quietly, as the church bells ring and Jett wiggles his butt between her and Ma, forcing her shoulder and hip into mine.
“Yep.” Though I’m definitely going to have a hard time walking out when the service is over, given she’s wearing one of those short, flowery dresses and I know all too well what’s hidden beneath it.
“Good.” She smiles up at me, and with her eyes locked on mine, not only sets her hand on my thigh, but curls it around so that her fingers are tucked between my leg and the seat. “Let me know if that changes.”
Yup, things are changing, all right. Something in my pants. But I don’t tell her that. Instead, I sit through the forty-five-minute service with a raging fucking hard-on and gut full of regret.
I might’ve put us on ice, but something tells me she isn’t going to make it easy on me.
HAYDEN
“I’m thinking tomorrow,” I mutter to Jinx as we file out of church. “I know it’s last minute, but the sooner we do it, the better.”
He nods. “Yep, I can make that work. Good with Amelia?”
“Uh huh.”
He flashes a discreet smile. “Then, I guess we have a date.”
I bite back a smile of my own, because, holy crap, I’m doing this. I’m really doing this.
JESSE
“It was nice to see Hayden in church today,” Ma says a couple of hours later when I come in from the patio to grab a drink for Jett, who’s pushing trucks around on the deck with Jinx while Dad and Aiden talk baseball.
“Yeah, it was, wasn’t it?” She’s not Catholic, so it had surprised me a little, too.
“We talked for a second on the way out and it sounds like we’re going to bring the office applicants in for interviews as soon as possible, huh?”
We are? That’s news to me, although it’s probably for the best. I can’t have Hayden putting in extra time for me forever, especially given the current state of things. And the fact that she’s still helping out, despite what happened on Friday night... well, that says a lot about her character. Says a lot about mine, as well, knowing I shoved her away in one regard, but need to keep her close in another. What a dick.
“Right,” I say tightly. “She’s got her own work to do. Can’t be doing mine forever.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t mind.” Ma smiles as she tosses a pasta salad and I’m reminded that, aside from Aiden, no one knows we’ve taken a step back. “Anyway, I’m looking forward to you finally finding some permanent help.”
Yeah, me, too. Except, I’d like it even more if that permanent help were Hayden and doesn’t that make me an even bigger, hypocritical dick.
“Oh, and don’t forget the heritage festival is next weekend, too. Please tell me you don’t have any jobs scheduled.”
Ugh, that friggin’ festival. I scratch a hand through my hair and sigh. “No, unfortunately.”
Ma gives me a knowing glare. “Don’t be a party pooper. You know you always have fun.”
I don’t mind the festival. The food is great and it’s always nice to see old friends and family. Jett loves the carnival part of it and the street dance at the end of the night is always a good time. It’s the damn heritage part I’m not a fan of. Specifically, the Polish garb Ma makes us all wear.
“Jett’s outfit fits, by the way. Though, he’s about as thrilled to wear it as I am.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, you boys. It’s one day. And not even the whole day, so suck it up, buttercups.”
“Do we have a choice?” I ask, grabbing a bottle of apple juice from the fridge.
“Nope.” She flashes a grin over her shoulder and bats her eyelashes. “And you can bet your dupa that as long as I’m alive you’ll be wearing your stroje ludowe to every single festival.”
I don’t want to, but, dammit, I grin. “Great.”
She laughs. “Just think of how handsome you’ll look for Hayden.”
Fuck. I hadn’t thought about that. And I know she plans on going, because she signed up for the pie baking contest.
“Aww, you’re blushing,” Ma teases. “Maybe we’ll get her into a dress next year, too.”
If she’s still around next year, I’ll gladly dress up with her.
“Daddy, my drink!” Jett yells through the patio door and Ma chuckles again.
“I love you, Jesse Aaron,” she coos, as I sigh and offer a half-assed smile.
“Love you, too, Ma.”
HAYDEN
By the time Jett and Jesse pull in just before six