My head snapped up. “She needs help at the diner?”
“That’s what she said.” Mabel’s eyes twinkled. “Asked specifically for you, actually.”
“Did she mention if?—”
“If Hayden would be there?” Mabel finished for me. “She didn’t say, but I imagine he would be. It is where he lives, after all.”
I was already on my feet, gulping down the last of my coffee. “I should go help her out. Can’t leave Dolly hanging.”
Beau and Lucas exchanged amused glances.
“Of course not,” Beau said solemnly, though his eyes were dancing with humor. “That would be downright…inconsiderateof you,” Beau finished with a barely contained smile.
“Just don’t get your hopes up too high,” Lucas warned, his expression softening. “He might still need space.”
I nodded, but my heart was already racing. This was my chance to see Hayden again, to maybe talk to him, and to find out if he’d had enough time to think.
“I won’t,” I promised, though we all knew it was a lie. “I’ll just... help Dolly and if he happens to be there, well...” I trailed off, not even sure how to finish that sentence.
“Go,” Mabel said, shooing me toward the door. “But shower first. You smell like the stables.”
I grinned, already heading for the door. “Yes, ma’am.”
Twenty minutes later, freshly showered and wearing my cleanest shirt, I was in my truck heading toward town. I’d spent more time than I cared to admit trying to decide what to wear, finally settling on a dark blue button-up that Lucas had once said brought out my eyes. I’d even trimmed my beard a little. Not that I was trying to impress anyone.
The drive to town seemed longer than usual, my mind racing with possibilities. What would I say when I saw him? What if he wasn’t ready to talk? What if he’d decided that whatever had sparked between us in Amarillo wasn’t worth pursuing?
By the time I pulled up in front of Dolly’s Diner, my palms were sweating despite the December chill. The place looked festive as hell,with twinkling lights framing every window and a giant wreath on the door. Through the windows, I could see the usual crowd of locals having their mid-morning coffee.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself before climbing out of the truck. “Just act normal,” I muttered to myself. “You’re just here to help Dolly.”
The bell jingled overhead as I pushed open the door, and several heads turned my way. I nodded in greeting, scanning the diner for any sign of sandy hair and freckles. My heart sank a little when I didn’t spot him.
“Diego!” Dolly’s booming voice called from behind the counter. “Right on time! Come on back here, sugar.”
I made my way through the diner, returning the greetings of folks I’d come to know over the past months. When I reached the counter, Dolly enveloped me in a hug that smelled like cinnamon and vanilla. She must’ve been baking.
“Thanks for coming,” she said, patting my cheek like I was a kid. “I’ve got a whole mess of things that need moving before tomorrow’s party.”
“Happy to help,” I replied, trying not to sound too eager. “Is, uh... is Hayden around?”
Dolly’s eyes twinkled knowingly. “He’s in the back storeroom already, trying to make sense of the string lights.” She gave me a pat on the shoulder, sending me that direction. “And when you get that figured out, I got an errand that I need you to run.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. The mention of Hayden set my heart racing, and I had to take a deep breath to compose myself before heading to the back.
“Thanks, Dolly,” I said, trying to sound casual.
She gave me a knowing wink. “Don’t you thank me yet, sugar. There’s work to be done.”
I made my way through the kitchen, nodding to the cook who was busy prepping for the lunch rush, and pushed open the door to the storeroom. My breath caught in my throat when I saw him.
Hayden was standing on a small stepladder, a tangle of Christmas lights in his hands and a look of pure frustration on his face. He was wearing a faded green sweater that made his eyes look even bluer, and his sandy hair was slightly mussed like he’d been running his hands through it. Those freckles I’d been dreaming about for three days were just as perfect as I remembered.
He hadn’t noticed me yet, too busy cursing under his breath at the knot of lights. “Motherfucking… goddamn… piece of shit…”
“Need a hand with those?” I asked, a big smile on my face.
Hayden’s head snapped up, and for a split second, I saw something like joy flash across his face before he schooled his expression into something more neutral. My heart leapt at that brief glimpse.
