Page 2 of Father Knows Best (A Family Affair #1)
Brandon’s and Geo’s voices grow nearer, with Geo’s shoes clicking their way down the hall. Sutton tips his head to the side, and lowers his voice, private but not whispering, smoky but not intentionally. “Would you like to have lunch with me?”
I don’t know if this is a working lunch, or if it’s personal. Then again, when I looked Sutton Mercer up online, Google returned many images of him with models, attending charities, galas, social events, and fundraisers. Never the same model, but always a model.
Considering this, I decide it must be a business lunch, and smile.
“Sure. Have your assistant email me and we’ll set something up.
” I use my most professional voice, despite the tremor of disappointment rattling in my chest, threatening to shake up my vocal cords.
Business with Sutton Mercer is a great opportunity, I remind myself.
I move toward the kitchen, where my computer bag lies idly on the granite countertop. But before I get there, Sutton takes my elbow in a soft grip, stopping me. I turn, and blink up at him, realizing just how much bigger than me he is. “Today. Right now. That’s when I want to have lunch with you.”
Really? “Um, okay.” I’m wearing work clothes.
Jeans, sneakers, an old COLUMBIA t-shirt from college, a cardigan, my hair is in a day-old french braid and I’m sweaty.
When he emailed over the property details and the lookbook they were going for in terms of staging design, he didn’t mention stopping by.
In fact, he said to leave the key in the lock box on the door.
He releases my elbow and laughs softly, the kind of laugh that you can hear in a room full of loud voices, the kind of timbre that rumbles beneath your toes and up your spine.
“Um, okay,” he repeats, his laughter draining away, leaving traces of a very sexy smirk on his lips.
“You don’t sound sure about lunch with me. ”
“I didn’t expect you to ask me to lunch.
” I roll my lips together, and Sutton’s eyes drop to my mouth, and I find myself suddenly wishing I’d done more than Chapstick today.
I have to ask, because I’m not good with the unknown, and if I go to this lunch without understanding why I’m there, I’ll be anxious the entire time.
Chances are, I’ll be anxious either way.
“Is it a… work lunch?” I ask, my cheeks heating from those last two words.
If it is a work lunch, he’s going to think I thought he wanted to ask me out.
When that thought hits, I open my mouth, ready to make some excuse about wanting to expense it myself when Sutton Mercer flashes me a full smile.
Not a smirk, or a photo smile, but something that looks, to me, genuine.
“It’s a date.” He shoves his hands in his pants pocket, just blinking at me as if being asked out by a hot millionaire is something that shouldn’t shake me to my core.
“Your work is incredible. The fact you got this house fully staged in four days with such late notice, that you understood my vision and absolutely nailed it,” he says, blowing out a breath as he surveys the home.
His awe of my work gives me goosebumps. When he turns around and rests those gray eyes on me, I nearly melt.
“Very rarely am I understood so well by someone besides my father.” Another smile that makes me feel like a wanton hussy.
“So I’d like to take you to lunch, on a date. ”
I smile. “Don’t forget the now part,” I remind him.
He shrugs one shoulder. “I know what I want, and I know when I want it.”
I’m lost in the taunt and promise of his words, transfixed and made mute by the idea that Sutton Mercer wants me. I can’t help but picture me at his feet, his hand in my hair, telling me how much he adores me, how good I’m doing. My mouth goes dry.
The other two appear, Geo wearing an ear-to-ear smile. “The property looks wonderful, Ms. Bennett.” He pats Brandon’s shoulder. “Thank you for the tour.”
Brandon nods before facing me. “I grabbed the rest of your stuff.” He lifts his hand, showing off the canvas bag full of my supplies. I reach for it, and as he passes it to me, Geo leans forward, peeking inside.
“That’s a fun bag,” he says, flashing me a smile, his eyebrows dancing to his forehead as he indicates something naughty.
I truly can’t help but laugh. “That’s my supply bag.”
Geo reaches inside, and retrieves zip ties and duct tape. “You know–”
Sutton speaks over his father while, at the same time, taking the items from him and placing them gently back in my bag. “I’m taking Ms. Bennett to lunch now.” He faces Brandon, extending his hand. “It was good meeting you.”
Brandon returns the sentiment, and the four of us walk to the door. Geo tells me it was lovely to meet me, and slips into a town car which follows the winding driveway down to the public street, right behind Brandon.
Leaving me and Sutton Mercer.
He smiles. “My town car left.”
I look down at my tiny silver hatchback, and back up at the strapping man before me. “Will you fit?”
Another breath stealing smirk. “I’ll fit alright.”