Font Size:  

“So, back to the catchphrase,” she reminded him. “Is it something your Grandpa Ray says?”

“Something hesaid, yeah. He’s been gone for twelve years.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Hayden. I didn’t realize.” He’d always spoken of his grandfather in apresent tensemanner that led her to believe he was still living.

“Thanks, but Grandpa’s in a better place. ‘Make hay while the sun shines’ was actually in a book published in the mid-eighteen hundreds. The Archbishop of Canterbury mentioned it. Basically, it’s aseize the momentkind of thing.”

He anchored the ladder while Violet climbed up three-quarters of the way and went to work. Knowing he watched, she tried not to be self-conscious.Easier said than done.She’d caught him admiring her earlier, but she’d been equally guilty. Hayden wore jeans, tennis shoes, and a Goldenrod Riders T-shirt, the school’s team name stemming from the historic Pony Express riders who’d departed from St. Joseph, Missouri.

He looks great.

“Does this look even with the drape of the other streamers?” Violet looked down after she heard his chuckle. “What’s so funny?”

“If you think these kids are going to be studying the symmetry of the streamers tonight, you don’t understand what goes on in the heads of teenagers.”

She turned back to her task. “I seem to recall I said something similar to you. Believe it or not, I went to a few high school dances back in my day.”

“Were youevera teenager, Violet? No offense, but ‘back in my day’ is something Grandma Beth—Grandpa Ray’s wife—would say. And, yes, she’s still with us.”

See the humor. He’s teasing.She tossed the crepe paper roll at him. Unfurlingalong the way, it headed straight for Hayden and bonked him on the head.

“Great aim. Did you play softball in school?” He retrieved the roll.

“Tennis.” Violet’s breath caught in her throat when he started up the ladder. “What are youdoing?” she demanded, scooching over to make room when he kept climbing. Hayden didn’t stop until he was practically nose-to-nose with her.

Lord, keep me breathing.“Welcome to my rung.”

His gaze landed on her lips. He’d been doing that lately, even in the middle of their sparring. “For you, milady. Plus the flower for the corner.”

“Thanks.” When she took them from him, their fingers met. “This isn’t a date, remember?”

His lips curled, and the smile lines around his eyes and mouth made an appearance. “Who said it is? That must beyourperception.”

Violet willed her breathing to slow as he descended the ladder. “You’re staring at me,” she called over one shoulder. Dipping her head, she couldn’t stop her smile.

“Can’t help it! You’ll make a great mom one day.”

Was the man checking out her hips for future child-bearing purposes?

Call for the men in the white coats, people.She’d lost her mind.

Violet gripped the sides of the ladder when it vibrated after Hayden jumped off the bottom rung. After closing her eyes for a beat or two, Violet glanced down at him. “I know I shouldn’t ask, but—”

“I only meant you must have eyes in the back of your head to know I was . . ..” Hayden cleared his throat. “Hey, Principal Collins.”

Great.Violet’s pulse skipped a few beats.Please tell me the principal didn’t catch any of that conversation.Steve Collins went to Rotary with her dad, and his wife, Trina, served on a handful of community committees with her mother. Until Mom had to drop most of them.

“Good to see you, Violet. Thanks for helping out.”

She smiled from her perch. “Hi, Steve. Glad to be of service. You can thank Hayden. His recruiting skills are outstanding.”

The principal said gave her a thumbs-up. “Tell your mom and dad hello,” Steve called to her before departing.

They’d been hanging the streamers the past two hours, and this was the last corner. Afterwards, she knew Hayden had to run home, grab something to eat, change, and be back by seven to chaperone. The dance started at seven-thirty.

“I realize this is the most drawn-out conversation we’ve ever had, but getting back to the making hay thing?”Maybe you should have looked it up yourself.

He chuckled. “Basically, it’s all about the production of hay after a harvest. The warmth of the sun’s rays dries up the wheat stalks and turns them into hay. If they get wet, the stalks start to rot, so there’s an urgency to gather the hay—”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like