Page 40 of Blue Jean Summer

A door shut, but it wasn’t a Lewis-style slam. Heavy boots echoed with each step. Hayes jogged down the stairs in a pair of light-wash jeans belted high on his hips. Gone was the button-up. In its place was a tight white T-shirt with a logo so faded I couldn’t quite make out what it used to be.

“Ladies,” Hayes said to the three of us, but his gaze was locked on me.

Hallie’s jaw dropped at the sight of Hayes’s toned ass as he passed by. I shared the sentiment because oh my god!

“I thought you said you two weren’t actually a thing, and that the marriage is just business,” Savannah whispered.

I nodded vacantly and watched, slack-jawed, as Hayes slipped out onto the patio and headed down to the stables. “It is.”

Savannah snorted. “You sure about that? Because that man is playing dirty.”

Chapter 11

Catherine

“You spoil us,” Mason said over Hallie’s shoulder as he inspected the buffet that had been arranged on the kitchen island.

She handed him a plate. “Well, do me a favor and eat it so I don’t have to put up any leftovers.”

“Will do,” Levi said as he reached around the two of them to snag a biscuit from the pile that was tucked in a wicker basket.

Hallie swatted his hand. “You will use manners in my kitchen, Mr. Caldwell.”

Savannah elbowed Levi out of the way. “Yeah, Mr. Caldwell. Ladies first.”

Hallie hip-checked her down the line. “The cook eats first, thank you very much. You ornery lot can wait a minute.”

There were grumbles of “Yes, ma’am” as Hallie made her way down the packed buffet.

“Mrs. Wilder,” Mason said with a teasing lilt to his voice as he motioned for me to go next.

I laughed as I started down the line, loading up my plate with a pork chop smothered in apple butter. “I’m not Mrs. Wilder.”

“Yet,” Hayes said as he joined the back of the line. Dark eyes caught mine, making heat creep across my cheeks as I rounded the corner to get a scoop of snap beans.

Savannah pretended to gag. “Don’t make me get a spray bottle,” she said as she pointed a serving spoon at me. “Are you actually changing your name for all this? You’ll just have to change it back when you’re done being the good wife.”

Hayes’s eyes widened, that intense gaze quickly morphing from surprise to fear.

“She knows,” I blurted out, hoping to put him at ease. “We can trust Sav.”

Hayes steeled his expression, but he didn’t look anywhere close to relaxed.

“Don’t worry about me, Richie Rich,” Savannah said dismissively as she dropped a biscuit on the very tip-top of the mountain of food she had put on her plate. “I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

“As long as there’s food in it,” Levi teased.

Zach snuck into the kitchen, quiet as a church mouse.

“Play nice, children,” Hallie said as she shooed Zach into the line.

“I’m always nice,” Levi said with a grin as he made eyes at Savannah.

She flipped him off.

While Savannah and Levi went at each other’s throats, I lingered at the edge of the kitchen island until Hayes made his way around. “Hey,” I said as I laid my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I told Savannah what was going on, but Hallie and I need more help and—”

“It’s fine,” he said, brushing it off.