Page 21 of Country Mist

“Oh man, I am living vicariously through you.” Leeann shook her head, her hair falling forward from behind her ears. “I haven’t found an available man who interests me. The good ones are taken.”

“I’m with you.” Jill sighed. “The sexiest cowboys are in committed relationships or married.”

Leeann groaned. “Maybe we should go outside of King Creek.”

“Carl was an out-of-towner, and look where that got me.” Jill looked disgusted. “And Clint just moved here not that long ago.”

“Because his daddy did.” Haylee grimaced. “If there was ever a daddy’s boy, that’s Clint, and he gets away with everything he can.” Her grimace turned into a scowl. “Three months of my life, wasted.”

“Better than an entire year—plus.” Jill’s scowl was probably worse than Haylee’s. “How could I have not known what a cheater he is?”

“Don’t feel bad, Jill. Some people are good at pretending to be a decent human being when they’re garbage.” Leeann shifted in her seat. “Carl did a great job faking it.”

“Forget the bastard.” Jill waved it all away. “I’m done ever talking about him, so his name is now vanquished from conversation. Deal?”

“I wish I had a margarita, and I’d drink to it.” Haylee smiled. “Let’s not talk about Clint, either. We’ll call them the ‘unmentionables.’”

“Hear, hear.” Jill laughed. “Perfect.”

Grinning, Haylee looked out the picture window. Across the street, she saw one of the unmentionables, and he was looking in her direction. Her smile vanished. Could he see through the spa window?

At least Jill didn’t have to worry about running into Carl in their small town. Clint, on the other hand, she saw often when she was out and about. He worked for his dad in the feed store but was hanging out all over town more than in his daddy’s business.

She cut her attention away from the street, back to her sisters, who were chatting about their brothers and sisters-in-law.

“Everyone’s had babies or pregnant.” Leeann sighed. “I’d never really thought about having children. I assumed I would someday. And now I’m nearing thirty, and I hear my biological clock ticking.”

“I’m right there with you, sister,” Jill said.

“When I was young, I was such a tomboy and didn’t get into Barbies or baby dolls.” Haylee thought about those long-ago days. “Motherhood was something I never considered.” She shrugged. “Now, I don’t know—I guess it will depend on the future.”

“Tyson is definite daddy material.” Leeann cocked her head. “I can just see him rocking a baby to sleep in his big, strong arms.”

Haylee shook her head even as she saw the image so clearly in her. Tyson would look so sexy and masculine with a baby in his arms, and she knew he’d be a great father.

“Too soon to start thinking about things like that.” Haylee saw that the tech was done with her pedicure. She wiggled her toes again. “I now have extremely happy feet.”

And right now, a very happy heart.

* * *

“I am considering your proposal, Henry.” Tyson leaned back in his desk chair behind his antique oak desk with one of his two border collies, Freya, curled up next to his chair. “I’d like to get a good deal of information from you before I take that step.”

“I knew you would, my boy.” Goldman sounded pleased. “Our lawyers can get together to review Dutchman’s Gold’s books and hammer out a deal.”

Tyson shook his head. He was seriously considering going into the jerky business, but there were a lot of steps between here and there.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Tyson tapped a pen on the calendar pad on his desktop. “I need to know what I’d be getting into before I make an offer if I do.”

“I want my company in good hands, son,” Henry said. “I’m willing to sell it to you for a price no one else could get. I’ve got all the cash I need—I want to make sure my pride and joy is taken care of.”

Tyson almost said, “It will be,” but cut himself off before he could. He had to make a sound business decision. He didn’t want to end up in debt, biting off more than he could chew. He had a more than successful ranch, solid investments, and money in the bank. He’d done better than even he had dreamed.

Adding a small-batch regional beef jerky business could be an excellent investment. But first, he had to make sure he ticked off all the necessary boxes.

“Give your lawyer my number, and I’ll put her in touch with mine, and we’ll go from there. I want you to feel good about owning my company—which will be yours,” Henry said. “Ask as many questions as you need to.”

Tyson’s chair squeaked as he leaned forward. “I’ll call her in the morning, then we’ll see.”

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