“I never said we were. I don’t know what that person told you.”

  She was getting defensive and he saw this conversation going nowhere, then wondered why he started it. Why he was being petty when he never had been before.

  Because he found he was falling in love with Payton and he was bothered by anyone that made her feel inferior or bad about herself. Or made her doubt anything at all in life.

  And he really hated that she doubted him for no reason.

  “They said it was implied and I cleared the air. Enough said. Was there a reason you wanted to see me? A work related reason?” he asked, ready to change the subject.

  Anne’s face turned a deep shade of red. “I just wanted to know if we could meet at some point to go over lessons before the department meeting in a few weeks?”

  “I’ll let you know if I have time,” he said. “If you’ve got a specific question on something, you can always shoot me an email.”

  He watched as she stood up and walked out the door, but she paused in the doorway. “You know women like her are just using you.”

  This time he felt the heat in his face. “And why is that?”

  “You know why. You don’t need me to tell you.”

  “I know no such thing,” he said, ready to go back to his work. “I think you’re both insulting me and selling me and yourself short judging someone by their looks.”

  “I’m not doing that,” she argued.

  “It seems to me you are since the only conversation you’ve had with Payton is that brief one in the hallway. Now if there isn’t anything else, I’ve got work to do.”

  He tried to push the conversation from his mind. He’d never been one to confront another before in a situation like that, always preferring to ignore it, hoping it went away.

  This time he didn’t feel like it though. He hated that Anne did what she had and that he’d never expected that of her.

  All of his experiences with catty, judgmental, high-maintenance women were with ones who looked more like Payton than Anne. It just reminded him that he really shouldn’t have classified women the way he had over the years. Stayed away from certain women because of the way they looked or acted.

  That he was kind of guilty of what he just accused Anne of, just in a lesser form.

  Another thirty minutes went by when he heard another knock at his door and looked up to see Justin standing there. “Hey, Justin. Aren’t you working today?”

  “I just finished. I had to leave early so I could catch the bus and get here to meet with my adviser.”

  “Come on in. How’s it going?”

  He saw Justin a few times at Millie’s when he stopped in, but most times he was there when Payton was opening, before Justin’s shift. He’d get a lunch to go more often than not now. A few times he’d stop at the end of the day after he’d text Payton and ask her to have a burger and fries, or a steak sandwich ready for him for dinner, but not often.

  “Good. I just wanted to thank you again for putting in a good word for me with Payton. I really like working there and wasn’t sure I would.”

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “I’ve worked in fast food before and it gets tiring to be talked down to all the time. It’s like if you wait on people you’re beneath them.”

  He hated to say he understood, but he’d seen it enough in his life, not just at Millie’s a few times, but in restaurants and malls, stores alike.

  “People who do that aren’t worth your time,” he said. “If you enjoy it, that is all that matters.”

  “I do. And Payton said that if my schedule allows once school starts I could get some hours in too in the afternoon.”

  “That’s nice. She is talking about taking on some more special orders and stuff and that would free her up.”

  “She told me that too,” Justin said. “I told her she should totally cater and she said if she decided to, she’d need help prepping for it and it could mean some hours on a Saturday if I was interested.”

  Payton had talked to him about it and that she was considering it on an as-needed basis, opening for a special occasion for a party on a Saturday or Sunday, if time allowed. He hadn’t wanted her to, but supported her decision and knew it was her business to run the way she wanted.

  She shouldn’t make decisions on her future because he wanted more time with her. They hadn’t been dating long and it wasn’t as if either one of them had said how they felt.

  As much as he wanted to say he was falling in love with her, he’d held back. He wasn’t ready to get burned and he’d never been the type to speak his mind first.

  They spent weekends together and it seemed she was happy with that arrangement, bringing and taking her possessions back with her, so who was he to ask for more? Not only that, just because they had fun and met each other’s family didn’t mean declarations of love were on the horizon.

  “She has a good head for business,” he said. “She’s really made that place shine in the year she’s run it.”

  “She’s only had it a year?” Justin said. “I thought she worked there since high school?”

  “She has. It was her aunt’s business and when her aunt died, she left it to Payton.”

  “Oh yeah, I guess she did tell me that. Sometimes I forget because it seems like she’s run it for years she knows it so well. Even the way she handles the idiots.”

  He straightened his shoulders. “What idiots?”

  Justin shrugged. “You know how it is. Just what I said. We get talked down to now and again. Payton seems to get it worse though, which is surprising because she is the owner, though I don’t think many know that.”

  “What do you mean she gets it worse?” Why hadn’t Payton said anything to him about it?

  “Just the usual men hitting on her. Nothing major. Kelly even picks on her and says she should play it up to get tips, but Payton never would.”

  “No, she wouldn’t.”

  “Anyway. One day a few weeks ago, some dude came in. You could tell he was crabby to begin with. He was just being rude and trying to tell her how to run her business. He was annoyed there weren’t more donuts or something and told her if she was smarter she’d make more.”

  He snorted. “I bet she just loved that.”

  “She held her smile and continued to wait on him like he never said a word.”

  “Like you said, she’s good that way. So that’s all it was?”

  “She counted his change back wrong. It happens, but he gave her grief and called her stupid. I think it flustered her, but I told her we all do it. I mean really, how many people pay with cash now anyway? On top of it, he gave her a fifty and it wasn’t even twenty dollars.”

  “I’m sure it’s not the first time someone has gotten annoyed over their change,” Bryce said, not sure what else he could say or wanted to with Justin.

  “That’s what I said. I told her to not let it bother her, but it did. I could tell. She counted his change back three times to him after that, really slowly too. I thought she might be being sarcastic, but she wasn’t. She was truly making sure it was right.” Justin looked down at his watch. “Anyway, I need to run to catch the bus, but I took a chance you’d be here so I could thank you in person.”

  “No problem. Glad it’s working out.”

  He watched Justin leave and thought about what he’d said. How he was just thinking about judgmental people and realized that Payton got it her whole life. Not just from customers, but her own parents.

  Didn’t her mother say she should play up her looks to get ahead? Bryce had thought that was not only rude but demoralizing and wondered how much of that Payton had to listen to in life.

  She’d often said how she didn’t like school. That she wasn’t good in school and then he wondered if she really wasn’t or people just put her down so much that she didn’t bother to try.

  No. Payton worked too hard to not try at something. But she did tend to force her confidence. He’d seen it a few times and now he had to imagine that was all part of it.

  That maybe there was more going on in her life than he knew about. That all her worries and doubts and low self-worth that he’d been telling her to stop doing were because she’d never heard otherwise before.

  And here he was wanting her to not spend as much time on her job because he wanted to be with her. Was he adding to that? Did she think that he didn’t believe in her too?

  Maybe it was time to encourage her to do what she wanted and stop being so selfish.

  Compliment Each Other

  Payton carried the big tray of subs from Bryce’s car to the back of his parents’ house. Bryce was bringing in one of the salads. “Let me take that,” Diane said, reaching for it. “Ryder, go help your brother bring the rest of the food out.”

  Payton had been shocked that Diane called and asked her to cater their Fourth of July party. Not the whole party, but a sub tray, salads, and cookies.

  At first she’d thought that was them just being nice and giving her some business, but then realized she shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and take it. That it would show what she could do and let her know if she could handle something like this.

  So she took the order, had Justin come in early Saturday morning and make the sandwiches while she prepared the pasta and potato salads and baked two kinds of cookies. It’d only taken her a few hours since she’d prepped the cookie dough on Friday before she left.

  It was going to be well worth the profit when she was done and had to seriously consider doing more of this.

  Not only that, Bryce was really encouraging her to do more and branch out. She’d found that odd since he seemed so against it before. Well not really against it, but just more like shocked she was considering it.

  She walked back out to the car to see Bryce and Ryder carrying more salads while she got the next tray of sandwiches and put a small one of condiments on top of it. She’d let the boys come back and get the cookies while she helped Diane set everything up.

  When she got to the back under a shaded deck, she’d seen there was other food there: a baked ziti, a tossed salad, what looked to be chili and cornbread, and a fruit salad. A lot of food for the thirty or more family and neighbors invited.

  “Thank you again for inviting me,” she said to Diane.

  “Of course you were going to be invited. I’m just kind of sorry you worked before you came here, but not really sorry, as it saved me from doing the cooking like normal.”

  “It looks to me like you did plenty,” she said.

  “Not much. Grant made the chili last night, tossed and fruit salads are easy. I bought the cornbread, but don’t tell anyone that, and my neighbor made the ziti. She always does and I can’t tell her no because Grant loves her sauce.”

  “Good for you,” Payton said. “You should be able to relax and enjoy the party.”

  “That is my plan.”

  Payton tried to do that same thing, but it was hard. Sure, she’d met most of Bryce’s family before, but she hadn’t met his Uncle Garrett and Aunt Carolyn, and the youngest set of twins. Both were nice and reminded her of Bryce’s parents.

  Was there jealousy that there were two families here that had a life she’d only dreamed about? Heard about? Yes, there was. But at least she got to be part of it.

  “You should sit down and stop worrying about the food,” Jade said. “Everything is great.”

  “Thanks.”

  Bryce’s cousin came over first thing when she got to the backyard, introduced herself and said, “I’m so glad to have another woman here. It’s great having Dani, but I’m still so outnumbered. At least when I go to Charlotte now, the numbers are even.”

  “I heard it can get crazy there when everyone gets together.”

  “It can. You’ll see when you go for Cade and Alex’s wedding in a few weeks.”

  She’d been thrilled when Bryce asked her to go. “So just Dani and I are going?”

  “What?” Jade said. “No, everyone has dates, I’m sure. I know Wyatt, Noah, and Drake do. I’m sure Ryder does, he doesn’t go anywhere without a date. I think I’m the only one going stag. I can’t stand to bring some guy to a family thing if it’s not serious.”

  “Oh,” Payton said, some of the special feelings evaporating like fog on the windshield when the defrost was turned on blast.

  “What was that for?” Jade asked. “Don’t worry. Bryce has never brought anyone to another wedding. You’re the first.”

  “Okay,” she said slowly, even more confused.

  Jade laughed. “I get it. You got thinking that everyone brings a date and maybe you weren’t anything different, but that isn’t the case. At least not with Bryce.”

  She didn’t try to figure out how Jade knew what she was thinking. “Why not Bryce?”

  “He just isn’t one to bring a date somewhere in order to not be alone.”

  “Like you?”

  “Exactly. I don’t need to be entertained. I’ll go hang out with the girls and Ella. Even my brothers and cousins could hang out together, but as they’ve gotten older they’ve wanted to bring a date. I think it starts with who is bringing someone.”

  “Meaning if a few of them are bringing dates they all have to?”

  “Exactly. Ryder normally does, because that is Ryder. The same with Wyatt. Bryce never did, so Noah and Drake never cared. But then Noah decided to bring someone that he had a few dates with and we know Dani will be there, so that leaves Drake alone.”

  Payton smiled. “He can’t be alone?”

  “They’d ride his butt that he couldn’t get a date. If Noah wasn’t bringing someone, Drake wouldn’t either.”

  “But they won’t pick on you about being there alone?”

  “Nope. I’m the exception. I don’t need a man and they know it. I’m the pretty package with the sharp tongue I’ve been told enough.”

  “I like you,” Payton said.

  “Same goes. You’re just what Bryce needs in his life.”

  She frowned. “Not sure how to take that.”

  “I mean he needs someone out of his comfort zone. I have to say this is the most relaxed I’ve seen him in years. He’s always happy when he is with family, but he just seems relaxed now. And I can’t help but miss how many times his eyes are looking for you. Like he wants you by his side but is afraid to say it. Are things serious with you guys?”

  No one had asked her that. She and Bryce hadn’t even had discussions like that so she didn’t want to say it to Jade. She didn’t want to tell a member of Bryce’s family she was thinking long term when he didn’t even know. Nor did she know where his thoughts were.

  “I think we complement each other,” she said, knowing that was a safe comment for now.

  “Oh, I think it’s more than that, but I understand you not wanting to say.” Jade looked over and caught Bryce’s look, waved at her cousin, then turned back. “Just so you know, Bryce rarely focuses on anything other than his career. Something for you to think about.”

  ***

  Bryce had been looking around trying to find Payton. There were more people here than he’d thought and he kept losing her in the crowd.

  Not that he was jealous and needed her by his side, but he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable either.

  He stopped talking to one of his parents’ neighbors and walked over to Payton. She was standing there by herself now that Jade had walked away. He wanted to know what they were saying but would never ask. It was probably just girl talk.

  “Having fun?” he asked.

  “I am. The sandwiches are all gone,” she said. “I should have made more.”

  “You made what my mother ordered. Which was more than enough. You should be happy they went and were a big hit.”

  “I never know. I tried to make some different ones besides the basics. She said it was my choice.”

  “And it was a good choice. You might get some more orders from people here and find yourself even busier.”

  “That would be nice,” she said. “I thought you didn’t like me working on the weekends?”

  “It’s not up to me. I mean it’s your job and your career. You have to run your business the way you need to and not do it around what I want.” He hated saying that but knew he should. Then he didn’t know what to make of her frown.

  ***

  “Tell me I did good,” Diane said to her sister-in-law Carolyn. Grant and Garrett were sitting at the table with them and she made damn sure that none of the kids were around to overhear.

  “You just want us to pat you on the back,” Carolyn said.

  “Of course she does,” Grant said, reaching his hand over and doing just that to her.

  Diane laughed. “See, my husband knows what to do.”

  Garrett sighed. “I feel like we are behind. You’ve got two down and we are barely scratching the surface with our kids. Carolyn and I are trying to figure Drake out.”

  “I told you,” Grant said. “Kara is perfect. Have you seen those two going at it lately? Every time they are near each other the sparks are flying.”

  “Sparks of fury on Drake’s part,” Garrett said, “and annoyance on Kara’s.”

  “Just think,” Carolyn said, “when those two get together how interesting it will be.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” Garrett said.

  “Of course she is,” Diane said. “You two boys figure out how to get them working closer together and then Carolyn can come in when she is needed.”

  “I think that works just fine. And you two guys better get to it before Diane has Ryder matched up next.”

  “Oh no,” Diane said. “That one is going to take some work. I’m going to need to figure it out. It’s time to move to Drake and Noah. Wyatt and Jade are going to be tough too, so we need time.”

  “Those kids have no clue,” Grant said. “I overheard the talk at Cade’s bachelor party with Sam saying how they met when Diane told him he needed a haircut. It was brilliant because she’s been on his case about his hair his whole life. No one had a clue.”

  “None of our kids have any idea,” Garrett said. “But Travis was making sly remarks like he was looking for it when we were in town.”