Junkyard Dog (21 page)

I
f not for our reservation, we likely wouldn’t have
gotten a table. The restaurant is packed when we arrive. I know Hayes hates
these crowded spots, and he’s likely sick of so many people. He shows none of
his annoyance, though.

Standing over everyone around him, Hayes owns this
place as he does everywhere we go. I love how people move out of his way. When
they try to hold their ground, he gives them a look that gets their asses
moving. Well, except for the little old ladies near our table. He patiently
waits for them to pass us with their walkers.

“Such a good boy,” I tease, as he pulls back my
chair. “Mama raised you right.”

“She said good manners tricked people into thinking
you were a good person.”

“Wise.”

Hayes sits in the chair closest to mine and takes
the menu. We order steaks because nothing will improve his mood like red meat.

“Long day,” I say, running my index finger along
his slightly burned nose.

“Your kids are well behaved. You did good, Candy. I
was worried they’d whine, and I’d need to duck out and hide.”

“They’re happy to be here. They also like you.”

“Cricket isn’t sure about that,” he says, giving me
a pouty frown.

“She’s afraid you’ll steal me away. I haven’t had a
boyfriend since she was born, so this is new to her.”

“I’m glad I’m not the only one sweating shit.”

“Chipper thinks you’re a superhero.”

Hayes grins as if he feels like a superhero. “He's
an easy kid to win over.”

“Don’t be fooled. He’s just sneakier than Cricket.
My kids are well behaved, but they’re devious. Never assume they aren’t working
an angle.”

Hayes loses his smile. “They’re kids.”

“So were you once.”

“True.”

“I adore them because they’re devious. They don’t
sit around expecting life to hand them crap. The Wilburns never get things
easily. We have to wade through the bullshit to find our happiness.”

“You're happy now, right?”

“Yes, Angus. I was nervous about the trip, but spending
time with you and the kids today was magic.”

“Well, it is Disney World.”

“With anyone else, it wouldn’t be as good. You were
really funny today with the kids. I liked when you held their balloons. In
fact, I think I have a picture of you playing their mule.”

Hayes grins. “I love you, Candy. I’m not always
going to be a pleasure to be around, and running White Horse can make me an
asshole. Still I’ll always put you and the kids first.”

“Put yourself first too,” I say, taking his hand.
“You’re not a machine. All these years, you’ve worked so hard and barely taken
any time to enjoy what you’ve built. I see what the groups in Common Bend and
Hickory Creek built, but they did it with a group. You made decisions alone.
That’s fucking amazing, and I want you to sit back and let the success sink
in.”

Hayes considers my words for a few minutes before
speaking. “I’ve wanted to ease off the pedal the last few years, but I never
had anything else to do with myself. Moot is the only guy I hang out with, and
he was in prison. My dad never wanted to leave the house. No woman interested
me. Work and Nightmare were all I had that gave me any pleasure. Then you
walked into my office.”

“You were so hot that first day. I don’t know if I
ever told you that, but damn.”

Hayes gives me one of his arrogant male smiles. I
give him an approving glance. He looks pretty damn sexy tonight wearing all
black with a buttoned up shirt and jeans. I let my fingers caress his strong
thigh until he removes my hand.

“Spending the night with a raging hard-on isn’t my
idea of comfortable.”

“Yes, but the kids will crash early tonight from
all the walking. I can help you deal with your raging hard-on.”

“Then give it to me closer to the dealing with it
part.”

I scoot my chair closer to him and lean my cheek
against his arm. “I used to fear falling in love. I thought it would make me
fucking stupid, but except for the one night when I wanted to hump you in the
house while the kids were upstairs, I’ve remained relatively smart. And you
protected me when I did lose control.”

“I’ll always protect you.”

His tone sends waves of heat through me. I admire
the hard-fucking, ass-kicking, tough side of Hayes, yet always find his gentle
side a welcome surprise.

Our food arrives, and Hayes eats like a man starving.
I take my time with the steak and enjoy the chunky mashed potatoes. I moan
approvingly about the food while stealing glances at Hayes. Tonight, when the
kids are asleep in the next room, I plan to have raunchy fun with this man.

Halfway through the meal, Hayes places a small
black box on the table and slides it over to me. He doesn’t look my direction
or say a word. Once the box is next to my plate, he returns to eating.

I glance at the box but don’t reach for it. I’m
nervous in a way I shouldn't be. I feel as if I open the box I will be forever
changed. I know what’s inside. Hayes didn’t buy me earrings or a necklace. I
don’t wear jewelry. He wouldn’t waste money on what I wouldn’t use. No, I know
what he’s bought. If I open it, I will need to answer him, and I’m unsure of my
answer.

Why is he in such a rush? Why can’t he be patient
and enjoy what we have? Why can’t loving me be enough? Why are my hands
shaking?

I rest them on my lap and lean back in the booth.
Staring at the box, I’m afraid of this new step. If I say yes, I’ll create a
million changes in our lives. If I say no, I don’t think Hayes’s ego will allow
him to remain with me. He can’t be patient because he isn’t a patient man. He
wants what he wants, and he gets what he wants.

And he wants me.

The fact is I want him too. The changes might scare
the shit out of me. I also worry about the kids’ reaction to more upheaval in
their young lives. Despite all of my fears, I love Hayes like I’ll never love
anyone else. I have no doubt he’ll love and care for me like he’s never done another
person. I’ve clawed my way into his heart and made him acknowledge his
feelings. I can’t reject him now. Even at my cruelest, I wouldn’t have the
heart to break a man like Hayes.

“Did you buy yourself one?” I ask, returning to
eating.

“Why would I?”

“So women will know you’re taken and not to mess
with my man.”

Hayes never stops eating, but I catch him grin.
“Good point. Women are always throwing themselves at me. I should put an ‘out
of business’ sign on me somewhere.”

“When we get back to White Horse, I'll buy you
something big and gaudy.”

“Are you going to open it?” he asks, glancing at
the box.

“Do you want me to start crying in public?”

“No. In fact, I might bolt if you start that shit.”

Grinning, I shrug. “Well, then I best not open it.
I’d hate to embarrass myself or force you to run.”

“Good plan. I hate running. I’ll do it if I get to
crush someone at the end, but just to run, no, I’d rather not.”

I lean my head against his shoulder and sigh. “I
love you, Angus Fishhead Hayes.”

“Fishhead?”

“I don’t know your middle name, and I thought that
one fit.”

“It’s Michael.”

“Oh, that’s much better.”

Hayes nuzzles my forehead with his lips. “What’s
your middle name? You didn’t put it on any of your forms.”

“Don’t laugh.”

“I promise nothing,” he says, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s Corn.”

Hayes snorts. “Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I am,” I say, grinning at his expression. “My
mother didn’t give me a middle name. She said the only one she liked was
“Cane,” but she thought it might make me hate her. She wanted Pot for Honey and
Moss for Peat.”

“What about the twins?”

“They’re both Eddison. I figured if they had good
middle names they’d resent using their silly first ones. I think silly names
make people stronger.”

“Didn’t help Honey.”

“Oh, I don’t know. There’s a tough chick inside her
somewhere. She just hasn’t been introduced yet.”

Hayes kisses my forehead and then my lips. I moan
at the taste of steak on his tongue, but he won’t let the kiss deepen.

“If we have a son, his middle name can be Peat,” he
says, returning to his steak. “I do insist we spell it correctly.”

“What if we only have girls, or I can’t get
pregnant because your sperm is faulty? What will you do for an heir?”

“First, girls can be heirs as long as they act like
me. Second, there is nothing wrong with my sperm. Third, if all else fails, I
have your kids. They’re smart, and I’m fairly sure I can turn Cricket into a
no-nonsense badass.”

“She does have the bitchy thing down.”

“I like how she stares at people until they’re uncomfortable.
I wasn’t even that big a jerk at her age. She’s advanced, I guess.”

Smiling, I take a deep breath and accept Hayes and
I are getting married. I’ll be this man’s wife. I might even have more
children. I hadn’t believed we’d arrive at this moment since Hayes can be a
tricky man to read. Now he’s put all his cards out on the table and made clear
what he wants.

B
althazar’s skin glows from yesterday’s spa
treatment. I want to mock the old man for getting a facial, but I keep my mouth
shut instead. Later, Candy and I can giggle at Dad’s expense. For now, I’m on
my best behavior. Though I think I’m giving myself hemorrhoids from behaving
for so long.

On our second to last day at Disney World, we take
out two golf carts and spend the early morning enjoying a manicured course.
Candy drives her cart as well as she does her car, meaning I have to veer out
of her way repeatedly to avoid colliding. She flips me off and tells me to stay
in my lane.

“She’s an awful driver,” Balthazar says, sitting
next to me.

“I’m not marrying her for her driving.”

“Are you sure you want to settle down? Kids are a
big hassle.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I mutter.

“You were good, but her kids might be evil. I’ve
never trusted twins.”

“They’re good kids. They just like messing with
people. They get that from Candy.”

“Lizzy Anne says Candy is a gold digger.”

Imagining the housekeeper relaxing at the pool, I
wonder if I should have a few words with her when we get back.

“Lizzy Anne’s opinion doesn’t mean shit to me.”

“You ought to get a prenuptial. I saw on TV how you
need one.”

“Well, if it’s on TV, it must be true.”

“Don’t mock me, boy,” he says, frowning under his
goofy, wide hat.

“If I want to piss away my money on a woman I love,
what’s it to you or Lizzy Anne?”

“Just looking out for you.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I like Candy,” Baltazar says. “She’s a horrible
driver and will probably kill you while you sleep, but I think she’ll make a
good mother to your kids. That’ll be important after you’re dead.”

Rolling my eyes, I look at Candy doing circles
around the next hole. “Candy is my Gladys. I’ll be happy to die first, so I
don’t have to live without her.”

Balthazar frowns at me. He’s probably pissed at me
for comparing his precious wife to my future precious wife. Or maybe he thinks
it’s strange to see me sentimental. Either way, I park the cart next to Candy’s
and climb out.

“My grandpa crashed his cart one time,” Chipper
tells me as I carry the club to where the ball rests.

“Old people aren’t great drivers. They’re usually
better than your mother, though.”

Candy pokes me with her club and then plays swords
with Cricket.

“No, Grandpa was drunk when he crashed.”

“Well, that would do it,” I say, leveling the club
with the ball.

Chipper watches me hit the ball and then imitates
me when I cover my eyes to see where it landed. Balthazar stands next to me and
shakes his head.

“You’re rusty. I best take you golfing more often
back in White Horse.”

I smile at his comment before hiding my grin by
scratching my beard. Chipper scratches his chin like I did. He follows me
around, imitating my every move. Chipper even decides to join me in my cart,
and not because he’s afraid of his mother’s driving.

Candy and Cricket have no interest in golfing
today. They keep mentioning how much better miniature golfing is and how this
course needs more windmills. I consider telling them to wait for us at the
hotel if they’re so bored, but the girls have fun goofing around in the cart
and acting out scenes from
Caddy Shack
.
At least for the first hour.

“We’re thinking about going back to the park and
shop for souvenirs,” Candy says while adjusting my baseball cap. “You and
Balthazar can spend quality time alone.”

“What about this little man?” I ask, patting
Chipper’s shoulder.

The boy stares at me and then looks at his mother
before finally focusing on his sister. He doesn’t know where he wants to go. He
likely wants to go with his mom and sister but is afraid to leave my side.

“This kind of golf is pretty boring for a kid your
age. Why don’t you go with your mom?” I suggest and then add, “When we get back
to White Horse, we’ll go to a miniature golf course. I own one, you know?”

Chipper looks back at Candy. “We’ll go to his
miniature golf course when we get home,” he tells her, and I realize the kid is
nearly in tears.

Kneeling down, Candy hugs him and whispers
something in his ear. He nods and a single tear spills down his cheek. Her
fingers tickle at his gut, and he laughs. Just like that, he’s happy again.

“We’ll see you back at the hotel,” she tells me and
stands on her tippy toes to kiss me goodbye. “Call me when you’re done here, so
we can meet you.”

“Have fun. If anyone messes with you, call me.”

Candy walks to the cart before glancing back with a
smile. “It’s Disney World, boss. No one is going to mess with us.”

Sitting next to her brother in the cart, Cricket
says, “If they do, I’ll nail them in the balls.”

Before I can respond, Candy speeds away. I watch
her make sharp turns and hear the kids screaming in delight. They’re as bad as
she is.

“I don’t like her,” Balthazar says after taking his
shot and missing badly. “I’ll take the penalty.”

“Why exactly don’t you like her?”

“She hassles Lizzy Anne.”

Picking up the balls, I walk to the cart. “Lizzy
Anne’s job is to take care of you. Candy’s job is to make sure Lizzy Anne takes
care of you. She stays on her ass, so I don’t have to.”

“She’s too rude about it.”

“That’s how Candy is.”

“No, she’s nice to me. She only gives Lizzy Anne
shit,” Balthazar says, sitting next to me.

“She’s only nice to you because she thinks she has
to be. Candy is rude to pretty much everyone. She regularly hangs up on people
for mumbling on the phone or if they mispronounce my name or a million other
reasons. She annoys half of my employees and the other half straight out hate
her. Lizzy Anne isn’t special.”

Balthazar says nothing until we stop at the next
hole. He’s slow to leave the cart, and I suspect he’s already tired.

“So she’s like a girl version of you.”

“Yeah.”

“No wonder you love her. You’ve always been
arrogant,” he says, winking at me and then sliding out of the cart. “Figures
you’d want to marry yourself.”

After Balthazar realizes Candy isn’t gunning for
Lizzy Anne, he’s on board with the marriage. No more talk of gold diggers or
evil children. He’s a happy motherfucker even though I kick his ever loving ass
the rest of the afternoon. The poor bastard finally gives up and watches me. I
admit showing off a little for dear old dad. Clearly spending time with the
twins has put me in a childlike mood.