Hung Up on Hadley (Red Maple Falls, #5)

by Theresa Paolo

  “He had kids, Matt. How the hell am I supposed to live my life knowing that these two kids don’t have their father in their life anymore? That I took that from them.”

  “You didn’t take shit from them. It was the faulty fucking wire that started the fire, not you. You did everything you could do to save that man. You put your own life on the line. When most people would have pulled back, you moved forward.”

  “It still wasn’t enough.”

  “It was more than enough, Sam. You gave him hope in the last few minutes of his life.”

  “And then I ripped it away from him.”

  “At least he didn’t die in that house alone.”

  “I don’t think I can ever forgive myself.”

  “You will. You don’t think you will, but you will.”

  “How do you know?”

  Matt tapped his fingers against his knee then looked out across the living room as if he was lost to another time. “Because when I was overseas, I saw things, did things that I never thought I’d be able to forgive myself for. They say it’s all in the name of war, but that’s bullshit. You can only justify so much. When I first came home, it was rough.”

  “I remember. You wouldn’t talk about it.”

  “No,” Matt said shaking his head. “I figured if I didn’t talk about it, eventually I would forget. The thing with memories is they don’t go away. They stick with you forever.”

  “How did you get past it?”

  “I went about my life and made myself a promise that from then on I would only do good, and maybe one day the good will outweigh the bad. The thing is, the bad will always be a part of me, but there is nothing I can do to change that. The only thing I can change is right now. Looking back doesn’t get you anywhere. You have to look forward. At the end of the day it’s all we have. Rich Morgan might not have made it out of that fire, but you did, and you owe it to him to make the best of your life.”

  “And here I thought I didn’t deserve happiness because he couldn’t have it.”

  “If anything, you need to make up for what he can’t have. You have happiness right in your reach; don’t let it pass you up because of your guilt.” Matt shrugged. “You and Hadley belong together—apparently everyone has seen it for years. Just took me a little longer to open my eyes to it. But you’re not going to get her by sitting on your ass in clothes that look like you haven’t changed out of in a month.”

  Sam pulled at the collar of his shirt and took a whiff, causing his nose to crinkle. “Yeah, I guess I could do with a shower.”

  “While you’re at it, run a fucking razor over your face. Though by the looks of it you might need a goddamn weed whacker.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “You going to be okay?”

  “I am now.”

  “Good. I got to get to work, but if you need anything.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  Matt turned toward the door, but there was one thing left that Sam needed to discuss before he left.

  “Matt?”

  “Yeah Sam?”

  “I want to do something for Rich’s kids. I…” Sam swallowed down the lump in his throat. “I owe them that much.”

  “I’m already taking care of it. I’m working with Shay, Mason, Caleb, Terry, Walt, and Sophie Reynolds. We’re putting together an auction that will be held in the elementary school cafeteria. All the local businesses are donating baskets to be auctioned off, and all the proceeds raised will go directly to Rich’s wife and kids.”

  Tears welled in Sam’s eyes. This entire time while he was home feeling sorry for himself, Matt was out there doing what he should have been doing all along. Sam sucked in a breath, fighting to get words out.

  Matt smiled. “It’s what we do in this town. We take care of each other.”

  The town was the reason Sam was who he was today, and he vowed to make sure Rich’s kids were taken care of the same way Sam was. He wouldn’t let the kids live life where they felt like they missed out on anything. He might not be able to bring their father back, but he would damn well make sure their lives were filled with love and support.

  Chapter 25

  The last thing Hadley wanted to do was celebrate her birthday. It had been two months since the last birthday celebration when everything went to shit, but her mother insisted. So she ignored the desire to go home and curl up with a pint of chocolate ice cream and with Lady at her side walked into her parents’ house.

  “Surprise!” her entire family cheered as she stepped into the foyer.

  “Surprise? I knew we were celebrating.”

  “Surprises are so much more fun, though,” Betty said, going to Hadley and kissing her cheek. “Happy birthday, dear.”

  “Thanks, Grandma.”

  Hadley greeted her entire family, and when she got to Matt she gave him a half-hearted smile.

  “Get over here,” he said and wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug. “Can we stop with the weirdness now?”

  “I would love that.”

  “Good, and can you tell my wife? She’s still giving me the stink eye every so often.”

  Hadley laughed. “I’ll tell her, but I doubt it’ll stop that.”

  Shay walked over as if she suspected they were talking about her. “Do I need to beat him up for you?” she asked, flashing her husband a sultry smile and making Hadley well aware that while she might have caused a slight bump in their road, nothing could deter them from their own happiness.

  “We’re good.”

  “Are you though? Like good, good?” Shay questioned.

  Hadley looked at Matt, the brother that drove her crazy with his over protectiveness but whom she loved with all of her heart. “We’re good, good.”

  “Thank the heavens!” Shay declared. “I’m going to get us drinks to celebrate.” Shay disappeared into the kitchen with Bubbles hot on her heels.

  “Did you talk to Sam?” She had told herself that she wasn’t going to think about him today, but her curiosity got the better of her.

  “I did. I thought maybe he’d be here.”

  “That’s okay. I know you’re not a miracle worker. I just wished…”

  “Give him time, Hads. He’s been through a lot.”

  “I know.”

  Matt squeezed her shoulder. “I gotta find my son. I have no idea who has him.”

  “If I had to guess I’d say Mom.”

  Hadley walked toward the table of appetizers her mom had set up, but even though all of her favorites were represented, she had no desire to eat. She stared down at the trays of food and listened to the lively conversation that was echoing through the house.

  It was familiar, it was home, but still there was something missing. Someone. It just didn’t feel like her birthday without him.

  The chattering came to a halt, a tense silence fell over the room, and Hadley spun from the table only to be face to face with her missing link. Her heart sputtered to a stop then kicked back into overdrive, thumping hard against her chest.

  The unkempt mess of hair on his face was shaved clean, his hair cut and styled, and his aquamarine eyes that had been hidden beneath a layer of red haze were bright and clear again.

  “You came.”

  “I would never miss your birthday, Hads.”

  Every emotion that she had been battling slammed together, and a joyful smile spread across her face as sad, relieved tears pressed against her eyes.

  “But I thought…”

  He stepped forward, and someone said something, but Betty shushed them. The sound of Betty’s hand smacking against whoever’s chest echoed in the silence. Sam reached out, taking her hand. He looked down at it, running his thumb across her palm as if he was rediscovering her touch. Tiny sparks erupted on her skin, shooting up her arm and down her spine.

  “You like to tell me how I’ve always been there for you, but these past couple of months I failed you.”

  “No—”

  He stepped toward h
er, pressing his finger to her lips. “Let me finish.” He moved his finger, trailing it across her lip then cupping her face. She nuzzled against the warmth of his palm, relishing in his touch.

  “I failed you because I was so consumed in my own head that I didn’t realize how bad you were hurting, too.”

  A tear fell down her cheek and he swiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “I was so mean to you.”

  “Yeah, you were.” A laugh broke through the tears clogging her throat.

  “I wish I could take it all back, but I can’t. What I can do is promise you that from here on out I will never push you away again.” He smiled, revealing the gap between his teeth. “Hadley, I’m not going anywhere because there’s no place I’d rather be than here with you. Always and forever.”

  She sucked in a half laugh, half cry, and her eyes filled with more tears. “You heard me?”

  “I always hear you. Even when the world had slipped away, I could still hear you. Even when I pushed everyone away and tried to block you out, I could still hear you.”

  “I’m kind of annoying that way.”

  “You’re kind of perfect that way.” He met her gaze, a strong intense passion that poured out of him and directly to her heart. “Will you forgive me?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive.” She threw her arms around him and pulled him close, not wanting to ever let go of him, but suddenly he pushed away. Confused she tried to figure out the conflicting gesture, but before she could form a thought, he was down on one knee in front of her.

  “Oh my god! It’s happening!” Betty’s voice echoed through the room.

  Hadley brought a shaking hand to her mouth as Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He popped it open, revealing a white gold band and diamonds in the shape of a paw print.

  She gasped at the utter perfection and sniffed back the tears.

  “You’ve loved me for a long time, and it might’ve taken me a while to catch on, but now that I have, I know that it’s always been you, Hads. It’s always been you. Marry me?”

  “Yes!” she exclaimed, dropping to her knees and tossing her arms around him. “Yes,” she said again as she pulled back and smashed her lips to his. All the weeks of built up desires mixed together with excitement as his tongue met hers. She held onto him with all that she had, swearing that she would never let go again.

  “Someone get the fire extinguisher,” Cooper said.

  Hadley could feel Sam’s smile against her mouth, and she broke the kiss with a laugh. He laughed with her, and the sweet sound was more than just a laugh—it was a gift. It was the moment she knew that her Sam was back, and no matter what they went through, all the ups and downs that life would throw at them, he would always come back to her, just as she would always come back to him.

  Chapter 26

  Sam held his fork up to Hadley, and she took it in her mouth, moaning as the delicious chocolate cake hit her tongue.

  “If you don’t stop with those noises, I might drag you into the bathroom.”

  “Last time that happened it didn’t end well.”

  “More of a reason. This time I’ll make sure it ends very well.”

  He went to move in for a kiss when Betty popped up in front of them. A huge smile was plastered on her face as she looked at them like two prized possessions that she’d won.

  “I’ve waited for this moment for over a decade,” Betty said, squeezing in between Hadley and Sam and wrapping both of them in an embrace.

  Hadley’s eyebrows turned toward the bridge of her nose in confusion and curiosity. “What are you talking about?”

  “You couldn’t have known this was going to happen,” Sam said.

  Betty smiled, her bright blue eyes glistening with amused satisfaction. “Some projects just take longer than others.” She gave Sam a wink.

  “No,” he said.

  “Never underestimate me.”

  “What am I missing?” Hadley asked.

  Sam laughed, running a hand across his chin. “You know how you and I never understood why your grandmother never really meddled in our private lives?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Apparently, the joke’s on us. She’s been scheming for a long time.” Sam gave Betty an impressed glance, but Hadley wasn’t buying it.

  “No, I would’ve known.”

  Betty patted Hadley’s hand. “Who do you think called Sam on your prom night when your date never showed?”

  Hadley never actually thought about it, she just assumed… She had no idea what she assumed. She was so surprised, relieved, and excited that she never put much more thought into it. Then it was as if the curtain was pulled back, revealing the truth.

  “We were just kids. Nobody even knew about my crush.”

  “Anybody with two eyes who’d paid attention would’ve known. You’ve been in love with this boy since you were seven years old. And you,” Betty said to Sam, “fell in love with my granddaughter a long time ago.”

  Sam pulled Hadley close to him and kissed her temple. “I’d like to agree with you, Betty, but that’s simply not true. It took me a little longer to realize what was right in front of me.”

  “No, it just took you longer to realize what your heart already knew.”

  “Betty…” Sam attempted, but Betty held her finger up.

  “Tell me, Sam. Why’d you stay with Hadley when her pig was in labor? Comfort her when that pig died? Not ask a single question when I told you to grab your tuxedo and head to our house on her prom night? At first it was the age difference, and that I understood, but then it was because of your stupid promise to Matt and the ridiculous notion that you’re not good enough for my granddaughter. So I had to slowly start taking things into my own hands.”

  “Wait a second,” Hadley said. “When you called me that morning because Grandpa was outside shoveling you were setting us up, weren’t you?”

  “Guilty.”

  Sam laughed. “Betty, I don’t know if I want to strangle you or hug you.”

  “I’ve never been into the kinky stuff, though I hear it’s nothing to knock unless you try it.”

  “TMI, Grandma.” Hadley held up her hand, wishing she could clean those words from her ears. The entire conversation started to fully sink in. “I can’t believe this entire time I thought you were cutting me some slack. Meanwhile, you were working behind the scenes.”

  “I only did what I had to do to bring you two together; the rest was fate.”

  Sam wrapped Betty in a hug. “I decided I want to hug you,” he said, squeezing her tight.

  “I do have one request,” Betty said as Sam released her.

  “What’s that?”

  “I want to be your flower girl at the wedding.”

  “Isn’t that reserved for like little kids?” Sam asked.

  “Are you trying to deny an old woman’s dream?”

  Sam held his hands up. “I would never. If Hadley is okay with it, then why the hell not?”

  Betty turned to Hadley, and Hadley laughed. Betty had been their biggest cheerleader from the very beginning even if they had no idea. She always believed in them, and Hadley couldn’t think of a better way to honor her grandmother.

  “I think that can be arranged.”

  Betty squealed and clapped her hands together. She hurried away, telling everyone who would listen about her important role in the upcoming nuptials.

  Sam snaked his hand around Hadley’s waist and pulled her snug against him. “Why do I have a feeling this is only the beginning?”

  “You have met my family, right?” she said with a laugh then stood on tiptoes to kiss him. She wanted to make up for all the time they were apart. He swiped his tongue against her bottom lip, and she groaned into his mouth.

  “That’s it,” he said, taking her hand and yanking her toward the hallway.

  “Where are we going?”

&
nbsp; “The bathroom. I’ve waited long enough, and I can’t wait another damn second.”

  Hadley giggled, wrapping her arms around Sam as he guided her toward the bathroom.

  “Where are you going?” Matt asked as they passed.

  “We have unfinished business to attend to,” Sam responded as he scooped Hadley into his arms and laughed as Matt cursed under his breath. “And now that we’re engaged you can’t say a damn thing.”

  “She’s still my sister.”

  “And you’re still a pain in the ass.”

  Sam turned the corner into the bathroom and shut the door, placing Hadley on the sink. He captured her lips in a searing kiss that made her whole body spark to life. He pulled back resting his forehead against hers, their breaths hot and heavy, mixing together.

  “I love you,” he said.

  “I love you, too. Now shut up and kiss me.” She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him to her. He laughed then kissed her until the world faded away and all that was left was the two of them, exactly how it was meant to be.

  The End

  Thank you for reading! Hadley and Sam’s story has been on my mind since book one. I am so happy that I was finally able to bring it to life and hope their story was worth the wait!

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  ~Keep Reading for an excerpt from Catching Cooper~

  Catching Cooper

  Chapter 1

  Cooper Hayes was bored. The itch inside him to take off was craving its next adventure. It was like this invisible rope, relentlessly tugging and refusing to leave him alone.

  He had travelled to seventy-four countries over the past seven years, chronicling his experiences and becoming a popular travel blogger and social media sensation. But he had grown tired of the constant on-the-go and being away from his family, so he’d come back home to the small town of Red Maple Falls.