Page 49 of Unveiled

“Okay, but⁠—”

“Addy.” A heavy hand landed on her shoulder, and Jaxon’s intense blue gaze met hers. “Go to work, sweetheart.”

She knew he didn’t mean it as a dismissal, but it felt like one, and she automatically stiffened. He must’ve felt the tension in her shoulders because he stroked his hand up the side of her neck, cupping it in one big palm. He dipped his head as if trying to capture her attention. “I promise. Everything will be just fine.”

She nodded, her throat tight. It was hard to hand over control. Jaclyn and she had a schedule all worked out, and she knew Wendy adhered to it when she was there. Jaxon had never spent any time around little kids before. Still, she knew she couldn’t deny him this time with his daughter, and it was good for Jaclyn to get to know him too. Grudgingly, she swiped her keys out of the bowl on the kitchen counter and held a spare out to Jaxon.

“I’ll… see you later.” With one last kiss for Jaclyn, she reluctantly left.

The first part of her morning at the salon flew by. Her ten o’clock bride tried on nearly twenty gowns before deciding on a custom design. They spent the next two hours poring over magazines, drawing up various examples of what she might like. Finally, the bride strode out the door just after two o’clock, a smile on her face. That made one of them at least.

After the bride left, Adalyn’s anxiety ratcheted up tenfold. Her hands flitted to her pockets every two minutes or so, checking for messages. Jaxon hadn’t called or texted yet, and she couldn’t help but wonder what was happening back at the house.

Amy shot her a look over the counter as she drummed her nails against the Formica. “Why don’t you go home already?”

Adalyn let out an exasperated sigh. “You have no idea how much I want to. But I don’t want him to think I don’t trust him.” It had taken all of her willpower not to call and check in with him over the past few hours. Jaxon was a responsible adult, and she knew that he wouldn’t let anything happen to Jaclyn. She just had to trust that he would reach out if he needed help.

She wandered back to the alterations room to check on Jenn. “Need anything back here?”

Dark brown eyes met hers, and Jenn shook her head. “No, thanks, I think I’m good.”

“Okay.” Adalyn stood helplessly, looking around the room, hoping that something would jump out at her. She wanted something—anything—to keep her occupied.

“You okay?”

Adalyn offered a little smile. “Just a lot on my mind.”

Jenn nodded, then set down the needle and lace she was holding. “Can I… Can we talk for a second?”

Her voice held a trace of seriousness, more so than usual, and Adalyn pulled out a chair. “Of course. What’s going on?”

Jenn bit her lip, looking unsure. “I really like my job here, and I appreciate you giving me a chance.”

Adalyn’s stomach dropped to her toes, but she remained quiet. She had a feeling she knew exactly where this was headed.

Jenn blew out a hard breath. “I’ve got some things going on in my life right now, and… I’m kind of looking for another job.”

She refused to meet Adalyn’s gaze, and for a long moment, Adalyn debated exactly what to say. She hated to lose her. “Is it the money?”

“No, I just…” Jenn hesitated, then switched subjects. “Would you change your life for the person you love?”

Jaxon immediately came to Adalyn’s mind, and she pondered Jenn’s question for a moment before responding. “I think that finding love is a very special thing. And if you both care about each other, you should do what’s best for both of you.”

“I don’t think I can stay here and be with him,” Jenn said, her voice sad, almost regretful.

“Does he not like you working here?” Adalyn couldn’t imagine why not—unless he disapproved of her being around women getting married. Maybe he had no interest in marrying Jenn right now—or ever. It was no secret that a lot of women who worked in bridal wanted their own happily ever after. It was so easy to get swept up in the fairy tales and the happiness that others were feeling.

Honestly, until Jaxon had come back into Adalyn’s life, she’d been closed off to it. But recently she’d been seeing things in a different light. She saw each glowing bride with new eyes, so in love with her groom, ready to start their lives together.

Could Jaxon and Adalyn have something like that? They’d flirted a bit, but she didn’t know if that was enough. One thing was absolutely clear, though—he’d support her in whatever she chose. His actions with her mother the other night proved that. He would never hold her back from something she loved.

“I think there has to be compromise,” Adalyn said slowly. “You have to work together and meet in the middle. That being said,” she continued, “you’ll always have a place here.”

“Thank you,” Jenn whispered, still unable to meet Adalyn’s eyes.

“If you ever need to talk, I’m here.” Adalyn stood and returned the chair to its position. Jenn nodded and picked up the fabric she’d been working on. Adalyn didn’t want to push her too much, but she also wanted her to know that she was there to listen if she needed her.

Shoving down her feelings, Adalyn attacked the displays, waxing the steel rails so the hangers would slide better. When she was done with that, she meandered through the salon, straightening gowns and reorganizing the jewelry shelves, determined to keep herself occupied. By the time four o’clock rolled around, she was ready to rip her hair out.