Hung Up on Hadley E-Book

Theresa Paolo

• Herausgeber: TMP Books Inc
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

For over twenty years she secretly loved her brother's best friend, but now the secret is out.

Hadley Hayes has been in love with her brother's best friend for as long as she can remember. Now at thirty-one, she's determined to make Sam see her as more than just the little girl who used to follow him around the family farm. Aware of his fear of commitment, she's ready to show him that happily ever after isn't just meant for the fairy tales.

Sam Bennett, Red Maple Falls fire chief and notorious bachelor, swore he'd never make a pass at any of his best friend's sisters, but when Hadley confesses her feelings, he can no longer deny their chemistry. Trying to hold on to a promise he made when he was only fifteen becomes increasingly hard as their relationship intensifies.

When a tragic turn of events sends Sam spiraling it reminds him that he's not the hero who everyone sees--he's the kid from the wrong side of the tracks who never really belonged. Determined to prove Sam's worth,Hadley refuses to give up on him, but will her love be enough to pull him from the ashes or will their happily ever after go down in flames?

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Receive a FREE book when you sign up for my newsletter

Title Page

Copyright

Hung Up on Hadley

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Dreaming of Daisy Sneak Peek

Also by Theresa

Become a Townie

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Grab your FREE book today by signing up for my newsletter here!

COPYRIGHT

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.

Published by TMP Books

Copyright October 2017

Edited by CookieLynn Publishing Services

Cover Design by Amanda Walker PA and Design Services

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious.

Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Dedicated to coffee.

Without you I never would have written The End.

Chapter 1

The stream of light from Sam’s flashlight was no match against the thick black smoke that greeted him at the door. His life was falling apart around him, but right now all that mattered was saving the victim trapped in the fire. He took a calming breath and let every thought disappear until all he could think, feel, and see was the task at hand.

He reached for the lucky charm Hadley had given him, fishing around in his pocket, desperate to find the familiar keepsake. His heart sunk when he pulled his empty hand free. For the first time in fifteen years, he would have to do without it.

Sam could hear screaming outside, and Matt’s voice offering comfort while still maintaining authority. He had fifteen minutes before he ran out of air. He needed to move quickly and efficiently, not only to save himself but the victim as well. Once they put water on the blaze it would become hotter, more uncomfortable, and any victim in the house would be unprotected against the scorching steam.

He stepped farther into the unfamiliar house, the sounds from outside lost to the crackling flames. His eyes swept across the space, making sure he wasn’t putting himself in danger. If he went down, the victim had little to no chance, and that simply wasn’t an option.

There was no way Sam could walk out of this house and look into the eyes of a little boy and tell him he couldn’t save his father. Visions of a mid-morning visit to the firehouse that was filled with smiles and laughs popped into Sam’s head, but he forced them away.

Every life was connected in one way or another in the small town, and that was because Red Maple Falls wasn’t just a town; it was a community of people who were as much family to one another as their own blood. Which was why Sam couldn’t put a face on the victim, because as soon as he did emotion would take control.

Emotion made you react without thinking, made you forget everything you were trained for, and opened you up to mistakes. He couldn’t allow any mistakes. Not when a good man’s life was on the line.

In the twenty years since he became a junior firefighter at sixteen, not a single person had perished in a fire on his watch. He was willing to do whatever it took in order to guarantee everyone’s safety.

Walls of heat surrounded him, and sweat dripped down his face as the bright orange flames came into view. He made a left away from the growing inferno, hoping the victim managed to evade the worst of the fire.

His breaths were heavy and loud, and he was running out of time. His radio sounded in his ear, Chase’s voice coming over the speaker. “Is everything clear so far?”

“Affirmative, but I have other rooms to search.”

“It’s starting to spread to the east side. You need to pull back.”

“I’m not pulling back until the victim is in my care.”

“Chief, I don’t think—”

“Exactly, I’m the chief. I’m not pulling back.”

“All right.”

“Make sure it doesn’t spread to the attic.” If the fire spread to the floor above him, the chance of the ceiling collapsing increased.

“We’re going to relieve pressure from the roof.”

Sam hurried to the next room, knowing damn well that time was ticking, and if anyone was inside, their chances of survival diminished by the second.

He narrowed his attention on the space in front of him, following the curve of a wall. His heartbeat picked up as he turned the corner. He flashed his light to the far side of the room and relief flooded through him as his eyes settled on the victim. The man’s hand covered his mouth with a wet rag and Sam immediately went to him. Sweat dripped down his forehead, leaving a trail through the black soot that coated his skin. Sam pulled an oxygen mask over the man’s face. “I’m going to get you out of here,” he assured him.

The man nodded, but the fear in his eyes was palpable. His gaze shifted to the rising flames that licked at the far-right wall, and Sam watched as the fear turned to panic.

“Look at me,” Sam said, pointing to his eyes. “I need you to stay calm. Can you do that for me?”

The man nodded again.

“Good. Now let’s get you out of here.”

Sam surveyed the space and, within seconds, had them moving toward safety. Flames engulfed the room just as they made their way out. Intense heat surrounded them, the temperature rising with each step, and though Sam was protected, the victim wasn’t.

He focused on the path to safety, envisioning the clear white mountain air. It had been less than five minutes since he’d entered the home, but time didn’t exist in a fire. Everything moved in slow motion.

The lights of the fire truck broke through the smoke, and just as Sam was ready to claim another victory a loud crash behind him nearly knocked him off balance. He spun around, his eyes taking in the partially collapsed ceiling, and the man who was feet away from safety trapped beneath the rubble.

The man reached out to Sam, his face twisted in fear and his eyes wild with terror. Sam acted fast, looking for a path, a single opening to get through the debris.

“I don’t want to die,” the man said, and for a split second the victim became a friendly face. A man Sam knew that had a family that needed him. A man who was only just starting his life.

Sam swallowed down his own rising panic. Panic never helped a situation. It never solved a problem. He needed to think, he needed to move, and he needed to do it now.

He spotted a break within the debris and ran toward it, but before he made it, the weight of the world fell on his shoulders. Unable to fight against the heavy mass, he fell to the ground with a thud.

Pain shot through his body, but he didn’t have time to hurt. He pushed up with his hands, but only half his body moved. He tugged at his leg and twisted back and forth, using every ounce of energy he had to free himself. Liquid fire exploded in his chest as his adrenaline kicked in.

He yanked at his leg and a scream ripped from his throat as hot throbbing pain overpowered him. Heat crept into his veins, and his body shook with exertion.

His fingers dug into the floorboards as he tried to claw his way to freedom, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free.

“No!” The man’s voice echoed through the crackling fire and Sam met his gaze. “I’m going to die.”

Sam bit back the tears that threatened. He was helpless against the rising heat, against the clock ticking down on what little oxygen they had left, but he wasn’t ready to accept defeat.

“That’s not an option,” Sam called out to him. “Stay with me. Everything will be okay.”

Flames leapt across the fallen debris, cutting them off completely.

“No!” Sam slammed his fist into the floor beneath him. Anger and uncertainty swirled together, but he fought the unhelpful thoughts. “Everything will be okay,” Sam said again. “Everything will be okay.”

Hadley’s face flashed into his mind. Those beautiful slate blue eyes had the ability to look deep into his soul. Her dirty blonde hair always had a piece of hay in it, and he’d wanted so desperately to tuck it back behind her ears. Her rose colored lips curved upward, and he focused on that, finding peace within her smile.

His personal alarm safety system went off, alerting his men that he was down.

“Get him out of there now!” Matt’s voice drifted into the house, then everything went silent.

Sam held onto the image of Hadley’s face, allowing her smile to help him fight the darkness, but even she couldn’t help him now.

“I love you, and I’m sorry,” he said just as he slipped into the blackness.

Chapter 2

5 months earlier

After a successful day of rescuing a family of five that swerved off the road to avoid a deer, Sam walked into Calhoun’s ready to unwind and throw back a beer.

There weren’t many places in Red Maple Falls where Sam could go that weren’t full of people he’d known since he was a kid, but Calhoun’s sat on the town border, making it close enough to the outside world that it brought people in from other towns. It’s where he went whenever he was in need of a woman’s companionship. Calhoun’s always guaranteed a good time that ended up in the back of a car down some desolate road.

Tonight though, he wasn’t looking for a good time—not that he would dismiss the opportunity if it arose—he just wanted to catch up with his best friend. They’d both been so busy, especially since Matt was a new father, that they hadn’t had as many chances to hang out.

Declan, the bar owner, and one of Sam’s good friends, held his arms up when he spotted Sam. “Sam my man,” he said as Sam approached. “Your usual?”

Sam nodded as he slipped onto one of the barstools. Declan disappeared for a second then returned, pushing a pint glass filled with Sam’s favorite IPA across the bar top.

“Thanks.” Sam picked it up and took a sip, his eyes settling on a brunette at the far end of the bar. Her shirt dipped low in the front, and she leaned forward showing him exactly what she had to offer. A tempting sight, but if he abandoned ship to go after a girl before Matt even showed up, Matt would never let him live it down. So he swallowed down the desire to go to her and instead flashed her a smile.

He turned back to Declan and took another swig from his glass. “Good fucking beer,” he said.

A hard hand clamped down on his shoulder and gave him a shake. Sam put his glass on the bar before he wound up wearing his drink.

“That’s because my brother is the master,” Matt said, referring to his brother Mason who owned Five Leaf Brewery and was the genius behind the beer Sam was drinking.

Sam smirked. “Too bad that gene skipped right over you.”

“Hey, I’m a master in many things,” Matt said as he slid onto the stool next to Sam. He must’ve stopped home and changed out of his Sheriff’s uniform, since he was in jeans and a dark green thermal.

“Driving everyone crazy doesn’t count.”

Matt nodded to Declan who grabbed a glass and started filling it.

“I think that’s a pretty damn good skill,” Matt joked.

“You’re the only one.”

Declan returned, sliding Matt’s drink across the counter. Sam took a glance back to the brunette and caught her staring at him. He gave her a wink and watched the sexy blush spread across her cheeks before turning back to his friends.

“How’s fatherhood treating you?” Declan asked Matt.

“Pretty great actually.”

Matt, being the oldest out of six, was destined to be a father. It was in his blood, unlike Sam who wouldn’t burden any kid with his tainted bloodline.

“Wait until the kid can talk back,” Sam said. “I personally am looking forward to it. If he’s anything like you.” Sam shook his head and laughed. “Your poor wife.”

Matt got a stupid grin on his face at the mention of his wife. “Shay married me. She knew what she was getting into.”

“The woman’s a saint,” Sam said. “I don’t know how she deals with you.” Sam was mostly joking, but it was no secret that Matt could be overprotective, overbearing, and basically a pain in the ass toward the people he loved. It came from a good place, which was why Sam felt it was okay to joke about it.

“Because when you love someone, you can look past all of that.”

“Did you read that in a Hallmark card?”

Matt laughed. “Shut up, asshole.”

Sam gave another quick glance over his shoulder to the brunette instantly meeting her gaze.

“Don’t you ever get bored of it?” Matt asked, bringing Sam’s attention back to him.

“Bored of what?”

“Sleeping with random girls. Never having anything last past morning.”

“Nope.”

Matt gave him a skeptical look then quickly shook his head. “What the hell am I saying? You weren’t cut out for long term relationships. I’d honestly feel sorry for whatever girl sunk her claws into you. You’re incapable of staying faithful.”

Sam patted Matt’s shoulder. “Thank you for finally realizing that.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

“I know.”

Matt rolled his eyes and went to take a sip of his beer when his cell rang. He fished it out of his pocket, and while he was busy, Sam turned back to the brunette. He didn’t have any plans to get laid tonight, but when a beautiful brunette was practically undressing him with his eyes, there was no way he could walk away from the chance.

“Hey, Hads. What’s up?” Matt said, and Sam turned to eavesdrop on Matt’s conversation with his sister. “I’m working a double. I can’t.”

“What’s she need?” Sam asked.

Matt pushed the phone away from his mouth. “She’s picking up a foster in Mass and wanted me to go for the ride.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll go.” Sam offered without hesitation.

Hadley had been fostering dogs for the past five years and Sam admired her devotion to the four-legged fur balls. He wouldn’t mind taking a ride with her to go help out another dog in need. Truth was, somewhere along the way, the little girl with the pigtails that used to climb trees and play with all the farm animals, including the chickens, became one of his closest friends.

He loved spending time with Hadley, and since he had the day off tomorrow, he didn’t mind spending it in a car with her.

“Sam said he can go with you.” Matt listened as Hadley spoke and Sam waited to hear what she was saying. “Okay, talk to you soon.” Matt hung up and placed his phone on the bar. “She said be at her house at seven and don’t forget to bring a treat for Lady.”

Sam laughed. Lady was Hadley’s dog, an adorable senior golden cocker spaniel who Sam made the mistake of giving a treat to the first time he met her. Now every time he saw the dog, she expected something.

“Thanks for offering to go with her,” Matt said.

“It’s no big deal.”

“It gives me peace of mind. I don’t want her driving to Mass by herself.”

“You do realize that she’s thirty-one, right?”

“And your point is?”

“God help you if you ever have a daughter.”

Matt eased his arms onto the bar and looked at Sam. “Honestly, I might need you to commit me then.”

“You can always count on me, brother. I got your back.”

“Except when you’re constantly distracted by a brunette at the end of the bar.”

“You noticed that, huh?”

“You’re not as smooth as you think you are.”

“Oh, but I am.” Sam downed the rest of his beer and placed the glass on the bar ready to make his move.

“While I’d love to sit around and watch you work to get laid, I have to get home.”

Matt pulled out his wallet and Sam held his hand up. “This round’s mine. You get the next. Tell Shay I said hi and give my godson a kiss for me.”

“Will do, but try to stop by sometime this week.”

“I’ll bring Missy by on Wednesday.” His half-sister would love to see the little guy and he could kill two birds with one stone.

“Sounds like a plan.” Matt nodded his goodbyes to Declan before patting Sam on the back. “Be safe.”

Sam’s mouth curved into a big smile. “I always am,” he said before heading over to seal the deal.

Chapter 3

A flat tire was not the end of the world, but it also wasn’t how Hadley Hayes wanted to start her morning either. “Stay here, girl,” Hadley said to Lady as she pulled up the e-brake of her pickup then slid from the door.

She looked down at the driver side tire, and just as she expected; flat as a pancake. Luckily, her father had taught her how to change a tire when she was fourteen—a skill that had come in handy many times before.

With luck, she would be back on the road in the matter of minutes. The spare, along with the jack and the cross wrench, were in the bed of her pickup, and she went around to gather them.

Once the jack was in position and the truck was propped up, Hadley got to work loosening the lug nuts. Unfortunately, the third one wouldn’t budge.

“Come on, you good for nothing…” she grumbled as she resorted to standing on the wrench and bouncing.

Fifteen minutes of not even a slight shift, Hadley opened the truck door. “Afraid this is beyond my capabilities, girl,” she said to Lady, who looked perfectly content curled up at the far end of the cab.

There were so many people Hadley could call, including one of her three brothers, but Sam Bennett was always the one she turned to when she needed help. She had no idea if it was out of a deep-rooted desire that each encounter would build toward an inevitable explosion of attraction, or if she was just pathetic and needed an excuse to see him. It was most likely the latter, and because of that she understood completely how pitiful she was.

She dialed Sam’s number and waited for the voice that whispered in and out of her thoughts every day to answer.

“Hey, Hads. What’s going on?”

“Hi, Sam. Are you busy?”

“Depends what you need,” he said with a laugh, and she imagined the edge of his mouth lifting slightly and the lines around his eyes appearing.

“I got a flat and can’t break the lug nut loose.”

“Where are you?” The tone in his voice softened, sending a wave of warmth through her entire body before settling in her chest.

“Over on Spruce.”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

“Sam?” she said.

“Yeah, Hads?”

“Lady’s with me.”

“I figured as much.”

Hadley had fostered Lady before realizing Lady had already found her forever home with her. She’d been a permanent member of the Hayes family ever since. Not only was she loyal, sweet, and the best companion Hadley could’ve asked for, Lady also welcomed each one of Hadley’s new fosters with love and warmth.

“Don’t show up empty-handed.” A smile spread across her face as she tried to suppress a laugh but was unsuccessful as she all but snorted into the phone. “You’re the one who made the mistake of giving her a treat that first time.” That simple gesture made Lady fall in love with him, but also made her have expectations too.

Hadley found it utterly adorable.

“That dog is lucky I keep a box of Milk-Bones in my car just for her. What about Duke?”

Duke was the foster dog that Sam had gone with her to get in Mass a couple weeks ago. “Already placed in his forever home,” Hadley said.

“Wow, that was fast.”

“It was a good fit for both. I was actually excited to let him go.”

People always wondered how she was able to bring dog after dog into her home and then easily hand them off when they found the dog a perfect family. She was just happy for the short time she got with them and grateful that she was able to place them in a loving environment where they could live out their days.

“He was a good dog,” Sam said, and Hadley’s heart warmed at the genuine affection in his tone. “Okay, I’ll see you both soon.”

He hung up, and Hadley melted into the seat. Lady nudged her hand, making it known she had every intention of resting her head on Hadley’s thigh whether she was willing or not. Hadley lifted her arm. “Come on, girl.”

Hadley gave Lady’s head a nice scratch as her mind drifted to Sam.

It was impossibly hard, loving someone you couldn’t have, but she’d been doing it for so long that it was just a part of who she was. She kept the feelings to herself, never having the courage to speak them out loud.

She was so used to pretending she wasn’t in love with him that sometimes she actually believed it. Until he looked at her with those aquamarine eyes—that could never really decide if they wanted to be blue or green—and curved those deliciously sexy lips in her direction, and every reason for why she loved him was thrust back into her like a jolt to the heart.

Many nights were spent dreaming those eyes would one day look at her and see past the girl who used to chase him around the farm and instead recognize the woman she had become.

There were times over the years when she thought she saw glimpses of that recognition. When she’d catch him staring at her and she actually thought there was a spark, but in the next breath it would be gone, making her wonder if it was just wishful thinking on her part.

Ignoring thoughts of what could never be, she plastered a smile on her face as she spotted his truck in her rearview mirror. She slid out and greeted him with a wave, pretending not to notice the casual ease with which he walked—how his jeans fit him in all the right places and how his shirt hugged muscles she knew damn well were even more impressive beneath the material.

He tapped the bumper of the truck as he approached. “It amazes me this thing is still running.”

“Shh,” Hadley said, giving the truck a tender stroke. “She can hear you.”

Sam slapped a hand over his chest. “My sincerest apologies, but as old as she is, I’m pretty sure she can’t hear me.” He laughed as he slipped past her to the driver door and held out a treat for Lady.

The senior dog didn’t hesitate, snatching the treat and devouring it. Her tail wagged with blissful satisfaction as she licked her chops before nudging Sam’s hand.

“Hate to break it to you, Hads, but I think your dog has a crush on me,” Sam said, and she rolled her eyes with great enthusiasm. His lips slipped into that effortless smile, revealing the slight gap between his teeth. It amazed her how an imperfection was so damn sexy. Every time she saw the gap, she wanted to throw her hands up in victory, because whatever she did made him forget about the flaw that had made him self-conscious as a teen. Ridiculous, since in her opinion it only made him that much more attractive.

“You think everyone has a crush on you.”

“That’s because they usually do.”

Not that she’d ever admit it, but he was the hottest bachelor in town—especially now since all her brothers had been paired off—and every woman wanted him. The problem was most of them had him. It didn’t make him a bad person since he never lied about who he was. He’d be the first person to call himself a manwhore and wouldn’t feel an ounce of shame. Women knew what they were getting into with Sam, and if they thought they could be the one to change him, then that was on them. Still, Hadley secretly dreamed that one day she would be the one who tamed the beast.

It was a fantasy, though; Sam would never make a move on her. Even if there was a remote chance he might see her for more than his best friend’s little sister, she doubted he’d ever act on it. So it left her in the most pathetic of situations, because she still craved to be near him and cherished every second they spent together.

He plucked a piece of hay from her sleeve and laughed as it fell to the ground. Farm life wasn’t exactly glamorous, but she didn’t care; it was what she loved.

Sam rested his hand on her shoulder, sending an exhilarating wave of warmth crashing through her body. “Time for the man to take over,” he joked, and she gave him a good knock to the arm.

“There is nothing you can do that I can’t,” she said with defiance.

“Really? Then why am I here? Just admit it, Hads. You need my manliness.”

“Oh yes. Please.” She tossed her arm over her eyes, tilting her head back in a dramatic fashion. “I’m just a poor damsel in distress who is incapable of doing anything that a man can do for me.”