Page 142 of Blue Jean Summer

Savannah was the first to break the silence. “I’m gonna find a broom.”

“I’ll help,” Levi said, quick to join her and get out of dodge. “We could use a third to hunt down that broom. You coming, Mase?”

“No.” Mason couldn’t have been moved from where he stood between Hallie and her ex-husband if a bulldozer had been coming at him.

Hayes took my hand and tugged me away. Reluctantly, I followed. Really, I wanted to stay and find out what the hell was going on. While Levi and Savannah made themselves scarce and headed down the path to the stables, Hayes led me to the rose garden.

We stayed out of earshot to give Hallie privacy, but close enough to give Mason backup should he need it.

“What the fuck just happened?” I said when our feet hit the white-pebbled path.

Hayes glanced over his shoulder, looking back at the patio doors. “I don’t have a damn clue.”

I squinted, trying to peer through the sharp rays of evening sunlight to spy on the unexpected family reunion.

“Cath,” Hayes said with a chuckle. “Leave ’em be.”

I groaned. “I know…but now it’s all I can think about.”

“How about I give you something else to think about,” he said as we made our way to the little wrought iron table where he had proposed our marriage over lunch months ago. Hayes took my hand in his. “Before you make your decision about the hospital job, there’s another job offer you should consider.”

I cocked my head, curious.

Hayes’s grip tightened around my hand. “I’d like you to consider taking over the Wilder Foundation.”

I froze. “What are you talking about?”

He shrugged as his thumb worked little circles over my skin. “Someone has to take over since Lewis is otherwise occupied for the next fifteen to twenty years. I think you’re the best candidate. I mean, if you want the job.”

I blinked, trying to clear the burst of static in my ears. “Hayes. Stop messing with me.”

He chuckled. “I’m not messing, Cath. I’m dead serious. You created an after-school program out of nothing. I can’t even imagine what you’d accomplish with the foundation at your disposal.”

My heart ached with a million yeses, but fear was a formidable adversary.

“Just think about it,” Hayes said. “You don’t have to give me an answer now. I know there’s a lot to consider, but I think you’re the right candidate. You’re the only candidate. And yes, it’s selfish of me. I don’t want you to leave the estate, and I don’t think you want to, either.” He laced his fingers between mine. “But if the job in Richmond is what you want, then I want you to take it. We’ll get a place there. Weekdays in the city. Weekends and holidays back here. It doesn’t matter where you go. I’ll be right there.”

My eyes burned as the email I had sent a few hours ago floated through my mind.

“Besides, things are on ice until I can find a new board of trustees,” Hayes said. “The old board members aren’t too inclined to come back after Lewis kicked them out.”

“Hallie should be on the board,” I blurted out. “Your granddad trusted her to watch over things. She should be the first pick.”

“Sounds like a solid first decision from a wise leader.” Hayes said. “Just…promise me you’ll think about it.”

“I can’t take the job,” I croaked as tears rolled down my cheeks.

His eyebrows drew together as he nodded. “Alright. I’ll start looking for properties in Richmond. Do you want to live in the city or outside of it and commute in? If we lived outside of it, we could have some land and maybe get some horses and cows and—”

I held his hand between mine. The sun hit my engagement ring, making it throw specks of light like a disco ball. “The hospital job,” I said.

Hayes’s head snapped up and his eyes locked on mine. “What?”

“I turned it down today,” I whispered. “This afternoon, actually.” I looked up as a pair of blue jays flitted across the sky. “That comment ate at me. That I’m naïve…” I shook my head and laughed. “I would have been miserable. Sitting in an office all day, doing useless things like renting billboards.”

The table tipped over as Hayes careened across and kissed me. “Don’t lie to me, Cath.”

His excitement made it impossible to kiss him back. All I could do was smile against his lips. “I’m not lying.”