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“You are fine! I am Sutton Landry, and this is my friend Candice Cook. She is the new Creative Director at Sutton Enterprises.”
Candice beamed at my introduction and shook their hands.
Nate frowned for a minute. “Sutton? You wouldn’t be the new co-owner of Sutton Enterprises, would you?”
I bit my lip. “Would it be a bad thing if I said yes?”
They laughed, and Candice added, “Sutton is doing a phenomenal job. We are happy to have her there.”
We made small talk with Kim and Nate for a few more minutes and then they departed. The man behind the counter called our names when our order was ready, and we went to pick up our sandwiches and drinks.
Taking our lunch outside on the little patio, we selected a shady spot and sat down.
“Now, tell me everything.” Candice wriggled her eyebrows. “I want all the juicy details!”
I took a bite of my sandwich and held a hand up, indicating that I needed a moment. The truth was that I had no idea what to tell her. Finally, that is precisely what I said. “Candice, there is nothing to tell.”
She shook her head incredulously. “He watches your every move, Sutton. If he weren’t so damn handsome, I might think it was creepy. But I get chills just watching the two of you together. Did you notice that he didn’t leave your side the whole night? I have never seen Mr. Williams behave that way.”
I wanted to ask her more about how he watched me—like he wanted me, or wanted to choke me. Because I know I have been on the receiving end of the latter one.
“What are you afraid of?” she asked quietly.
And before I knew it, I was pouring out my sad, pathetic, and dismal love life. “I am not the kind of girl that men take home. I am the kind of girl that is good for a quick fuck in the alley. Mark isn’t that kind of guy. I lived in a trailer, Candice, and not a nice new fancy one either. We are so different you might as well ask if the sun is attracted to the moon.”
Her lips twitched. “The sun attracts the moon, Sutton. The sun attracts everything, and you my dear are the sun in this scenario.”
I frowned, “Then why does the moon go around the earth?”
She shook her head, “You are getting off point, and it’s a binary system but that doesn’t matter. Sutton, I don’t think you have any idea how powerful you are, and I am not just talking about your new fortune.”
“Candice, I am not who you think I am. If you could see Otterville Falls, you would know what I am talking about.”
“Trust me on this, Sutton.” Candice rolled her eyes. “You are going to knock this city on its ass—wait and see.”
A sleek black town car pulled up the curb next to the patio where we were eating, and Candice nearly choked on her meal. A broad grin broke across her face and her eyes danced in amusement.
I turned around to see Mark exiting the car and walking straight toward us with angry determination. Before I could speak, he launched into his tirade.
“Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I was? You didn’t even let Bethany know where you were going.”
I gaped at him. “You aren’t my father.”
His jaw tightened. “No, I am not. But he did leave you to my care.”
People were beginning to stare, and I hated that Candice had a front-row seat to my humiliation.
“I am a grown woman and if I want to go somewhere, I will do it.”
His eyes blazed. “We are leaving!”
I glared at him. “Well then, go. I am not coming with you!”
Candice chose that moment to interject—traitor.
“Sutton, I have to run an errand. If you want to return to the office with Mr. Williams, I can meet you there.”
If looks could kill, my new employee would be six feet under. “I will accompany you.”