Page 32 of Playing With My Heart Strings

She nods, but doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “The only impression I had about Dusty was what the media portrayed him as—this womanizing country singer who got everything he wanted easily.”

“Dusty is a lot of things.” She briefly looks down, but then her eyes snap back up to mine. “But one thing’s for certain, and it’s that he didn’t have everything handed to him. He’s a hard worker, and the more you get to know him, the more I think you can break down his walls and see the true Dusty.”

I nod, my gaze trained on the wood grain running across the table. If today’s date—especially the time we spent at the record store—has proven anything, it’s that I don’t know Dusty as well as I thought I did.

13

dusty

Come to My Senses

It’shard to focus my attention on Valerie, my second solo date of the week, and guilt rises in my knotted belly over it. She’s beautiful, with tawny skin, deep-brown eyes, and ebony hair that falls past her collarbones in loose, bouncy curls, but I can’t take my mind off Baylor.

Earlier this morning, I went on a group date with the six women who didn’t get a solo date this week and it wasn’t as difficult to keep my focus. My mind occasionally drifted, but then someone would start talking and bring me back to the present.

Right now, I don’t have that luxury.

Valerie and I are walking around Centennial Park, and it’s a beautiful day; the sun is shining and people are out enjoying the weather, but all I can think about is walking around the vinyl record store and performing at the dive bar with Baylor. Everything was so effortless with her. Maybe that’s weird to say, considering we haven’t known each other for that long and I’msupposed to be getting to know the other women as well, but there’s something special about her.

I’m brought out of my thoughts when I look over at Valerie and realize she’s looking at me like she’s waiting for me to say something.

“What was that? I’m sorry.” I run a hand through my hair as I mentally kick myself. I should be more present in the moment with her.

“I just asked how the whole process is going for you. I imagine there must be a lot of pressure on you from your label and fans.”

“Oh.”Damn, does she have to be so observant and caring?“Yeah, it’s definitely taken some getting used to. I’ve never dated multiple people at once.”

She laughs, and the sound—like the tinkling of wind chimes—relaxes me a little.

“How has everything been for you so far?” I’m genuinely curious. I have no idea what the position the women are in is like, and I want to hear her take on this whole show.

“It’s been fine so far. Most of the girls are great. I haven’t had the chance to get to know them too well, but from the conversations I have had, they all seem nice and like they’re truly here to find their person, not just advance their music career.”

My mind wanders back to Baylor when Valerie mentions the other girls. I wonder what she’s doing right now and if she’s making connections. There’s a slight fear in me that maybe she’s not here to truly find love, that maybe this is all just a means to an end for her. We didn’t really talk about that yesterday on our date, and maybe that was something I should have asked.

“I’m glad to hear that.” I take Valerie’s hand in mine, trying my best to devote my attention to her.

She takes my hand, and we continue walking through the park, looking for a place to sit. We eventually come up to a plaid blanket and wicker basket that’s been laid out by the producers.

“Oh, this is cute!” Valerie places a hand on her cheek when she sees the set up for today.

“Brad really outdid himself today,” I mutter to myself.

“Hmm?” She looks at me, a confused look on her face.

My eyes widen when I realize she heard me. “Nothing, nothing. Come on.” I gesture for her to sit. She sits cross legged on the blanket, and I lower myself to the ground, sliding closer to her. There’s another small blanket in the basket, and I drape it over us before checking out what else is inside.

“What do we have?” Valerie cranes her neck toward the basket, her chin close enough to rest on my shoulder.

“Looks like we’ve got some cold cuts, cheese, fruit, and bread,” I reply as I pull out each item. There’s also a wooden charcuterie board and a small container of what looks like melted chocolate.

“Mmm, this looks delicious.” She places the board in front of us and starts unpacking all of the food, spreading it out on the board. I let her do her thing, because the arrangement won’t look half as pretty if I’m the one setting it up.

“You’re good at this.” I turn my head toward hers as a wide smile spreads across her face.

“I used to do this in college as a side business, it’s nothing.” Pink streaks across her cheeks as she looks at me, and a loose strand of hair falls into her face.

I brush the curl out of her eyes and tuck it behind her ear.

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