You Had Me At Hello (Book 3 Hello Series)

YHMAH 9 - A Bachelor's Last Stand

Damien

My phone has been burning a hole in my pocket for seven days. Seven days since the art exhibit. Seven days since Sunshine Stewart walked into my life, flipped it upside down, and waltzed away like she hadn't just wrecked my entire sense of logic. Seven days since she saved her number in my phone with that infuriatingly cheeky contact name.

And still—I haven't texted her.

Younger me would've never waited this long. Younger me would've already taken her out, poured her a glass of wine, and charmed her straight into my bed.

But this time?

This time, I can't seem to pull the trigger.

The thought unsettles me. And, apparently, it distracts me too—because I don't even notice my office door swing open until Rebecca's voice slices through my thoughts.

"Tell me you at least started the Johnson briefs before I have to drag your sorry ass into a meeting unprepared."

I blink up from my desk to find Rebecca standing in the doorway, arms crossed. She scans my office like it's a battlefield she intends to conquer.

I straighten in my chair. "Good morning to you too."

She doesn't miss a beat. "It's noon, Damien." Heels clicking, she steps inside, her presence as effortlessly commanding as ever. Rebecca has always been the type to walk into a room and immediately own it. It's a skill. One I suspect comes in handy when wrangling a team of attorneys—or, more impressively, five kids, three of them being teenagers.

I scrub a hand down my face, forcing my brain to shift gears. "The briefs are almost done."

Rebecca lifts an unimpressed brow. "Almost?"

"They'll be on your desk before the meeting."

She hums, clearly unconvinced, but lets it slide. "Good. Because I'm not about to let you embarrass the Conn name in front of opposing counsel."

"Right. Because that would be a tragedy."

"Damn right it would." She plucks my abandoned coffee mug off my desk, takes a sip, and immediately grimaces. "This is cold."

"Yeah, well, it was hot before you interrupted me."

She sets the cup down with a shudder. "Rude."

I sigh, rubbing my temples. "Is there anything else, or did you just come in here to micromanage my workload?"

"Oh, just knocking out my firstborn daughterly duties while I'm at it." She pulls out her phone, checking something off her screen. "Mom expects you at dinner tonight. If you don't show up, I'll be forced to tell her you're too emotionally fragile to attend."

I sigh. "I'll be there."

"Good. She's already in matchmaking mode, so showing up stag is a risk I wouldn't take."

I glance up warily. "Who is it this time?"

Rebecca smirks. "Caroline Langley is still single."

I nearly choke. "Caroline Langley? The girl who made a pros and cons list about dating me? And then showed me the list?"

Rebecca grins. "At least you made the top three."

"Yeah, right behind her valedictorian title and her parents' lake house." I shake my head. "Please tell me Mom isn't serious."

"Dead serious. And determined."

I drag a hand down my face. "At this rate, I should just tell her I plan to die alone."