Tires on gravel sounded as Hayes’ SUV crested the hill. Just the sight of it had the chill at the reminder of Ben fleeing. Addie rose, and I followed. “You don’t have to go. Why don’t you stay for dinner? I can drive you back after.”
Addie inclined her head towards Shiloh, who was walking up from the far paddock. “I’ll just go with Shiloh. I’m supposed to help Mrs. Easton with some of the cooking.”
“Okay…lunch tomorrow?”
“Maybe.”
Even though I had my cousin back, she was still a hundred miles away. Because while Ian had been arrested, Allen was still walking around free. Addie refused to report any abuse she’d suffered at his hands, no matter how many times Hayes had tried to broach the subject.
I pulled Addie in for a gentle hug. “Love you. I’m here if you need anything.”
Her arms circled me lightly. “Love you, too.”
She headed for Shiloh’s truck and gave Hayes a wave. Shiloh did the same. “See you guys tomorrow.”
Family dinner. The tension with Hadley and Julia hadn’t lessened any, but at least there were more people to distract both of them now.
Hayes waved to his sister and Addie and then climbed the porch steps. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
“I’ve got an extra glass just for you.” I reached for it and poured a tall glass of lemonade.
“There any vodka in that?”
I looked up, taking stock of Hayes’ features. “That bad?”
He bent to brush his lips across mine. “Better now.”
“Tell me everything.”
Hayes put down his gym bag and eased into the rocker that Addie had sat in as I pushed the glass of lemonade across the table between us. “Ben gave us everything we asked for. I almost feel bad for him. Ian knew that he was on the edge and used it to his advantage. Setting fire to the barn, carefully dropping warnings and innuendos.”
In Ian’s mind, no punishment was great enough for what he thought I’d put my family through. But he’d likely always get joy out of causing me pain.
Hayes shook his head. “Ben’s mind was already so broken, it was easy for Ian to plant those seeds. Didn’t make it any easier not to throttle him, though.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
“There was one weird thing.”
“What’s that?”
Hayes traced a design in the condensation on his glass as if using the action to puzzle something through in his mind. “He said he wasn’t the one who chased Hadley down in her truck.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “And I don’t think he’d lie about that one random fact when he gave us the truth about everything else.”
“Who was it, then? Someone with road rage issues?”
Hayes lifted a shoulder and dropped it again. “Maybe. Or someone who’d had too much to drink and was pissed off about something. But Hadley hasn’t had any more issues.”
At least, that she’d told us. And after the blowup with her brother, Calder, and her mom after that night, I wasn’t sure she would. “Hopefully, that’s it.”
My mind drifted back to Ben and Ian, my stomach twisting. “What did the D.A. say about trials?”
“They’re going to plead Ben out. Psychiatric ward of a prison instead of general population.”
“That’s good. Maybe he’ll get the help he needs. What about Ian?”
A muscle in Hayes’ cheek ticked. “He’s taking him to trial for the arson, at least. It’ll be an uphill battle for real time. But the good news is that the restraining order is permanent now.”
I had to think any time in a prison had the chance to be a true wake-up call for my brother. At the very least, I wouldn’t have to think about him for a while. I took a sip of lemonade and closed my eyes. I could feel the light breeze, smell the pine trees and the animals, sense Hayes next to me. That was all I needed to hook into my peace. As I opened my eyes, I looked at the man who’d become my resting place. “Now we can let it go. It’s out of our hands. Now, we get to live.”
His mouth curved. “That sounds like a great plan to me. And I think I’ve got something to mark the occasion.”
“What?”
Hayes reached down into his gym bag and pulled out a cardboard cylinder. “I picked these up from the architect today.”
I let out a little squeal and turned to move the pitcher and glasses to the side of the table. “Spread them out. I want to see.”
He laughed and did as I asked. My gaze roamed over what I knew was the first floor of what would be our home. My finger traced the lines of the walls. The open kitchen and living space. An office for me that looked out at the animals. A massive garage and mudroom that would help us through the winter months and hold the snowplow Hayes had insisted on. I flipped to the second page and the upper floor. There were more bedrooms than I thought we’d need, a gorgeous suite for us, and even an attic space above we’d finish to use as a bonus room.
I looked up, smiling ear to ear. “It’s perfect.”
“I think so, too.” Hayes pulled back the second page to reveal a third. “I asked them to consult a landscape architect for some possible designs on the back garden. I was thinking here would be the perfect place to get married.” His finger circled the drawing of a pergola, but my gaze shot to his.
“Get married?”
Hayes pushed a small velvet box across the table. “Marry me, Ev.”
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Hayes picked up the box and rose. He crossed to me, settling on his knees between my legs. “You already know it’s you and me forever. But I want to start that next chapter as soon as the house is done. I want to tie myself to you in every way possible. I want to make a family with you. You want that?”
“I want that,” I whispered as tears spilled down my cheeks. “There’s nothing I want more.”
And as Hayes slid the gorgeous diamond onto my finger, I felt more of that peace I’d been looking for.
Want to know what happens when Hadley falls for her brother’s best friend? Find out in Falling Embers, available for purchase by tapping HERE. And turn the page for a special sneak peek.
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Prologue
Hadley
PAST
“Hads, you know there’s no way she’s going to let you go.”
I leaned back against my bed and cradled the phone against my ear. “I think I can convince her.”
Jenna was silent for a moment before speaking. “I know you’ve got megapowers of persuasion, but your mom is on another level.”
I didn’t need my best friend to tell me that. I lived with my mother’s overprotectiveness every day. No, overprotective wasn’t the right word. It was paranoia.
“I’m going to go talk to her now. I’ll call you back when I’m done.”