Page 51 of Blue Jean Summer

Hayes grimaced. “Just eat banana bread and drink a cup of coffee.”

“Try it,” I begged.

He huffed. “Make that two, please.”

While Jeremiah insisted the drinks were on the house, Mike pestered us about working the wedding. It wasn’t until Hayes paid and left a handsome tip that we were able to make our escape.

I stopped Hayes beneath the shadow of a raucous forsythia that was creeping onto the sidewalk. “Try it. Tell me it’s not the best thing you’ve ever tasted in your entire life.”

Hayes arched an eyebrow. “That’s a little dramatic. It’s just coffee.”

I waited with bated breath as he took a sip, and then another.

I grinned when he took a third.

“Good, right?” I said with a victorious smile.

Hayes sighed and looked at the cup as if he was disappointed in how much he liked it. “You’ve created a monster. I hope you know that. You think they’ll give us the recipe? We can get an espresso machine for the kitchen.”

I shook my head. “What’s the rule? Coffee tastes better when someone else makes it.”

We crossed the street, moseying back toward Ranch Dressing. Maybe I should have checked to see if Savannah was there before showing up, but Savannah was always there.

Bells jingled overhead as Hayes opened the door for me.

“Savannah?” I shouted as I started pawing around the new selection of ladies’ jeans that had been added to a hanging rack. I adored the roses she had embroidered on the back pockets.

Hayes stood in front of the boot wall, assessing the selection.

“Coming!” she said as tools clanked and clattered in the back. Savannah appeared in a leather apron. Her hair was in a long braid. She was dripping in jewelry and rocked a pair of the rose jeans I was currently salivating over. “Hey, lovebirds,” she said. “What brings you to my shop?”

“Monday. Dress shopping. Did you see Hallie’s text? I have an appointment at a fancy bridal boutique in DC.”

“I saw the text. I have not had time to reply to the text,” she clipped. “But I’ll be there.” Her eyes tracked to Hayes. “Anything I can help you with?”

Hayes was inspecting a boot. “Do you have these in thirteens?”

“I can make ’em in a week or two,” she said. “I’ll even throw in a hat.”

He hummed something indifferent. “Do you have any on hand that are in my size?”

Savannah studied his feet from afar. “Square toe?”

Hayes nodded.

“You need steel?”

“Nah.”

“Sit tight,” she said as she spun. “I’ve got a pair in the back.”

I wandered over, circumventing the racks of clothes I was dying to get my hands on. Even though my first five grand had magically dropped in my bank account, it didn’t feel right to use it for anything outside of the necessities.

“You’re getting boots?” I asked.

He nodded, inspecting another pair. “A good pair lasts a long time. The ones I have at the house are from high school. They’re a little tight.”

I laughed under my breath. “I’d say that’s a long time. They’ve lived a good life.”