13. Hadley

13

HADLEY

H adley wiped the sweat off her brow and adjusted her grip on the desk. Even with Cheyenne on the other end, they were making snail-pace progress getting the massive piece of furniture to the Youth Learning Program office.

"Just a little more," Cheyenne huffed.

"What in the world are you doing?" Ridge said as he stomped through the breezeway.

Cheyenne waved her hands in the air. "Moving the furniture. What does it look like?"

Ridge stopped beside his bride-to-be and lowered his voice. "I said I would do that."

"You and what army?" Cheyenne asked. "I know you're strong and stuff, but you can't pick up this whole desk by yourself."

"I'm here! Help has arrived!" Brett shouted as he jogged toward them .

Ridge and Brett each took a side of the desk and lifted. Cheyenne huffed as she watched them walk the desk into the new office like it weighed little more than a two-by-four.

"That is just… That is not fair," Cheyenne said as she propped her hands on her hips.

"I thought I was gonna die there for a second," Hadley admitted. "I'm too young to throw my back out, right?"

"I'm gonna be feeling it in the morning one way or another."

Hadley and Cheyenne followed the men into the office and approved of the spot where the desk had found its resting place.

Brett covered his mouth as he yawned. "That all you got for me, boss?"

"That's all for today." Ridge wrapped his arm around Cheyenne and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Let's go home."

Hadley turned to Brett and held her hands out to her sides. "You ready to go home too, sugar?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Brett held out his elbow to Hadley.

Cheyenne stopped. "Are you still staying with Hadley and Thea?"

"Yep. Until Thea is well enough to leave."

Brett didn't sound happy at all to talk about Thea leaving. Though, last Hadley heard, the two of them still hadn't gotten past whatever tiff they started yesterday. They'd both been moping around like sad puppies.

"Are they safe?" Cheyenne asked tentatively.

"As safe as they're gonna get," Ridge answered. "Brett's got this covered."

Brett clicked his tongue behind his teeth. "He's right. If anyone tried to harm Thea or Hadley, they'd have to kill me first."

Hadley tilted her head. "That's not an image I want floating around in my brain."

Brett patted Hadley's hand that was still wrapped around his arm. "Don't worry. I have full faith in you. You're scrappy."

Hadley shrugged. "That's true. If push comes to shove, I don't think I'd fight fair."

Cheyenne rolled her eyes and hugged back up to Ridge's side. "Okay. I get it. Just be careful, please?"

"Always!" Hadley said with a wave over her head as she turned to head out to her car.

Brett released her arm as he went toward his truck. "See you in a few. I have to run by my place first."

"Don't wake me up when you come in," Hadley said as she settled into the driver's seat and started the car. She'd been working at the new Youth Learning Center with Cheyenne and Ridge all day, and the bed was calling her name.

Thea was already asleep when Hadley snuck in, so she quickly got ready for bed and shut herself in her room. Once she was tucked underneath the blanket, she picked up her phone from the nightstand to see a text waiting.

Gage: What are you doing tomorrow?

Dang. How did this man, who was pretty much a stranger, have the ability to give her butterflies when he wasn't even around? She really needed to get a handle on the inconvenient physical reactions to Gage. He hadn't shown any real interest in her, and it was better if he never did.

Hadley: Working.

She fought the urge to ask what he was doing and pressed send without the question.

Gage: Where do you work?

Hadley grinned. She lived by a code of honesty, and being able to play this mysterious game with Gage was kind of fun.

Hadley: I'm not telling you that.

Gage: What if the guys at work ask? I should know things about my girlfriend.

Girlfriend? That was new, and just the sight of the word caused the butterflies in her stomach to switch into all-out riot mode.

Hadley: I thought we were just hanging out.

Gage: We took things to the next level today. You agreed to be my girlfriend.

Hadley sat up straight in the bed. "I what?" Her fingers typed furiously on the screen.

Hadley: Thanks for the heads up. I've been walking around all day thinking I was single as a pringle. What if I'd been out on a date with someone else?

Gage's reply came instantly.

Gage: Are you dating someone else? Not gonna lie, I'll be hurt.

Hadley dropped her phone on the bed and rubbed her hands down her face. "Gage is flirting with me," she whispered.

Her phone dinged again before she caught her breath.

Gage: And jealous.

Hadley: You would not.

Gage: Would too.

Hadley looked around the room. There was no one around she could freak out with about Gage Howard and his super sweet flirting abilities.

Hadley: I thought you didn't have girlfriends.

Gage: There's a first time for everything.

"Cheese and crackers. I can't believe this," she whispered before flopping onto her back and shimmying down into a cocoon of blankets.

She had her thumbs poised to type some witty response when the phone rang. She jerked, and the phone fell onto her face, hitting her cheekbone with the corner. "Ouch!"

Rubbing the injured spot, she answered the call. "Hello."

"Just calling to say good night," Gage said. His voice was low and deep, dragging every word over her racing heart.

"This feels like a very boyfriend thing to do," Hadley whispered.

"Really? I've never been a boyfriend before."

Hadley rolled onto her side, keeping the phone pressed to her ear. "There's a first time for everything."

"Want to have a tailgate lunch with me again tomorrow? My treat."

Hadley's heart was under the impression she was running for her life, and maybe she should be. Gage wanted to see her again, and she was wholly unprepared for this development. "I don't have any updates for you."

"I'm sure we can find something to talk about."

There went her whole plan to guard her heart. Gage wasn't the kind of man you bring home to Mama, but a nagging in Hadley's heart said there was more to him than just pretty words.

"Okay. I can be there around noon."

"Good night, Hadley. Sweet dreams," Gage whispered.

Oh, that tugging in her chest wouldn't stop. She was being drawn to Gage Howard, whether she liked it or not.

"Good night. Sweet dreams to you too."

When the call ended, Hadley rested the phone beside her on the bed and drifted off to sleep.

Hadley pulled up at Beau's garage ten minutes before noon, and Gage was already waiting at his truck. He adjusted the ball cap on his head when he spotted her. He wore the same T-shirt with the sleeves cut out, despite the cold weather, and his jeans were covered in grease.

Gage met her at her door and offered her a hand. She pressed her hand into his, and a warmth rushed up her arm. His larger hand completely wrapped her up.

Uh-oh. Maybe touching should be off-limits.

He released her once she was standing, and she said a quick prayer for peace.

When she met him at the tailgate, he was pulling out two plastic containers. He opened one and set it in front of her before opening the other. "Hope you like pork roast."

Hadley's mouth watered as the spiced meat aroma hit her senses. "Did you make this?"

"I know it's shocking, but I've been feeding myself for years."

"I mean, this smells good enough to be a family recipe passed down from your grandma or something."

"Ha. My grandma was awful. She didn't have any family recipes to share. "

Hadley gasped. "I can't believe you'd talk about your grandma that way."

"If you'd spent two minutes with her, you'd agree with me."

"So, you're a self-taught cook."

Gage raised his fork. "Guilty." He opened a cooler in the bed of his truck and pulled out two bottles of water.

He offered her one, but she shook her head. "I have a drink in the car." She ducked into her car and grabbed her drink before joining him back at the tailgate.

He watched her intently as she sipped her drink. "Wish I knew who I was stealing you away from every day."

"My boss," Hadley said as she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer of thanks to the Lord. When she opened her eyes, Gage was chewing on his first bite and watching her.

"How's your day been?" he asked.

Hmm. So he wasn't going to comment on her prayer. At least he didn't feel the need to belittle her or make a rude comment. She hadn't run into that much since becoming a Christian, but she had tough skin, so she was ready to defend her new beliefs as needed.

"Great, actually." She started to tell him about helping Brett and Jess at the barn but shoved a bite of the roast into her mouth instead. It was surprisingly delicious. Why was it so difficult not to talk to Gage?

"You're not gonna tell me what you do for a living?" Gage asked.

"Nope. I'll tell you it's something that I love and I have the best boss and co-workers ever, but that's all you'll get."

"Not sure I've met anyone who loves working like you do."

"What's not to like? I do a job, and I get paid. Most people need a job, so I just happened to find one that I also enjoy. Do you like working with Beau?"

Gage shrugged. "I guess I do. I know a lot about mechanics, and if I don't know what to do, I can figure it out."

"But do you enjoy it?" Hadley asked.

"I guess I do. I don't hate it."

Hadley chuckled and lifted her cup. "To jobs we love."

Gage picked up his drink and touched it to hers. "What's in the cup?"

"Sweet tea."

"Figures," Gage said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sweet tea was the drink of choice back in Tennessee. Here, she sometimes had to seek out sugar to get the taste of home .

"You're so bubbly and happy all the time. It's like you're made of sweet tea and sunshine."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Does one of your parents' names start with D and end with O-L-L-Y?"

Hadley gasped. "I beg your Parton, but there is nothing wrong with being happy all the time."

"I guess not."

"Better than being sad," she countered.

"Fair enough."

They were quiet long enough to finish their food, and Hadley brushed her hands off. "Thanks for lunch. It was great. I have to go soon so I can get my oil changed before I get back to work."

"I can do that," Gage said.

"Oh, well I didn't mean to imply you should do it. I was planning to take it to someplace in town."

Gage gathered up their empty containers and stuffed them in a bag. "No need. I can do it in ten minutes." He jerked his head toward the garage. "Meet me at the second bay."

"Um, okay." Hadley did as she was told and pulled her car around.

Gage propped his hands on her open window, looking down at her with what could have been a slight grin. "Can I get your sticker?"

"Oh, sure." She peeled the sticker off and handed it to him.

"What's your mileage? "

She rattled off the number, and he looked back up at her with one brow raised.

"So, you've driven exactly three thousand miles since your last oil change?"

"Yeah."

Gage pressed his lips together, almost smiling. "You're so responsible."

"There's nothing wrong with that. I follow the rules because it makes life easier."

"Does it?"

That took a little bit of thought. Yes, it did make her life easier. If she followed the rules, she didn't get in trouble, and her time wasn't wasted trying to get out of bad situations.

Other people depended on her. She'd been working since she was old enough to get a job, and she didn't hold any resentment. Doing her part to keep things running smoothly was her way of showing her mom and sister that she could carry her own weight.

Hadley shrugged one shoulder. "You learn to be what others need you to be when you have no choice."

She'd watched her mom crumble after every failed relationship, and Hadley didn't want to fall into that trap. She didn't want her happiness or worth to be decided by others.

But as much as she'd pushed people away in the last few years, she found herself craving connections. It was safe to say she'd developed some strong friendships with her co-workers. They'd become her friends, and she trusted them.

That was the key–trust. Without trust, every relationship falls apart.

Gage rapped his knuckles on the door. "Shut it off and pop the hood for me, please."

Hadley did as she was told and stepped out of the car. Gage placed a jack under the frame and lifted it up. Then, he grabbed a shallow pan and placed it under the car before sliding his upper body into the gap.

A man she'd seen during her visits to the shop was a few garage bays down with his head bent under the hood of a truck. He gave her a little wave before going back to his business. A few other people walked by and gave her friendly waves but didn't stop working.

Ten minutes later–as promised– Gage wiped his hands on a rag as he approached her. "All set."

"What do I owe you?"

"It's on me," Gage said without looking at her.

Geeze, Louise. He had to stop being cute.

"Well, thank you. That's very sweet."

"Don't get used to it." He jerked his head toward the car. "I'll meet you back at the truck."

Hadley slid back into her car and waved at the friendly worker as she backed out of the bay. After parking beside Gage's truck, she slowly made her way back around to the tailgate. "You didn't have to do that."

Gage propped his back against the tailgate and crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't make it into a big deal."

"It is a big deal," she whispered. At least, it was to her.

"I haven't been able to check on Thea's car in years. Call it unused brotherly love."

Hadley's brows lifted. "Brotherly love. Is that what this is?"

Gage lowered his head and kept his attention on the gravel at his feet.

Hadley pointed toward the garage. "Your co-worker sure watches us a lot."

Gage looked up. "That's Tim. His life just isn't exciting enough."

Slowly, Hadley moved in front of Gage. His chin lifted, and his gaze met hers. The toes of her shoes nearly touched the tips of his boots.

Gage was a lot taller than her, but she didn't feel the urge to cower in front of him. Instead, there was a pull in her middle, tightening an invisible line between them.

"We're supposed to be dating. Aren't we supposed to be showing some PDA?"

His brow furrowed. "PDA?"

"Public displays of affection. "

Gage's eyes widened. "I don't think I'm a PDA kinda guy."

"Why not?"

Holding up his hands, he showed off the grease stains on his arms.

She turned around to glance at Tim. "Your co-workers aren't going to believe we're–"

Gage uncrossed his ankles, planting his boots on either side of her as he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her flush against him.

Her fingers splayed over Gage's chest, and the breath in her lungs died. "Whoa."

"Better?" he whispered close to her ear. His fingers linked at the small of her back, creating a cage around her.

But she wasn't trapped. Despite the hardness of his arms and the roughness of his skin, he held her loosely.

"Yes," she whispered, keeping her head keenly focused on his shirt directly in front of her and keeping her arms tucked close to her chest. What was she supposed to do with her hands?

Gage's finger pressed under her chin and gently lifted her head. There was a softness in his eyes that brought back her ability to breathe.

"Now, do you want to tell me about your day?" he asked.

Yes, yes she did want to tell him.

But she couldn't .

"Nothing special. Just another workday. What about you?"

"I sparred at the gym this morning and got my clock cleaned. Again."

"What?"

"Mixed martial arts. I go to the gym downtown almost every morning."

"Oh, so that's what you like to do for fun? You fight?"

"It sounds bad when you say it like that."

"I didn't mean to imply that it's bad. I just can't imagine liking getting beaten up."

"I don't get beat up often. Let's make that clear."

"But you said you did today."

"Yeah, well I haven't been sleeping lately."

Hadley's hands relaxed, and she rested them on his chest. His body had a chill to it, but there was a warmth beneath the surface.

"Don't get too close. I might bite," he warned low.

Hadley shook her head and narrowed her eyes at him. Her heart was about to run straight through her sternum and out of her chest, but a flash of bravery urged her on. "No, you won't."

A slight grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "If you say so."

"Why aren't you sleeping? Are you worried about Thea?"

Gage slowly nodded. "And you. "

"Me?"

"Being around me is going to attract unwanted attention."

"For your information, no one has commented on our relationship."

He sighed as his gaze roamed over her face, studying her as if looking for cracks in her facade. "Give me a reason why a real relationship between us wouldn't work."

"Why would I do that?" she asked.

"Because I asked. There are lots of reasons. Pick one, and give me a reminder."

Hadley started to back away, but his hands on her back gently held her.

"Please. We shouldn't be doing this, and I need reasons to push you away when I don't want to."

A hollowness opened up in her chest, gaping and dark as the logic behind his request became clear. They shouldn't entertain thoughts of something more. Things probably wouldn't work out between them, and then she'd end up with her first heartbreak.

Memories of her mom crying on the couch after a man left her were vivid in Hadley's mind.

"Okay. There is one reason."

"Name it. In detail."

She tapped her fingers against his chest as she chose her words carefully. "I'm a Christian, and I'm not sure you share my beliefs. "

"And that's a deal-breaker for you?" he asked.

"Yes." The single word came out clear and firm.

Gage looked away from her for a few seconds. "I've never been to church before, but I'm not gonna say there isn't a higher power." He shrugged. "I just don't know enough to say there definitely is."

Hadley tilted her head, searching for truth in his words. "But you're not closed off to the idea of one all-powerful God?"

"That's not the part I find hard to believe. There probably is a God. I'm just not sure He cares about people like me."

A smile bloomed on Hadley's lips, and she didn't try to hide it.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked.

"Because I think I could convince you that there is a God and that He cares about you."

"Good luck. I haven't found many people who care about me."

Hadley lifted her chin, confident in the task laid in front of her. Maybe the one thing she'd thought would keep them apart wasn't as much of an issue as she thought. "I don't need luck."

Gage chuckled. "I like your determination."

"It comes in handy from time to time." She checked her watch. "I do have to head back to work now. When will I see you again?"

Gage shook his head. "This isn't a good idea. "

"I'm not finished with you. I have something to prove," Hadley said.

He was quiet for a moment before lifting his head. "Okay. Tomorrow."

She smiled up at him. "I knew you'd come around." Pressing up onto her toes to reach him, she pressed a kiss to his bearded cheek.

Hadley took a step back, and Gage released her. She grabbed her cup of sweet tea and flashed him a smile. "See you tomorrow, hunny bun!"

She drove back to the ranch with giddy energy humming just below her skin. She had a new goal and plenty of questions for Stella and Vera during their next Bible study meeting.