Page 20 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

Maggie is sitting at the table, leafing through a recipe box. Hadley is leaning on the counter that’s covered with baking supplies.

Evelyn is rambling on about her day. I expect Hadley to be annoyed, but she engages with her like it’s the best conversation she’s had in weeks.

“Do you want to help us make cookies?” Hadley asks.

Evelyn turns to look at me with those big, pleading eyes that always slice through any resolve I have.

“I don’t want her to bother you guys in here. She can play outside while we work.”

“I won’t be a bother,” she says with a touch of attitude that makes me smile.

“She’s welcome to stay,” Hadley says.

My eyes lift to her, and suddenly all I can think about is what it was like to have her body cradled in my arms a few days ago.

“Come on, Austin. Let the poor girl make some cookies,” Maggie says, staring at me from her seat.

So many women ganging up on me.

“Fine, fine,” I relent. “You be good,” I add, pointing to Evelyn.

She gives me a sweet smile like she could never do anything wrong.Mmhmm… sure.

With a shake of my head, I walk out of the house to join the boys out front.

I wipe sweat from my brow after nailing one of the wooden planks into place. Glancing up, I see Brooks staring at the window that looks into the kitchen.

A look that can’t be anything other than longing is written all over his face.

When did that happen?Given what happened between her and Conrad, I’d expect to see him staring at her that way. Now Brooks, too?

I groan, getting back to work. The sound of Hadley’s laugh filters through the open window, and I can’t help but look in that direction.

Evelyn dances around in a circle with a bag of chocolate chips in one hand and a jar of sprinkles in the other. Hadley’s head is thrown back as she laughs at whatever Evelyn is saying.

My eyes peek to the side, seeing Conrad staring at the same sight. He draws a deep breath, like staring at her, but not having her, is painful.

I guess that makes two of us.

Brooks steps in at my other side. “She’s gorgeous. Isn’t she?”

Conrad and I glance at each other, and we both shrug in resignation. “Yeah, she is,” we say in unison.

Brooks smiles at us like this isn’t the messiest situation possible that could destroy everything we’ve worked so hard for.

Just as we get everything cleaned up for the day, Evelyn skips out onto the porch with a plate full of cookies.

“Do we get to try those?” Conrad asks.

“They’re really yummy.” She turns to look at me with wide eyes. “I mean… I only had one, and some of the cookie dough, and some chocolate chips, and some sprinkles.”

“Geez, calm down, little sugar monster,” Brooks says, grabbing two cookies from the plate.

Conrad takes one and passes the plate to me. I bite into the last cookie as I crouch down in front of Evelyn.

“Thanks for the cookie. It’s really good.”

She grins.