Chapter 2

2

WES

I turned off the light, then removed my jeans before climbing into bed with Sutton, my best friend. The woman I shouldn’t be thinking about unless it was to care for her injuries.

She was a friend who needed my help. I wouldn’t touch her unless it was in a purely clinical way.

Except Jameson seemed to think this whole situation was funny. Over the years, my brothers insinuated that I was attracted to Sutton, and I was positive they were downstairs talking about us now.

Sutton was hurt, and of course, I wanted to take care of her. She brought out every protective instinct in my body. Her family was awful to her. The girls at school worse. People thought someone who came from money was immune to nasty words.

But I knew the truth; Sutton felt too much underneath the hard exterior. She never let anyone take care of her, probably because she was left to fend for herself at a young age. But I was going to take advantage of it now.

“Wes?” Sutton’s voice was soft .

“Yes,” I shifted, trying to get comfortable. But all I could think about was that Sutton lay just a few inches away.

“Will you hold me?” Her voice was uncertain.

“Of course.” My voice was rough. Tonight would call on all my restraint. It wasn’t the time to tell Sutton I’d been attracted to her since I knew what that was.

One thing about her grandmother’s ultimatum was certain— If she was going to marry someone, it would be me.

She didn’t like when I got bossy, so I needed to tread carefully. I couldn’t box her into a corner like her family did. She’d push back and do something rash like marry someone else. Someone who didn’t care about her like I did.

Sutton rolled toward me the same moment I opened my arms to her. She tucked her head into my chest, and I let out a breath, one I’d been holding since realizing she was driving toward me in an ice storm.

“I was so scared.” Her voice quivered, and my heart contracted.

“You’re safe now.” It wasn’t the time to chide her for driving in icy weather. She always came to me after a bad day with her family.

“I feel safe with you.”

I tried not to let those words affect me, but they did. I wanted to be the man in her life. The one she came to all the time, not just with the bad stuff but the good too. But she only saw me as a friend, not a potential lover.

“I’ve got you.”

She snuggled in closer, and I banded an arm around her waist. She felt good. I breathed in her scent and wondered if I’d get another chance to be this close to her again. As much as I wanted to stay awake and enjoy her sleeping in my arms, the adrenaline had worn off and I was exhausted.

Before I fell asleep, I reached for my phone and set the alarm. I woke her periodically through the night to ensure she was okay.

In the morning, she was a heavy weight on top of me, her hair tickling my chin. Before I had a chance to revel in her proximity, she shifted, her head flying up. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

She moved off me, and I didn’t like it. I wanted to pull her back to me. But she wasn’t mine. “It’s fine.”

She rolled to her back, turning her head to catch the time on the alarm clock. “I can’t believe we slept so late.”

I ran a hand over my face. “It’s my fault. I kept waking you through the night.”

A smile spread over Sutton’s face. “Do you think Claire and Jameson hooked up last night?”

“They had the perfect opportunity. They were alone in the cottage, and I think that was by design.”

“Jameson deserves to be happy.”

I threw my arm over my head. “Jameson’s the happiest of all of us. He follows his dreams and does whatever he wants.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Sutton said.

“What do you call having three or four different jobs?”

Sutton’s lips twitched. “Jameson’s a good guy.”

“Why don’t you date him then?” I couldn’t help but ask even as my heart squeezed in protest. Why was I pushing her toward my brother?

Her eyes widened. “I’m not attracted to Jameson. He’s like a little brother.”

I barely refrained from asking her if she was attracted to me. It wasn’t the time or the place. It was too early in the morning to reveal truths like that. Not when we were stuck in the house together for a few more hours, or at least until the ice melted .

“I’m just saying I want him to be happy. I suspect that he’s been looking for something, and maybe Claire is the one to give him that.”

“She’s too good for him,” I said stubbornly. He needed someone to keep him in line, and who better than a single mother who had her shit together?

Sutton grinned. “All women are too good for the Calloways.”

Without thinking, I rolled until I straddled her, careful to avoid her knee. Sutton’s eyes widened, her breath hitched, but I couldn’t seem to move away. Words lodged in my throat.

Frustrated with my lack of control, I forced myself to move off her. I needed space, or she was going to notice the outline of my erection under my boxer briefs.

In the bathroom, I shut and locked the door, then threw cold water on my face. What was I doing? I get a few hours alone with my crush, and I acted like a caveman, straddling her and holding her down.

Sutton was going to think I’d lost my mind. I used to treat her like a sister, and siblings roughhouse and bait each other. The thing was, it didn’t feel like she was my sister when she was underneath me.

She was soft where I was hard, her body arching into mine. Had she felt the same physical attraction I did?

I needed a shower. A cold one. I turned on the water, quickly shucked my briefs, getting under the stream. It was cold, a shock to my system but exactly what I needed to forget how Sutton felt.

I scrubbed a hand over my face. I was supposed to be taking care of her, not lusting after her. I quickly soaped up and washed my hair, then rinsed. I stepped out of the shower and roughly scrubbed my skin, irritated with my lack of control.

I tied the towel around my waist because I’d forgotten to grab clothes. All I had was the briefs I’d worn all day yesterday.

When I opened the door, Sutton lay on her side facing me, her hands tucked prayer-style under her cheek.

“How was the shower?” Sutton asked. Her gaze lingered on my chest, then lower. Was she imagining me dropping my towel?

Cold. “Fine. I forgot my clothes.”

I pulled on my jeans under my towel, then let it fall to the floor. Then I grabbed my shirt. “You need breakfast. I’ll bring it up here, so you don’t have to get out of bed.”

Sutton rolled so that she was on her back. “That sounds lovely. Thank you.”

Sutton might have been used to a houseful of staff, but she never acted entitled. But it also meant that this wasn’t special. She was used to being catered to, at least by her family’s staff. But I suspected no one treated her with care. Maybe that’s how I was different.

Not that it mattered. Sutton would meet a guy who met her family’s expectations with the right financial portfolio, and she’d marry him. Because her family’s legacy was important to her.

I threw a thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”

Sutton threw her arms over her head, giving into a full body stretch. Her toes were pointed, her nails painted a pale pink. The movement was giving me ideas about what she’d look like naked in my bed after a night of sating our desires.

Nearly groaning, I opened the door, then shut it softly behind me.

I wasn’t sure if everyone else had stayed up late playing video games and binging on food. That’s what we did whenever there was a storm.

In the kitchen, the scent of coffee drew me to the machine, and I poured myself a cup.

“How is Sutton?” Dad asked.

I turned to find him seated at the breakfast nook. “I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”

“It’s just me. Everyone else is sleeping in. Enjoying a break from reality.”

Outside, the branches and ground were covered with ice. “She’s fine. I woke her every few hours overnight.”

Dad nodded. “That’s good. We need to take care of her. Her family leaves a lot to be desired.”

I needed to take care of her, but I got that Dad thought of her as another daughter. What would he think if he knew the thoughts I was having about her?

“Her family went overboard this time.”

Dad sobered. “What happened?”

I grabbed the eggs from the fridge, some veggies, and milk and set them on the counter. I’d make Sutton an omelet. She probably hadn’t eaten dinner with her family, and I hadn’t thought to grab a snack last night. “Her grandmother’s redoing the will. If Sutton doesn’t get married before she dies, she loses everything.”

Dad frowned. “Who gets it?”

“She’s threatening to give it to charity. Each family member will get a nominal amount of cash to prevent anyone from challenging the will, but most of the cash and estate will be donated.”

“Why does she care if Sutton is married?” Dad asked, genuinely confused.

My jaw tightened. “It’s always about control with them. ”

He rested his elbows on the table. “What is she going to do?”

“She didn’t say. But her mom is already lining up eligible suitors. No doubt some trust funders who are looking for a trophy wife who stands to inherit a fortune.”

Dad considered me as I cracked several eggs, then whipped them, pouring a few drops of milk into the bowl. I poured oil into the pan, turning on the burner to let it heat while I chopped peppers and onions.

“What are you going to do about it?” Dad asked.

I added the veggies to the pan. “I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it.”

“You’re going to let her marry some guy she doesn’t love just so she can inherit the estate?”

“You know how much she loves the house. She wants to keep it in the family.” I turned, leaning a hip against the counter. The way Sutton talked about it, she wanted to do something with the house itself. She didn’t necessarily want to live in it or raise a family within its walls. She wanted to create a different sort of legacy. One she could be proud of.

“I’m not sure it’s worth marrying someone you don’t love. In this day and age, it sounds a little crazy.”

“Her family is crazy,” I said softly, not wanting her to overhear if she made her way downstairs. “She should tell them to fuck off and do her own thing.”

Dad lifted his mug, giving me a look over the rim. “You know she won’t.”

I sighed, grabbing an avocado to slice. “I know.”

“This must be hard for you.” Dad’s concerned gaze made me fidget.

“It’s messed up, but I’m not sure it’s my place to do anything about it.”

Dad raised his brow .

I should distance myself from her. She was too good for someone who grew up on a farm. I was just her friend, the one she went to when she needed someone to listen.

When she got married, she wouldn’t come around as often. Her new husband wouldn’t appreciate her talking to another man. My time with her was limited.

Unless I married her? The idea had been at the forefront of my mind last night, but Sutton would never marry me. I grew up on a farm, and I worked as a police officer for the Department of Natural Resources. In retrospect, I wasn’t a suitable prospect for her. The fact was, I wasn’t the man for her.

I checked the veggies, pouring the eggs over the top.

“You’re a good friend to her.”

“I try to be.” I was there for her whether she needed someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. But she’d never thought of me as anything more. I needed to steel myself for the reality that she wouldn’t even be my friend soon. She’d be married to someone else.

Dad was quiet for a minute. Then he said, “Jameson said Claire wants to cut a tree down for her house.”

I turned to find Dad on his phone. Jameson must have texted. I wondered if that would be a way to spend more time with Sutton today. We could cut down a tree for her place, and I could help her set it up. Or I could get one for my place.

I wasn’t sure why I wanted to extend our time together, but I did. It already felt limited, and I’d only just heard about the ultimatum. Besides, the longer I could keep her away from her family, the better off she was.

I sprinkled shredded cheese over the almost-cooked omelet.

I knew Sutton had to go back but not today. Not when she had a mild concussion, bumps, and bruises. Remembering she might be in pain, I grabbed a glass of water and a bottle of pain medication from the cabinet.

“Take care of your girl.”

“I always do.” I liked Dad calling her my girl a little too much. I carefully folded the omelet, then placed everything on a tray Mom had used when we were kids and one of us was sick in bed. Then I carried the entire thing upstairs, wishing I had a flower to offer her.

I wanted to cheer her up. Get her mind off Mrs. Rosesmith’s ridiculous ultimatum. The problem was, I knew Sutton would want to meet her demands. Sutton wouldn’t be mine for much longer, and I needed to enjoy every minute I had with her.

I knocked softly on the door, but hearing the shower running, I opened the door and set the tray on the nightstand. My stomach rumbling, I ran downstairs to grab something for myself.

When I entered the kitchen, I said, “Sutton’s in the shower.”

Dad was cooking pancakes on the griddle. “You can have the first few.”

“The warm water should help with the sore muscles and her headache. I just want her to take the meds before it gets any worse.” I should have thought of that before I cooked her breakfast, but I was so thrown by waking with her on top of me, then how she felt underneath me… I was a mess.

I sipped my coffee and waited for the first two pancakes to be cooked, then carried them on a plate up to my room. Sutton sat cross-legged on the bed in an old T-shirt of mine she must have found in the dresser.

She smiled when I came inside. “Oh, good. I wanted to eat with you. ”

I lifted my plate. “Did you want pancakes? I can give you these.”

Sutton shook her head. “This is good.”

I rushed to put my plate down, then arranged the tray on Sutton’s lap. “How are you feeling this morning?”

Sutton frowned. “My neck and back are sore. I have a bit of a headache.”

“Eat. Then you can take the meds.”

Sutton’s expression softened. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Of course.” I grabbed my plate and sat next to her on the bed.

“After dinner, I wanted to be with you. Your family is so different. I can forget anything outside of this house exists.”

“Jameson mentioned cutting down a Christmas tree.”

Sutton’s eyes lit up. She loved the holidays.

“Are you up to coming with us? You just need to pick out the perfect tree, and I’ll do all the work.”

Sutton smiled. “That depends. Who’s the tree for?”

I swallowed. “I thought I’d get one for myself this year.”

“Really? This I have to see.” Sutton loved the holidays and never failed to give me shit for not wanting to decorate. I didn’t have kids and hadn’t dated anyone seriously over the holidays. I think it was because I wanted to have that time with Sutton.

If I could convince Sutton that it would be a bad idea to marry a stranger, then it would be worth it.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on your house.”

I held up a hand. “I said we’d cut down a tree. I didn’t say anything about decorating my house.”

“You can’t do one without the other.”

“Maybe not at Rosesmith Estate, but at my place, it’s low key. ”

“Not anymore it isn’t.” Sutton grinned, and I wondered if she was avoiding thinking about her issues in favor of tackling mine. If so, I was all for it.

I nodded toward the water and pill bottle on the nightstand. “Take the pills.”

“Of course, Dr. Calloway.”

My lips twitched. “I like the sound of that.”

“Officer Calloway sounds better,” Sutton said softly as she opened the bottle and popped a pill into her mouth, chasing it with water.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Her family had discouraged her from being friends with me because I wasn’t part of their social circle. It had only gotten worse when I chose my profession.

She finished her food, and I removed the tray, setting it down on the nightstand.

“Your phone is blowing up with messages.”

Sutton rolled her eyes as she settled onto the pillows. “That’s my mom. She wants me to get started on picking a suitable bachelor.”

“She doesn’t know you were in an accident?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Why would it matter if she did?”

And that was the unfortunate truth that settled like a brick in my stomach. Sutton was coming to me last night because I was the only one who showed genuine emotion when it came to her.

“Mom claims to be vetting them for me. Only men interested in marrying me for a piece of the Rosesmith Estate will be considered.”

My blood ran cold. “She’s only going to attract the worst kind of men if she puts that out there. Ones who only want the money. They won’t care about you. ”

Sutton shrugged. “That’s the way it works. You think my mom married my dad for love? She wanted the money he stands to inherit. It’s no different.”

I sat on the edge of the bed near her hip. “This sucks.”

Sutton’s eyes were suspiciously shiny, but she rarely cried in front of me. Then she closed her eyes and sighed. “Do you think we could cut down a tree and forget what a shitshow my life has become.”

I chuckled. “I’d be happy to do that.”

When I moved to get up, Sutton snagged my wrist. “You’re the best friend I could ever ask for, Wes. Thank you for always being there for me.”

I stood, letting her hand drop away. “And I always will be.”