Page 49 of Blue Jean Summer

It was as if all of Honey Hollow came to a screeching halt. Heads poked out of storefronts. Car windows lowered and eyes peered out.

Sure, Hayes’s monstrosity of a vehicle was out of place, but that’s not what they were staring at.

Hayes noticed immediately and stiffened, angling his body to protectively sandwich me between the SUV and him. “What’s going on?” he mumbled, peering over the hood like a lookout.

“They’re just staring,” I said with a huff. Maybe he wasn’t used to small-town rubberneckers. People in the city usually minded their business. Small-town folks minded theirs and everyone else’s.

“I can see that. Why?”

“Because I’m usually here by myself or with Hallie.” I lowered my voice. “This is the first time we are here…together.”

Realization dawned on him. “Oh.” It was as if a plan formed in his mind. Suddenly, he went from my Hayes to Hayes Wilder. He slid his hand onto the small of my back, leading me away from the curb as he switched places with me so he was walking on the side of the street.

I had dressed up today but opted for sandals instead of heels. The moment we stepped into Honey Hollow’s only jewelry store, I wished I was in stilettos.

Heels high, head higher. My mother’s pageant mantra echoed in my mind.

I should have been standing tall, but one look at all the wide eyes staring back at us, and I wanted to dissolve into a sidewalk crack.

Why am I so nervous?

Hayes’s hand left my back. I missed it immediately, then nearly stumbled on the entryway when his hand slid into mine. He laced our fingers together and squeezed. I glanced up and met his eyes. His soft nod was all the reassurance I needed. I exhaled and put on a smile.

“Well, hello, you two,” an older lady cooed with a clap of her hands. She rocked a tall beehive of silver hair and cat-eye glasses on a pearl chain. “I’ve been waiting for y’all to come by. I tell you what—I know about every engagement in Honey Hollow before it happens, but this one took me by surprise.” She winked at Hayes. “When I heard that you two were gettin’ hitched, I guessed that you used a family heirloom and didn’t need a ring from little ol’ me.” Before I could get a word in edgewise, she reached for my hand to get a good look at the engagement ring. The lady—who had yet to actually introduce herself—gasped and clutched her pearls. “My stars. It’s as beautiful as the last time I saw it, though it has been quite a minute since I’ve had the honor.”

Hayes cocked his head. “You’ve seen this ring before?”

“Sure have. Many times, actually. Your grandmother used to bring it to me once a month to be cleaned. Though, the very last time she brought it to me to be cleaned was because she was about to give it to your daddy so he could propose to your momma—rest their souls.”

“It sounds like this ring has been in good hands,” I said. “I’m sure I’ll see you often if you still clean jewelry.”

“Of course! Of course! I know you, but since you don’t know me, my name’s Mary Lou. Don’t be a stranger. You just come on in whenever you need it cleaned, polished, or touched up.”

“We actually need two more rings today,” Hayes said. “Wedding bands.”

“Right this way,” Mary Lou said without skipping a beat. “Now, rumor has it, the wedding’s right around the corner, so you’re lucky that we can size and customize in house.”

“Just something simple,” I said.

Mary Lou looked like she had been shot. “Simple?!” she gasped. “No, no, no, dear. You need something complementary. Something that can sit beside that gorgeous rock on your finger and hold its own for all eternity.”

“Get something you like,” Hayes murmured discreetly against my temple. His thumb stroked a soothing pattern across my lower back.

I shot him a look that meant to say, “What are you doing? This is just temporary.” But Hayes must have read it as fear.

“I think just a plain gold band for me,” I said. “Something that matches.”

“What about something like that?” Hayes asked, pointing to a ring that was displayed all on its own.

Mary Lou cooed. “Yes. Good choice,” she said as she reached into the display and pulled the ring from the velvet box. “The diamonds are small but have a beautiful cut and clarity. The wow factor comes from the design. Gold band, but you can’t really see it. The marquise diamonds go all the way around, alternating between vertical and horizontal so you get a stunning pattern and texture. It’ll sit nicely against the engagement ring since the main stone is elevated in the setting just a bit.”

“It’s nice,” Hayes said as he inspected it casually, like he was picking out fruit at the grocery store.

“Nice” didn’t even begin to cover it. The ring was breathtaking. It also had a lot of zeros on the tiny tag.

But before I could argue, Hayes took my hand in his. “Try it on and see how it looks,” he said as he slid it onto my ring finger.

I didn’t even want to argue with him. It fit like a dream, complementing the engagement ring while adding its own kind of sparkle. It was a match made in heaven.