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Afterward, when we were both full and wired from all the coffee and treats we ate, we went for a walk through the park and stopped at the lake in the middle to sit and chat. After a fun and relaxing day, I didn’t want the date to end when Brody walked me to the door. I considered calling Hayden and canceling because that’s how into Brody I am, but when I tried to dial the number, I couldn’t do it. When he showed up this morning, I was relieved that I didn’t because even though I like Brody, I also like Hayden.
The thought causes my stomach to roil. I’ve never dated more than one guy at a time, and I hate that I’m doing it now. At some point, I’ll need to pick one, but I can’t imagine pushing either one away.
“Bree?” Hayden says, knocking me out of my thoughts.
“Huh?”
He chuckles. “I asked how your day was yesterday.”
“Oh, right.” I swallow thickly. “It was good. Productive.” There…not the complete truth, but not exactly a lie either.
“How about yours?” I ask, focusing the attention back on him.
“It was all right. Spent the day getting caught up on work.”
I spot a large wooden sign that reads Brookstone Vineyard and Winery and gasp.
“A winery?” I shriek. “Are we going to a wine tasting?”
“Not just a tasting,” he says as we drive along a dirt road surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands of acres of vineyards. “We’re going to tour the vineyard, learn about how it’s all made, then make some of our own. Then we’ll do a wine tasting with lunch.”
“Stahhhhpp!” I throw my arms around his neck and smack a kiss on his cheek. “This is amazing!” I pull back and glance at Hayden, who’s smiling softly. I told him while we were at dinner that I loved going to wine tastings and would love to go on a tour one day, and he listened. Just like Brody listens. I shake my head to dispel the thought of Brody while I’m on a date with Hayden.
“Thank you,” I tell him, after clearing my throat—and trying and failing to push the guilt away.
When we arrive, we’re greeted and then taken on a tour through the vineyards. Afterward, we get to pick out our grapes, then, with bare feet, we stomp them! It’s so much fun, and I’m shocked when Hayden willingly joins in without me having to ask—or beg. Once our grapes are crushed, we rinse off our feet, where Hayden lifts me against the side of the barn wall and kisses the hell out of me until I’m a panting mess. We’re forced to separate so we can finish drying off and head to lunch. Since Hayden is driving, he only has a sip of each wine, leaving the expert testing to me.
“How are your kids doing?” he asks while we eat.
“They’re good. Miles caught a fish, and Stephen, my father-in-law, told him they could cook it. Of course, my kids have never had fish before…” I roll my eyes, and Hayden chuckles.
“How’d that go?”
“Miles said the next fish he catches, he’s letting it go because it’s a waste to kill something that tastes that gross.” I pull out my phone and show him the pictures Beatrice sent, watching to see if he’s bored, but with every picture, he comments and asks questions.
“Evie looks just like you,” he says when I swipe to a picture of my daughter dressed in cute pink pajamas holding a doll that looks identical to her. Apparently, there’s a store where you can buy a doll with similar features, and Evie’s looks like her twin.
“She has her dad’s eyes,” I say without thinking.
Hayden glances up at me. “Do you mind if I ask what happened?”
I’m about to say I already told him when I remember I didn’t talk to him about Pete—it was Brody. Dammit, I’m such a shitty person. I seriously need to choose one of them, but it’s so hard when they’re both so freaking amazing.
“He had an issue with his heart and passed away on Christmas morning. It will be five years this Christmas.”
Hayden frowns and nods. “How long were you together?”
“Not long enough,” I say, hating that I’m getting emotional. “Almost ten years. He was my first real boyfriend, my first…everything. I thought he’d be my last, but life doesn’t always work out according to plan.” I clear the emotion out of my throat and take a sip of my wine. “That’s actually why I turned you down when you asked me out. I haven’t really dated since he passed away.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“My best friend, Lacey. She reminded me that Pete wanted me to move forward and find love again. And I can’t exactly do that if I don’t ever put myself out there.”
