Page 32 of The Problem with Dating
I just couldn’t tell her no.
“I’m not busy at all,” I lied. “I was just doing some window shopping.”
“Oh, that’s great,” she replied. “We have the perfect backyard for barbecues or brunches. I think we’d have some great girl-time, don’t you think?”
“I think you might be right,” I replied, realizing that I wouldn’t mind spending a couple of hours in Louise’s company, chatting it up.
“So, do you want to follow me, or should I give you my address?”
“How about I follow you, but you give me your address just in case I lose you.”
“Oh, good idea.” Louise quickly texted me her address, and then I followed her out of MacArthur’s and got into my car as she got into hers.
The drive to her house wasn’t long, but driving through the neighborhood, I got another look into the Hayes Family. Nathan Hayes was worth millions, but looking at where his parents lived, money hadn’t corrupted them.
Now, I had no idea where Nathan and his family lived, but during our chats that first night, Gideon had told me that Nathan and his wife had sold their condos and had bought a nice home a few blocks away from where his wife’s ex-husband lived for the sake of Nathan’s stepson. So, I couldn’t imagine they lived in a mansion if they were living near the ex-husband. Unless, of course, it turned out he was a professional athlete, too. But I doubted that.
I slowed my car as Louise crept into a driveway a couple of houses ahead of me. However, I had to park my car across the street, two houses down, because there were cars everywhere. I suppose her neighbors must be having a party or something, and that’s why she had invited me over. She really must have been feeling lonely.
Watching her open the trunk to her car, I quickly grabbed my purse and jogged across the street to help her. “Here let me help,” I offered. We were practically the same height, but I didn’t have age or the trauma of raising three boys damaging me.
Louise smiled. “You are too sweet,” she replied. “I’ve got this bag. You can grab the platter.”
I reached for the bag because I knew it was heavier than the cheese and cracker platter. “I’ve got this,” I told her. “You can get the platter.” I didn’t want to insult the woman, so I quickly added, “I don’t know my way around, so it’ll be easier for you to open the front door and stuff with the platter, I think.” The platter didn’t weigh anything, so she could balance it one hand.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “Good idea. We can cut through the backyard. It’ll be easier.” I nodded and followed her.
Followed her into a fresh hell I hadn’t been prepared for.
Louise unlatched the backyard gate that sat between their property fence and their garage. When we cleared the side of the house, we walked into her open backyard that had a pool, a hot tub, a tiny pool house, a gazebo, and a huge deck.
A gazebo and huge deck that was currently sitting what looked to be her entire goddamn family.
My eyes darting around like a cornered animal, I immediately recognized Nathan, and that solidified that Louise had tricked me into crashing a family barbecue or picnic or whatever.
Goddamn it.
“We’re back,” she announced, and a guy who could only be the third brother, rushed forward at her announcement.
“Goddamn it, Mom,” he said. “You were supposed to text us when you were on your way, so we could unload the car.”
“It’s a cracker and cheese platter, Sayer,” she chided. “Not cement blocks.”
The eldest Hayes reached for the bag in my hand. “And a bag of groceries,” he corrected.
“It’s just stuff to make strawberry shortcakes later,” she chided again. “The bag is hardly going to cause a muscle strain.”
Sayer rolled his eyes behind her back as Louise was already heading towards the gazebo. “Sorry about her,” he said. “She’s batshit crazy on the best of days.”
I swallowed a choked laugh. “Uh…”
The man smiled at me, and I discovered I was right. When these three brothers got together in one place, ovaries all over town probably exploded in desire.
Sweet Baby Jesus.
“You’re Echo, right?”
“How did you-”
