Chapter 11 Hayden
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 me again.
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 with Surprise! 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?”
“All the time.” I could hear the grin in his voice without looking. “It’s part of my charm.”
I rolled my eyes. “Is that what you call it?”
We passed a billboard advertising some tacky roadside diner, and Diego pointed at it. “We should stop there on the way back.”
“We’re Christmas shopping for Beau, not getting lunch.”
“Multi-tasking is a thing, Freckles. And we gotta eat.”
“I told you not to call me that,” I repeated for the hundredth time. The nickname was starting to feel less like an irritation and more like... something else. Something dangerous. And that simply was not allowed.
Diego drummed his fingers on his thigh. “So, what’s on the shopping list, anyway? Lucas wasn’t exactly specific.”
I sighed, relenting to at least minimal conversation. “He wants to get Beau some custom boots and a new winter jacket. Something fashionable but practical, whatever that means.”
“And he doesn’t trust my fashion sense?” Diego put a hand to his chest in mock offense. “I’m wounded.”
“Have you seen your belt buckle?” I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “It’s the size of a dinner plate.”
“It’s a statement piece!”
“The only thing it’s stating is that you have questionable taste. You aren’t a rodeo star, Diego.”
Diego laughed, deep and genuine. “And here I thought you were admiring my buckle yesterday.”
My cheeks heated. “I wasn’t looking at your buckle.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to snatch them back. Diego’s eyebrows shot up, and his grin widened to dangerous proportions.
“Oh? What were you lookin’ at then?”
“The... scenery,” I mumbled lamely.
“Uh-huh.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping. “The scenery just happened to be in the vicinity of my belt?”
“Shut up,” I groaned, but I was fighting a smile now. “This is going to be the longest shopping trip of my life.”
“Or the most fun,” Diego countered. “Depends on your attitude.”
I glanced over at him, taking in his easy smile and the way the sunlight played across his features. Maybe, just maybe… this wouldn’t be so terrible after all.
“The only way it’s gonna be fun is if you shut up and do what I say.”
Diego paused, glancing over at me. Why was he smiling like that?
“You like bossin’ people around?” he asked in a sultry tone. “That your kink?”
“I’m not interesting enough for kinks,” I replied, a sudden bitterness and venom rushing into my tone.
Diego pulled back, his brows furrowed in surprise and concern.
“Sorry,” I said before I could help myself. “I didn’t mean to… that was just a joke my ex used to tell his friends. It just… slipped out.”
Diego’s expression softened, and I saw his hand twitch like he wanted to reach for me before he caught himself.
“Your ex sounds like a real piece of shit,” he said quietly, all traces of teasing gone from his voice.
I kept my eyes on the road, my jaw clenched. I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. Way to kill the mood, Hayden.
“Yeah, well,” I muttered, “he was a lot of things. Supportive wasn’t one of them.”
Diego was quiet for a long moment, and I could feel him studying my profile again. When he finally spoke, his voice was gentler than I’d ever heard it.
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re plenty interesting. And anyone who’d make you feel otherwise is a damn fool.”
Something warm and unfamiliar bloomed in my chest at his words, but I pushed it down. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down, not again.
“Thanks,” I said stiffly. “But you don’t really know me.”
“Maybe not,” Diego admitted. “But I’d like to.”
The sincerity in his voice made me glance over at him despite myself. He was watching me with those dark eyes, and for once there wasn’t a trace of his usual cocky smirk. That look sent a warmth through me that pooled low in my belly. This was dangerous territory.
“We should focus on the shopping,” I said, clearing my throat. “Lucas will have our heads if we come back empty-handed or with the wrong stuff.”
Diego nodded, seeming to understand that I needed to change the subject. “Right. So cool boots and a jacket. Any particular stores we’re hittin’?”
I pulled out my phone and checked the notes app where I’d written down the places Lucas had recommended. “There’s a western wear place that supposedly has good boots. And Lucas mentioned wanting something from one of those fancy outdoor stores for the jacket.”
“Fancy outdoor stores,” Diego repeated with a chuckle. “You mean the kind where they charge three hundred dollars for a jacket that does the same thing as a forty-dollar one from the feed store?”
“Probably,” I admitted. “But Lucas said he wants Beau to have nice things. He said something about reminding him that they’re not struggling anymore.”
“Can’t argue with that. Beau deserves nice things after all the work he’s done and how much the ranch props up the town.” Diego stretched again, his shirt riding up slightly to expose his hairy midriff. I definitely didn’t notice. “Are you doin’ any Christmas shoppin’ while we’re here?” he asked.
“I… I don’t know,” I said. “I haven’t really thought about it.
My parents are in Italy, and I feel like I hardly know Aunt Dolly enough to buy her a gift.
And honestly…” I hung my head. “I don’t have more than a couple hundred bucks to my name.
Enough for gas to get home after the new year.
Dolly’s the only reason I’m eating right now. ”
“Are you gettin’ enough?” Diego asked, a real tone of concern in his voice.
“Honestly, I can’t get her to stop feeding me,” I replied, a grin slipping through. “I’m not gonna fit in my clothes by the time I leave here.”
Diego laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s Dolly for you. Woman’s mission in life is to make sure no one’s stomach is ever empty.”
“Yeah, well, she’s succeeding,” I said, patting my flat stomach. “I’ve gained like five pounds since I got here.”
“Looks good on you,” Diego said with a wink that I pretended not to see.
The highway stretched out ahead of us, empty except for the occasional semi-truck. Fields of winter-dry grass rolled by, and in the distance, I could see the silhouette of Amarillo slowly growing larger.
“You know,” Diego said after a moment, “I could help you find some odd jobs around town if you need cash. Folks are always looking for extra hands during the holidays.”
I glanced at him, surprised by the offer. “I’m not a charity case.”
“Did I say you were?” He raised an eyebrow. “It’s just work, Hayden. Everyone needs help sometimes.”
“I don’t,” I said automatically, the words coming out harsher than I intended.
Diego just shrugged, unperturbed by my tone. “Sure. Whatever you say, Freckles.”
“I told you—”
“Not to call you that. I know.” He grinned, completely unrepentant. “But it suits you.”
I rolled my eyes, focusing back on the road. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re incredibly annoying?”
“All the time. But they usually come around.” He stretched his arms above his head, his shirt riding up again to reveal a strip of tanned skin and a trail of dark hair disappearing beneath his belt. “Like you will.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” I muttered, though the heat in my cheeks and the tightness in my jeans betrayed me.