Highest rank on the hot list over the last two weeks - #67 + 69 in Chick Lit! That's absolutely incredible!!

There'll be a sneak peek up on the site on Friday!

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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 24 ] I Want To Hear You Say It

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Out of all the people in my life, only a few had managed to make me nervous. Hayden Pennington was now one of those people.

The man I would soon call my stepbrother had caught me by surprise that night in the Hampton's, and has continued to do so in every moment since then. There was this unexplainable attraction between the two of us that I just couldn't overlook, and I knew he couldn't either.

The first time I'd felt it was when he'd pulled me onto the dance floor that night at the club; the way he looked at me, and the way he held me made things all too obvious. But it's not like I had feelings for him back then. I knew he was attractive, but that was as far as things went.

Now when I thought of Hayden Pennington, it took everything in me not to indulge further in those thoughts. He pulled me in, and I couldn't stand it.

Despite our unforgiving circumstances, Hayden felt the same way. When he texted me earlier at the dress shop, I had to put on a brave face around my mother to keep her from looking at my phone. He missed me, and he wanted to see me. How could I pass that up?

Though now, as I stood in front of the house he'd asked to meet me at, I felt like my feet would never help me move forward.

I let my eyes gloss over the area around me, taking in every ounce of scenery that I could as I stood awkwardly in the driveway. Hayden had always managed to keep the element of surprise about him, and this so called date, was no different.

Standing in front of me was a mansion of sorts, though it could never compare to the Pennington estate, that overlooked the beaches of Los Angeles. The house loomed over a cliff that faded into the sand on the beach below. The water that rushed up onto the sand could be seen from where I was standing, and I hated to admit that I loved it here.

I forced back any restraints I had about the night ahead of me as I finally made my way up to the front door, stopping as I noticed the door had been left open a crack.

Warily, I pushed open the door and took a few steps inside. It didn't take me long to see the trail of red rose petals that Hayden had strewn across the glossy marble floor.

I let myself look around, seeing the candles he had lit up around the corner in the kitchen. I finally caught sight of him outside on the patio that looked out onto the ocean. He was rearranging the place settings as I stood here, dumbfounded by all he had planned.

This was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for me.

I walked forward, dropping my purse on the floor near the front door and wrapping my fingers tightly around the tip of the wine bottle I had bought on my way over. I pushed open the sliding glass door, getting Hayden to turn around just as I did.

"You came," he breathed, quickly regaining his composure. "I really thought you'd bail, Blaine."

I rolled my eyes and took another step forward, placing the bottle on the table. "How could I miss it? It's almost like you wanted to impress me, or something."

Hayden's face heated up with my words. He shook his head, smirking back at me with the confidence he usually held as he took a step in my direction, stopping to take hold of my right hand.

"It's cute you actually got dressed up for this," he whispered huskily in my ear. "And with all this liquor lying around, I'd start to think you were trying to get me into bed, Blaine."

"That's a little far fetched, don't you think?" I smiled snidely, ripping my hand from his grasp before stalking back inside. I could hear Hayden chuckle behind me, the man trailing
after me.

The silence engulfed is as we walked into the kitchen, making things all the more awkward. After all Hayden and I had been through, I thought that we could have made it through a night like this without an awkward silence.

I jumped up on the counter, crossing my leg over the other and letting my hands rest in my lap. "Nice place you got here."

"A friend of the family owns it," Hayden nodded back to me. He turned his attention to the fridge, the man pulling out another bottle of wine. "I thought it was nice."

"Yeah," I shrugged. "I just didn't expect it."

Hayden laughed before turning back around to me, "what did you expect, Blaine?"

"I don't know," I whined. I could feel a blush creeping onto my cheeks with his state. "Not this. All the roses, the candles, the wine; it's probably the best date anyone's ever asked me on."

"Don't go assuming this is-"

"A date?" I finished for him. "If this isn't a date, then I'm walking out right now."

"You want me that bad?" Hayden smirked. He made his way over to me, setting the bottle of wine just next to me before placing his hands on either side of me, pinning me in. "You could have just asked."

"I don't want you like this," I hissed back. "I thought that this was something more special than just you wanting to hook up. I'm not into all the sappy feelings or whatever, but come on Hayden! I ditched Zane for you. I'm lying to my mom, to Wren, and to just about anyone else who'll listen-"

"Blaine," he huffed in annoyance. "Scarlett. This is something special. You think I'd throw this together for just anyone? No. I did all this for you."

I rolled my eyes, "why?"

"I think it's obvious, babe," Hayden smiled. "You like me, I like you. Why not do something about it?"

"Hayden," I groaned, placing either of my hands on his chest and bunching up what I could of his shirt. "I'm serious. I need to know if this is worth it. Because if it's not, then I might as well leave. There's too much riding on this."

Hayden ran a hand through his hair, averting his eyes from me when he did. He managed to keep himself together, but by the look on his face, he looked just as pained as I felt in this moment.

Something brought us here, and though I could tell by the look ok his face that he felt the same way I did, I needed to hear it.

"This is worth it, Scar," he muttered. "It always has been."

"Why?" I prodded. Hayden rolled his eyes and pulled me into his arms, sliding my body until I was barely sitting on the edge of the counter top.

"You said before that you'd never had anything real." Hayden started, the man softly looking into my eyes. "I think you're that for me, my something real, and I really think I could be that for you. No games, and all the strings attached. That's why I wanted to impress you tonight."

I couldn't contain the smile that soon covered my face.

"That didn't sound cheesy at all," I whispered with a smirk. "Hayden-"

"Scarlett," he jumped in. "I want you. I have since the moment you got out of your car that day at the house. I've been trying to ignore you, but you're so annoying that you just keep popping back up."

I laughed, throwing my head back before he pulled my attention back to him. "You're pretty annoying too, for the record."

"But you do want me," he popped his eyebrows up and down suggestively. "Admit it, Blaine. You can't stop thinking about me."

"Shut up," I twisted my face in annoyance as I wrapped my legs around his hips for support.

"No," he shook his head. "You had to hear me say it. Now you say it. You want me, Scarlett. Even the most annoying parts of me."

I could feel my eyes roll to the back of my head before I could do anything about it. Hayden always had that affect on me.

"I want you, Hayden Pennington. I want all of you, and not just for tonight," I whispered. "I think you're my something real, too."

Hayden smiled back at me, a smile I was sure I had never seen on him before, but it was more genuine than anything he could have said to me. He wrapped his arms tighter around me before pushing himself up and letting his lips brush up against my own. The kiss was quick and fleeting, but I knew it was the first of many for the night.

"Scarlett Blaine," he paused as he rested his forehead against my own. "Would you care to have dinner with me? This of course includes getting drunk enough to admit the real stuff to each other while we have the chance."

"Yes, Hayden," I whispered. "I wouldn't have showed up, otherwise."

I smiled down at him before he lifted me off the counter, switching my position as he carried me bridal style towards the back door.

"You're going to regret your words tomorrow, Blaine," Hayden sang as stopped just next to the table. "But I'm sure you'll have one hell of a time tonight."

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Scarlett and Hayden's first date?? How does everyone think it will go?

Also, did you guys like Hayden's chapter? I was thinking Scarlett would have chapter 25, but that Hayden could have 26 to himself?? Comment!

The next chapter will be up on the 12th! Happy late Fourth of July to those Americans out there 😜

Remember to vote guys!

Thanks you all!