Ask Me to Stay (Honky Tonk Angels #4) (11 page)

“You’re amazing,” Callie said. “Is that how you taught Carson?”

“Yeah, I guess. I never thought of it as teaching, just playing.”

“You’re really good with children.”

“I like them.” He turned from watching Lily, to lock gazes with Callie. “I like Lily. And her mom.”

“And we like you.”

“Hey Lily.”

Callie looked up to see Carson. He knelt in the water and Lily hurriedly waded to him. “Can I play with Lily?”

“Sure.”

“Actually that’s a great idea.” Jayce stood and grabbed Callie’s hand. “Since I was going to dunk her mom.”

“Oh no.” Callie pulled away.

“Oh yes.”

“Don’t let him get you, Callie,” Carson said, laughed and scooped Lily up. “Look Lily. Mommy’s gonna dunk Jayce.”

“Unk Ace.”

Callie laughed then squeaked as Jayce made a move at her. She headed for deeper water and made it chest deep before Jayce swam up behind her, grabbed her and lifted her up and out of the water. She laughed and dove into the water when he released her, and for the next few minutes, they indulged in a dunking contest like a couple of kids.

Finally, Callie surrendered. “Uncle, uncle. I give.”

Jayce laughed and grabbed her to pull her to him. “God, you’re pretty when you smile.”

“So are you.” She put her hands against his chest, feeling the muscles tighten as he pulled her a little closer.

“Does that mean I might be able to talk you into a real, honest to goodness, date?”

“Oh, I think you already know the answer to that. It just has to be when I have a babysitter for Lily.”

“And speaking of Lily.” Jayce looked to one side. Callie’s gaze followed his and she had one of those warm and fuzzy moments women speak of. Carson and Bronson’s three kids were sitting with Lily on the edge of the water, helping her dig in the mud and build a castle.

“God they’re such sweet kids.” She cut a look at Jayce. “I mean it. Look at them. They’re so kind and caring of her and she’s nothing to them.”

“She’s their friend.” His tone had her looking at him again. “Friendship means something to us, Callie. To all of us. There might be a million small towns in this world, but this small town has people who honestly care about each other. You and Lily are part of us now. We’ll always be here for you.”

Callie had not expected to hear anything like that, nor had she expected the tears that filled her eyes.

Jayce reached up to brush them away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry, honey.”

“It’s happy tears so that’s okay. I’m just not quite accustomed to – to all this, yet.”

“To all what?”

“Being accepted.”

“Well, why wouldn’t you be?”

The realization that slammed into her had her literally feeling off-balance, enough that she leaned in on Jayce for a few moments. Callie found herself wishing she could be in two places at once. Right here, with Jayce holding onto her, and also somewhere quiet and private. She needed to process what she’d just realized and now wasn’t the time or place.

She reluctantly pushed back from Jayce. “I think we should rescue them from Lily. I know they want to go do their own thing and she’s probably getting hungry.”

“We have tons of food and hey, look. The family is starting to set the tables.” He whistled and when Carson looked up, motioned to him and his cousins. “Pop’s getting food on the table.”

“I think she needs to get washed off.” Carson indicated Lily’s muddy state.

Callie chuckled. “I think you’re right.

She and Jayce got Lily cleaned up in the lake, then joined the Weathers family. It wasn’t until the meal was over and she was helping to clean up that Callie realized she hadn’t felt out of place or like an outsider once the entire day. In fact, she’d felt surrounded by family and friends.

She cut a look in Jayce’s direction and was rewarded by finding him watching at her. The smile they shared was enough to have her feeling excited about where she and Lily were and about her life. It had been a very long time since she’d felt that way, and she knew it was all due to Jayce.

Whether it was smart or not, she was falling for him, and falling fast.

*****

Hannah had just finished packing the last of the tablecloths into a basket when someone tapped her shoulder. She turned to find Cooper smiling down at her.

“Well, hello there, stranger,” she said and returned the smile.

His smile hitched up a notch. “Hey beautiful. Looks like you’re done for the day.”

“I am. Mama and KC were supposed to be doing this but they both came down with some bug and Cody has to open the bar so I said I’d take over here.”

“Any chance you’re free once you’ve finished here?”

“I wish, but I need to get over there within the next couple of hours. With Callie being off tonight, we’re already shorthanded.”

“Just my luck. I was hoping we could have dinner and – I don’t know, take a drive or something.”

“I’d love to, but I just can’t tonight. I’m sorry.”

“Are you busy tomorrow night?”

“No, I’m not.”

“So how about dinner? In fact, how about we leave early and drive to Midland? I’ve heard there are a few nice restaurants there.”

“Well, yes, there are, but it’s a long way to go just for dinner.”

“Not if you’re wanting to have dinner with a beautiful woman and have her all to yourself.” Cooper took Hannah’s hand. “And having you to myself in Cotton Creek seems pretty much an impossibility.”

Hannah chuckled and gave his hand and answering squeeze. “You have a point and I’d love to. What time do you want to leave?”

“Four too early?”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Then it’s a date?”

“Yes.”

Cooper pulled her to him and leaned down to place a slow, soft kiss on her lips. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“So, am I.” She looked up and when their gazes met, she felt a tingle that started in her toes and worked all the way to the top of her head.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Sweet.”

“Yes indeed, Mr. Quinn.”

“Oh get a room.” Pressley Purcell’s voice had both of them turning. Pressley propped her butt against the empty table bearing Hannah’s baskets. “So, you working tonight, Hannah?”

“Yep.”

“And you headed over to the Honky Tonk?” Pressley asked Cooper.

“No, over to meet with Wes and Bronson.”

“Oh, the leases. Yeah, I gave Wes an updated report yesterday.”

“Yeah, he mentioned it, thanks.” He looked at Hannah once more. “If my meeting doesn’t run too late, I may drop by.”

“I’ll be there until closing.”

“Then I’ll probably see you later.”

“Okay, great.” She watched him leave before turning her attention to Pressley. “So, are you here checking out Bronson in shorts?”

“Girl.” Pressley whistled. “He, JD, and Jayce walked out of the water and it was like a moment from that old lifeguard show. I swear to god every woman in eyeshot sucked in a breath.”

Hannah chuckled. “Well, they are pretty fine.”

“Pretty fine? That’s an understatement.”

“So why aren’t you with him?”

“I was for most of the afternoon. He was getting his kids rounded up to take home so he can get cleaned up and ready for the meeting at Wes’s.”

“And?” Hannah cut her a look as she picked up double handled basket from the table.

“And what?” Pressley grabbed two of the smaller, single handle baskets and fell into step with Hannah as they made their way to Hannah’s car.

“Any sparks?”

“Oh, there were sparks.”

“That’s all you’re giving me?”

Pressley laughed. “Let’s just say that when we were out swimming and I just happened to find myself with my hands on his shoulders and my legs wrapped around him, I made an interesting discovery.”

“Which was?”

“That when someone says Bronson’s a big guy, they aren’t lying.”

Hannah burst out laughing. “Oh my god. You mean…?”

“Yep, I most certainly do.”

“Well – well, I’m not quite sure what to say to that.”

Pressley grinned. “Yeah, point taken but seriously, the man is built, girl. Muscles in all the right places and those eyes.”

“Sounds like you and he are moving past the just flirting stage.”

“A bit. He asked me to have dinner with him next Friday. He’s going to cook and his kids are going to spend the night with their grandpa.”

“He’s cooking for you?”

“Well, if he’s anything like most Texan men, that means he’s throwing a steak on the grill, but yeah.”

“Who cares what he fixes? It’s a date.”

“Amen. And speaking of dates, seems like you and Coop are getting pretty friendly.”

Hannah smiled. “A bit.”

“So, anything promising on the horizon there?”

“I wouldn’t mind it, I can tell you that.” She unlocked the trunk of the car and they put the baskets inside. After Hannah closed the trunk, she and Pressley started back for the rest of her things.

“He is fine,” Pressley said, then added, “And Liz said he’s asked her a lot about you – what you like and don’t like, that sort of thing.”

“Really?”

“That’s what she said.”

“Interesting.”

Just as they neared Hannah’s table, Carson Weathers raced by with his cousin, Jimmy.

“Where’s the fire?” Pressley called out.

Jimmy stopped and yelled to Carson. “Hey Car, hold up.” He then addressed Pressley. “Uncle Jayce and Dad brought the jet skis and they said Car and I could pull the kids around on a tire tube Dawson and Briggs brought. They have their dad’s jet ski and are pulling people on a kneeboard. You shoulda seen Callie. She can barefoot.”

“Barefoot?” Hannah asked.

“Yeah. Jayce got her going really fast on the kneeboard and she just kinda stuck her feet out to the sides and stood right up on the water. It was cool. Briggs tried and busted big time. Me and Car are gonna try. You should come too, Pressley.”

“Maybe I’ll head there after I finish helping Hannah.”

“Cool. Okay, see ya.”

Hannah watched them race off, then looked at Pressley. “I can get the rest of this. Go on and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”

“You sure?”

“I am.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later at the Honky Tonk.”

“I’ll be there.”

Hannah watched Pressley hurry after the boys, then turned her mind back to the task at hand. By the time she got everything delivered to the bakery, she should have just enough time to swing by the house, shower, change and make it to the bar before Cody opened the doors. She blew out a breath and shook back the complaint that was forming. All work and no play was starting to make her more than a dull girl. It was turning her into an old spinster.

Hannah grabbed the last basket and reached into her pocket for her keys. She felt something and pulled out the folded notepaper.

Then she remembered. The message for Callie from the Assistant District Attorney in Nashville. Hannah needed to make sure she gave Callie the message. She paused and looked around. It would be several more hours before people started packing it in and the Weathers family normally made a full day of it. If Callie was with Jayce and his family, Hannah didn’t want to interrupt.

She’d make sure to call Callie in the morning and give her the message.

*****

“She fits right in, doesn’t she?” Jolene’s voice had Jayce turning his head to look at her. Jo stepped up beside him and after Jayce gave her a smile, they both turned toward Callie.

“She sure does.” Callie was playing water volleyball on the Weathers team with Dawson, Briggs, Carson, Jimmy and Michael. The rest of the family watched from chairs on the beach, including Lily, who was perched in Jason’s lap.

Jayce took in the scene, noting the smiles on the faces of his brothers, their women, children and his father. He had a great family and gave thanks for every one of them every day of his life. His gaze moved to Lily, sitting in Jason’s lap, clapping and cheering whenever everyone else did, and then he looked at Callie.

While most of the single women who had shown up today displayed as much of themselves as was legal in itty-bitty bikinis, Callie wore a one-piece black swimsuit. It was not extraordinarily low cut in the front and had what Jolene had called a racerback that hid most of her back. The bottom was cut a bit high on her legs, but still was modest.

And yet, she was the sexiest woman at the lake. At least to Jayce. Callie was trim and fit and it showed in the way she moved, and her ability to play, swim, dive and even barefoot ski. He liked that. But then, he was discovering that he liked pretty much everything about Callie Williams.

She seemed to sense him watching and cut a look his way, smiled and then jumped to set the ball up for Briggs to spike on the other side of the net. That won the game and team Weathers cheered, hugged and ran up onto the beach, making room for the next match. Carson walked beside Callie and had his arm slung over her shoulders. She was laughing at something Carson had said and the sight of the two of them got to Jayce. A longing took hold of him at the sight, a yearning to have that sight be part of his life on a permanent basis.