“Thanks, Ms. Sh— Hailey. I love it here.”
The couple by the window stood, waving as they left. They held the door open for Wes as he walked through.
“Hey, Wes. Want a Santa Salad?” Leo called.
The girls in the corner looked Wes’s way then went back to their animated conversation, showing each other their phones.
Hailey smiled as Wes approached the counter. “Good afternoon.” He looked so good in a suit, like they were specially cut to fit his body. They probably are. He didn’t wear them as often anymore. His usual attire included polo shirts and jeans or button-ups and jeans. He looked just as good in jeans.
One side of his mouth quirked up. “Is it formal day?”
She laughed. “You’re the one in the suit, you tell me.”
“Just a regular day. How’s it going, Leo? What’s a Santa Salad?”
Leo shot her a look to which she gave a subtle nod. “It’s a salad I just made up. It’s red and green veggies with feta cheese.”
She saw the pride in Wes’s gaze when he looked at Leo.
“Nice job. I will definitely try one.”
“On it.” Leo got busy making another salad.
“What’s with the suit?” He looked damn good with his hair tousled a bit differently, making her wonder if he’d actually styled it today instead of just running his fingers through it.
“Meeting in about an hour. Thought I’d stop in here for lunch first.”
“What’s the meeting for?”
“The community center.”
Leo looked up. “When are we doing the fundraiser?”
“That’s part of what I’ll be discussing today. We’re trying to hire a board of directors.”
“Why? Don’t you, your brothers, Rob, and Ms. Lee run everything?”
Hailey listened, curious about the answer. Wes unbuttoned the front of his suit. “Ms. Lee is the director. The rest of us are volunteers. We’ll have more of a pull and impact with the community if we have a board. We’ll be able to ask for different funding, get more resources. They’ll research options and make decisions that benefit the greatest number of people so we can continue focusing on working with the kids and people who show up.”
Leo mumbled something, shrugging his shoulders. “Just don’t let them get rid of the three-on-three tournament.”
Wes laughed, looked at Hailey. “How’s your day so far?”
“Pretty good. I was going through my very large calendar—thanks for that, it takes up half my wall back there.”
“So you don’t miss anything.”
“I won’t miss the fact that I now have nine regular weekly orders for lunches at various businesses. Between you, your family, Fiona, and Piper, I’m getting referrals everywhere. People love the convenience of having something healthy brought in. Rob placed an order for double what he’s been getting for January because he says it’s his busiest month.”
“Right. Resolutions.”
Leo put Wes’s salad on top of the plexiglass. “Here you go.”
Wes’s gaze widened. “Looks delicious.” She hoped Leo recognized his tone as genuine.
“On the house,” Hailey said when he reached for his wallet.
He frowned at her but she held up her hand to ward off his words. “Stop. Consider it a thank-you for suggesting Leo.”
“Can you sit for a few minutes?” he asked.
She came around the counter, smiling at the girls who were packing up their things to leave. She was about to sit across from Wes when the bell jingled. Her greeting got stuck in her throat when Ana Pergo walked through the door. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a striking knot that accentuated her elegant features. She looked like a modern Grace Kelly. Her smile when she saw Hailey blossomed into a full-wattage grin when she looked at Wes. An uncomfortable prickle of jealousy weaved its way between each of Hailey’s ribs.
“Wes! What a happy surprise. Hello again, Hailey.”
Wes stood as she walked over. “Hi, Ana.”
Hailey smoothed down her apron. “Hi. This is a surprise.”
Ana didn’t look like she frequented a lot of tiny shops in the square. Her black skirt emphasized her slim hips, the pale pink blouse adding a soft pulse of color. The purse hanging over her forearm cost more than Hailey’s grocery bill for the month. She breathed through her nose, irritated at her own observations. She was past comparing herself to others. Wasn’t she? She really wanted to be past that stage in life.
“I came to order salads, of course. But Wes, I actually needed to talk to you as well.” She looked to where he’d been sitting. “Do you mind if I join you after I speak with Hailey?”
Wes’s mouth moved but no sound came out. So much for Hailey’s visit with him. His gaze locked on hers and she tried to convey a casual “sure, whatever” vibe.
He looked back at Ana, found his voice. “Of course.”
Ana turned to Hailey. “Do you have a few minutes?”
The bell jingled again. A couple of guys Leo clearly knew came through the door.
Business first. Always. “Sure.” Why did she feel so awkward?
Ana walked toward the counter. “I’d like to place an order for a staff luncheon we’re having in the third week of December.”
With another glance at Wes, who was looking at her with an unreadable expression, Hailey kicked herself into gear. “That’s great. Is it a holiday event?”
Ana smiled over her shoulder, then turned back to the menu board. “Yes. Just an appreciation lunch. We’ll be ordering from next door and a sandwich shop as well but I thought of you and your delightful little salads.”
Hailey’s fingers clenched. It was a compliment. What was wrong with her?
Ana looked at Hailey again. “I think it would be easiest to just let you choose.”
Hailey pulled her phone out of her pocket, pulled up her calendar. “Okay. How many and what date?”
She took the particulars, including a credit card number, promising they’d be delivered. When Ana gave her a fancy business card, Hailey held it in her hand for a moment, wanting to scrunch it into a little ball. Or maybe she wanted to scrunch into a little ball until the possessiveness she suddenly felt for Wes passed.
This very nice woman is offering you business that’ll probably end up being repeated. What more could you want? Maybe she was tired. Overwhelmed.
She forced a smile. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything to eat?”
The boys had settled on the far side of the counter so Leo could chat with them as he cleaned up.
“No thank you. I’ll be sure to share your cards with people at our company. I’m just going to chat with Wes. It was really nice to see you again.”
“You too. Thank you for thinking of me.”
“My pleasure.” She turned and walked over to Wes’s table, her high-heeled shoes tapping across the linoleum.
Hailey went behind the counter, focused on her phone, making sure she had the details she would then transfer to the physical calendar. That way, Leo and Bryce always knew what was going on as well. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn’t finished her Santa Salad.
She was doing her best not to watch Ana and Wes talk, trying even harder not to wonder what they were talking about, when Leo sidled up next to her.
“You okay?” His voice was low.
She crinkled her brow. “Of course. We just got more business. We’re going to have a great month.”
“She’s got nothin’ on you, Hailey.”
Hailey turned her head looked at Leo, her heart squeezing. “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh yeah?”
Her throat went dry and tight at the same time. “Wes and I are friends. That’s it. I’m not interested in Wes that way. Ana is lovely. They look great together.” She wanted her friends to be happy. They’re talking. That’s it. It’s probably business. It was none of her business.
Leo patted her shoulder and went back to his friends, leaving Hailey to wonder what Wes thought about Ana. It was more than a little obvious what the woman thought of him as she reached over, placed her hand on his. Wes slipped his hand out from under hers, shaking his head.
When she rose from the table a few minutes later, she shot Hailey a happy smile. “Take care, Hailey. See you soon.”
Hailey lifted her hand, saying nothing. Leo stopped talking to his friends when an older woman came through the door after Ana left.
“I got it,” he said, turning that happy smile on their customer.
“Bryce should be back shortly,” Hailey said, feeling inexplicably off.
She made herself busy, avoiding Wes’s gaze while trying to get out of her own head. She didn’t want Wes like that. He didn’t want her like that. They were friends. Good friends. She needed him in her life. What she did not need was a love interest. Everything was finally going so well; she felt like she was surfacing after being stuck underwater for too long. She could breathe.
When she turned around from getting herself a fountain soda, Wes was standing at the counter.