Page 10 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

“She’s not the one I’m worried about,” Austin grumbles under his breath.

Brooks and I both laugh.

“So, what has you all grumpy?” he prods again.

“Nothing. I’m fine.” His eyes close as he adjusts his ball cap. “I do have a project to fill in some of our free time for the next few weeks. Grayson’s mom needs some changes made to her house before her hip surgery.”

Brooks and I both nod in agreement. We’ve both grown closer to Grayson over the years since we moved here after college and started the business with Austin. His mom is an angel, even with her snarky attitude.

“Of course we’ll help with anything she needs,” I say.

“I love that woman,” Brooks adds.

“Please tell me you haven’t had sex with her.” Austin cringes. “She’s like my second mom.

Brooks rolls his eyes. “Maggie is gorgeous, but no. I love her because she’s hilarious and her cookies are bomb.”

“You think she’s hilarious because her humor is the same brand as yours,” I say, shaking my head.

He tilts his head to the side like it’s a revelation.

“I told Grayson and Hadley we would get the materials we need, but that we had a lot of it already here that we could use,” Austin says.

Brooks leans in a little closer. “Who’s Hadley?”

Austin drags in a breath. “Grayson’s younger sister.”

Brooks’ eyes light up. “So Miss Hadley is what has you twisted up in knots this morning. She must be a looker to have you messed up, Mr. I Don’t Do Women Anymore.”

“Get out of my head,” Austin mumbles, sauntering out of my office and over to his own.

Brooks follows behind him. “For once, I’m not the one with woman troubles fucking up my brain. This is a glorious day,” he shouts.

He all but skips into his office, which I honestly don’t even know why he has, because he doesn’t do any of the “office” work for the company.

With both of them gone, the silence settles in. I scrub my hands over my face.I need to just let her go. I’m never going to see her again.

CHAPTER FIVE

Hadley

Steppingout of my mom’s SUV, I tug at the bottom of my jean shorts. Maybe I should have worn something other than shorts, a tank top, and Converse to get a job.

Not that this is an interview. I’m just going to talk to Sienna.

She didn’t grow up in Aspen Springs, but with her grandma living next door to me my whole childhood, I did see her from time to time. She was only a couple years younger than me, so we always got along.

I smile, remembering one Christmas when she and I spent hours outside making “cotton candy” by rubbing sidewalk chalk in the snow.

Swinging open the door to Perfect Paws Animal Shelter, I take in the cozy space. Children’s drawings and coloring pages of animals line the walls in the entryway, making me smile. I walk over to the counter and ring the bell.

“I’ll be right there,” a woman’s voice comes from the back.

While I wait, I wander over to the large window looking into the room where the cats can play inside with all their climbing toys.

“Sorry, I was giving one of the dogs a bath. Can I…” She trails off. “Hadley?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”