Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
HAYES
I adjusted the collar of my white linen shirt in the mirror, making sure it wasn’t too rumpled. It felt strange to be putting on actual clothes. A week of being a beach bum had made me reluctant to wear anything more than a pair of swim trunks. Beside me, Dixie was perched on the edge of the vanity chair, leaning close to the mirror and muttering under her breath as she wrestled with her lipstick.
“Damn it,” she hissed, yanking a Q-tip from the box and swiping at the corner of her mouth.
I suppressed a grin as I watched her. She was adorable when she was flustered, though I was smart enough to know better than to say so. Instead, I grabbed one of the extra chairs and pulled it up beside her, sitting down and crossing my arms over my chest.
“You okay over there?” I asked, resting my chin on my hand.
She glared at me in the mirror, her eyes narrowing. “Do I look okay?”
I leaned back in mock contemplation. “Well, you look stunning to me. But what do I know about lipstick?”
She rolled her eyes and went back to dabbing at her lips. “I just want it to be perfect. Your family is already intimidating enough without me looking like a clown.”
I frowned and tilted my head, studying her reflection. “You’re overthinking this. They’re going to love you, lipstick or not.”
“Yeah, but I want to make a good impression,” she said, her voice softer now. “This is a lot of people, Hayes. Like, a lot a lot.”
I smiled, resting a hand on her knee. “I get it. Believe me, I’ve tried counting all the cousins, spouses, and kids. I think we’re somewhere between thirty-five and forty people tonight. It’s chaos, sure, but it’s our chaos.”
Her lips twitched, and a hint of a smile broke through her nervous expression. “I don’t know how you keep track of everyone.”
I chuckled. “Honestly? Sometimes I don’t. But here’s the thing: they’re not expecting you to be perfect. They’re not even paying attention to the details you’re worried about. You’re amazing, Dixie. Your laugh, your stories, the way you light up a room—you’ve already got them in the bag. And I already really love your company.”
Her cheeks flushed, a rosy pink that had nothing to do with her makeup. She turned to look at me fully, her eyes soft. “You really love my company, huh? Isn’t it a little soon to throw around the L word?”
“Isn’t it a little bratty to take that out of context?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.
Her laugh bubbled up. I knew I’d succeeded in easing her nerves. She wiped her lips clean one last time, reaching for a tube of gloss instead of the lipstick. With a quick swipe, she called it done.
“You’re right,” she said, standing and smoothing the skirt of her dress. “The lips don’t matter. It’s just going to fade when I start eating anyway.”
I stood and held out my hand. “That’s the spirit.”
“And you’re sure everyone is going to be dressed up?”
“Island dressed up,” I said. “There won’t be ball gowns.”
I bent forward and kissed her shoulder. “You look beautiful. And your skin is glowing. Although I would prefer you in one of those bikinis.”
“Stop.” She giggled. “You’re not going to make me any less nervous.”
“You’ve already met everyone,” I reminded her.
“In small doses,” she said. “Not the entire clan.”
“You’ll have me. I’ll be right there. I’m the only one you need to pay attention to.”
“Well that would just be rude,” she said. “They’ll think I’m a snob.”
I laughed, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “They’ll think you’re charming. And they’ll be too busy arguing over baseball or talking about their kids to notice much else.”
“I’m freaking out a little,” she said.
I took a risk and leaned forward to drop a very chaste kiss on her lips, being very careful not to muss her makeup.
“You don’t need to impress them. You impress me. I’m the one that counts. Not them. And trust me, I’m very, very impressed. If it wouldn’t create a scandal, I would skip this dinner and keep you right here… under me. Now, come on, let’s go face the madness.”
Dixie’s hand was warm in mine, her grip tight. We walked along the path to where we were going to be joining the others for dinner.
“Oh my god,” she breathed, stopping in her tracks.
I followed her gaze to the massive table set up on the sand under a huge tent illuminated by strings of fairy lights and chandeliers, hanging from the canopy of draped fabrics. The table was adorned with lush florals and flickering candles. The whole setup looked more like a wedding than a family dinner.
“Kathy really outdid herself,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze.
“It’s stunning,” she said, her voice tinged with awe.
I glanced down at her, taking in the way her pale blue dress complemented her sun-kissed skin, and the gold jewelry glinted in the soft light. She looked incredible.
“You’re stunning,” I told her.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she said, a teasing smile curving her lips.
We kicked off our shoes as we reached the sand and made our way to the table. The noise of laughter and conversation grew louder, kids squealing as they chased each other around the beach. It appeared some of the kids had been dressed nicely with the little girls wearing pretty dresses but now they were covered in sand and their hair was a mess.
They didn’t seem to mind, and I was guessing the parents gave up on trying to have them look picture-perfect.
“Whoa,” I said, jerking Dixie back just in time to avoid being taken out at the knees by a speeding missile wearing white and all of three-feet tall.
“The kids are enjoying themselves.” Dixie laughed.
Servers moved between my family with trays of wine and cocktails. There was a tiki bar set up in the corner. I grabbed two of the fruity cocktails with orange slices for garnish and handed one to Dixie.
“Let’s do this,” I said.
As we approached the table, I began introducing her to the family she hadn’t met yet: Colt and Maisie, Channing and Madelaine, and Zayn and Marigold. Each introduction came with a round of smiles and warm welcomes, though I could see Dixie starting to look a little overwhelmed.
“You holding up okay?” I asked, leaning down to whisper in her ear. I casually ran my fingertips up and down her arms in an attempt to calm her.
She nodded, her lips curving into a smile. “Barely. Your family’s amazing, but I wasn’t kidding about needing name tags.”
I laughed and pressed a quick kiss to her temple. “You’re doing great.”
Dinner was a feast, each course more extravagant than the last. The kids had their own table nearby, complete with kid-friendly food and a couple of servers keeping them entertained. It gave the adults a chance to relax, sipping wine and catching up without interruption.
“So, Thea, Hayes told me you run an animal shelter in Vancouver. I’ve always admired people who dedicate their lives to helping animals. What’s it been like?”
Thea’s face lit up, delighted to discuss her passion. “Oh, it’s been incredible but challenging. Every day is different, which keeps things interesting. We’ve recently launched a program specifically for rehabilitating feral cats so they can be adopted into homes rather than just controlling the population.”
“That sounds amazing,” Dixie replied earnestly. “It must be tough though, dealing with so many animals needing help.”
“It is, but incredibly rewarding,” Thea continued. “We’ve seen some remarkable success stories. And knowing these animals get a second chance at happiness makes all the hard work worth it.”
Dixie nodded, her interest piqued. “I wish I had the space to have a dog or cat.”
Thea’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “We take in all animals. Ferrets, lizards, and even birds.”
Their conversation deepened. It was clear she had found a kindred spirit in Thea. Meanwhile, I mingled with other family members, keeping an eye on Dixie to make sure she was doing okay.
Reese chimed in, shaking his head. “Better watch out, Hayes. She’s going to end up with a bunch of mutts and cats running around your house.”
“Building wouldn’t allow it,” I said easily.
“Buy a house,” Thea said.
“I like living in the city,” I said.
“Relax,” Dixie said, gently patting my cheek. “I’m not going to put a zoo in your penthouse. Maybe just one of the spare bedrooms.”
Laughter rippled through our corner of the table, lightening the moment. Dixie’s ease with the situation made me happy. I wasn’t sure I would be quite as at ease with all these strangers.
Kathy stood as dessert was served, raising her glass to get everyone’s attention.
“I just want to thank you all for being here,” she began, her voice warm and full of affection. “It’s not often we’re able to get everyone together like this, and it means the world to me and Armand. I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves as much as I am. We know you all have busy lives and things to keep you busy. We are so grateful you made this trip. Thank you. Thank you for your time and your love.”
A chorus of cheers and raised glasses greeted her words.
“And,” she continued, her smile growing, “the next time we’re all gathered like this, it’ll be for the wedding.”
The table erupted in applause, and one of my brothers started tapping his knife against his wine glass. The sound was quickly picked up by others until the entire table was chiming, urging Kathy and Armand to kiss.
They obliged. I whooped along with the rest of the family as couples around the table started leaning in for their own kisses. The kids at the other table groaned in unison, their exaggerated barfing noises drawing a round of laughter from the adults.
I turned to Dixie, catching the amused sparkle in her eyes. “I think it’s tradition now,” I said, setting my glass down. “May I?”
She tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “It would be rude to break tradition, wouldn’t it?”
I didn’t need further encouragement. Leaning in, I kissed her, slow and lingering, ignoring the whoops and catcalls from my brothers. When I pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes held that soft, vulnerable look that always made my chest ache.
In that moment, I knew I was done for. This trip, this girl—it was everything.
I reached for her hand under the table, lacing my fingers with hers. “Dixie, will you be my date to the wedding?”
She smiled, her thumb brushing over the back of my hand. “I’ve been hoping you’d ask,” she whispered. “I am so looking forward to watching those two get married.”
As the dessert plates were cleared away and replaced with an assortment of decadent treats—a chocolate fountain flanked with fresh fruits, tiny eclairs, and an assortment of miniature cheesecakes—Dixie and I lingered over our shared plate. She picked a strawberry, dipping it into the chocolate before holding it up to my mouth.
“Open wide,” she teased.
I obeyed, letting the sweet, rich flavor explode on my tongue. “Mmm, perfect.” I said, watching as she chose an eclair for herself. She bit into it with a sigh of contentment, closing her eyes briefly to savor the taste.
“Gross,” Isaac said. “Get a room, lovebirds.”
“We’ve got one,” I shot back.
“Leave them alone,” Rory said. “They’re having fun. Don’t be bitter.”
Isaac rolled his eyes but said nothing more, slinking away with a smirk. Rory winked at me. The soft glow of lanterns hanging from poles and trees added an ethereal quality to the night.
Servers began circulating around with small cups of warm spiced cider. It was a constant smorgasbord. The servers were attentive, never letting our glasses or plates go empty. The kids, energized by sugar and excitement, had begun a game of tag on the beach.
Dixie squeezed my hand under the table, her eyes reflecting the firelight. “It’s beautiful here,” she murmured.
“It really is.”