Brooke
Chapter
Seventeen
The rest of the week passes in a blur.
There are no more drunken wine nights with Dutton, only leisure evenings where we both stay sober, pretending we didn’t fall asleep together on my couch and wake with me in his arms where I then proceeded to slide across his huge morning erection.
And there are definitely no more orgasms against my living room wall, and we definitely haven’t spoken to each other about it since.
Orgasms in my bed as I think of that morning, sure. But the real thing? Sadly, no.
I don’t know where he stands, but until I know what I want to do about it, I don’t know what I would even say.
One afternoon we hiked to his favorite spot, one night we picked out another new book and then read in silence next to each other. His leg brushed mine, and there was no way I could focus after that. How he kept reading is beyond me.
The sexual tension between us is almost too much to bear.
But relationships are risky, and I don't know if I want to ruin what we have right now for more when there is no guarantee it will work out.
I know without a doubt that I’d be hurt if we ever went back to the way things were before.
I hope we never go back to that.
“Do you think we made enough?” Daisy asks as she props the front door to the bakery open. It’s Saturday again already, and another Lovers festival has begun.
I set the last cupcake into the display case. Today, we’ve set up cookie decorating for the kids. I thought it would be a nice way to switch things up in here.
“Yes, I think so.”
Each table has a plate of cookies, three different tubs of frosting, and sprinkles.
I have more of everything in the back. I even printed the recipe for the cookies and prepackaged little to-go kits with all the ingredients for purchase.
I figure this could be a good test run to see how many people are into the idea before I launch it on the website.
Well, I can't take all the credit. Dutton mentioned this test run the other night.
I’m surprised that I was able to pay attention to the suggestion.
Every time that man speaks, his words wrap around me like a warm blanket. When he smiles, I swear it’s like a drug hit, and I want more.
I want him.
Badly.
And it’s starting to get a little unbearable. I don’t know what I should do.
I can feel myself ready to snap.
What’s he going to do when that happens? He hasn’t done anything since that morning. Maybe he doesn't want to and that’s why he hasn’t tried again.
My phone vibrates next to the register just as a few kids run in.
I glance at it quickly, not recognizing the number that texted me.
Unknown
Hi.
More kids come in with their parents, so I set the phone down.
I take one step and it goes off again.
Unknown
Let’s talk.
“Hi, Brooke,” Betty Banks greets me as her grandson, best-selling author Tobias Banks, steps up beside her, his young child on his hip and his wife at his side with another.
“I want to buy one of these kits really quick. You never know how long these little babies will last out in public, but at home, I can bake while they run crazy. I prefer it that way.”
“That sounds wonderful,” I say and ring her up with two kits.
The next hour goes by similarly, and before I know it, I’m down to my last five kits.
I have to tell Dutton. He’s going to be so thrilled for me.
The idea of that alone excites me.
He’s so supportive of this place, and I know my friends are, too, but it’s different with him. I don't know how to explain it.
“Hey, Daisy,” I call out into the back room. “I’m going to step out for a moment.”
Look at me, willingly taking a break, too.
“Okay,” she says and appears. “Take your time. I’ve got this.”
“Thank you.”
I wipe my hands on a nearby towel and step out onto Main Street. Sadie is the first person I see.
“Hey, have you seen Dutton?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “I have not, but I’ve been in the store most of the afternoon. Head into Hudson’s and ask him.”
I give her a quick hug and then scan the seating area outside the bar that stretches into the street. I swear, we block this road off more than we allow cars to drive on it.
When I come up short in spotting Dutton, I swing open the door to the bar. I could have walked through from the bookstore, but I figure the chances of me seeing him outside are better than inside.
As soon as I step into the bar, Grace, Ruby, and Quinn are in front of me.
“Hey.” Grace beams. “We were just coming to see you at the bakery.”
She’s got a draft glass in her hand, and by the looks of it, she’s drunk half of it already.
“Are you drinking a beer in the middle of the day?” I ask, grinning, my gaze catching with Ruby and Quinn quickly. They are grinning, too, sporting their own drinks in hand.
“You should join us,” Quinn suggests and then nods outside. “We’re all sitting out there.”
Yep. Luca, Shay, Miles, Declan, and Gavin are all sitting at a table, clearly enjoying an afternoon off.
I take a quick scan of the bar.
No Dutton in sight here either.
“I’ll come join you for a moment,” I say, following alongside the girls. “But I'm actually looking for …”
The sentence fades from my lips, and my heart thumps fearfully.
My eyes close—am I seeing things? But then a brush of wind sweeps over my skin, and goosebumps cover every inch of my body.
I don’t have to look around me to know that he is here.
As soon as I open my eyes, there he is, staring back at me.
His gaze is dark, and there’s a smirk on his lips.
He’s pleased with himself for finding me.
Bad things are about to happen.
“I need Dutton,” I whisper, but no one responds. They're just giggling and talking about something I can’t hear.
I reach for Grace’s arm and squeeze it.
“I need Dutton,” I say again, this time with more desperation in my voice.
“What did you say?” Ruby asks. Grace and Quinn turn their attention to me, and all three wait for my reply.
“I need Dutton. Get me Dutton.”
No one moves.
“I need Dutton right now, now. Get me Dutton!”
Ruby takes off, Grace right behind her. Quinn reaches for my hand and laces my fingers with hers.
“You’re stiff as a rock, Brooke. What’s—”
Suddenly, her hand slips from mine and Dutton is filling my view. It takes him half a second to recognize that something is wrong.
He invades my space, his chest pressing to mine as one of his hands comes to my cheek, his fingers threading into my hair, the hold forcing me to look up into his eyes.
“Books, honey, what’s going on?”
“I … he …”
My hand clutches his shirt. I can’t get him close enough.
My heartbeat is already slowing just knowing Dutton is with me. That he’s near. That I’m safe. Because that’s what Dutton does to me.
“He’s here,” I barely whisper.
Dutton’s body goes rigid; he stands taller, never taking his eyes off me.
He doesn't even have to ask who I'm talking about. He knows.
I didn’t think it was a big deal. I told him I wasn’t interested. I ignored him. I didn't think … this.
“Where?” Dutton’s voice is lethal.
“Behind you. In front of the flower shop.”
Dutton slowly nods, letting the hand in my hair fall to grab my hand. He turns, keeping his body in front of mine like a shield.
Except Tony, the man from the internet, isn’t in the same spot now. He’s in front of Dutton. Not even an arm's length away.
“Don’t take another step,” Dutton warns him.
Tony laughs, and it’s only then that I notice the audience we have.
Sadie to my left, Quinn to my right, and Gavin and Hudson moving to stand on either side of Dutton.
“I’m here to see Brooke,” Tony says, as if it’s the most harmless thing in the world. “Long overdue if you ask me.”
Nothing about his presence is innocent.
“Yeah, you won’t be doing that.”
“I think you should let her speak for herself.”
“I think you need to fuck right out of this town and never come back.”
Tony chuckles, and the noise itself sends goosebumps all over my skin again.
“Step back,” Dutton says.
“Why don't you let me talk to her first?”
“You're not talking to her. Do I need to repeat myself?”
“Look, man, she's a grown woman. Let her speak for herself.”
Dutton squeezes my hand three times. And then he says, “I am fully confident that she's fine with me speaking for her. Now step back and leave.” Disgust flows from his tone.
Gavin and Hudson move in closer.
“I think you should listen to him,” Gavin says.
Tony takes a small step back, looks from right to left, also taking in the audience we've gathered.
I hate that everyone is looking at me. I hate that this makes me feel like I'm intentionally drawing attention to myself.
I squeeze Dutton's hand.
The action distracts him, and Tony takes the opportunity to step around him. Hudson moves in to block him, but the man still tries to push his way through.
“I just want to speak to her. She fucking started this. I'm going to end it.”
Dutton shoves him.
“This is your last warning. Get the fuck out of here.”
An evil laugh slips from Tony's lips, and I can tell that this is not going to end peacefully. Not that any part of this interaction hinted that it would.
“What are you going to do, big man? Fight me?”
Dutton stays completely silent, but I can feel the anger radiating off his body.
I step closer, resting a hand on the middle of his back.
If he has to hit him, I will support him 100 percent.
It's not going to help erase his reputation with this town.
But in this instant, even though I'm not a big fan of violence, a fist to his face might be exactly—
Oh, shit! I barely finish my train of thought before Dutton's knuckles connect with the man's cheek and Tony hits the ground with a loud groan.
There's a ruffle of commotion behind me, and suddenly, my father is standing next to me.
“What the hell is happening over here?”
“That man punched me. Arrest him. I'm pressing charges.” Tony demands from the ground, pointing his finger at Dutton, who is standing over him, his hands balled into fists.
“He was making Brooke uncomfortable, and he wouldn't back off no matter how many times I told him,” Dutton defends himself.
“It's true,” Hudson says.
“That man hit me. He assaulted me. I want to press charges. Put him in cuffs and take him away,” Tony repeats, and my father groans.
“Dutton Richford. Are we really back to this?” This time Dutton doesn't say a word about defending me.
“Dad.” I step toward him as he pulls his cuffs from the side of his belt and clicks one open. “Don't do this, please.”
“The law is the law. This man wants to press charges, Brooke. There's not much I can do.”
“You can not put him in handcuffs. You can listen to me for—”
“Brooke. We'll get it sorted at the station. But until then, Dutton, you're coming with me.”
Dutton doesn't even try to resist the arrest. He puts his hands behind his back, his gaze never leaving mine as he says, “You can take me to the station, but the man who's pressing charges against me needs to come too. I don't want him anywhere near your daughter, sir.”
My father’s gaze bounces between me and Dutton.
He groans louder this time, clearly annoyed with everything that is happening, and shakes his head before setting a fuming gaze, one that would snap me into listening mode growing up, on the man who is still wiping blood off his cut lip.
“Follow me.”
“The fuck I am. I came here to talk to Brooke, and I’m not leaving until I do.”
Dutton jerks in my father’s hands, but my father yanks him back and levels the man with another look.
“Either you follow me or I call one of my deputies over here to put you in handcuffs as well and I get you to the station under completely different circumstances. Now, walk.”
The man glares at Dutton and then at me, but he nods.
As soon as they all head down the street, I fall in line. I can’t let my dad put Dutton behind bars for this. I need to get him to listen.
“Brooke, for the love of god, do not follow us.”
“I’m just—”
“Brooke!” my dad warns me off.
My lips part to argue, but Dutton beats me to it.
“Do not speak to her like that,” he says.
Dad shoots him his fourth glare in less than five minutes. At this point, I’m not sure he has another look for the evening.
“Then it better be with fucking respect, because anything less than that is unacceptable when it comes to her.”
“Christ,” Dad groans. “Just fucking walk. All of you.”
I hold back my smile until my father has his back to me.
I know the girls would stand up for me if a situation called for it, but hearing Dutton defend me without a care for who he is speaking to is not only extremely endearing, it’s hot as hell.
The last thing I should be thinking about is how much sexier Dutton just became to me, but I can't help it.
I knew my attraction for this man was growing, but it just expanded tenfold.
Against my father’s words, I follow again, Quinn and Grace on each side.
I know without looking that Gavin and Hudson are behind us.
Dad glances over his shoulder, taking in the tribe coming along to stand up for Dutton. His gaze lands on me for a moment longer than the others.
I don’t know what he’s thinking, but there’s a small wrinkle between his eyes.
He’s disappointed in me.
Again.