Page 15 of Heartfelt Goals

“And you have a little sister who I assume is living with you,” he finished, ignoring her question, frowning even more. “Where are your parents? What’s your deal? Nobody will say anything – including my sister – who instructed me to come and talk to you.”

“Wait,” she hissed, rubbing her temple. “You asked the office managerandyour sister about me?”

“Yeah. Apparently, I’ve got the entire world pushing me in your direction and…”

“Wait, wait…wait,” she began again, now rubbing both temples as she yanked her glasses off her face and tossed them on the counter. “My brain was struggling before, but I think it just seized.”

And heard his nervous, quiet laugh once again.

“You sound like me when I got off the phone with my agent,” Dustin admitted in a gentle voice, causing her to look up at him.

“Look, my life’s a mess, but I’m slowly figuring it out.”

“Why?”

“Why what? Why am I figuring it out?”

“No, why is it a mess?”

“If you haven’t noticed, I’m now raising a nearly thirteen-year-old version of me that’s a whole lot smarter and snarkier than I ever was. My dad put the fear of God into me, whereasI don’t think Kendall has met a person she won’t talk to abouteverythingandanything.”

“Hence the dump truck comment?” he smiled, nodding.

“I’m really sorry about that.”

“No problem,” he said simply. “She’s fearless and outgoing, and maybe she should channel that toward something?”

“She is,” Laurel muttered. “Directly into my last nerve.”

“I’m sorry about your parents – or whatever happened,” Dustin began quietly, causing her to look at him. “I should probably know, but then again, I was probably at a game or something and…”

“Thank you,” she interrupted, stunned at the apology.

“So, I’ve got a few more questions, and then I’ll be out of your hair,” he replied, rubbing the back of his head nervously… but Laurel barely noticed or heard him as she gawked at his biceps and realized just how tan and muscled his legs were.

She wasn’t a muscle-y person, nor did she try to focus on physiques unless she was describing it for a scene, but good golly that man had chiseled thighs worthy of any romance scene and…

“… Boyfriend?”

“Huh? Uh, no,” she whispered, swallowing, and fought back the urge to wipe her mouth to make sure she wasn’t drooling. Oh man, her crush of the century was standing in the middle of her home asking her about a boyfriend?

“Well… I guess that makes things easier and less painful than a root canal,” he muttered, shrugged, and then hesitated. “I don’t suppose you’d want to get married tomorrow?”

“Oh my gosh…” she whispered – and it was echoed by a louder, muffled ‘Oh my gosh!’ from Kendall’s room as she stared at him in shock. “Did you just… I mush have… I mean, I ‘must’have… eh, well, this is awkward.”

“You’re not kidding,” he said under his breath, watching her carefully as a weird half-snort, half-giggle escaped her… and she shrugged, trying to play it off.

“Yeah, I think I need my hearing checked. For a second, I thought you asked me to marry you tomorrow and…”

“I did.”

“I need to sit down,” Laurel whispered, sitting immediately on the kitchen floor – and noticed a crumb beside her, dusting it away quickly, before tossing a bright, nervous smile at him. “Is this some joke?”

“I wish it was.”

“Did Madeline put you up to this prank, because it’s not funny.”

“Nope. She doesn’t even know I’m here, though, she did suggest I talk to you, if I wanted to know more about you. That woman’s mouth is tighter than Fort Knox – which I suppose is a good thing since she’s been interviewed about me in the past.”

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