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.”
Violet’s husband quickly did just that, stuffing the length of silk into his coat pocket. “You know, I was worried about how this would go.” He gestured between them. “But I’m beginning to think you and I could be friends.”
“Or family,” Hayden said gruffly, imagining Evie would approve.
She’d be even happier if he told Vi he had no hard feelings.
Hayden heaved a sigh, accepting what had to be given—forgiveness—and ordered another shot.
*
After dinner, Hayden and Eve made their farewells to her family and walked hand in hand toward Hayden’s truck in the parking lot while her family walked in the other direction.