Chapter 19
Diego
“That’s the fourth time you’ve looked out the window in the past five minutes,” Lucas said from across the table. He was nursing his coffee and munching on the extra bacon left from our breakfast. “He’s not out there.”
“Sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s… It’s just been three days, and I haven’t heard from him. I’m startin’ to worry.”
“He’s fine,” Beau assured me. “I saw him around the diner yesterday when I dropped off Dolly’s order. It looked like he was busy helpin’ her out with things.”
“You really like him, don’t you?” Lucas asked. “Like, a lot.”
I let out a long sigh, knowing there was no point in denying it. I’d been acting like a lovesick puppy since we’d gotten back from Amarillo. It was hard to concentrate on anything, especially my job, when all I could think about was Hayden.
“I do,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “Probably more than I should.”
Mabel, who’d been quietly washing dishes at the kitchen counter, turned around with a knowing smile. “I could’ve told you that the day you two met. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.”
“Was I that obvious?” I groaned, dropping my head into my hands.
“Like a neon sign in the desert,” Lucas laughed, reaching across the table to pat my arm. “But it’s cute. I haven’t seen you this worked up over someone since... well, ever.”
“It’s not just that he’s gorgeous,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
“Though he is. It’s everything about him.
The way he tries to act all tough but then gets excited about the smallest things.
How he pretends not to care what people think but then blushes when someone compliments him. Those damn freckles...”
“We know,” Beau chuckled. “You’ve mentioned the freckles. Several times.”
I felt my face heat up. “Sorry. I’m being ridiculous.”
“No, you’re being smitten,” Lucas corrected. “And it’s about time. I was starting to think you were immune to romance.”
“I wasn’t immune,” I protested. “Just careful.”
Mabel set a fresh cup of coffee in front of me. “There’s nothing wrong with being careful, Diego. But sometimes the heart wants what it wants.”
“And mine apparently wants a stubborn, snarky California boy who’s leaving in a week,” I sighed, wrapping my hands around the warm mug.
“Unless he doesn’t,” Lucas said with that scheming look I’d come to recognize.
“Don’t,” I warned. “No more of your meddling. I think that’s what scared him off in the first place.”
Lucas held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. No meddling.”
“Speaking of the diner,” Mabel said, wiping her hands on a dish towel, “Dolly called earlier. Said she needs some help with a big project. Something about rearranging the storeroom and putting up more decorations for the Christmas Eve party tomorrow night.”
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… inconsiderate of 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.
“Diego,” he said, sounding slightly breathless. “What are you doing here?”
“Dolly called. Said she needed help with some heavy lifting.” I stepped further into the room, closing the distance between us. “Looks like you could use some backup with those lights.”
Hayden glanced down at the tangled mess in his hands and sighed. “They’re impossible. I’ve been at it for twenty minutes and they’ve only gotten worse.”
“Here,” I offered, holding out my hands. “Let me try.”
He hesitated for just a moment before passing the lights over, his fingers brushing against mine in the process. That small touch sent electricity up my arm, and from the way his breath hitched, I suspected he felt it too.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, stepping down from the ladder. “Aunt Dolly has about six more boxes of these that need untangling before tomorrow.”
I set to work on the knot, grateful to have something to do with my hands. “So... how’ve you been?” I asked, trying to sound casual and probably failing miserably.
“Fine,” he replied, too quickly. “Busy. Helping Dolly with the Christmas Eve preparations.” He gestured vaguely around the storeroom, which was filled with boxes of decorations. “You?”
“Same. Just... working.” I didn’t mention that I’d been distracted as hell, or that Lucas was slightly irritated I’d backed over his new white fence yesterday when I wasn’t paying attention.
“The ranch is pretty busy with the last of the Christmas guests starting to arrive. We’ve got a big party planned on Christmas day, so everything is getting a little crazy.
So... yeah. Been keeping busy.” I fidgeted with the lights, already making progress on the tangle while trying not to stare at him too obviously.
Hayden shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his fingers playing with the hem of his sweater. “I heard about the white fence incident.”
I winced. “News travels fast.”
“Small town.” He shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “I’m pretty sure Dolly and Mabel talk every single day.”
The silence stretched between us, filled with all the things neither of us seemed ready to say.
I focused on the lights, methodically working through the knots while stealing glances at him.
He looked tired, with faint shadows under his eyes that made me wonder if he’d been sleeping as poorly as I had.
“I missed you,” I blurted out, unable to hold it in any longer.
Hayden’s eyes widened slightly, his cheeks flushing pink beneath those freckles. “Oh.”
Not exactly the response I was hoping for.
“Sorry,” I said quickly, returning my attention to the lights. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward. I just... it’s the truth.”
He was quiet for so long I thought he might not respond at all. Then, so softly I almost missed it. “I missed you too.”
My heart did a ridiculous little flip in my chest. I looked up to find him watching me, something vulnerable in his expression.
“Yeah?” I couldn’t help the hopeful note in my voice.
“Yeah.” He nodded, then quickly added, “But that doesn’t change anything. I still need to figure things out.”
“I know,” I assured him, finally untangling the last knot in the string of lights. “No pressure. I’m just happy to see you.”
I handed him the now-untangled lights, and our fingers brushed again. This time, neither of us pulled away immediately.
“Thanks,” he said, his voice a little rougher than before. “For the lights, I mean.”
“Anytime, Freckles.” The nickname slipped out before I could stop it.
Instead of the eyeroll I expected, a small smile tugged at his lips. “There are five more boxes over there,” he said, gesturing to the corner. “Think you can work your magic on those too?”
“For you? Absolutely.”
We fell into a comfortable rhythm after that, me untangling lights while Hayden sorted through other decorations.
The tension between us didn’t disappear entirely, but it shifted into something more manageable, almost pleasant.
Every now and then our eyes would meet, and that spark would flare up again, making my breath catch.
“So, what’s this errand Dolly needs me to do?” I asked, breaking a comfortable silence.
“I’m not—”
“Well, I’m glad you asked,” Dolly said from behind us, startling us both. I had no idea how long she’d been there. “I’m gonna need both of you to go, actually.”
I shot Hayden a look before turning back to her. “Oh? Where are we goin’?”
“To a friend of mine outside of town,” she smiled, those eyes sparkling with mischievously. “He’s got a Christmas tree for the diner.” She gave us a small wink. “And I need y’all to decorate it for me too.”