Page 15 of Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

"Welcome home," I say with a grin.

For a moment, I think I see her glaring at me, her fist clenching and unclenching like she's about to throw a punch. But then it's gone, replaced by her now-familiar blank expression.

As I watch them drive away, I can't help but feel that life on my ranch is about to get a whole lot more interesting. I chuckle to myself as I head back inside.

Chapter seven

HAYLEY

I nod curtly. "Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I'll be sure to be a model tenant." Even I can hear the sarcasm dripping from my voice.

As Santiago and I turn to leave, Austin calls out, "Oh, and Hayley? Welcome home."

I catch the smugness on his face, and it takes everything in me not to turn around and give him a piece of my mind. Instead, I clench my fist and keep walking.

As we head back to the car, I realize that Operation Get Back at Him would start as soon as I move in. I'm Hayley Miller, and I've never backed down from a challenge.

One step at a time.

***

The next day comes too soon. My mind flashes back to yesterday morning, the events that led me to this moment playing out like a tragic movie in my head.

I had awakened more tired than when I went to sleep, a feat I never thought possible. Two of Santiago's kids had snuck into my bed in the middle of the night, and I'd woken up several times either half-suffocating, with an elbow to my ribs, or a foot in my face. Now, no amount of cold water can reduce the dark circles under my eyes as I exit the bathroom, catching sight of Santiago's wife, Marcella, across the room.

"Oh, good morning, Hayley," she says cheerfully. "Sleep well?"

All I can do is make a nod as I take a seat at the kitchen table. Marcella notices my bleary-eyed state and smiles sympathetically.

"Santiago took the kids to school and went to work," she explains. "He said you can call him if you need anything."

We chat for a few minutes over tea, the warm liquid doing little to chase away my exhaustion. As Marcella excuses herself to take a nap – apparently, the baby kept her up all night too – I'm left feeling weird being the only active person in someone else's home.

Picking up my phone, I decide I might as well do something productive, so I dial the local mechanic shop, steeling myself for the conversation about my broken-down car.

"Redstone Auto, this is Earl speaking," a gruff voice answers.

"Hi, Earl. This is Hayley Miller. I've got a car broken down on the side of Route 290, just outside of town. The fuel pressure regulator's shot."

"Martha and Steven's girl?" Earl asks recognition in his voice. "Well, I'll be. Welcome back to town. Now, about that car..."

We go back and forth, discussing the details of my car's problem and the logistics of getting it towed. Finally, it's decided that they'll pick it up today and have it fixed by the weekend.

After hanging up, I write a quick note for Marcella, letting her know I'm going apartment shopping. As I leave, I make sure to close the door gently behind me.

Now it's just me, alone with my thoughts as I wander the familiar streets. I haven't been able to contact my parents since the other night, but I received another email detailing their current location – somewhere in the South Pacific, living their best lives.

***

A few days have passed and it's finally moving day.

Despite everything that's happened, I can't help but feel a certain amount of excitement at the thought of returning to my childhood home. Sure, I'll be staying in the back cottage rather than the main house but just being back on the property made me kind of giddy, nostalgic even. I’ll be going back to a place where I made some of my best memories of Redstone.

In the back of my consciousness, I hear what sounds like twenty kids:

“And she said we would share, but she didn’t give.”

“That’s not true! You didn’t want to give it back!”

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