Page 20 of Hello Trouble

HAYES

I drove back to the garage, unable to pry my mind away from Della. She looked ridiculous, covering her curves and her pretty red hair in all black. But that frumpy outfit did nothing to dampen my attraction to her.

If anything, her playfulness made me that much more interested.

Fuck boring women who acted like fun was beneath them.

I wanted a woman who could play with me. Challenge me. Tease me.

It was a miracle I managed to hold back when she lifted her chin like that to kiss me. Her lips had been so close to mine. I’d been so close to giving in.

But Dad was right about growing into the man she deserved.

Sex had always been one of my favorite activities.

But the thought of Della considering me a one-night stand was enough to make my stomach turn.

And the version of me that would be more to her?

I had no idea what the fuck he would do.

And that was the problem. This was all new to me, and I was liable to fuck things up with the only woman I’d ever really cared about.

With that lovely fucking thought stabbing at my brain folds, I reached the garage, where all the guys were sitting around one of the waiting room tables playing Texas Hold’em.

My dad, Fletcher, and Knox were there, along with Rhett and Tyler Griffen—two guys who had grown up on the farm next to ours.

As I walked in, I could feel all their eyes on me, hopefully just because I brought refreshments. I set a few six-packs on one of the side tables for them, then grabbed a bottle and took my seat at the table. “Deal me in.”

Fletcher bridged the cards easily, eyeing me. “What’s wrong with you? You haven’t made one joke about my shirt yet.”

I glanced at his t-shirt that said, Hi Hungry, I’m Dad.

“Hi Dad, I’m hungry.”

He studied me, waiting for my answer to his initial question.

Damn him for being so perceptive. “Can we just pretend it’s nothing?”

Dad chuckled before taking a swig of his beer and tossing a couple chips into the middle pile. We both knew that Fletcher, with his need to solve every problem we had, would never let it drop.

Rhett gave me a skeptical look under the brim of his black cowboy hat. “It’s gotta be a woman.”

I gritted my teeth. Of course he would recognize the signs when he went through his own playboy phase before settling down with his wife, Maggie.

Knox teased, “Is she inflatable?”

I glared at him while all the other guys whooped with laughter.

Then Knox’s eyes widened with surprise at my expression. “Woah now, are you dating someone?”

Tyler looked just as shocked. “I don’t know that I’ve seen you in a relationship since you were sixteen!”

Rhett dipped his head, his cowboy hat catching shadows as he did. “And that one only lasted a week if I remember right.”

I wasn’t the kind to get embarrassed, but all the attention was making my cheeks feel hot. I muttered, “And now I’m regretting saying anything.”

“You’ve given us all so much shit over the years, you can take it,” Dad replied, chuckling as he threw a chip in the center of the table.

I shot him a look of betrayal. “Should we talk about you and Ms. Agatha at the diner then?”

He quickly brought the beer bottle to his lips. “Nope.”

But my attempt at a diversion didn’t distract the interrogators from grilling me. “Who is it?” Fletcher pressed. He was worse than a dog with a bone.

“It’s Della, okay?” I said, suddenly nervous for their reactions. Della wasn’t just some woman in town—she was practically family.

Everyone fell into a stunned silence. It might be the quietest this poker meet-up has ever been. Fletcher shifted uncomfortably. Knowing he was married to Della’s best friend, his hesitation made my stomach curdle. “Della?” He shook his head. “Hayes...”

“Don’t say it.” My throat felt tight, but I swallowed down the emotion.

“I know I’m not good enough for her. I know we want different things.

But I can’t get her off my mind. It’s like every fucking morning I wake up hoping her car will break down.

Every day, I wear that stupid helmet, hoping it will make her smile when I drive by her office.

Every night, I can’t even think of having another woman in my bed because it’s not her . ”

My chest heaved with the force of my breath, the weight of my admission.

I thought getting it off my chest might make me feel better, but instead I had an oh-shit moment.

Because this wasn’t nonsense running around my brain.

It was real, and these feelings weren’t going anywhere.

.. even if it would make my life easier for them to go away.

They all gave each other looks until finally Knox said, “Wow, you’ve got it bad...”

Tyler chimed in, “Does Della know that?”

“Fuck no!” I practically yelled back. “I wouldn’t even know what to say. ‘Hey, Della, I want to fuck you more than once’?” I was only half joking, but the guys took pity on me and laughed along.

Dad said, “Why don’t you just ask her out to dinner?”

“Just dinner,” Fletcher added in that bossy, big-brotherly way.

I raised my eyebrows. “And then what?”

Fletcher said, “You go to dinner again!”

“And then?” I asked. “How do you go from acquaintances to... what you all have?” Relationships didn’t make any fucking sense to me. All I knew was I liked talking to her. But eating dinner with her every day didn’t seem like enough.

Knox tilted his head, making his blond hair sweep to the side. “It’s not as difficult as you’re making it out to be. You keep showing up and see where it goes.”

My heart thundered at the thought. Not that I’d admit that to anyone. But they must have seen the frown on my face because Fletcher said, “Della will tell you what she wants and what she doesn’t. You have to respect that.”

I didn’t like what he was implying. “I wouldn’t force myself on her. If she doesn’t want to date me, then... good. That might make my life a little easier.”

It was a false bravado. If I put myself out there with Della for more than a one-time lay and she turned me down, it would gut me six ways to Sunday.

Dad said, “When are you going to ask her out?”

They all watched me, waiting for my answer, cards long forgotten on the table. “Tonight.”

Dad raised his eyebrows. “We’re playing ‘til late. You’ll have to call her now, or it’ll be too late for today.”

My stomach squirmed. “Now? With all you fuckers watching?”

Dad nodded. “That way we know you didn’t chicken out.”

Knox agreed enthusiastically. “We’ll be quiet. Just call her.”

Rhett gave me a shit-eating grin. “Unless you’re too chickenshit.”

I glared at him. “Fuck off,” I said and pulled my phone from my pocket.

Looks like I was doing this...

I scrolled through my phone, embarrassed for the first time for how many women were in there. Their information seemed like a waste of space when all I wanted to find was Della’s name.

When I found her, my thumb hovered over her name, just a tap away from dialing her. But... “This isn’t right,” I murmured.

They all burst out in protest, telling me I should buck up and give her a call. But I shook my head. “I should ask her in person.”

Dad grinned. “Atta boy. Now get out there and ask her out. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.”

Feeling a flurry of nerves in my chest, I got up from my chair and walked out to my truck.

This was happening. Tonight.