Chapter Sixteen
“Tell me again why we’re going to Marietta on a Saturday night?” Hayden slowed his truck as they entered the town proper.
“To meet my family for dinner.” Evie wore a pretty blue dress that deepened the blue in her eyes. Her blond hair fell in soft, touchable waves over her shoulders. “Think of it as a date night.”
Steven had picked Katie up after their family day on Friday. It was the first time since their wedding that they were going out as a couple.
For Evie’s sake, Hayden was glad for the distraction. Evie had been moping around since Katie left last night with Steven. They’d left Rhett and his twins with Gran, and Hayden was hoping Evie could stop worrying about Katie, even if only for a few hours.
“Grey’s is an odd choice.” On a Saturday night, it would be crowded, probably with lots of people they knew because Bentwood Creek wasn’t far from Marietta.
Hayden imagined everyone would be watching to see how he reacted to Charlie, the man who’d done something Hayden had been unable to do—get Vi to the altar.
It promised to be an interesting moment.
I’m not even sure how I’ll react.
“Not that odd,” Evie said, unaware of the direction of his thoughts. “It’s one of Mom’s favorite places and close to where Vi and Charlie live.”
Hayden found a space to park, got out, and came around to open Evie’s door. Since Rhett arrived, Hayden had realized he liked upholding the pretense that they were happily married. He’d never imagined the ease he felt with her.
“I can’t remember if I’ve kissed you today.” Hayden walked with Evie toward Grey’s. The afternoon warmth was giving way to the chill of a mountain evening. He held the door for her to enter.
“You kissed me after lunch in front of Rhett.” Evie swept through the doorway, talking briskly. “On my forehead.”
That wasn’t much of a kiss. But it had seemed appropriate in the kitchen. There were plenty of times throughout the day that Hayden wanted to draw her close…and not even kiss her! He just wanted to hold her. He’d never felt that way before, not even with Violet.
“We’re meeting someone,” Evie told the hostess, moving into the restaurant proper and leaving Hayden behind.
Grey’s was a historic building in Marietta, a former brothel back in the days of the wild, wild west. There was a small dance floor, an area for darts, several tables, and a bar.
There were pool tables in the back. The atmosphere was jovial.
The music from the band was country. Folks came to Grey’s to unwind and have a good time.
So why do I feel so tense?
Evie’s mother waved them over to a large corner table. “I’m thrilled to see you.” She hugged them both, her short blond hair catching the light. “Dinner tonight is my treat because I’m starved for news about you and—”
“Hello.” Violet appeared at their table before they sat down, a man at her side. Her husband, Charlie O’Neil. “Sorry we’re late.”
“No worries.” Evie clasped Hayden’s hand, rubbed his arm, smiling at him reassuringly. She knew how awkward this meeting was for him.
For years, Hayden had imagined facing the wedding-ruiner, had run through scathing put-downs, and had clenched his fists in anticipation of planting one in Charlie’s face. But now…
He’s nothing to me.
Vi lightly hugged Hayden, then Charlie shook Hayden’s hand.
Charlie was the opposite of Hayden. He was short, with blond hair and freckles. He wore a suit and tie, not his best pair of blue jeans and a shirt with pearly buttons. “Nice to see you, Hayden.”
“Likewise.” Hayden had nothing else to say. He stood silently as the Fisher women greeted each other. Like he and Charlie, Violet and Evie were different too.
Violet wore a sleek, black sleeveless dress with high heels. Her blond hair was as flat as fresh paper, with no life to it. Vi blinked thick, curly black eyelashes, the fake kind. She looked like a city slicker. While Evie…
Evie was showing her Montana roots. Her long blue dress showed off her delicate curves, aided by a silver conch belt at her waist. Her cowboy boots had heels and were white. She’d put a light coat of mascara on her lashes and a casual layer of soft red lipstick on those kissable lips.
Of the two, Hayden much preferred his wife.
I should thank Charlie.
Hayden settled into a seat close to Evie, easing his arm over her shoulders. “What do you say? Nachos for appetizers? I’m starved.”
“Sounds great,” Charlie seconded.
The waitress arrived to collect their drink orders. Hayden ordered nachos and a pitcher of beer for the table.
“Attention, everybody.” The lead singer of the band spoke into a microphone and then waited for the patrons to quiet down. “We’ve got a pair of newlyweds in the room.”
Cheers rose.
“I asked them to make an announcement.” Vi looked pleased with herself. “I wasn’t there to wish you well on the day of your wedding.”
But she had seemed to accept their union at the Spring Festival when they’d all shared that group hug.
The lead singer of the band pointed toward their table. “Let’s give Eve and Hayden a big round of applause!”
The applause, hoots, and hollers were deafening. A crowd of well-wishers with familiar faces swarmed their table as the music came back on. All during the onslaught, Evie held Hayden’s hand snugly and let him field questions.
“Excuse us.” Hayden had enough of the spotlight. He got to his feet, taking Evie with him. “I promised my wife a dance.”
The well-wishers parted, allowing their escape.
Soon enough, Hayden and Evie were on the small dance floor in front of the band. He drew her tenderly into his arms.
“That was nice. We’ve established to the world that all is forgiven between you and Violet and Charlie.” Evie stared up at him, blue eyes sparkling. “All you need to do now is tell Vi and Charlie you harbor no hard feelings.”
Hayden twirled her around, trying to shake off the feeling of being molded into something he wasn’t. “Can we dance and not talk about Vi?”
“I’m not talking about Vi. I’m talking about you.” Evie started to lead. She spun them around, guiding Hayden toward the darkest corner of the tiny dance floor. “I’m talking about you being the bigger man, which makes me proud.”
“Careful now, Evie.” Hayden pulled his wife closer, regaining the lead and a measure of control over this conversation. “It sounds as if you’ve been trying to change me. I do things in my own time.”
“I like you just the way you are.” Evie’s fingers crept into the fringe of hair at the back of his neck. “But I want you to be happy. You can’t deny there’s a healing power in forgiveness. Don’t think I didn’t notice you cleared all those boxes from the front porch this week.”
“It was time to clear the deck.” Literally and figuratively, not that he wanted to admit it. But Evie was right. Forgiving himself and his role in those arguments with Grandpa had been freeing.
“Admit it.” Evie’s smile was both teasing and approving. “Forgiveness lets you move on with your life.”
“I moved on long before I forgave anyone,” Hayden said gruffly, not sure why he couldn’t just agree. “By marrying you.”
Smile fading, Evie studied his face, searching for something important with those bright blue eyes. If only he knew what it was. Hayden wanted to give her the moon.
“Kiss-kiss-kiss-kiss!” Someone on the dance floor started the chant.
The rest of the bar took it up.
The band finished a song and joined in, the words amplified and accented by the beat of the drum and a note from the bass guitar.
But Hayden hesitated.
*
“Kiss me before the crowd riots.” Eve rose on her toes, simultaneously tamping down the flutter of butterflies in her stomach. She puckered her lips and waited.
She didn’t have to wait long.
Hayden swept her tight against that muscular chest, sealed his lips onto hers, and kissed Eve, swaying as if the music continued to play.
This… This is what I’ve always wanted with Hayden. The sparks. The heat. The possessiveness.
She sighed, wondering if he was falling in love with her.
Hayden drew back, staring at Eve for so long it felt intimate…and perhaps a bit awkward. She had no idea what he was thinking.
Abruptly, Hayden led her back to their table. And then he excused himself, heading for the bar.
“I’m sorry I ever doubted Hayden was the right man for you.” Vi raised her beer glass. “I think you’re right. Hayden is your soulmate.”
“You’re made for each other,” Mom seconded, lifting her glass.
There was a full beer glass at Eve’s seat. She clinked her beer with theirs and took a sip. But she didn’t feel as confident of her marriage as her family did.
*
“A shot of bourbon.” Hayden leaned on the bar. He hadn’t been prepared for the power of that kiss. It hadn’t been friendly. It hadn’t been fake. It had felt as if Evie poured her heart into that kiss.
And I’m not ready to claim it.
Tempting as it was, he might never be.
“I’ll have what he’s having.” Charlie sidled up to the bar next to Hayden. “It’s on me. No arguments. I stole your gal. This is long overdue.”
Hayden wasn’t going to argue a free drink. But he was going to argue Charlie’s perspective on the matter. “Violet wasn’t mine to begin with if she could be stolen.”
“Touché.” Charlie touched the knot of his city tie, wiggling it back and forth. As tells went, it was a big one—he wasn’t used to wearing a tie.
Hayden took the shot glass the bartender gave him and clinked it against Charlie’s before tossing it back. “What do you do?”
“I’m a gardener.” He loosened his tie a bit more. “Vi tells her real estate clients that I’m a landscape architect. But I’m just a gardener.” His words were telling. Charlie was a humble man.
Hayden had probably known that back in the day. But he liked Charlie for it more now. “I’m not one to care about job titles. You can take off that tie.”