One More Taste (One and Only Texas #2)(88)

Damn these paper-thin walls.

Wendell’s face was growing redder by the second, as though he was feeding off Ty’s agitated energy. “I knew it. There have been rumors flying around the golf course since you got here that you’re going to sell and we’ll all be laid off. Frankly, it’s no surprise to me that you’re the dick who’s selling out.” He emphasized the insult by getting up in Knox’s face.

“Wendell,” Haylie warned.

“Shut up, Haylie. Don’t you see what’s happening here? Or are you too busy jet-setting with him to Dallas on his private plane like a proper whore?”

Ty stepped between Wendell and Haylie. “Don’t you dare talk to my daughter that way.”

“Daddy, please. You’re not helping.” Haylie stepped around Ty and touched Wendell’s sleeve. “I’m not sleeping with Knox. I don’t even like him. I mean, not like that. He’s my cousin. You’re the only man for me.”

With a forty-eight hour deadline, Knox had way too much to do to stand there and placate an overgrown toddler like Wendell. “I’m going to try to stop the sale, so there’s no need to panic.” Yet, anyway. “Since you were listening in, you heard that they’re giving me a chance to make a counter-offer.”

“We heard,” Granny June said. “Do you think it’s possible?”

Ty snorted. “Hell, no, it ain’t. We heard that part of the meeting, too.”

This would have been so much easier had Knox simply invited them all to join him in the meeting. “I have to try, which means I need to leave and make some calls. You’re holding me up.”

Wendell took hold of Haylie’s arm. “Come on, babe. Let’s get out of here. Guess I’ve got a new job to find.”

Knox registered a flash of fear on Haylie’s face before she masked it. She did not want to go home with Wendell, as riled up as he was. Knox wasn’t the only one who’d noticed the manic look in his eyes.

“Can’t we stay and hear what Knox has to say about his counter-offer?” she squeaked.

“Don’t matter what he has to say. He’s nothing but scum. A Judas.” This time, when Wendell got all up in Knox’s face, he flicked the black Stetson off Knox’s head. “Let’s go, Haylie. Now.” And he snapped his fingers.

If Wendell took his anger about Knox and the Lux Universal offer out on Haylie, Knox would never forgive himself. “Wendell, why don’t you go on ahead? I’m going to need Haylie’s help, as my secretary. Her workday’s barely gotten started.”

“No way. She quits, too. We’re out of here. Haylie, kiss this lame-ass job goodbye.”

Granny June dropped onto the seat of her scooter and surged forward, rushing Wendell with her cane out like a jousting lance. “I don’t know what game you’re playing at, but Haylie does what she wants. She don’t respond to no man snapping his fingers at her like she’s a dog.”

Wendell pushed the cane aside and chuckled at her. “Well, ain’t you cute as a button, Granny? Pretending to be all mighty like that. In case you didn’t notice, Haylie’s my wife, so this is none of your business.”

“She may be your wife, but I’m not,” Ty said, stepping between Granny June’s scooter and Wendell. “And my mother’s right. You don’t get to snap your fingers and order my little girl around. If I ever hear you do that again, we’re gonna step outside and I’ll personally teach you some manners.”

Haylie took hold of Ty’s arm and tried to pull him away from his staring match with Wendell. “Dad, butt out. Please. All of you, just back off. You have your own problems to deal with. Stop taking them out on Wendell. He’s right. We’re husband and wife, and what we do is none of any of your business.”

With that, she took Wendell by the hand and marched with him toward the employee exit. Behind his back, Wendell held up his middle finger.

They hadn’t made it to the door yet when Ty’s, Granny June’s, and Haylie’s phones all chimed with a text. Granny June was the first to read it off. “It’s Decker. Carina’s water broke and they’re on their way to the hospital.”

Haylie pulled away from Wendell’s arm. “Oh, cool. She’s three days early! Change of plans, Wendell. We’ll meet you guys at the hospital.”

Wendell snared Haylie around the waist with his arm. “Naw. No change of plans. We’re going home. I’m sick of your stupid family and I’m ready for a beer.”

Knox had never felt more helpless—to rescue Haylie, to save the resort, to win Emily’s love. He stared down at his hands, stunned by the swift, sharp fall over the cliff his life had taken. And now, in the midst of it all, Carina was giving birth.

Granny June’s cold, wrinkled hand settled on Knox’s forearm. “I’ll ride with you. We got a lot to discuss.”

Knox did not have time for this. The best gift he could give Carina was to save her home. “I think you should ride with Ty. I’m pretty sure I won’t be welcome there and I’ve got a lot to do.”

“Nonsense. I know I’ve done a lousy job teaching you this, and I can’t blame your mama and daddy, but the whole point of family is to weather storms together. I failed you on that point too many times. I’m hoping you’ll give this old bat one last chance to show you the strength of our bonds. Like it or not, you’re a part of our family, Knox. I’m not letting you go this time. No matter what.”