Page 36 of Hello Trouble

Dad nodded slowly. “You know, just because you noticed her doesn’t mean you have to do anything.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. “What do you mean?” Dad was so happy when all my brothers paired up, got married, had kids. Some part of me always felt like I was disappointing him by not following that same path.

He layered one hand atop another on the saddle horn while he spoke. “Even though I wish I could have come to my senses sooner and been with your mom, I wasn’t ready for her yet. I needed to grow into the man she deserved. If I would have jumped into that relationship before I was ready, it would have done us both a disservice.”

An uncomfortable, squirming feeling had me asking my next question. “What if she had moved on before you were ready?”

“Then I would have gotten ready real damn fast.” Dad chuckled. “The thing about wonderful women is that other people can also see how wonderful they are.”

18

DELLA

I tucked my vacuum cleaner back in the closet where I’d stashed the easel holding the list of datable guys in Cottonwood Falls. Before closing the door, I looked over the names written in Liv’s messy handwriting.

Bennett’s name was the only one left. And I was determined to give him another chance.

First dates were always awkward—maybe we both needed to ease into getting to know each other and the feelings would follow. That’s why I agreed to go out with him again later this evening.

But seeing his name on that list didn’t give me any sparks. Not like the idea of sneaking this extra throw pillow into Hayes’s house.

I picked up the frilly pillow I’d nabbed at a garage sale a few years back, turning it over in my hands. I liked to keep extras in my guest bedroom so I could change them out every so often, but there were plenty of pillows to go around.

Liv had texted me earlier and said that Fletcher was playing poker at Hayes’s garage tonight, which meant Hayes would be occupied. I had just enough time to go to his house, complete my mission, and come back here for Bennett to pick me up.

Since I love a good theme, I went to my bedroom, putting on black leggings, a black sweatshirt, and tucked my hair up into a black stocking cap. I even put on my favorite perfume, Black Orchid, because it fit the theme.

Feeling thoroughly spy-ified, I walked outside, got in my car, and drove toward Hayes’s place on the outskirts of town.

Even though he was supposedly occupied, a good spy knew not to park too close just in case. So I stopped my car a couple blocks away, turned off the lights, and made the rest of the path on foot. The night air wasn’t too warm or cool. And it was quiet in Cottonwood Falls, so I could hear little pebbles scraping across asphalt as I walked—nay—crept toward his house.

It was exactly the kind of prank Liv and I would have pulled in high school. The thought made me smile, remembering that time we tried to TP a friend’s car and the wind blew it all away. So when we saw him at school the next day, he only asked why we were giggling so much.

After a few minutes of walking, I reached Hayes’s place. The floodlight was on, casting a silvery glow to his driveway and the truck that sat neglected since his motorcycle was up and running.

The motorcycle was gone, so I breathed a relieved sigh and turned the knob to his front door. Unlocked, as usual.

This was too easy. I didn’t even need to crawl through a window or anything. (Not that I particularly wanted to.)

I stepped into his house and used the flashlight function on my phone to peer around. The floral table runner I’d left here a few days ago was noticeably gone from his chrome-and-glass-top table. As was the other throw pillow I’d left on his couch.

Smirking, I placed this new pillow, silver-sequined to match my disco ball planner, on his couch.

I could just picture the annoyed look on his face when he found it, wondering which of his conquests was feeling too at home and how he’d missed it before.

But then I heard the roar of an engine and saw a single headlight beam flash through the front window blinds.

“Shit!” I whispered, fumbling with my phone to turn off my light. “Shit! Shit!”

Sure, this was a harmless prank, and I wasn’t actually stealing anything, but Hayes was grumpy under the best of conditions. Imagine him finding out I was sneaking around his bachelor pad without his permission.

The engine on the vehicle slowed to a dull roar, idling in the driveway. My heart was racing, all thoughts of being a spy completely gone. And just as I heard the doorknob jiggling, I dropped to the floor, tucking myself up against his dark leather couch. Maybe my black outfit would hide me until I could sneak back out and vow never to return again.

The door swung open, and boots landed on the floor, taking step after confident step toward the fridge.

My mind flashed back to being a kid and playing dead in preparation for my lead role in some princess movie while waiting for true love’s first kiss. I’d thought I was so convincing back then. Now I knew I’d never truly had a chance. Why the hell was I breathing so loud?

I tried to take shallow little sips of air, but that didn’t help. I swore I was losing oxygen.

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