whispered—“you take your assignments very seriously around here.”
He pulled back to look into her eyes. “You should really stay here, Jess. Stay for the summer and see. Help us get the spa up and running, ride Sky Dancer anytime you want, breathe fresh mountain air instead of Boston smog…”
“One thing at a time, cowboy.”
“Okay. One thing at a time. Come with me to the wedding.”
—
“So Cole asked you to be his date at the wedding? Finally?” Hayley’s eyes were wide as she sipped coffee at Ma’s kitchen table an hour later. “It’s about time, since I’m getting married tomorrow.” She started counting on her fingers, then frowned. “Rats. Decker gets the pot.”
“What are you talking about? What pot?”
“Nothing.” Hayley took another sip, a little flush rising on her cheeks.
“Did you guys—”
“No. Definitely not. I’m thinking about something else. Sorry.”
“Did you guys take bets on Cole and me?”
Hayley put down her mug, a shocked expression on her face. “Jess! We would never!”
“You totally did. How much did Decker just win?”
“Stop. We didn’t take bets.”
“How much?”
“A hundred bucks.” Hayley cringed, picking up her cup again like a shield.
“I’m shocked.” Jess shook her head.
Hayley peered at her over her coffee. “No, you’re not.”
“Okay, you’re right. I wish I could be shocked. How’s that?”
“Better. So, did he ask you anything else?”
“Li-ike, will you also stay here for the summer?”
Hayley shrugged. “Or whatever.”
“I think he’s content with having a wedding date for now.”
“He could have had fifty dates to my wedding, Jess.”
“Well, it sounds like he didn’t actually ask anyone.”
“He didn’t have to. Any single woman in town would give a left leg to be seen on his arm.”
“Not that you exaggerate.”
“Not this time.” Hayley shook her head. “That man puts his phone in the refrigerator sometimes, just to shut the damn thing up.”
Jess laughed. “He does not.”
“Does. Ask him.”
“So I snagged Carefree’s Most Eligible Bachelor for the day?”
“Prepare to be a viper-sniper target at the wedding. Just saying.”
“Oh, please. You and Kyla keep talking about how everything is sunshine and roses out here.” Jess shook her head. “It’s just a date, Hayls. Not even a real one. We’re both in the wedding, for goodness sake. It’s not like we weren’t already both going to be there, anyway.”
“I’m counting it as a date.”
“If you insist.” Jess smiled, running her fingertip around the edge of her mug, remembering the feel of Cole’s fingertips on her jaw, in her hair. Remembering the feathery touch of his lips on hers.
Hayley tapped her fingernails on the table. “You know, I should totally win the pot. I called this two years ago.”
“You did not.”
“Totally did. You were too busy actually being selfless and worrying about Kyla to notice. But we all knew this day was coming.”
“With all due respect, Hayley, shut up.”
Hayley laughed. “It’s true. You two have been falling for each other for two straight years, but neither of you would ever come out and admit it. Or do anything about it.”
“Stop.”
“I’m just saying. We totally should have started a pot earlier.”
“About that pot.” Jess raised her eyebrows. “I think I should get that hundred bucks. It would serve you all right for taking bets in the first place.”
“Sorry. I’m not the keeper of the pot.”
“Who is?”
“Kyla.”
“Seriously? Both of you are part of this?” Jess shook her head, but couldn’t keep from smiling. “I thought you were my friends.”
“We are. Best ones you have, which is why we’re invested in making sure you’re happy.”
“I’m happy.”
“Really happy. Happy-with-a-man happy.”
Jess swallowed. A man had never really been part of the plan. Not since—a long, long time ago. Not since Billy. She’d dated over the years, but always backed out when any man called the third time. It was safer that way. No one got hurt—most especially her.
“Hayley, a year ago, you’d have been the first person to shoot any woman who said a man was required for happiness.”
“I know. And I was right. But really, it’s all about the right man. You just haven’t found the right man yet. I mean, you have, but you hadn’t before now.” She shook her head. “I mean, you did two years ago, but now maybe you’re finally ready to admit it.”
“Hayley?”
“I know. Shut up. But seriously, if you’d told me two years ago I’d be sitting here today looking forward to marrying a widower with two kids, I’d have told you you were insane.”
“You actually might have said that.”
Hayley wrinkled her nose. “I know. It took kind of a lot to get me here,