Page 31 of Country Mist

More than anything, he loved the person she was within. She was lovely inside and out.

When she had disappeared into the insurance agency, he jogged across the street to Arizona Savings Bank. He stopped in front of the revolving door. A man came out and bumped into him hard enough to make him take a step back.

Tyson narrowed his gaze and looked into the glaring face of Clint Taylor. “Stay the fuck out of my way,” Clint said in a hard voice before he strode away.

What the hell? Tyson shook off the encounter and headed through the revolving door and into the bank.

The tellers and managers were the same women who had worked there when he was in middle school. They’d all been in their early twenties at the time, and he could swear the six of them hadn’t aged a day since then. They’d made it through three or four bank changes as they were sold and bought out and survived it all.

“Hey, Michelle.” Tyson reached the first available teller. “How are the grandkids?”

“Precious as ever.” Michelle gave him a mischievous smile. “I can spoil them, send them home, and let them terrorize their parents.”

Tyson grinned as she took his deposit, which was from his most recent sale to an elderly buyer who was old-school and insisted on paying with a handwritten check. He trusted the man, and his checks always cleared, so Tyson didn’t have a problem with it.

They chatted a bit as he made the deposit. “Would you like me to write the amount in your checking account on your deposit slip?” Michelle asked.

“No, I’ve got it.” He knew every dollar he made and spent. And soon, he might be making a hell of a big purchase if he did buy out Goldman.

He mentally shook his head at the thought of Haylee teasing him about becoming a jerky tycoon.

Michelle smiled. “See you next time.”

“You bet.” Tyson gave her a nod before he strode into the revolving door, which spit him out onto the sidewalk.

It reminded him of his literal run-in with Clint Taylor. He had a feeling the man had purposely slammed into him. Then he remembered that Taylor had tried to cut in with Haylee at the barn dance, and Tyson had all but told him Haylee was his for the night. She had dated Taylor and broke up with him in the past, but it was clear the man wanted her back.

Well, he sure as hell wasn’t getting her. She belonged to Tyson now, and he was never letting her go.

He let out a harsh breath. Haylee wouldn’t take too kindly to Tyson’s thoughts about her, the caveman part of him forcing itself through. He’d keep those thoughts to himself.

As he headed back to his truck, his cell rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the screen. Goldman.

He brought the phone to his ear. “Donovan here.”

“Tyson, my boy.” Goldman sounded like his usual cheerful, enthusiastic self. “The lawyers have looked the books over frontward and backward, and they’ll have a report to you by the end of the week.”

“Looking forward to taking a look at them.” Tyson gripped the phone as he reached the parking lot where he’d left his truck. He beeped the doors open with the remote. “I’ll call you when I’ve had a chance to go through it.”

He ended the call with Goldman and climbed into his truck. He started the vehicle, his mind full between his ranch, the potential purchase of the jerky company—and Haylee most of all.

Tyson was glad to have the time with her tomorrow, even though he knew she’d be busy as hell. sShe was never far from his thoughts, and he looked forward to every minute with her.

Ah, hell. He needed to get his head back on straight sooner rather than later.

8

Haylee hadn’t doubted Tyson’s word, but it was still a surprise to see him waiting for her at two p.m. at the town’s one and only park, where the event was to be held in just a couple of hours.

Her throat grew tight at the sight of him leaning up against his truck with his arms folded across his broad chest, his Stetson low on his brow, shading his eyes from the bright sunlight. He pushed his hat up with one finger, letting her see the intense blue of his gaze and the way he seemed to be drinking her in. A slow smile curved his lips, causing a thrill to shoot through her.

“You’re here.” She smiled.

He moved away from the vehicle. “Ready and waiting for your instructions.”

Haylee unlocked the camper shell window on the bed of her truck. “I have plenty for you to carry to set next to the gazebo by the pond.” She raised the window, unlocked the tailgate, and lowered it. She stepped aside and gestured to the boxes inside. “Take them away.”

“Your wish is my command.” Tyson took her into his arms and kissed her in a way that made her feel as if forever with him was possible.

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