ya know?”
“Smart woman,” he chuckled. “Walker Wheeler. Pleasure to meet you.”
The coffee pot tumbled from my hand. Thankfully, it was empty as it clattered to the floor, and every head in the bar turned to look at me. I flushed a deep red as I bent to pick up the metal pot and stick it firmly back in its holster as fresh brew started to trickle into it.
“Sorry,” I muttered. “Did you say, Walker Wheeler?”
He nodded, looking down at his cup. “Don’t let the name fool you. I’m just as down to earth as everyone else here. Honestly, I thought by now you’d know who I was.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Well, it’s a small town and people talk.”
“Oh?” I snapped. “And what have you heard?”
Walker’s eyes grew wide in confusion. “I’m sorry, I just meant that I own most of the land around here. I figured just about everyone knew who I was. I really didn’t mean to startle you, miss. I wasn’t trying to be sweet on you or anything. Just seemed like a nice person to strike up a conversation with is all.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Don’t apologize, Walker. I’m sorry about that. I think I met another Wheeler the other night. I was just shocked to hear the same last name a few times in as many weeks. Not many people around here are family. I had no idea you owned most of the property around here, honestly. I don’t pay much attention to stuff like that.”
“Well, now, I wouldn’t be surprised if you met another Wheeler. We had our family meeting up here yesterday. That doesn’t normally happen. I’m sure one of the brothers passed through.”
“It was a few days ago, no relation, I’m sure,” I quickly followed up.
Before he could say anything else, I ducked into the kitchen and started carting out food. Each time he would try to ask me something, I’d find another reason to slip away. I didn’t know if he was any relation to Jackson and I didn’t want to find out. If he were from the area, that meant Jackson would be around too. Plus, with Walker’s confession of owning the surrounding cattle, I realized my mother was right.
Jackson Wheeler was one of the LakeView Ranch heirs. The money he’d tossed down on the bar for me the night before was nothing compared to his wealth. My heart dropped a little. There was no way a man of his stature would want anything to do with an uneducated bartender who lived in a run-down apartment. Well, he wanted one thing to do with me all right, but that wasn’t going to happen.
I wasn’t going to be a toy for some rich, arrogant playboy.
9
Chapter Eight (Jackson)
“Don’t get me wrong; I’m thrilled to have you hanging around these past few days. It’s just a little strange is all,” Walker muttered.
“Am I stepping on your toes?” I kidded.
“Well now, of course not. I just don’t get it is all.”
“It just didn’t make any sense to me to go home for a few days just to turn around and come back up here for the auction.”
“Yeah, but normally, you send old Perry to the auctions. Do you think his eyes are starting to slip? Ma said she wondered how much longer he’d be able to keep working.”
I laughed. “I haven’t sent Perry to bid on his own in months. Normally I’ll send Seth with him, just to point out anything the old-timer might miss in a herd. But he’s going to die working on the farm before he’ll retire—his words, not mine.”
“So…” Walker pressed.
“So, I thought it would be a good idea to surprise the boys and show up at the auction this afternoon. I planned on riding in with you, but you left hours early.”
“Sorry about that. I always get breakfast before I go in,” he said.
I shrugged. I was only telling Walker half the truth anyway, so I couldn’t really give him too much shit for not waiting on me. It was true enough that I wanted to see how Perry and Seth were working out, but I knew I was really there for Hailey. I’d been working up the courage to get back to the bar with every intention of returning once Walker had turned in for the night.
The last thing I needed was to draw attention to my real reason for being there. Plus, I was out of time. I’d watched Seth and Perry