My One and Only(32)
“I know Lorelei and Spencer were at one of those Ruby meetings tonight,” she said. “What were you up to?”
“Same thing they were,” he answered.
She stiffened. “You’re on that theater committee?” She sounded as if he’d admitted to smuggling drugs.
“I haven’t been on it for long, but yeah. I’m putting together a classic car rally as a fundraiser.”
Her hand slid down to his shoulder. “Good for you,” she said, sounding less than impressed.
“What do you have against restoring an old theater?” Glossy lips flattened as she shook her head but failed to meet his eye. “Come on, Hal. What gives?”
“It just irks me,” she snapped. “Some dilapidated building has become a top priority in this town while real issues are ignored. Women like Jessi have no place to go, but heaven forbid we not save an old theater.”
Surprised by the sudden burst of anger, Cooper had no idea how to respond. Lucky for him, the last notes of the song kept him from having to.
“Thanks for the dance,” she said, exiting the floor at a full trot.
Cooper didn’t like Jessi’s lack of options any more than Haleigh did, but he didn’t see how restoring a theater added to the problem.
As he stared after Haleigh, the next song started and dancers began shuffling around him. Before he could step off the floor, a hand clasped his arm.
“Hey there, Coop. Long time no see.” Heavy-lashed hazel eyes looked up in invitation. “You haven’t forgotten about me, have you?”
“Hi, Daisy,” he said. “No, I haven’t forgotten. I’ve just been busy.”
Cooper had dated Daisy Carmichael for the first couple months of the year, until the day she’d snapped his head off for canceling a date without enough notice. The sweet girl with the ready laugh had revealed her claws and an impressive collection of colorful insults—some he’d never heard before.
Having grown up with a quick-tempered father and bearing witness to the abuse his mother had endured, Cooper had no intention of stepping into a similar situation.
He’d ended the relationship within the week.
In a full-on pout, the curvy redhead trailed a finger down Cooper’s forearm as she edged in closer. “You don’t look too busy now,” she cooed. “You aren’t going to leave a girl stranded on the dance floor, are you?”
Reluctant to hurt her feelings, or test her fiery temper, he agreed to one dance. “All right, Daisy. Let’s take a spin.”
Haleigh returned to the table to find her drink waiting. She reached for the self-talk and affirmations that would keep the glass on the table. Listened for Raquel’s voice of reason in her head only to find her mother’s glacial tone.
By all means, don’t let me keep you.
She proceeded to down the concoction in one swallow.
“Whoa,” Carrie said. “You might want to slow down there.”
Excellent advice, except one shot was all she’d needed to cross the line. Haleigh caught a passing waitress’s eye and raised her glass. “Another rum and Coke when you get a chance.” The order was acknowledged with a nod and the waitress melted into the crowd. “I need a beer chaser for that,” Haleigh murmured as heat scorched her esophagus. Motioning toward the longneck in front of Carrie, she said, “Are you drinking that?”
“Not anymore,” Carrie answered, sliding the bottle Haleigh’s way. “You seem to need it more than I do.”
“Good observation.” After a long draw, Haleigh wiped her mouth on the cuff of her jacket. The beer cooled her throat but did nothing for the heat pumping elsewhere. Not only was she drowning in her mother’s disapproval, but her body had developed more than a passing fancy for her hard-bodied dance partner.
She shouldn’t have snapped at him like that. Haleigh had been angry at herself. Angry for being there. Angry for wanting him. Angry that a young girl and her baby had some limited resources in a country as wealthy as theirs.
“Are you part of that stupid Ruby Restoration thing with the rest of them?” she asked Carrie.
“Afraid I’m too busy restoring my own life to worry about an old theater,” the single mother replied. “But what do you have against restoring the Ruby?”
“Nothing,” Haleigh answered. “Everything. I mean, there are a lot of things this area needs. A renovated movie theater should not be at the top of the list, you know?”
Carrie nodded. “I do know. Dr. Mitchner—”
“Stop calling me Dr. Mitchner,” Haleigh interrupted. “I just drank your beer, for heaven’s sake. Pretty sure that puts us on a first-name basis.” Realizing that Cooper hadn’t returned to the table with her, she glanced back to the dance floor. “Where did he go?”