“Yeah. He gave it to me at Jett’s party.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. In case I needed anything, I guess.”
Bury him in a trench or tie concrete blocks to his boots and drop him in a vat of hydraulic oil?
“Do me a favor and delete it.”
She frowns. “But what if I do need something?”
I snag her hand and tug her forward so hard, she crashes against me with a gasp. “Pretty sure I’ve got everything you could possibly need right here.”
Her cheeks stain pink and her lips part on a breathy, “Oh.”
“Uh huh. And I’m taking you to dinner tonight, too. Since it’s technically my weekend, I’ll grab Jett from my parents and we’ll pick you up at six.”
“O-okay. What should I wear?”
“Whatever you feel prettiest in, city girl.”
HAYDEN
Jesse pulls in right at six, leaving Jett in the truck when he comes to the door.
“You didn’t have to come in,” I say, slipping in an earring as he steps inside. But one look at him and I’m glad he did.
He’s dressed in dark-washed jeans, a snug black T-shirt, square-toed boots—possibly cowboy boots, but it’s hard to tell—and a perfectly formed black ball cap.
In short, he looks like my country boy fantasy come to life and I am so, so glad I chose to wear this flirty summer dress.
“Holy shit,” he says, whistling under his breath and pulling me to him. “Change of plans, we’re staying in.”
I laugh as he steals a kiss and cops a generous feel of my ass. “You look pretty good yourself, frat boy. How is it possible you’re still single?”
“I’m not,” he husks, and then kisses me with enough tongue, I’m positive I’ll need new lipstick. “Gave my heart to a pretty city girl a long time ago.”
Butterflies whirl in my stomach and heat fills my cheeks. “Is that so?”
“Yup.” He gives me one last peck before stepping back. “By the way, if you think I look good, wait until you see the stud in the back seat.”
“Oh, God.” I can just imagine. He probably has another mohawk going on. Little bad-boy heartbreaker in the making if Jesse has anything to do with it.
“You ready?” He offers his hand, I grab my purse, and we’re out the the door.
He escorts me to the passenger side of his truck, but rather than opening the front door, he opens the back one instead.
“Mama, you look beautitful,” Jett says before he even sees me, mainly because he’s holding a bouquet of summer flowers in front of his face.
“Aww, sweet pea!” I take the flowers and lean in to kiss his cheek, noting that, yep, he’s sporting a mohawk. And an outfit exactly like Jesse’s, minus the hat. “Ooh, you look so handsome!”
“I know.” He flashes a toothy grin and Jesse rolls his eyes.
“You’re supposed to say thank you, little man.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
“And thank you for the flowers. They’re so pretty.”
“Daddy said girls like flowers, but Uncle Jinx said girls like kissin’.”
“Wait, what?” I look back to Jesse with wide eyes at the same time he bites off a curse, tugs me away from the door, and shuts it.
“I’m going to fucking kill Jinx,” he grumbles before taking a calming breath and opening the front door for me to get in.
“Um, please do.” Because I do not need his preschool teacher calling to tell me he’s handing out kisses by the teeter totter.
Jesse closes my door once I’m settled and hurries around to his side. In no time, we’re headed toward town.
“Thank you again for the flowers, guys. I love them.”
Jett beams from the back seat and Jesse shoots me a wink.
“So, are you guys taking me on a date?”
“Dang right we are,” Jesse says and then quieter for me, “And one of these days, we’re getting a babysitter and going out for real.”
“This isn’t real?” I smile.
“Two words, city girl. Alone. Time.”
I laugh. I’m eager for those coveted two words myself, but I appreciate this time together, too. One, outings like this will make it easier for Jett to grasp the concept of Jesse and I seeing each other and, two, I want as much time with Jesse I can get.
Five minutes later, we pull up to The Creek and, ten minutes later, we’re seated at a booth near the bar, which is already packed. Then again, it’s Friday night in Wisconsin. I shouldn’t be surprised.
The waitress takes our drink and food order right away, and Jett starts to color on his placemat while Jesse slides one of his boots against my sandal-clad foot under the table.
“Excuse me, sir,” I tease, playfully running my toes up the side of his calf.
“What?” He smiles innocently, his eyes searching my face beneath the low-hanging light. “Your hair has gotten long again. I love it.”
“Thank you.” I remember how much he’d loved my hair down during our summer together, so… “I might’ve left it like this tonight on purpose. For you.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And I appreciate this. All of it. Especially making him a part of it.” I tip my head toward Jett, who’s working intently on a dinosaur.
“You’ve gotta be friggin’ kidding me.” He no sooner gets the words out than Amelia shows up at the booth, her arm linked around that of a very attractive, very bearded and tattooed gentleman.
“Hey, family!” she says cheerily, blatantly ignoring Jesse’s unimpressed glare. “Fancy meeting you all here.”
“Yeah,” Jesse mutters. “Real fancy. Who’s your friend?”
“Oh, how rude of me.” She laughs, still not looking at Jesse. “This is Theo. Theo, this is my pain in the ass brother, Jesse, my adorable nephew Jett, and his gorgeous mom Hayden.”
“Nice to meet you all,” Theo says, dipping his chin with the pristinely groomed beard. Honestly, he looks like he walked off of a men’s manscaping ad.
“So, are you dating my sister or what?” Jesse again. Still shooting daggers.
“Oh, no.” Theo laughs and Amelia visibly wilts. “We went to college together and just bumped into each other at the bar. I’m in town shooting some pictures for an outdoor magazine.”
Jesse grins, demeanor instantly flipped. “Oh yeah? Do you have your locations picked out or do you need some recommendations?”
“Amelia already gave me a list, so I should be set. But thanks.”
“Amelia, your food’s ready!” the bartender calls from behind the bar, and Amelia couldn’t possibly look any more relieved.
“Better get going. Great to see you guys!” she chirps and Theo waves. But as they turn to go, Jesse snags Amelia’s hand, holding her back.
“Nice try, smart-ass.”
“The night’s still young,” she snarks, sticking her tongue out before she hurries after her old friend.
I wait until Jesse settles back in his seat before I kick him under the table.
“Ow! What the hell?”