You Had Me At Hello (Book 3 Hello Series)

YHMAH 11 - Operation: Sunshine

Sunshine

What the hell did I just agree to?

I'm going on a date with a man I barely know—to a family gathering.

This is reckless. Impulsive. A terrible idea.

And yet.

There's something about Damien Conn that makes me completely lose my mind. Like the second he looks at me, my brain just... feels mushy, like putty. Like some unseen force is shoving me headfirst into bad decisions with a reckless grin, whispering, Trust me, you won't regret this.

Secretly?

I kind of love it.

I don't know why, but he feels different from every other guy I've ever met. Maybe it's my free spirit whispering in my ear, urging me forward. Maybe it's just pure stupidity. Either way, my gut tells me I need to know more about this man.

I glance down at myself—an oversized sweater slipping off one shoulder, a long, flowy skirt, and my favorite black lace-up Victorian boots. The same ones I wore at the art exhibit.

The outfit had felt perfectly fine at the grocery store—comfortable, effortlessly artsy. Now? It just feels... wrong. Not for a date. But for this date. Not for a man. But for this man.

Damien steps out of the car with zero hesitation, like this isn't an insane thing to do on a Friday night. Like he's not about to introduce me to his entire family as a joke.

I swallow hard and follow him up the steps, my boots clicking softly against the stone pathway.

"You lived here?" I ask, staring up at the grand, ridiculously intimidating entrance.

"Yep." Damien glances at me, catching the slight edge in my voice. His lips twitch. "I promise, it's not as scary as it looks."

I let out a nervous laugh, tugging at the frayed edges of my sweater sleeves. "Sorry, but I feel completely underdressed. I didn't know your parents were—" I wave a hand at the pristine, magazine-worthy perfection around us. "You know. This."

There is absolutely no way I'm making it through this dinner without embarrassing myself. The urge to throw up is very real. Joey always said my smart mouth would catch up to me one day. Apparently, today is that day.

But before I can spiral any further, Damien stops in front of the door, turns to me, and—without hesitation—says, "You look beautiful."

Three words.

And just like that, my panic stutters. Something warm and traitorous flares in my chest. I stare up at him, and for a second, I forget that I don't belong here. That I don't do family dinners or meet-the-parents situations.

But if Damien Conn thinks I'm going to stand here and melt over a pretty compliment—Well, then he doesn't know me at all. I flash him a slow, sweetly devious smile, tilting my head just enough to watch his throat bob.

"Alright, Husband," I purr, stepping close enough for my skirt to brush against his legs. I drop my voice to a whisper, just for him. "Introduce me to the in-laws."

His breath catches.

For the briefest second, I swear I see something crack behind those carefully controlled eyes.

Damien

I knock on the door, and before I even lower my hand, the whispering starts.

"Gramma! Someone's at the door!" Shane's voice is muffled through the wood, but it carries loud and clear.