Page 87 of Then You Happened
“Thank you.”
“You coming back? You better not get any ideas about staying there.”
“I’ll be back, Evan; although I’m sure you can run that place blindfolded and with one hand tied behind your back.”
“I can.” He chuckles, and it’s a sound I can remember as far back as possible. Evan and his gruff demeanor but huge heart, his big bushy mustache and the magic tricks he could mesmerize a young boy with, has always been in my life. The man probably spent more time with me than my own father did, but he never judged me. “But it’s you they’ll all be looking for direction from. They need a Sutton here.”
“Lauren’s there,” I say and know that she doesn’t quite cut it.
“Not the same.”
“I know.” I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “I know.”
“See you soon.”
On the way to the kitchen, the lights in the house pull my attention again.
Keep on walking by, Jack. Don’t even think about heading up there.
Last thing I need in my life is a woman who provides anything other than a physical release.
Organize the paperwork for the Steely Brothers. Get caught up on your work.
Last thing I need is to fall for a woman when the last one nearly broke me.
Go check on the horses and make sure that Will got his list of tasks done.
Besides, I have a life to get back to. My promise has been kept. But Tate, this, can’t happen—no matter how good the sex is.
And if sex is that good the first time, it will only get better once we get to know each other’s bodies. Imagine what it
will be like when the nerves are gone.
I should head to the bar.
Gain some distance.
Get some space.
I grab my keys and figure it wouldn’t hurt to see what kind of ruckus I caused with my reaction to the pricks at Axe’s today.
Her light is still on when I walk to my truck.
Her shadow still moving back and forth across the window when I climb behind the wheel.
28
JACK
She opens her front door.
This is a mistake.
Those lips of hers shocked in an O.
Such a huge fucking mistake.
Her nipples are hard, and the darkness of them is just visible through the flimsy white of her tank top.
