Page 54 of Country Mist

Haylee leaned into Tyson, and he settled his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to him. Their gazes met.

“Ready to go?” he murmured in her ear.

“I’ve had enough of ghosts.” She shivered as they walked away and kept her voice low. “Even if that woman was merely an actress.”

“I hear you, honey.” He kept her close as they walked through the dark streets back to the truck parked near the courthouse.

Once they returned to the truck and headed home to King Creek, Tyson linked his fingers with Haylee’s on the console. “Did you enjoy the day as much as I did?”

She turned to look at him and studied his strong features in the amber glow of the dashboard lights. “I’ve had such a terrific time with you this entire weekend, Tyson. Thank you.”

He flashed her a quick smile and turned back to the highway. “You made our time together wonderful.”

She leaned back against the seat. “It’s a long way home.”

“Only three hours, give or take.” He cast her a glance. “I don’t mind the extra time with you.”

“True, there’s that.” She smiled. “This has been the best weekend ever.”

“Yep.” He gave a nod. “But you know what, hon? I think things can only get better between us.”

Haylee studied him. At that moment, with perfect crystal clarity, she knew the truth.

She was truly, absolutely, madly in love with Tyson.

14

Rain pounded the roof of Haylee’s truck as she drove through town, her windshield wipers furiously going back and forth, back and forth. The water came down so thick it was like milk and sounded like a drumbeat on her truck cab.

She’d picked a hell of a day to go to the bank.

She smiled. The rain could come down even harder, and she wouldn’t mind. Happiness welled inside her as she thought about the amazing weekend she and Tyson had just shared.

The gold hunting trip where they’d found the prospector’s ancient tintypes and letter, the night at the BBQ place and laying under the stars. Their day in Tombstone had been filled with shootouts, shopping, getting their pictures taken, and a ghostly evening.

Heat rushed over her as she thought of the best thing of all—making love with Tyson.

What filled her with warmth and wonder was that she was in love. She loved Tyson Donovan.

Did he feel the same way? He cared for her, she knew that much. It might take time for him to fall in love with her. She could wait.

Haylee pulled her truck into Arizona Savings Bank’s paved lot, the rain so hard she could barely see the lines to make sure she parked straight.

Damn it, she’d forgotten to put an umbrella in the truck. She hurried out of the vehicle and locked the door with the fob as she jogged to the bank entrance. Icy rain soaked her hair and clothing almost instantly. The rain smelled of water and life, and she caught the scent of earth from the mud beneath her feet.

She reached the revolving door, pushed through it, and stepped onto the bank lobby’s marble tile. Water dripped into a pool around her feet, and she winced at the mess she was making.

Lank, wet hair hung around her cheeks, and she pushed it away from her face. She tasted the rain on her lips.

Behind her, chill air flooded the lobby, along with the sound of the downpour and the sweet scent of the rain. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at the sight of Tyson coming through the revolving door, water dripping off his western hat, and she faced him.

His firm lips curved into a grin. “Fancy meeting you here, hon.” He swept her into his arms, rain-drenched and all, and kissed her firmly.

She laughed as they parted. “You’d think we hadn’t just seen each other last night.” He’d dropped her off close to midnight when they’d returned from Tombstone.

He leaned in, his lips close to her ear, his tone rough like gravel in a box. “I can’t get enough of you.”

His lips met hers again, and she felt swept away in the rush of emotion and desire.

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