Page 67 of Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

I can't hear the details of the conversation, but I can tell something is wrong. He's probably leaving soon.

"Hayley I-"

"You have to go," I say, confirming what I already know.

He nods.

I feel my heart ache, already missing him even though he is here.

Call me crazy, whatever.

I close the distance between us. Before he can complete his sentence, I press a soft kiss on his cheek. "Go," I say, biting down on my inner cheek to stop from grinning like an idiot. "We'll talk when you get back. I promise."

Before he can reply, I run up the stairs, closing the door with a loud thud.

And then, I slowly slide down the wooden frame.

So am I…Am I Austin's girlfriend now?

Chapter twenty-seven

HAYLEY

These days, I always wake before my alarm clock rings. Without fail, the first thing I do is check my phone for a message from Austin. My heart races as I reach for the device, hoping to see his name on the screen.

The room is still dark, and I have to squint as the bright light from my phone illuminates the space around me. I open my messages, and suddenly, I'm scrambling up in bed, my sleepiness disappearing in a second.

"Oh wow!" I repeatedly yell, my voice growing louder each time.

There it is: a message from Austin: "I am back."

Those three simple words send excitement through my entire body. I jump out of bed, nearly tripping over my own feet as I race straight for the bathroom.

"Come on, where is it!" I half yell, half whisper as I grab my brush. Then, I clean up in record time, scrubbing my face and brushing my teeth with more vigor than necessary.

Since I have a little more time before we see each other, I decide to put in a little extra effort. Blotting some lipstick on my lips, I aim for that 'I just woke up, but I'm effortlessly beautiful' look. As I look at my reflection, I can't help but groan. It looks like I'm trying way too hard.

I reach for a napkin, cleaning up a bit. "Okay, this is it. This is better." Shaking my head, I race back to my wardrobe, pulling out two dresses. I hold each one against me, twirling in front of the mirror as I try to decide which one looks best.

"Come on, let's see," I mumble to myself, finally settling on the yellow dress. It's cheerful and bright, it will make me stand out in the morning, right?

After brushing my hair to a sheen, I finally head out of the cottage.

Badum. Badum.My heart...

I'm not exactly running, but I'm certainly not taking a leisurely stroll either. My heart pounds with each step, and even though I try to hide it – I'm sure anyone could tell I'm excited with one look at my face.

By the time I reach the vegetable garden, I spot a figure in the distance. Even from afar, I know it’s Austin. It feels like a scene from a movie as we both make our way towards each other, meeting in the middle of the garden.

The expression on Austin's face looks exactly like mine – just pure excitement to see each other again.

I know it has been just a few days since I last saw him, but really... I'm so glad he’s back.

For a moment, I'm not sure if I should hug him or not. Before I can make up my mind, Austin takes the step first. He wraps his arms around me, and I don't fight it. Instead, I hug him back even tighter.

His familiar scent envelops me, and I instantly feel relaxed. It's as if all the tension I've been carrying melts away in his embrace.

"Welcome back," I murmur into his chest.

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