Page 16 of Hello Trouble

DELLA

I was still wondering what had changed with Hayes to make him leave so abruptly when I saw headlights pan over the waiting area through the big front windows.

Hayes and I had been getting along—connecting even. And then he got all grumpy again, leaving to work on my car. I could hear the sound of an air compressor through the waiting room walls and windows. See him bent over my car, a light hanging from the hood.

And part of me missed the conversation we were having. Getting to see behind his protective wall of humor and tattoos. But I couldn’t worry about that now. Despite all odds, Bennett and I were going on our date tonight. And a small flutter of hope formed in my chest.

It was a good sign that he’d brought dinner to me—that he was willing to put effort in when things hadn’t gone perfectly to plan.

So I stood up, grabbing the takeout boxes and dumping them in the trash.

Then I walked to the front door to step outside and meet Bennett in the parking lot.

But it was locked—of course it was locked.

The business was closed. So I went back through the garage.

I saw Bennett talking with Hayes at the farthest bay, a bouquet of carnations in his hands.

Hayes’s shoulders were tense, probably from a long day of work made even longer by my mechanical issues. But Bennett had an easygoing way about him, like he either didn’t notice or wasn’t bothered by Hayes’s stance.

I walked over to them, and when Bennett saw me, his lips parted into a wide grin.

“For you,” he said, handing me the flowers.

They were the kind that came from the grocery store, but I loved them all the same.

It was the fact that he’d thought about me, put in extra effort before showing up. It made me feel seen and appreciated.

I sniffed the fresh scent and then smiled up at him. “Thank you, that was so nice of you!”

“Of course,” Bennett said.

The screech of an air ratchet made me jump, and we turned to see Hayes bent over my car again, ignoring us altogether.

Compared to his warm attention earlier, this treatment was icy enough to make me shiver. Why did it bother me so much? It wasn’t like Hayes owed me anything, or I him.

“So, um, what do you say we get out of here?” Bennett suggested awkwardly.

I nodded. “I’d love that.” I was going to stick around a second and thank Hayes, tell him he really didn’t need to stay late for me. But then Bennett reached out for my hand, and I took it. His hands were so large compared to mine—he reminded me of a big teddy bear.

“Thanks for everything,” I called to Hayes.

He barely lifted his hand in acknowledgement before Bennett and I were in his truck, the smell of meat, mushrooms, and onions filling the cab.

“I wasn’t sure what you like, so I got you a little bit of everything. I can park somewhere on Main Street while we eat,” he offered.

“I have a better idea,” I replied. “Let’s go to my place. That way we can sit at the table and enjoy.”

It was already clean, since I liked to keep things relatively tidy (except for my closet. That thing was a mess of epic proportions.) So when we walked inside, I wasn’t embarrassed or anything. In fact, it was kind of fun to see him so at odds with the girly interior.

He carried the food while I made a show of taking the flowers he got me and putting them in a colorful vase I thrifted.

With the flowers between us on the table, we opened the takeout boxes, eating the slightly cooled food with plastic silverware.

For a little while, we were quiet, and I almost missed the banter Hayes and I shared.

It seemed like conversation flowed so much easier with Hayes.

But then I remembered Hayes was a womanizer and certainly not interested in anything real with me. Unlike Bennett.

So I planted myself firmly in reality and took the first step. “How was work today?”

Bennett wiped his mouth with a paper napkin and said, “It was a real headache. I was on a welding job at the feedlot and the wind picked up.”

“Oh no.” I winced. “Liv told me the dusty days were the worst out there. Hard to believe they keep water trucks on hand, not just for fires but to spray down the dust.”

Bennett said, “Thank God for that. How was work for you?”

“It was fine,” I said. “Edna’s stressed about end-of-month reports. Like she is every month. So that adds a little pressure.”

He chuckled. “You’d think she’d be used to it by now. Pretty sure I remember seeing her when my parents dragged me into her office from time to time when I was a kid.”

I smiled because I had the same memories from when I was younger. “I’m pretty sure she’ll never retire. She loves it too much.”

He nodded and put another bite of Salisbury steak in his mouth. And for a moment, it struck me. I could see us doing this twenty years from now. Eating dinner at the table. Talking casually about work.

And my heart sank at the idea.

Is that all there is?

“Is the food okay?” Bennett asked, studying me.

I must have made a face, so I tried harder to school my expression. “The food is wonderful. So... tell me something about you that I don’t know,” I suggested, hoping to learn something that would improve the night—to go a little deeper.

He scrubbed his hand over his face, deep in thought. “Hmm...” Then his eyes lit up. “My right foot is a whole size bigger than my left foot. Have to buy two sets of shoes to get one pair that fits the right way.”

Facepalm . So much for going deeper.

“Is that so?” I managed through the disappointment rising up and threatening to swallow me whole. This surface-level conversation was an echo of every other relationship I’d had in Cottonwood Falls... and a painful reminder of why I’d accepted a job in Dallas.

He nodded. “Buying two pairs gets a little expensive.” He took another bite.

I took a breath. Maybe I just needed to ask a better question. “How did you get into welding?”

“I’m terrible with cars, and Dad wouldn’t pay for a four-year degree. So I asked the tech college which job made the most money. Welding it was.”

“I see.” I chuckled. “Sounds like it’s paying off?”

“Oh, definitely. Guess I’ve always been practical that way.” He shrugged his broad shoulders.

Practical.

Isn’t that what I’d always wanted? A steady man I could count on like my family could always count on my dad?

I tried to shove down my confused feelings and just be in the moment.

Conversation went about the same way until we finished eating.

And then Bennett helped me clear away the trash.

Some guys would have taken advantage of dining at my place and pushed for more, but he gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, “It was great getting to know you a little better tonight, Della. Liv was right about you.”

My eyebrows rose. “She was?” Liv hadn’t told me she’d spoken to Bennett.

“Oh yeah, she told me last week I should take you out. I’m glad I did... I’ll call you sometime?”

I nodded, holding a smile in place.

But once the door was closed, my smile quickly fell.

Here I’d thought Bennett had finally noticed me of his own accord. But he had to be nudged toward me. Even though I knew Liv was determined to find me a man, I didn’t want one who had to be prodded in my direction.

Was it too much to hope that someone would notice me, chase me, love me?

I heard the roar of an engine in the distance and sighed.

Maybe it had been silly to hope.