“Fine,” I said finally, knowing when I was beaten. “I’ll go to Amarillo. But don’t blame me when he throws a fit about being tricked into spending the day with me.”
“That’s the spirit,” Lucas clapped his hands together. “I’ll email you the list of stores and what needs to be picked up from each one.” He just beamed at me, that stupid smile spreading from ear to ear. “And make sure you two get some coffee, lunch, the whole nine yards. Take your time and don’t rush back.”
“Fucking hell…” I grumbled.
“Oh, and if you need to because you’re justsoworn out,” Lucas added with a wink. “Get a room for the night.”
“Jesus Christ, Lucas!” I nearly spat out my coffee, my face burning hot. “It’s a shopping trip, not a goddamn honeymoon!”
Beau tried to hide his smile behind his mug but failed miserably. “Lucas, leave him be. You’re embarrassing him.”
“I’m just saying,” Lucas shrugged, completely unrepentant. “Amarillo’s got some nice hotels. And with the weather coming in...”
“The weather’s not coming in until the weekend,” I growled, pushing back from the table. “We’ll be back tonight.”
“If you say so,” Lucas sing-songed, exchanging a knowing look with Mabel that made me want to crawl under the table.
Before I could think of a suitably cutting response, the sound of tires on gravel caught my attention. My heart did that stupid little jump again, and I silently cursed my own body for betraying me.
“That’ll be him,” Mabel announced, peering out the kitchen window. “And would you look at that! He’s still wearing your hat.”
Chapter 11
Hayden
We’d been in the truck for nearly an hour, and I hadn’t said a damn word to Diego. I was terrified to be in such a small, intimate space with him, but that wasn’t the reason for my silence. The reason was because I was fucking livid that he’d sprung a surprise on meagain. And this time with the help of my Aunt Dolly.
“So,” Diego finally said after clearing his throat, breaking the strained silence between us. “You gonna tell me why you’re givin’ me the silent treatment, or do I have to guess?”
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, knuckles turning white. “Oh, I don’t know, Diego. Maybe because I was ambushed this morning withSurprise! You’re going to Amarillo to shop for Christmas presents with the ranch hand you’ve been avoiding!”
He had the audacity to chuckle. “Avoiding? Is that what we’re calling it?”
“What would you call it?” I snapped, glancing over at him. Bad idea. Even annoyed as hell, I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was, sunlight catching the angles of his face just right.
“I don’t know. You seemed to have plenty of fun yesterday on our little picnic. I thought you were warmin’ up to me, Freckles.”
“Don’t call me that,” I muttered, though the nickname sent an unwelcome flutter through my stomach. I turned onto the highway, pressing the accelerator harder than necessary. “And yesterday was... a momentary lapse in judgment.”
Diego leaned back in his seat, stretching his long legs as far as the truck cab would allow. “A momentary lapse that lasted four hours? That’s one hell of a moment, Hayden.”
I could feel him watching me, those dark eyes studying my profile. I kept my gaze fixed firmly on the road.
“Look,” he continued, his voice softening slightly, “I get it. You’re pissed Lucas and your aunt set this up. So am I. But we’ve got an hour to Amarillo and an hour back. Not to mention all the running around in town. That’s a lot of silent treatment.”
“I’m an excellent sulker,” I replied dryly. “I can go all day.”
Diego laughed, and damn if the sound didn’t warm something inside me. “I bet you can. But then you’d miss out on my sparkling conversation and charming wit.”
I snorted. “Wit. Right.”
“You know what?” Diego shifted in his seat, turning toward me fully. “I think you’re scared.”
“Scared?” I scoffed, keeping my eyes on the road. “Of what? Your enormous ego taking up all the oxygen in this truck?”
“Scared of admitting you had a good time yesterday. Scared of maybe likin’ me a little bit.” His voice had that teasing lilt that made me want to both punch him and... other things I refused to acknowledge.
“Your confidence is astounding,” I muttered. “Has anyone ever told you that?”
