Page 30 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

“What the fuck are you going on about?” Austin asks, but his face freezes when he looks over in Brooks’ direction.

My head turns to the right. Hadley is walking toward us in a flowy white dress that hits just above her knee and dips down between her breasts. To top off the dream-girl image, she now has on a pair of cowboy boots.

“Grayson’s going to murder me,” Austin mumbles just before Hadley swings open the door beside me.

As much as I want her to climb over me again, especially in that dress, I want to be a gentleman. I step out of the truck, holding my hand out for her.

She gives me a smile and climbs into her seat.I am in so much trouble. She’s… perfect.

As we head to the bar, I lean in close to her ear. She lets her hair out of the braid Brooks did for her earlier.

It lies around her shoulders in messy waves that look like someone has been running their hands through it repeatedly, which is putting all kinds of images in my brain that probably shouldn’t be there right now.

“You look gorgeous,” I whisper.

She blushes. “Thank you.”

Austin finds a spot a few blocks from the bar, and we walk the rest of the way.

Just as we expected, it’s packed. Country music rings out from the small stage at the back of the room.

“Do you want something to drink, sweetheart?” I ask Hadley.

She thinks for a moment. “Vodka soda with lime or lemon is fine.”

“You got it. Brooks and I will go get drinks. You guys, go get a table.” I point between Austin and Hadley.

Grabbing my brother’s shirt, I tug him toward the crowded bar with me. It takes a few minutes, but finally we get to the front.

“Benny, my man,” Brooks says, seeing the owner of the bar, who only bartends for special occasions anymore.

He runs his hand through his graying hair. “The Thompson twins,” he says with a smirk. “What can I get for you?”

“Vodka soda with lime and three beers,” I tell him. He nods, getting it all ready.

Brooks leans his hip against the bar, looking at me. “We need to get Austin out of his shell tonight.”

I nod in agreement. “I think it might be easier than usual after what happened with the two of them earlier.”

“Do youknowwhat happened?”

I shake my head. “I just know that he’s seemed different since then.”

Benny sets all of the drinks in front of us, and I hand him my credit card to open a tab for us.

I point to Hadley across the bar. “If she tries to buy any drinks on her own tonight, don’t let her. Just put it on my card. Okay?”

“Sure thing,” Benny says.

We grab the drinks and walk to where the other two are leaning against a wall by the pool tables.

“My lady,” Brooks says, handing Hadley her drink.

I pass Austin his beer, and we all hold up our drinks.

“To just having fun and not worrying about anything else for the night,” Brooks says loud enough so we can all hear.

Hadley looks at each of us, lingering for a beat longer on Austin. She nods, eyes sparkling. Austin takes a deep breath but jerks his head in a nod as well.