Page 42 of Hello Trouble

DELLA

After the best sex of my life, a tiny, terrified part of me expected Hayes to walk away. That used to be his MO, after all. He’d told me so himself.

So I gave a surprised, happy giggle when he tugged me close into his arms, unbothered by our sweaty bodies or the mess of his spend. He held me like I was the most important person in the world.

I looked into his eyes, searching for some tell that this was a game to him. That it wouldn’t last. Because my heart was thinking crazy things, like giving up my new job and staying in Cottonwood Falls to discover what could happen between the two of us.

Could this relationship be something real? Something that would last?

He brushed my hair away from my face, saying, “You’re beautiful you know.”

I smiled back at him, fighting the urge to dismiss his compliment. I knew Hayes was too honest to lie to me. “Thank you,” I whispered. It was like talking might break this blissful bubble between us.

Tracing his thumb over my cheek, he said, “I still haven’t seen that tattoo.”

A small laugh bubbled past my lips. “I was hoping you’d forget.”

He shook his head. “Not a chance.”

Knowing Hayes was almost as stubborn as me, I rolled over to my stomach and said, “My lower back.”

He pulled up the covers, and I cringed, wondering what he would think of the orange and black butterfly resting along my spine. My skin sizzled as he traced his fingers over the design. “I like it.” He lowered his lips to my back, kissing there.

I looked over my shoulder at him, curls tickling my skin. “You do? I was kind of thinking I should get it lasered off.”

“Fuck no,” he said, putting the blanket back. “Don’t change a thing. Anything.”

I couldn’t help but smile back at him, and I twisted into his arms again, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’ll keep my tattoo if you keep your piercing.”

His lip ring glinted as he smirked. “I knew you’d like it.”

I laughed happily.

He kissed my temple. “Where do you keep your washcloths? I’ll help you clean up,” he said.

“He’s thoughtful and good in bed? An impossible combination,” I teased, feeling happier than I ever had. I liked how he took care of me. “They’re in the hall bathroom.”

He kissed my forehead and then walked away, still completely naked.

I noticed there were tattoos that covered his back, his shoulders, and on the back of his thighs, though they were sparser there than the other parts of his body.

I wanted to ask him about every single one.

Especially the tattoo below his heart that said, “Lead with love.”

I’d spotted it earlier when he was undressing, but his cock quickly distracted me from asking further questions. I was excited for him to return so I could find out more.

But instead, I heard him call from the hallway, “Della? Can you come here a sec?”

My eyebrows pinched together. “Everything okay?”

“I’m not sure.” His voice was uneven.

Feeling my chest squeeze with fear, I grabbed my dress and tugged it over my head, feeling the remnants of our pleasure slide down my leg. “What’s going on?” I asked, heading that way. “Is there a leak?”

But I stopped in the hallway, seeing him standing in the doorway of the guest room. The one with all my packed boxes and stacks of boxes waiting to be used.

His eyes were fully guarded, absent of the light that was usually there. “Are you moving?” he asked, not a hint of emotion to his voice.

My chest felt so tight I nearly doubled over with the pain. I could feel myself losing him. “Let me explain,” I said.

“I’m waiting.” He was still naked, but he folded his arms over his chest like he couldn’t wait for simple things like getting dressed. But I was glad I’d thrown on my dress because I’d never felt more exposed.

“I got a job offer in Dallas, and I’m supposed to move there in a month.”

His jaw hardened, a muscle in his cheek flexing. “You weren’t going to tell me,” he accused.

“I—” How could I explain to him in a way that would remove that stony expression from his face? It was so opposite from the warm, caring man I’d lain in bed with. “I was lonely here!” I cried. “I thought I was going to waste away in this small town, never having someone to love me.”

“So what were you doing with me then? Passing the time until you could leave, move on and find someone serious?” Hurt leaked through his tone but only for a minute.

“Hayes,” I said gently, going to put my hand on his shoulder, but he flinched away. I had to steel myself against the ache growing in my chest. “Of course that’s not it. I love you. I just didn’t know where you stood or if you really wanted something long-term.”

When he didn’t speak, I said, “What do you want, Hayes?”

His jaw shook, but only for a second. “I don’t know if I want this when I know your plan all along was to leave me behind.

When were you going to tell me? When you put the for-sale sign up on your house?

When you had the moving truck loaded? Or were you going to let the rumor mill make its way to the garage to let me know how pathetic I was for thinking you were the one? ”

My mouth fell open at his words. But before I could question him, he brushed past me, going to my bedroom. When I caught up, he had tugged on his jeans and was sliding his shirt over his arms.

“Hayes, stay. We can talk this out.”

He shook his head sharply, sliding on his boots without bothering to button his shirt. “I need time to think.”

“How much time?” I asked. I didn’t want him to leave. We were so happy just moments ago.

“I don’t know.”

He walked past me, going toward the front door, and anger flared up in me.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” I called after him. “An easy out so you could go back to your old ways?”

He paused on his trajectory and slowly turned around.

I backpedaled at the pain I saw in his face.

“This isn’t about what I want. I didn’t want to love you.

I didn’t have a choice. But you are my every thought when I’m awake and my every dream while I sleep.

You can leave me, but I can’t escape you. Why the hell would I want that?”

His words hit every part of my heart. But before I could reply, he was out the door.