Chapter 10 Diego
Diego
There was no avoiding Lucas the next morning.
Monday mornings were when we had our ranch management meetings over coffee.
Usually it was just Lucas, Beau, and myself sitting around the kitchen table shooting the shit for a couple hours while Mabel made us breakfast. But today there was more on the menu than just eggs, toast, and sausages.
“Well, there he is,” Lucas chimed from the kitchen table the moment I stepped through the door. He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on my head. “And no hat either. I guess the rumors are true.”
I groaned inwardly, pouring myself a cup of coffee from the pot on the counter. “Morning to you too, Lucas.”
“Diego, sit down,” Beau said gently, gesturing to the empty chair across from him. “We need to talk.”
I took my time adding cream to my coffee, stalling for as long as possible. The last thing I wanted was to discuss my personal life over breakfast, especially when I wasn’t even sure what the hell was happening myself.
“Look,” I said, finally taking my seat, “if this is about me taking time off yesterday—”
“It’s not about the time off,” Lucas interrupted, leaning forward with that intense look he got when he was about to meddle in someone’s business. “It’s about the hat, Diego. Mabel told us everything.”
“What’s everything?” I asked, though I had a sinking feeling I already knew.
Beau cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “She said you gave Hayden your hat. That cowboy hat you’ve worn every day since I’ve known you.”
“So?” I took a sip of my coffee, trying to project nonchalance I didn’t feel. “It’s just a hat.”
Lucas snorted. “Bullshit. That hat is practically part of your DNA. You damn near sleep with the thing.”
“I do not—” I started to protest, then realized he was right. There were plenty of nights I’d fallen asleep with it still on my head. And it was the first thing I reached for every morning. “Okay, fine. Maybe I’m attached to it.”
“Attached?” Beau raised an eyebrow. “Diego, you wouldn’t let me borrow that hat when mine blew away in that windstorm last month. You said it would be like lending out your underwear.”
I winced at the memory. “That’s different.”
“How is it different?” Lucas demanded. “Because this time it’s for a pretty boy with blue eyes?”
The heat that rushed to my face probably gave away more than I wanted it to. “It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?” Mabel’s voice came from behind me, and I turned to see her bustling in from the pantry with her arms full of supplies.
“Because honey, in all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you give that hat to anyone.
And I definitely ain’t seen you ride two to a horse with another man before. ”
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “Does the whole damn town know about this?”
“Pretty much,” Lucas said with a grin that was way too pleased. “Mabel told us last night. Dolly saw the whole thing too, and she runs the most popular diner in town.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “This is a nightmare.”
“No,” Mabel said firmly, setting her supplies on the counter and turning to face me with her hands on her hips. “A nightmare would be letting that sweet boy leave town without telling him how you feel.”
“I don’t feel anything,” I lied, but there was no conviction in it. Even I could hear that. “He’s just passin’ through. Like me. Our roads ain’t goin’ the same way.”
Mabel fixed me with that stern look that could make grown men confess their sins. “Diego Mendez, you listen to me. I’ve watched you for over a year now, and I ain’t never seen you look at anyone the way you look at that boy.”
“Mabel’s right,” Beau said quietly. “And I’ve never seen you give anyone your hat either. That means something, Diego. You can’t just pretend it doesn’t.”
I felt cornered, like a calf being herded into a chute. Three pairs of eyes were staring at me expectantly, waiting for me to admit to something I wasn’t even sure I understood myself.
“Look,” I said, setting my coffee cup down harder than necessary, “maybe I like him. Maybe I think he’s... attractive. But that don’t change the facts. He’s gonna leave after Christmas, and I’ll be movin’ on after the wedding. End of story.”
Lucas leaned back in his chair, studying me with those sharp businessman eyes of his. “Who says you have to move on after the wedding?”
“I do,” I replied automatically. “It’s what I do, Lucas. I don’t stay anywhere long term. You know that.”
“But why?” Beau asked, and there was genuine curiosity in his voice. “You’ve been here over a year. You’re good at your job, everyone likes you... why not stay?”
The question hit me like a punch to the gut. Why not stay? Because staying meant getting attached. It meant caring about people who might one day decide they didn’t want me around anymore. It meant putting down roots that could be ripped up at a moment’s notice or poisoned by staying too long.
“Because that’s not who I am,” I said finally. “I’m a drifter, Beau. Always have been.”
“Bullshit,” Mabel said bluntly, making all three of us turn to stare at her. “You ain’t no drifter, Diego. You’re a scared little boy who’s convinced himself that runnin’ is easier than stayin’ and fightin’ for what you want.”
Her words stung because they were true. I felt my jaw clench as I looked away from her knowing gaze.
“And what about Hayden?” Lucas pressed. “What if he wanted to stay too?”
“He won’t,” I said with more certainty than I felt. “He’s got a life back in California, doesn’t he? A career, family, friends. What’s he gonna do in Sagebrush? Work at Dolly’s diner for the rest of his life?”
“Maybe he’d find something,” Beau said softly. “If he had a reason to stay.”
The implication hung in the air between us, and I felt my chest tighten with something that might have been hope. But hope was dangerous. Hope got you hurt.
“This is crazy,” I muttered, pushing back from the table. “I have work to do.”
“Hold on there, cowboy,” Lucas said, his voice carrying that no-nonsense tone he used in business meetings. “Sit your ass back down. We’re not done here.”
I paused halfway out of my chair, torn between the urge to flee and the knowledge that Lucas wouldn’t let this drop. The man was like a dog with a bone when he got an idea in his head.
“Five more minutes,” I said, settling back into my seat reluctantly. “Then I really do have work to do.”
“Fair enough.” Lucas leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “Here’s what’s going to happen. There’s a cold front moving in this week. Weather service is calling for possible snow by the weekend.”
I frowned, not sure where he was going with this. “Okay? We’ve dealt with cold snaps before.”
“True, but this one’s different. It’s supposed to hit right during the middle of the weekend, and Christmas is right around the corner.” His eyes lit up with the kind of mischief that usually meant trouble for someone.
“Lucas,” I said warily, “what are you getting at?”
“I need someone to drive to Amarillo and pick up Beau’s Christmas presents and a few extra items that you’ll have to pick out,” he continued, ignoring my suspicious tone.
“All the stuff I ordered online is sitting at various stores waiting for pickup, and with this weather coming in, I don’t want to risk the deliveries getting delayed. ”
Beau looked up from his coffee with surprise. “You already finished your Christmas shopping?”
“Course I did. I’m organized.” Lucas shot him a fond look before turning back to me. “Problem is, I’ve got back-to-back conference calls with investors all day, and Beau’s got that cattle auction in Austin this week. Can’t reschedule either one.”
I could see where this was headed, and I didn’t like it one bit. “So, you want me to go?”
“Exactly. Should take most of the day. Amarillo’s a good hour drive each way, plus time to hit all the stores.” He paused, drumming his fingers on the table. “Only thing is, I need those last few items, and I don’t trust your fashion sense.”
“Excuse me?” I sputtered, genuinely offended. “What’s wrong with my fashion sense?”
Lucas gestured vaguely at my work clothes. I had on faded jeans, worn boots, and a flannel shirt that had seen better days. “Diego, you dress like you buy your clothes at farm supply stores.”
“I do buy my clothes at farm supply stores,” I protested. “They’re practical.”
“Exactly my point.” His grin widened. “Some of the stuff I still need is clothing, and there are bound to be multiple choices for each piece. I need someone with an actual eye for style to handle those, not Mr. Practicality.”
Mabel cleared her throat meaningfully. “You know, Dolly mentioned that Hayden used to do some modeling work. Boy’s probably got a good eye for fashion. I’d bet he’d go with you.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Lucas added, his grin widening like he’d just caught me in a trap. “I already called Dolly this morning. Hayden’s free all day.”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “You did what?”
“Called Dolly,” Lucas repeated, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “She says Hayden’s been moping around the apartment since yesterday. Apparently, he could use the distraction. He’s already on the way over.”
My heart did a little flip in my chest. “He agreed to this?”
“Well...” Lucas had the decency to look slightly guilty. “Dolly might have told him it was just a shopping trip. She may have left out the part about you being his chauffeur.”
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, setting my mug down with more force than necessary. “So, you want me to ambush him? Again? That’s your brilliant plan?”
Beau at least had the courtesy to look sympathetic. “It’s not an ambush. It’s just... a surprise.”
“A surprise that involves being trapped in a truck with me for a two-hour round trip, plus shopping?” I shook my head. “He’s gonna murder me. Or worse, he’s gonna get out and walk back to Sagebrush.”
“Nonsense,” Mabel chimed in, flipping pancakes at the stove. “That boy’s sweet on you too, whether he admits it or not.”
“Sweet on me?” I scoffed. “Mabel, he slapped me in front of the whole town.”
“That’s passion,” she replied without missing a beat. “Can’t have fire without a spark.”
Lucas nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. And you two have enough sparks to start a wildfire.”
I looked between the three of them, feeling like I’d somehow wandered into an ambush myself. “This is insane. Y’all are trying to set me up.”
“Damn right we are,” Lucas said, dropping all pretense. “Look, Diego, I’ve never seen you this hung up on anyone before. And Dolly says Hayden’s been wearing your hat around the apartment since he got back.”
That piece of information hit me right in the chest. “He has?”
“Hasn’t taken it off except to shower, according to her.” Lucas leaned back, looking smug. “That sound like someone who’s not interested to you?”
I tried to ignore the warmth spreading through me at the thought of Hayden still wearing my hat. It didn’t mean anything. Maybe he just liked how it looked. Or maybe he was cold.
“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 just so worn 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.”