And that includes your brother. His heart is in the right place, but he needs to open his mind.”

“Gram, you’re confusing me. I know Dell is a little confused, but they’re friends…”

“Sweetheart, I’m not new to the world. The look in their eyes…and the look in your eyes…” Charlotte sighed wistfully. “I know those feelings, Hayley.” She looked around the large room, selecting a corner off from the others and near the large Christmas tree. “Here…sit with me and talk.”

Hayley sat, her hands twisting nervously. “I can tell you about them…if that’s what you need to know.”

“Oh, child,” Charlotte laughed. “As soon as chatter reached your grandfather about your new friends, he knew everything there was to know about them. He’s become quite fast friends with several people at the resort and they are very good with sharing information. Not just about their business life, about their personalities…about how they treat others, workers and friends alike.”