17. Sutton

17

SUTTON

The strains of country music swirled around me as I maneuvered between tables, balancing coffees, teas, and an array of baked goods. It was a dance I’d perfected over the years, having waitressed long before I scrounged up the money to buy the bakery and transform it into The Mix Up. The tray felt like an extension of my body at this point.

I stopped to chat with some tourists and regulars along the way. I’d even put together a little pamphlet of local recommendations to give to those who were new in town. It felt like a nice way to repay the community that’d welcomed me when I needed it the most.

I slid an iced tea and sandwich onto a table for one and grinned at the woman sitting there. “One chicken pesto panini with extra sun-dried tomatoes.”

Fallon grinned up at me. “Thanks, Sutton. This is my favorite midday treat.”

As I glimpsed a hint of shadows under her eyes, I knew she more than deserved it. “I’m glad you’re taking some time for yourself.” I inclined my head toward the stack of files. “Or at least feeding yourself while you work.”

She chuckled. “Life’s a balance.”

“I know that well.”

Fallon studied me for a moment. “Are you hanging in there okay?”

I nodded quickly. “Cope’s been a lifesaver.” I tried not to flush at the fact that his entire family, and a large portion of the community, knew he was doing me this favor. “Hopefully, I won’t have to impose for that much longer.”

Fallon’s hand snaked out to squeeze my arm. “Don’t rush it. Everyone needs a safe place to land once in a while. It doesn’t make you any less of a badass.”

I swallowed, trying to clear the burn lighting along my throat. I didn’t need to be a badass, but I also didn’t want to get used to someone being there to help when they wouldn’t always be. And Cope’s time in Sparrow Falls was limited.

“And it’s good for my brother,” Fallon went on. “He’s lighter. And not just in his fake, jokey way. Coaching this team, helping with Luca…it’s given him a purpose I think he really needed.”

Something shifted in my chest. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t comfortable either. “He’s a good man. Luca thinks he hung the moon.”

Fallon’s mouth curved slightly. “And what do you think?”

My stomach hollowed out. I wasn’t completely sure how to answer that question without lying straight to Fallon’s face. Thankfully, Rick saved me by stomping down the back staircase and leading a couple who’d been viewing my old apartment toward the door.

All my and Luca’s belongings had been moved out and put into storage on Cope’s property. Just another thing I owed him and the Colsons for. But from what I could tell, Rick was having trouble renting the space that had been my home for so long. Maybe it was the fact that there was a noisy restaurant below it. Or it could have been the astronomical rent Rick wanted. Regardless, he was striking out so far .

Rick glared at me, seething so hard he was practically spitting. A lead weight settled in my stomach. I had a feeling I might be out of a bakery space when the year was up.

The bell over the door jingled before Rick could reach it, and Lolli stepped in. She was a vision in a billowy skirt with too many colors to count. She jingled as much as the bell with her countless bracelets and necklaces. And she wore a T-shirt knotted at the waist that read Photosynthesis is FUN with a big pot leaf.

“Careful, Ricky Boy, you keep scowling like that, and your face will freeze that way. Then how will you convince innocent people you’re a kind landlord instead of a snake in the grass?” Lolli said, keeping her tone light.

The couple’s eyes went wide as they looked between Rick and Lolli. Rick’s beady eyes flashed. “Clearly, the drugs have gotten to your head.”

Lolli flipped her silver hair over her shoulder. “I think you could use a little Mary Jane in your life. Might chill you out enough to get your priorities in order instead of trying to take advantage of everyone in your orbit. Honestly, maybe we should go for a pot enema. Might clear out your bullshit.”

“Lolli,” I whisper-hissed.

“What?” she asked with mock innocence. “I speak the truth.”

“Listen to your little friend over there,” Rick growled. “I’d hate if things got more uncomfortable for her here.”

My stomach bottomed out as if the floor had simply disappeared from under me, and I was in free fall. I wouldn’t put it past Rick to sabotage the entire building just to stick it to me.

He stormed out of the bakery as all the customers looked on. Great, just great.

Lolli hurried over to me. “That pompous, prick-nosed piece of garbage. Next time I see him, I’m not using my words. I’m going to hit him with some of those jiu-jitsu moves Arden’s been showing me.”

“Oh, Jesus,” Fallon muttered, dropping her head into her hands. “Please, don’t make Trace arrest you on assault charges. ”

“It’d be worth it,” Lolli muttered, then moved closer, giving my arm a rub. “You okay, honey pie?”

I nodded, still not able to speak. Because while I’d guessed it before, I knew Rick had it out for me now. I was so caught in the web of my panicked thoughts that I didn’t hear the bell ring this time. I wasn’t aware of any newcomers until a tiny whirling dervish hit me in the side, his arms going around me in a tight hug.

“Mom! You won’t believe it. Teddy Lightning Jackson came to help coach today. And he taught me all sorts of speed tricks. He wants to try your cupcakes, too. I told him I’d pick out the best ones.”

My gaze moved from the nothingness I’d been staring at to Luca’s entourage. There was a leanly muscled, boyishly handsome man standing next to Cope. He sent me a grin. “Heard you’re the best of the best. I think I need to take at least a dozen back to Seattle with me this afternoon.”

Heat hit my cheeks. “I do my best. Why don’t I pull together a sampler for you? On the house.”

Teddy’s grin pulled wider. “Are you trying to get my ass, er, butt kicked? Reaper will flatten me the next time we’re on the ice if I let his girl cover my cupcakes.”

His girl?

The words sliced through me with a mix of craving and pain. Because somewhere along the line, I’d started to want that. It didn’t matter how reckless or dangerous it was. I wanted to know what it felt like to belong to Cope, not as a possession but as the person he wanted with every fiber of his being.

“Warrior,” Cope said, his voice low and throaty, making my gaze jump to his. “Something happened. Your face when we came in…”

That jolted me out of those stupid, stupid thoughts. I gave Luca’s shoulder a squeeze. “Want to go help Walter pick out a dozen cupcakes for Teddy?”

Luca’s light-blue eyes flared even brighter. “Yeah! I’m gonna get the Cookie Monster ones, and the bumblebees, and the triple-chocolate mudslides. I’m gonna put some cookies in the bag, too.”

“Thanks, little dude,” Teddy called, but there was concern on his face now, too.

Crap.

The moment Luca was gone, Cope moved even closer. He slid his hand under my hair and squeezed the back of my neck. “What happened?”

His voice was gentle, but a demand radiated through the words—one that sent a shiver coursing through me. Not one of dread but one of promise.

“That prick stick Rick was in here glaring at her, that’s what,” Lolli said with a huff. “I told him to watch it, and he threatened Sutton.”

Cope’s fingers flexed on my neck. “He. Did. What?”

Fallon groaned. “Don’t use the word threaten around Cope. Are you trying to make him lose it?”

“It’s true,” Lolli huffed. “I still think a pot enema would clear Ricky right out.”

Teddy’s brows flew up. “A pot enema?”

“Cleanses the bullshit,” Lolli said with a grin.

“Someone save me,” Fallon muttered.

I hoped the exchange would lighten Cope’s mood, but when I looked up into those dark-blue eyes, I saw no sign of that. Instead, there were sparks of fury. “What. Did. He. Say?”

I pressed a hand to Cope’s stomach, the move one of pure instinct, an attempt to soothe. But the moment my hand pressed against the hard muscle, I knew I’d made a mistake. I could feel ridge after ridge of his abdominals—the kind of washboard that wasn’t supposed to exist in real life. “He was just an ass. That’s all. Nothing new.”

It was a miracle I got the words out, given my tongue felt like I was in anaphylactic shock.

“Someone tell me what happened,” Cope growled .

Teddy thumped him on the back. “Breathe, Caveman. No need to break things. Your girl’s right here, and she’s just fine.”

I tried to ignore the his girl thing.

Fallon looked from Cope to me before finally speaking. “Lolli’s right. He’s a dick of epic proportions. He made some veiled comment about how he’d hate if things got more uncomfortable for Sutton here.”

A muscle in Cope’s jaw fluttered so wildly it looked like a butterfly about to take flight. “I’m going to kill him.”

This time, Teddy grabbed both of Cope’s shoulders and squeezed, giving him a little shake. “Let’s take it easy on the k-word, all right? You don’t need the press getting wind of that sort of thing right now. And you sure as hell don’t need an assault charge.”

“Don’t worry,” Lolli cut in. “I’m going to use my jiu-jitsu on him.” She pulled some sort of punch-kick combo that didn’t look like it was part of any sanctioned martial art.

“That’s my girl!” Walter shouted from behind the counter. “You show ‘em, tiger!”

“I’m not your anything, you old coot!” she shouted back.

“You will be once you break down and marry me,” Walter called.

The patrons began laughing. At least this was a better distraction than Rick and his scene.

Teddy grinned and released Cope. “I think I might need to move to Sparrow Falls, man. I love your family.”

“They’re easier to love with a little distance. Trust me,” Cope muttered.

“Hey,” Fallon snapped, smacking her brother. “We are awesome.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Fal.” Cope bent his head so we were at eye level, our foreheads almost touching. “You okay, Warrior?”

My breath caught in my throat. I shouldn’t have inhaled as he got close because all I could smell now was mint, sage, and a hint of sweat. And holy hell, the combination was potent. “I’m good,” I squeaked .

“Promise?”

I nodded. “Swear.”

It was the biggest lie I’d told in years, which was saying something given all the secrets I was keeping. But nothing could compare to the lies I was telling myself. Like that I wasn’t falling head over heels for Copeland Colson.

Luca’s little face scrunched as he leaned back in his chair. “I didn’t want to like broccoli.”

I tried to hide my smile behind my napkin but knew my eyes danced as I met Cope’s gaze across the table. He didn’t do anything to hide his chuckle.

“It’s broccoli rabe, not broccoli, so you’re safe.”

That only made Luca’s face scrunch harder. “So, it’s part of broccoli?”

Cope shook his head. “It’s actually a different plant altogether.”

Luca threw up his hands. “Then why would they call it broccoli? Broccoli’s gross. This poor rabe stuff is probably getting passed over because of its name.”

Cope’s lips twitched as he reached for his wineglass. “I’m taking that to mean you liked dinner.”

When Luca sat down at the table and saw the green stuff mixed with his pasta, he’d nearly thrown a fit. It wouldn’t have been our first battle over vegetables, but Cope had intervened with a miracle.

He’d told Luca he needed help with the recipe and an expert taste tester. Luca’s note before trying a bite had been to get rid of the green stuff. But when he actually tasted it, his only note had been, “More cheese.” And what wasn’t better with more cheese?

“It’s hard to admit you might actually like a veggie,” I said with a smile.

Luca rolled his eyes. “Don’t think this is gonna happen a lot. ”

I held up both hands in mock surrender. “I’d never.”

“Since I ate it all, can I go play video games?” Luca asked hopefully.

I waved him off. “Thirty minutes, then it’s bath and bed.”

“Nice! I can scorch the Earth at least twice.”

I tipped my head back as Luca took off, letting a groan slip free. “Am I going to turn my kid into a bloodthirsty criminal mastermind by letting him incinerate the planet every night?”

Cope chuckled. “I think you’re safe since it’s dragons and evil sorcerers.”

I twisted my neck, sending a series of pops through it. “I hope you’re right.”

Cope leaned over, reaching out so his fingers could dig into my flesh. “Neck bugging you again?”

My gaze found his and held. “How do you always know?”

He shrugged and kept kneading with delicious pressure. “My neck can bug me from a shoulder injury. I know the signs. You twist your head a certain way when it hurts.”

My tongue darted out to wet my suddenly dry lips. I didn’t want to think about how he knew that. How closely he watched me and seemed to understand without me saying a word. And more than anything, I didn’t want to get used to the gift of his knowing. But I couldn’t find it in me to pull away.

Cope’s eyes darkened, the blue turning stormy. His gaze dropped to my lips, and my heart sped up. He was close. So close I swore I could feel his breath teasing my mouth, a tempting promise of what was to come.

“Warrior.” It was more rasp than word.

I opened my mouth, unsure if it was to push him away or kiss him, but I didn’t get a chance to find out. The doorbell rang, jerking us out of the moment.

Cope cursed softly. “I’m changing the gate code.”

I bit my bottom lip, a chuckle slipping free.

Those dark blues flashed. “Not fucking funny,” he grumbled. “My siblings need to learn the definition of boundaries. ”

“Hey, whoever it is, used the bell. They probably have the code to get in through the front door if they wanted.”

Cope muttered something unintelligible as he pushed his chair back and stood. I followed, gathering a few plates as I went. I started cleaning up the kitchen as Cope’s voice wafted through the air.

“You have impeccably shitty timing, Sheriff.”

I bit my bottom lip again, this time to keep from laughing as the sound of footsteps moved toward the kitchen. “Hey, Trace.”

As I turned, I caught sight of his face. Trace was the most serious of the Colson siblings, though even with that, he normally would’ve laughed or given Cope a hard time about his comment. But his expression was completely blank. Something about it set me on edge. I slowly put the bowl in the sink. “What happened?”

Cope’s gaze snapped to me and then to his brother. He’d missed the signs, too caught up in his annoyance and used to his siblings making surprise visits to realize something was wrong. “Trace?”

His brother’s throat worked as he swallowed. “Teddy was in an accident on his way back to Seattle.”

It was as if Cope had been struck by lightning; his entire form snapped straight. “Where is he? What hospital?”

Pain streaked across Trace’s features. “I’m sorry, Cope. He didn’t make it. He’s gone.”