The door opened one more time, and Tucker Brennan walked in wearing a fine-looking Stetson along with dark pressed jeans, a pale blue Oxford shirt and a navy blazer. She bit her bottom lip, not because he filled the doors with his broad shoulders, but because of the smile that lit up his face the moment he saw her.
“Oh…okay,” Sadie murmured as she put four beers down on the table. “So they weren’t exaggerating.”
“Hush,” Annie whispered as she went to welcome him, trying her best not to mentally replay last night’s kisses.
It didn’t take long for everyone to take their seats and for Annie to make introductions. She sat Tucker at one end of the table, and she took her place at the other. Which might have been a mistake from the way she kept getting caught on his gaze.
But somehow she managed to begin the meeting in what was considered parliamentary procedure for Blackfoot Falls. Everybody raised and seconded everything. At least at the start.
Up until she called for new business. That’s when Tucker stood. Took off his hat. Reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a slip of paper.
“I’ve been spending some time at Safe Haven, and I’m very impressed with the operation. I’ve seen facilities with much more do a lot less. I applaud you all for doing your part for animals in need.” He paused, glanced around at everyone, but settled his gaze on Annie. “This is a check. It’s not from the Rocking B Foundation. I don’t make the call on who gets foundation funds. This is a personal check, one that I hope will help as you continue to develop the sanctuary. There are no strings attached―it’s to be spent at your discretion.”
He walked around the table and handed the check to Annie. When she looked at it, she gasped at the amount. Twenty thousand dollars. What she could do with twenty grand was more than she could comprehend. She blinked up at Tucker, then turned to the others. “We can get the engine. We can fix the tractor.” She looked again at the check to make sure she wasn’t crazy, then back at Tucker.
“I believe in what you’re doing,” he said. “I believe in you.”
Annie’s heart nearly stopped. His message was completely heartfelt in its honesty. She’d have been thrilled beyond measure if only he’d stopped with that first sentence. Because believing in her was believing a lie.
“WELL, I SAY WE USE THE REST of the money to build a quarantine barn,” the gray-haired gent who owned the variety store said, his big hand almost dwarfing his beer mug.
Tucker spared him a glance, but only that. The same was true for the others. He only had eyes for one person, and it killed him that he’d had no choice but to return to his seat at the far end of the table. Since it would’ve been highly inappropriate to kiss her in the middle of the board meeting. He’d settle for staring into her gorgeous blue eyes.
“We should invest in some of them big internet sales things.” This from another old man, Cy Heber, who looked as worn as the creaking weather vane atop the Safe Haven barn. “Those ads just keep on popping up no matter what, so they’re bound to get folks’ attention.”
“Heber, that’s spam,” Jesse said, doing an admirable job of keeping a straight face. “Besides, we’re already doing two internet campaigns.”
Tucker watched as Annie finally put the check in her pocket and focused her entire attention on him. But instead of the heated glances from before, she seemed more confused than the money warranted. He would’ve liked her to smile at least, but he figured she was having mixed feelings.
He wanted her to know he was on her side. No matter what happened later with the information George gathered, where the chips fell, he needed Annie to believe that he had faith in her. That check meant something to him, as well. He never had been and never would be cavalier about his wealth, inherited or earned. Damn, he couldn’t wait until there were no more secrets between them. But for now, he hoped his gesture would ease her mind in some small way.
The older cowboy, Will, said, “I think we should hire someone who can be there for Annie so that she doesn’t have to work three hundred sixty-five days a year. A person needs to have some time off.”
That made Annie turn. “I don’t need any such thing.”
Everyone started talking at once, except for Shea, who just shook her head. In fact, she’d said very little since the meeting started forty minutes ago.
Sadie slammed her hands down on the table so hard and loud she brought the chatter to a halt. “Quiet, all of you. What we’re gonna do with that check is just what we’ve done with every other donation. Leave it to Annie. She knows better than all of us combined what Safe Haven needs. And if you don’t agree, I’m bringing this meeting to a close right this second, and you can all pay for your own damn beer.”
Finally, Tucker got his smile from Annie.
ANNIE WANTED TO HUG SADIE for stopping the free-for-all the board meeting had become. It was torture sitting with all these people. It was no picnic sitting across from Tucker, either.
The check and all it meant hadn’t truly hit yet. Big ideas like gratitude and what she could do with so much money were right beside the echo of his words, his belief in her that made her want to weep until next week.
If he knew the truth, would he have been so quick to give her anything? No, of course not. Who would? But then, his generosity hadn’t been toward Leanna Warner, and she couldn’t forget that. The whole point of staying in Safe Haven was to do everything in her power to help the cause. To hide her mistakes in a coffee can under her bed, and dedicate her days and hours to something worthwhile.
The smart thing would be to continue on as if nothing had changed. In truth, nothing had. Except for the extra-large infusion of guilt.
Oh, and wanting Tucker so badly she found it hard to breathe.
She’d agonized for hours last night and before the meeting, berating herself for kissing him when there was so much at stake. Intellectually she knew that Tucker wasn’t using his position to manipulate her, and she wasn’t trying to use their attraction for her own benefit. But the check and the confirmation that the foundation would make an independent decision took care of any lingering doubts.
Forcing herself to tie up the meeting, to actually speak to Will and Cy and the rest of the board and really listen, put more strain on her than she’d have guessed. Tucker was there, right there, and every step closer made her want him more.
Shea and Jesse lingered after the others had left, taking the time to thank Tucker and to ask him what kind of receipt he’d like for the donation.
Annie figured that would be it. Because she had a hell of a lot to do.
“You going back to Safe Haven?” Shea asked.
Annie shook her head. “I’d like to go to Kalispell and deposit the check. Tucker’s bank has a branch there. Maybe I can keep out enough money for the engine so we can order it today. Spring will be gone before we know it.”
Tucker, who’d been speaking to Jesse, joined Shea and Annie. “I could take you to the bank. Make sure you get whatever cash you need.”
“No, that’s okay,” Annie said, ordering herself not to be nervous just because he was a foot away. “I’ll have to get back to Safe Haven tonight, and you don’t want to make all those trips. Not if you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“I’m a damn good customer of that bank. If I’m with you, they’ll let you have the whole check in cash if you want.” He smiled, lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug. “And hey, maybe we