Page 7 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

No matter how hard I try, I can’t get Hadley out of my head. I thought maybe when she came downstairs with more clothes on, things would be better.

They weren’t. Seeing her in leggings and a T-shirt with her hair pulled up in a messy ponytail was just as enticing.

This is going to be a problem. Maybe it’s just been too long since I’ve gotten laid. But when I think about having sex, the only person I can picture is her.

How the hell did this happen? I haven’t seen the woman in years. Suddenly, she pops back into the picture and is invading every last one of my brain cells.

I put the truck in park in my usual spot, smacking my head against the steering wheel.

This isn’t going to end well. I can already tell.

CHAPTER THREE

Hadley

Easingthe door open with my elbow, I step out onto the porch. I hand Mom one cup of tea, keeping the other cradled in my hands as I settle into the chair next to her.

No matter what time of year it is, when the sun goes down this high up in the mountains, there’s always a bite to the air.

The last few rays of sunlight are hanging onto the sky, casting gorgeous colors over the peaks. Again, I get the urge to go grab my camera from my bag upstairs and take a few shots.

Deciding there’s no reason why I can’t, I race upstairs and retrieve it. I’m half out of breath when I step back outside, still not adjusted to the altitude yet.

“What the heck are you…” my mom starts, but she trails off when she sees my camera.

Holding the viewfinder up to my eye, I start to snap away.

“Did you get to talk to Austin today when he was here?” my mom asks.

I’m suddenly very grateful for the camera covering half of my face. “Um… yeah, we talked a little bit.”

“He’s turned into such a good man and dad. His little girl is just the cutest thing ever. It’s a shame what happened with her mom.”

I ease the camera down, turning to look at her. “What happened?”

I had heard through my mom and Grayson over the years that Austin had a daughter, but I didn’t know any of the details.

“She bailed, left town when that little one was barely a few months old.”

“She just left? Both of them?”

She nods, taking a sip of her tea. “She even signed over all of her maternal rights to him. She wasn’t meant to be a mother.” She shakes her head. “Austin, on the other hand, was born to be a dad. He shouldn’t have to do it all alone, though.”

My heart squeezes for the man I don’t even know anymore and for the little girl I’ve never met. “That’s really sad, but I’m glad they have each other.”

Wanting to capture the last few seconds of light, I walk out onto the sidewalk to get a different angle.

“Have you decided how long you’re going to be here for?”

“For a few months, at least.”

“You should get a job while you’re here, then. You’re going to drive me nuts if you are in this house with me all day.”

When I give her a “what the hell” look, she starts cackling.

“Really, Mom?”

“Come on, sweetheart. I love you dearly, but you and I both know if we’re both stuck in this house together for two months, one of us will be in jail and the other will be buried six feet under.”