Page 51 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

She spins in my hold until she’s looking up at me. We were going to text her to ask her to come over for dinner and maybe spend the night, but this seems better.

“Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Evelyn is having a sleepover with her grandparents. She’s even taking Nova with her, so it’ll be just us. We’d all like to talk to you.”

Her eyes dart all over my face, trying to figure out what our decision is.That’s not going to work, sweetheart.

“Okay, I’ll be there,” she says.

“Six work for you?” I ask.

She nods. With a quick kiss to her lips, I step back. I have to, otherwise I’d keep kissing her for the rest of the day right here on the side of the road.

“See you tonight, sweetheart,” I tell her with a wink as I climb back into my truck and drive off.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Hadley

Sienna’s cardrives up the dirt driveway leading to the guys’ house. I asked her to come pick me up so I didn’t need to take Mom’s car, just in case I end up being out all night.

I honestly have no idea where tonight is going to lead, but I guess I’m holding out more hope than I realized.

When I told Mom I was going to be out again tonight, she gave me a knowing smirk and went about her business.

Sienna puts the car in park, swinging her gaze from the gorgeous house to me. “Have fun tonight,” she tells me.

I drag in a nervous breath.

“And if they break your heart, then I have a freezer full of Ben & Jerry’s and a fist that can land on all three of their faces.”

I can’t help but smile, looking over at my friend. “Thanks, Sienna.” I give her a hug over the console before getting out.

She rolls down the window as she starts to back away. “Text me tomorrow,” she yells.

“I will.” I take the first step up onto the porch when I smell something cooking on the grill.

Instead of going up to the front door, I walk around the house to the backyard. Austin is leaning over the grill, flipping steaks.

Steaks are fancy. That’s a good sign. Right? Or maybe it’s a fancy letdown meal. Fuck.

“Are you going to just stand there or are you going to actually get over here and let me give you a hug?” he asks, not turning around.

I move onto the deck and to his side. My arms slide around his waist. One of his winds around my shoulders as he flips the last few steaks.

Closing the top of the grill, he pulls me into his chest. His lips graze my temple as he mumbles, “This morning was too long ago.”

“I know,” I mumble into his shirt.

He pulls back a little. “Go on inside. They have all the other food almost ready, and I’m sure they want to see you too.”

“Okay,” I say, and he turns back to the grill. My hand on his shirt stops him.

Lifting up on my toes, I kiss him. It’s quick, but I hope it shows how much I was thinking about him all day because everything from last night kept playing on repeat in my mind all day long.

And you’ve been chronically turned on all day because of it.

Releasing him, I walk into the house and find Conrad and Brooks in the kitchen. They always look hot, but seeing them in the kitchen cooking dinner for me is taking things to a new level.

Like I wasn’t horny already.