Page 60 of Small Town Sash

"Come on, let's find some trouble before you take me home," she said, tugging him forward with a playful smirk.

"Lead the way," he said, allowing the future to blur into the background as he focused on the girl with black hair and blue eyes who was quickly stealing his heart.

Braden's truck hummed along the quiet streets of Hero, the night wrapping around them like a gentle shroud. Streetlights flickered, casting a soft glow on Hadley's features as they drove by.

"Tonight was fun," she said, breaking the silence.

"Fun doesn't cut it. Tonight was...amazing." Braden glanced at her, his heart racing with anticipation of a possible good-night kiss.

"Agree to disagree," she teased, her lips quirking up in that familiar smirk.

"Stubborn," he chuckled.

"Observant," she shot back.

They pulled up at her place, the engine idling as neither made a move to say goodbye. The moment stretched, filled with unsaid words and unexplored feelings.

"Walk me to the door?" Hadley asked, her voice softer now.

"Of course," Braden replied, a sense of finality sinking into his stomach.

They walked up the path, their steps synchronized. At the doorstep, they turned to face each other, the porch light illuminating their hesitation.

"About next week..." Braden started, the weight of his departure heavy on his tongue.

"Shh," Hadley placed a finger on his lips. "Remember? Now, not next week."

"Right, now." He nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

The sweet scent of her vanilla perfume mixed with the heady aroma of his aftershave, a perfect pairing that lingered in the space between them. She stood on her tiptoes, her blue eyes reflecting the stars above. Their lips met with a tender collision that spoke volumes as their bodies entangled as if pulled by an invisible force. Their mouths moved together like a choreographed dance, perfectly in sync and full of emotion. It was a promise, a hope, a silent plea for time to stand still.

"Good night, Braden." Her breath was warm against his cheek.

"Good night, Hadley." His voice was barely a whisper.

He watched her disappear inside, the click of the lock echoing in the quiet night. Braden let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. A perfect first date indeed, he thought, his heart insisting on memorizing every detail before duty called him away.

Chapter Seventeen

Hadley glided onto the stage, her black hair cascading like a midnight waterfall down her back. The spotlight was a lover's gaze, warm and fixed on her curvy frame as she faced the judges, a panel of composure and scrutiny. Her rivals, a sea of sequins and hairspray, lined the wings, their eyes trained on her with a blend of wary respect and concealed envy.

In each section, Hadley shone. Not because she sought validation but because she no longer needed it. She was a comet streaking across a once impenetrable sky, and the audience couldn't help but be caught in her gravitational pull. Each step, each note, each smile was a testament to the woman she had become—confident, authentic, unstoppable.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Hadley Wilder?" a rival joked backstage, her grudging admiration poorly veiled by humor.

"I'm evolving, darling," Hadley retorted with a wink, her newfound sense of worth a brilliant aura that outshone even the most dazzling tiaras.

Hadley twirled onto the stage, laughter bubbling up from her core. The opening dance was a whirlwind of color and music,and she found herself lost in the rhythm. Her black hair swung in time with the beat, and her blue eyes lit with a spark that hadn't been there before.

"Look at you go," Candace cheered from the wings, clapping her hands above her head.

"I'm just getting started," Hadley called back, her voice lost in the swell of the music.

She spun again, this time catching Braden's gaze from the judge's panel. He wore a proud grin that said he knew—knew that this Hadley was the real deal. She winked at him, her curvy frame moving across the floor with a freedom that felt like flying.

"Who needs perfection when you've got moves like these?" she jested to a fellow contestant as they passed each other, both swept up in the joy of the moment.

The dance ended too soon, the final note hanging in the air like a promise. Hadley skipped offstage, her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding—not from exhaustion, but exhilaration.

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