Page 58 of Blue Jean Summer

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After the drive back from DC, we reconvened at Pony Up, Honey Hollow’s only bar, for an impromptu dinner Savannah had declared was my bachelorette party.

I didn’t care what we called it. I was celebrating. I had found a wedding dress, and thanks to Hayes’s fancy credit card, it hadn’t cost me a dime.

He was also paying for our dinner and drinks. He just didn’t know it yet.

Maybe I should give him a heads-up…

I paused beneath the neon glow of a beer sign to fire off a text but found one from my future husband waiting for me.

Hayes: You didn’t even get close to the daily limit on my credit card.

I tried to fight a smile, but it was no use. Hallie snickered as she bumped into my back. “Ooh! Cath’s got a gentleman caller!” She fanned herself. “My, my. How scandalous!”

Savannah joined in on the antics. “Heavens be! A gentleman caller!”

I laughed. “Will you two knock it off?” Quickly, I texted him back.

Me: How many shots at Pony Up do you think it will take to get to your credit card limit?

Hayes: You could buy the entire bar, and it still wouldn’t touch my daily limit, sweetheart. Think bigger.

Me: Something bigger…Is that old wives’ tale about big hands being an indicator of “size” true?

Hayes: How many of those shots have you had already? Also yes. The old wives’ tale is accurate.

Heat crept across my cheeks as I gaped at the screen. One of the many things I loved about Hayes was how direct he was. To him, the truth was always the simplest answer, and I appreciated that. He didn’t try to woo me with some fake romance. He simply said he needed a wife, and exactly why he needed one.

What I didn’t expect was how hot the truth would be.

Me: There may have been champagne at the bridal salon and it was delicious. Don’t worry, Hallie drove me back to Honey Hollow safe and sound. But apparently this is my bachelorette party, and Savannah’s buying, so I might need to use your credit card for some bail money.

“You can flirt with your fiancé later. What’s the plan for the reception?” Savannah asked as she dragged me across the dance floor to a high-top table just big enough for the three of us.

“Dinner, dancing, and cake—thank goodness,” I said as I wiggled onto the tall chair that sidled up to the high-top table. “Something short and sweet.”

“Food’s coming,” Hallie said as she hurried over from the bar and took the last chair. “What are we talking about?”

“The reception,” Savannah said. “You should do an outfit change. Swap the gown for a short dress and boots.”

“My boots don’t match,” I said. “They’re brown. I could get away with black, but even that would be a stretch.”

Savannah waved it off. “Custom dress in a week? No way in hell. Boots and a badass hat? That’s right up my alley.”

I held my hands up. “Fine by me.”

The bartender swung by and dropped off a round of shots. “From the cowboy at the bar.”

All three of us turned to find Levi Caldwell grinning like an idiot. He tipped his chin and raised his beer in a distant toast.

“Bottoms up,” I said as I reached for a shot glass, raised it, knocked it back, and slapped my hand to my chest. “Oh my god. Fireball tastes like college and those memories are not good.”

Hallie laughed as she tossed her shot back at the same time Savannah did, then immediately coughed. “Wooo! I am out of practice.”

“Who’s got the kid tonight?” Savannah said as she swallowed hers without batting an eye and signaled the bartender for another round.

“The kid’s name is Zach,” Hallie clarified. “And Mason said he’d keep an eye on him so I could leave the estate today and fucking breathe.”