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“It was my pleasure.”
Rylie carried her treasures and tote as she walked toward Dustin, sticking her tongue out at him as she passed. His deep chuckle behind her sent a shiver down her spine and she hated it. She did not want to be attracted to Dustin Kent.
She was on a guy-hatis and needed it to stay that way.
* * * *
Dustin kept glancing at Rylie as they walked to his car. Although she wasn’t quite as done up as she usually was, she still looked great and that pin-up style dress accented all her…attributes.
He really needed to stop thinking about her like that, but it was hard. Pun intended.
Dustin finally caught on by her angry stride that she was irritated, most likely at him for rushing her out the door, and attempted to smooth things over. “I can get your bag.”
“I’m fine, it’s not heavy.”
Man, she was moodier than a bear with a sore paw. “You’re kind of a grump in the morning,”
“Yes, lack of sleep can affect my mood. It’s a normal human occurrence.”
Dustin’s eyebrows shot up at her retort. Rylie was usually so sunny it bordered on sickening.
She just broke up with her long-term boyfriend and stayed the night in a strange place. Cut her some slack.
Dustin thought about getting the door for her, but he’d have to race her for the door, since she was at least three steps ahead. He just tried for landlord-ly concern. “Was the bed uncomfortable?”
She stopped along the passenger side of his car and sighed. “No, it was very comfortable and the sheets were amazing. I just don’t sleep well in strange places.”
“Gotcha.” Dustin climbed into the driver’s side at the same time she got situated next to him. As he took the circular drive around to get out onto the highway, he glanced over at her. The paper bag containing her burrito sat in her lap, untouched. “Are you going to eat that?”
“No, I’ll wait until I get to work. I don’t want to get anything in your car.”
Dustin didn’t try to convince her it was fine; if he was being honest, he didn’t really want to clean up scrambled eggs and bacon crumbs out of his car anyway.
“I appreciate your consideration.”
“I don’t eat in my car, so why would I do it in yours?” she said.
So, she liked to keep her car clean? That was something they had in common. Dustin appreciated order and control. He’d had so little of it growing up in his father’s house. Like all his brothers before him, he couldn’t wait to escape.
Only he’d come back after the old man had died, while they’d stayed gone.
“Victoria is nice. I can understand w
hy you like having her around.”
Dustin nodded. “Yeah, she’s great. She’s been with me since I came home two years ago.”
“I’m actually surprised you came back here. I figured you’d take all that app money and settle in Aspen or New York. Somewhere a lot fancier than Sweetheart.”
It was a move he had considered, but his mom lived here. Despite his frustration over her life choices, he loved her. His brothers used to give him hell about being a mama’s boy, but he figured that his mom had been punished enough without having all her children abandon her.
“I’ve had fancy, and I figured that the people are the same everywhere. At least here I already know who my friends are.”
“Should we get back to scouting locations today? There’s only a short list for what’s available, right?” he asked.
“Yes, because they want it small and soon, so our choices are limited. I thought the second week of November would be lovely. Tie in the fall colors and décor. Pray that the weather stays mild.”
Dustin had never planned for a wedding and didn’t intend to, but it seemed like a high-profile couple like this wouldn’t be leaving all the details to two professional strangers. “I’m actually surprised that they didn’t book a venue right away.”
