Page 5 of Out in the Country

“I’m always cute.”

“You’re a pain in my ass,” he grumbles, and I refrain from saying what I think about his ass because if we start that now, I’ll never get him in the car. Besides, I’ve been patient this long; I can wait a little more.

“Hayden?”

“What?” he huffs.

“Get your ass in the truck.”

“Fine.” He closes the front door and then marches down the steps and stares at me from the passenger side. “If we’ve forgotten anything, it’s on you.”

“If we’ve forgotten anything, I will run out and get it so that you have everything you need.”

His eyes soften just a little bit. They’re the color of the sky after a rain when everything is gray but peaceful. He’s always been the calm in my storm even though he never stops moving.

“Can we stop and get a coffee?”

“Sure,” I drawl, and he rolls his eyes before opening his door and gettin’ in the truck. I long for the day he gives me the privilege to do that for him.

“And a muffin?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Do I get to control the music?” Hayden asks as soon as I’m settled in the driver’s seat.

“Now you’re pushin’ it.”

“But I made a playlist,” he says with a whine, and I’d do damn near anything to bite that lip he’s pushin’ out.

“Coffee first and then we can negotiate your”—I look at him through the dark lenses of my sunglasses—“playlist.”

“Fine,” he sighs, but we both know that I’m going to let him get his way.

Navigating the short drive, I pull up in front of The Poppy Seed, and he unbuckles his seatbelt before turning to face me.

“Do you want me to just grab it or are we both goin’ in?”

“You sure you know what I like?” He either misses the innuendo or chooses to ignore it.

“It wasonetime. One time I got vanilla syrup instead of caramel,andmight I add that was like five years ago.” I smirk and he rolls his eyes. “Do you want anything else?”

You.

“Just my usual,” I say instead, because he’s not ready for the truth even though I swear his eyes darken at the low dip in my voice.

Hayden nods and then hustles out of the truck and into the bakery. Blowing out a breath, I pick up my phone and text the absolute last person I’d ever thought I’d confide in with something like this.

EVERETT: This is a good idea, right?

HANK: Yes

EVERETT: How are you sure?

HANK: Because it’s obvious to everyone but him

HANK: But also it’s not one-sided so…

EVERETT: How do you know?

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