“Because you are more than just your bakery, Brooke, and at the end of the day, you more than anyone need to know that. Give yourself grace to have a life, or someday you might not have one you want to come home to. Too many people in this world will let you down, so don’t let yourself be one of them.”
His words pierce me right in the heart. I swallow, forcing the sting in my eyes to go away.
“Well, well, well, who would have thought Dutton Richford is a genuinely selfless man who cares?”
He bumps me with his shoulder the way I’ve done to him countless times since we sat down.
“Don’t tell anyone about that either. Now, let’s get back to the truck and go get some food. I’m hungry.”
“Me too,” I say, ignoring the little butterflies that swarm my stomach at the thought that he came to my house, took me hiking, shared something deep with me, and he still wants to keep hanging out.
We stand, brush off the dirt, and head down the trail.
“Let me walk in the back this time,” he says, slowing.
“Why?”
“It’s only fair, right? You stared at my ass the whole way up; I should get to stare at yours the whole way down.”
I jump to the side, laughing and swatting his arm.
“Dutton!”
He chuckles and fakes being hurt.
“Fine, we can walk side by side.”
“Yes, thank you,” I fall into step with him.
“Did you delete that dating app yet?” he asks, quickly changing the subject in true Dutton fashion.
“No.”
“Books, come on. You have to delete it.”
“You’re that worried?”
“It’s surprising for me, too. But yes.”
I grin.
“Well, I haven’t deleted it, but I did tell Tony that I wasn’t interested at this time.”
“And how did he reply?”
“He didn’t. I'd say he caught on fairly quickly.”
“Good. Oh, and I haven't had a chance to start that book yet, but I will soon.”
“No worries,” I say and feel a little bit of relief. Last night I’d been waiting for a text from him over the first chapter, but when it didn’t come, I decided that he’d only taken the book to mess with me. As I originally thought.
Which is fine by me.
“Oh, so she’s more casual about it today.”
Another bump to his shoulder.
“It’s really fine if you don’t read it.”
