Sam wanted to thank him for not being Brian and for being so gorgeous and kind, but he just smiled and said, "Sam James. It's nice to meet you."
"His name is James like me," the older Hayes brother said.
"That's right DJ here is Douglas James, and Riley is Riley Jordan," Wyatt said and smiled down at his nephews.
"You know our whole names," Riley said, impressed.
"DJ, just DJ," the older boy insisted like he was afraid that Sam might call him by his full name.
"OK, DJ. I'll remember," Sam assured him.
"Can we shake hands with him too," Riley asked his uncle.
"Sure," he said with a laugh.
"Me too," DJ said quickly like he was afraid he would be left out of the fun if he didn't speak up right away.
"Nice to officially meet you guys," Sam told them as Riley shook his hand with an enthusiastic one two pump and DJ a little more shyly.
"What about me? I didn't get to shake hands with you guys," Wyatt complained to the boys.
"We already know you from yesterday," DJ said.
"That was a long time ago, but I don't want to be left out," Wyatt said and both boys indulged him and gave him proper handshakes.
"Now that everyone has been introduced, how about if I have you sit here so you can see Barney," Sam said and pointed to a booth in his section. He had picked it because it had the best view of the bench where Mr. Jasper was sitting and watching Barney frolic around his feet.
"This is a good table. Thank you," Wyatt said and smiled up at Sam who tried not to blush. He couldn't afford to get flustered every time the man so much as made eye contact with him.
"I'll let you look over the menus," Sam told them and went to take an order at another table.
He was giving the order at the counter when he noticed Mrs. Del Rio, the café owner, eyeing him with concern. The way she came over to him, Sam knew that he must still be showing signs of his earlier near meltdown. "You look a bit pale. Doing all right?" she asked him, and Sam knew she wasn't asking just as his employer.
"I had a bad moment when I heard there was someone new in town," Sam confessed to her. "It was only the boys' uncle, Wyatt Hayes." Sam pointed out their table, where the boys were consulting over their menus while their uncle smiled at them.
"I see. Lloyd Hayes' brother. I heard he was coming here to take care of his nephews," Mrs. Del Rio said as she looked over at Wyatt approvingly. "Those darling boys have a handsome devil of an uncle. I'm just gonna go over, introduce myself and have a good, close look at him." Mrs. Del Rio gave Sam a wink then put her arm through his and walked him back to their table.
He did need to take their orders, so it as just as well. He introduced her to Wyatt, and she told him, "Make it a habit to stop by any time. Don't be shy."
"I bet we will. Today we got lucky and found a dog-sitter for Barney right outside. That's our dog. He's out there with Mr. Jasper," Wyatt told her and pointed outside where they could see the old man and the little, white dog.
"Our dog? He said our dog," the younger Hayes brother, Riley, stage whispered to his big brother. Both boys seemed pleased to hear that.
In the meantime Mrs. Del Rio was praising their choice of dog sitter. "You found a good one. Ben there is a good soul." Then she turned to Sam and patted him on the back. "And I have another one right here. Sam will take good care of you."
Looking from Mrs. Del Rio to Sam, Riley shifted over in his seat then motioned for Sam to come closer. He leaned down, and Riley used his patented stage whisper to tell him. "He's our uncle. He's new. So be nice to him." Behind him, DJ nodded in agreement.
"OK. I will," Sam told them.
"Isn't he usually nice?" Wyatt asked and gave Sam a teasing look.
"Of course he is," Mrs. Del Rio said. "He's just shy."
Sam felt self-conscious about that, but the boys gave him understanding looks, especially DJ.
"Oh I see,:" Wyatt said and leaned over to talk to the boys. "I'm sure he'll be nice to me now that you talked to him."
"Sam is new too, Uncle Wyatt. He can be your friend," Riley said, and the boys smiled at their uncle and at Sam too.
