26. Sutton

26

SUTTON

The last thing I wanted to do tonight was go out to a bar—not even one that had a country band playing. Not after the day I’d had.

The inspector from the Health Authority hadn’t found anything that would affect my license to serve food and beverages, but when I’d asked what the report had been about, he’d gotten cagey. Thea had swooped in to get more information, telling him we wanted to fix anything a customer perceived as not being up to our excellent standards.

That had seemed to set the inspector at ease, and he shared that someone had reported we weren’t washing the dishes properly. I knew that was complete bull. We had a three-step process before putting them in an industrial washer.

It had to be Rick trying to mess with my business. I knew he was annoyed that he couldn’t up my rent, but I never thought he’d take it so far as to shut me down. The thought had my stomach churning. If I got booted from my current spot, I didn’t have enough reserves to set up elsewhere. And I needed every cent I was saving on rent now to get settled in a new apartment .

My phone dinged on the bathroom counter, and I forced my thoughts away from all those depressing possibilities.

Thea

We’re five minutes away. If you’re in pajamas, I’ll make you come anyway.

One corner of my mouth kicked up as I picked up my phone and quickly typed out a reply.

Me

It’s not you who scares me. It’s Lolli. So, I’m almost ready.

Thea

Wait until you see her outfit…

I grinned down at the device. Lolli never disappointed.

I set my phone down and picked up my makeup brush. If we were doing a girls’ night, I was going all out. I dabbed a smoky color on the outside corners of my eyes, sweeping it across the lids. Then I swapped the color for something lighter with a glittery accent that made the turquoise of my eyes really pop. I followed it with eyeliner and lip gloss and figured I was ready.

Stepping back, I surveyed myself. It wasn’t half-bad. It had been so long since I’d had a reason to really dress up. Not that my outfit was fancy, but having a reason to put a little more effort in was nice. I wore a floaty dress in a dark blue that hit me right at mid-thigh. The spaghetti straps and lacy bodice did great things for my boobs, and the skirt’s gauzy material gave it a flouncy, fun air.

I was thankful I’d grabbed a pair of cowboy boots at the thrift store a couple of months ago. The only thing I didn’t have was a hat. But that would’ve ruined the hour I’d spent taming my hair into loose curls.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my clutch and headed out. As I moved into the hallway, I heard voices below. It wasn’t just Luca and Cope; I heard Arden’s mixed in there, too. It sounded like they were playing a game.

Luca hooted. “Four spots, baybeeeee.”

As I descended the stairs and turned toward the living room, my mouth was already curving. Luca stood on the couch, shaking his booty in a ridiculous dance that had both Arden and Cope fighting laughter. “Is he dominating Candyland again? ”

Their heads turned toward me, and Arden shot me an amused smile. “I’ve never met anyone with such good luck. You should take him to Vegas.”

“Mom,” Luca said almost reverently. “You look so pretty.”

I fought a blush, partially at the attention and partly because it was embarrassing that my kid was this shocked over my appearance. But I couldn’t respond because I was too distracted by heat. I could feel Cope’s gaze sweeping over me, settling on all sorts of different places. My legs. My chest. My face.

“He’s right,” Cope said, grit coating his words. “You look stunning.”

I bit my bottom lip. “Thank you,” I whispered, tripping over the simple statement. “Arden, are you coming with us?”

Her lips twitched, those gray-violet eyes twinkling as though she knew exactly what I was doing. “Do I look like I’m going?”

I did a quick sweep of Cope’s sister. She wore what looked like a workout outfit: leggings and a tee that slid off one shoulder, exposing a sports bra. “Looks like you’re ready to dance.”

Arden scoffed. “Not really my scene.”

“Not really mine either,” I admitted.

“You don’t have to go,” Cope said quickly. “You could stay and hang with us. We’re going to play Monopoly Junior after this. Party of the century.”

Arden smacked Cope’s stomach with the back of her hand. “Sutton deserves a night out with friends. Let her live.”

Cope scowled at his sister. “This is living, too,” he grumbled.

Arden rolled her eyes before shaking her head. “ Go. Have fun. And don’t come home before midnight, at least.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Or don’t come home at all.”

The glare Cope sent his sister would’ve had me swallowing my tongue, but Arden didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. But before he could say another word, the front door swung open, and Thea and Rhodes filled the entryway.

“Let’s go shake our asses with some cowboys!” Rhodes shouted.

“She has more game than all of us put together,” Rhodes mumbled as she sipped her margarita on the rocks.

Thea chuckled. “I would never want to compete for a man with her. I’d lose every time.”

I took a sip of my own margarita, the tequila warming me from the inside as I studied Lolli on the dance floor. She had come to play. She wore black boots, black jeans, and a black button-down. They were all decorated in a western-wear pattern, but the design itself was made up of tiny jewels with pot leaves at the center. She’d currently charmed three cowboys into dancing with her, and I wouldn’t be surprised if another two joined soon.

“She’s a true legend,” I said, laughter coating my words.

“Soooooo,” Rhodes began, the light in her hazel eyes dancing. “My brother certainly had his eyes on you when we left tonight.”

My face flamed. “He’s probably just worried I’ll end up kidnapped because I wasn’t aware of my surroundings or something.”

“Kye’s that way. It’s a miracle if I get anything past him,” Fallon mumbled, taking a sip of a pink drink.

That had me fighting a smile. Kyler’s protective streak when it came to Fallon was legendary. “Well, we made it out with no babysitters.”

“Dang straight,” Fallon said, lifting her glass in cheers. We clinked, and then she stood. “Come on. Since we’re free, we should dance.”

I slid off my stool as the band shifted into an upbeat song I recognized from the radio station I always had playing at the bakery. “I like the way you think.”

Lifting the glass to my lips, I downed the rest of my drink in one slug.

“Uh-oh,” Thea said, humor lacing her words. “Lolli isn’t the only one who came to play. ”

I shot her a grin. “As Shania Twain says, ‘Let’s go, girls.’”

Rhodes let out a hoot, downing her drink. And then we all headed to the dance floor as the band sang about cold beers and tight jeans that fit just right. We danced and jumped and laughed our asses off.

Thea was right. I’d needed this. A reminder of why I fought so hard. So I could truly live . I hadn’t been doing enough of that.

The music slowed, and a figure in a cowboy hat moved into my space, holding out his hand. “Can I have this dance?”

The man was tall and more than a little good-looking, but I couldn’t help comparing him to Cope in my mind. His shoulders weren’t quite as broad. There was no scar on his lip that somehow made him more gorgeous. No adorable crook in his nose.

I’m an idiot.

Cope wasn’t here. He hadn’t made any sort of moves that let me know he was interested in any more than a flirty friendship, and nothing in those few almost moments showed he was serious about us being more . But here was a handsome man asking me to dance, being clear about his intentions.

I took the proffered palm. “I’d love to.”

The man swung me into his arms with ease. It was clear he knew what he was doing on the dance floor, and I let him sweep me away as the band slipped into a ballad. But the man’s hold wasn’t comfortable and heated the way Cope’s was. It didn’t have me fighting the urge to lean in closer.

He swung me into a spin and then back, and I knew I should be enjoying the dance more than I was. The man pulled me a bit closer, his face not far from mine. And then a hand landed on his shoulder.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask to cut in.”

That voice. The smoky heat and grit had my body responding instantly. I sucked in a breath as my gaze locked with dark-blue eyes. But I could only get out his name.

“Cope.”