Page 6 of The Tycoon (The Douglas Brothers #1)

Sutton

It’s time for me to face the music. Or something like that.

Shaking my head in utter disbelief, I turn down the volume of the country music filling my truck’s cab to clear my thoughts.

With the light rumble of gravel crunching under the wheels, I drive the last mile to my family’s estate.

Tonight hasn’t gone to plan and for the first time in a long time, I’m unprepared for what lay ahead.

I’ve had almost an hour to think about what I’m going to say to my parents on my drive from Dallas to Celina, but I honestly have no idea.

All I keep thinking about is the damn kiss on the cheek Dolly gave me.

I swear her lips burned my skin. I wonder if they will leave such an indelible impression on other parts of my body.

God, I want her.

Grumbling to myself, I reach for the automatic gate key as I turn onto the beginning of the driveway.

Slowing down my truck, I wait for the hunk of electrified metal to move before pulling through.

I give a quick look to the security camera, my face blank as it records me.

I’m betting on my Papa being too inebriated to give any notice to the alert that will be pinging on his phone.

Driving down the moonlit driveway, I stare at my family’s palatial ranch-style home in front of me.

Like most women in the late seventies, eighties, and very early nineties, my Mama was a huge fan of the tv show Dallas.

Especially since she believed that she had married into the real-life version of the Ewing family.

Southfork Ranch was the epitome of style and class back then, a symbol of southern wealth.

My Papa, in his obsession with the need to please my Mama, built this home for her as a wedding present.

While very similar in style, it’s nearly three times the size of Southfork and three times as gaudy.

But Lord have mercy does my Mama still love her dream home, golden swan faucets and all.

But I digress.

As soon as I left Dolly’s apartment, I sent my Mama a text letting her know we had just arrived at the hotel. She always gives me three hours after I send her that text to play. Two hours for me to have my fun, and another to let the beast have its fun.

She won’t be expecting me to contact her for another hour, so I will be catching her off guard.

I’d rather have the element of surprise than have her already be pissed.

Although slim, I have a better chance of getting through to her this way.

It’s going to be jarring for her to learn that my craving has all but disappeared, but an even bigger shock to her system when I tell her I’ve met her future daughter-in-law.

Pushing out a sigh, my eyes pull to the deserted pasture that now holds a row of guest houses a quarter of a mile from the main driveway.

Most of our help lives on the premises, it’s just easier that way.

I almost take a hard left to go to see Harold, our family’s resident chauffeur.

I need to give him Dolly’s keys so he and Cary can deliver her car back in the morning.

I’ll also have him make an extra set of her keys while he’s at it.

Two birds, one stone. I’m a big fan of working smarter, not harder.

But it is nearly one in the morning, I should probably wait until after I see my Mama.

Pulling directly up to the house, I put my truck into park and turn off its engine.

Sitting quietly in the cab, my hand reaches into my pocket for my phone.

My first instinct is to call my older brother Dalton for advice, but my hand hesitates as I remind myself of his current situation.

Knowing he’s got much bigger fish to fry, I leave my phone be.

Hopefully I’ll have good news to report to him in a few days.

Opening my driver’s side door, I quickly slip from my truck. Slamming it closed, I straighten my posture and head to the front door. My hand hovers over the ornate doorknob as I take in a cleansing breath. I count to three before letting myself in through the unlocked door.

The house is silent save for the ambient sounds of an old Rangers game echoing from the media room.

My parents are creatures of habit, especially on harvest days.

They usually hunker down and watch a championship game.

It used to be that they would watch the Cowboys win the Super Bowl way back in ninety-six, but now they watch the Rangers clench their first ever World Series.

Bless them, they love their Texas sports teams. It kills them that my younger brother Griffin wasn’t drafted into the Stars.

Cautiously winding my way into the center of the mansion, I’m careful not to step on any of the creaky planks of walnut.

But even with my stealthy ways, my Mama’s little demon Pomeranian hears me just before I enter the room.

Ever the attack dog, the little fluffy, rust colored rat starts growling and barking.

Letting it be known that I have so rudely awoken her from her nap.

“Who’s that, Sweetie?” I hear my Mama call out.

Jumping from her place on the couch, Sweetie comes running towards me. My Mama follows suit, walking towards the wide door frame. Pulling her gaze from her dog, she stops dead in her tracks as her eyes settle on me.

“Sutton? What the hell are you doing here?” she asks in bewilderment.

“Hey Mama,” I say, trying to turn on my charm.

“What the hell are you doing here, boy? Why aren’t you at the hotel? Did something happen? Did you call Harrison yourself? Did something go wrong? Did the bitch get away? Did you not do it right?”

The more she speaks, the more frantic her voice becomes. I lift my hands in an attempt to calm her, shushing her in the politest way I can.

“Mama, please, give me a moment to tell you. I don’t want to tell you to calm down because I know that pisses you off, but I really do need you to calm down. Please.”

Blinking at me, her cheeks turn as red as her hair. I can see her mind running a mile a minute, but she actually listens to me. Leaning down to pick up her barking yip yap, she pulls the pup to her chest.

“Shh, Sweetie. It’s just Sutton, be a good girl.”

Ceasing her incessant barking, Sweetie bounces her beady black eyes back and forth between my Mama and me. I may be her favorite son, but even I don’t hold a candle to this damn dog.

“Alright, Sutton. Tell me what the hell is going on,” she demands.

Taking a deep breath, I soften my features as best I can. I know I need to rip off the band-aid as quickly as possible, there’s definitely no beating around this bush.

“She turned me down, Mama,” I reply with a shrug of my shoulders.

Staring at me for a handful of seconds, a range of different emotions flash over her face. Her mouth finally drops, and she lets out a sharp laugh.

“Very funny, Sutton. Now tell me what really happened.”

Taking a couple of steps towards her, my head nods as I once again shrug my shoulders.

“I’m telling you the truth, Mama. I took her to the hotel, brought her back to the room. And before we did anything she turned to me and told me that she didn’t feel right about it, that she’s not that type of girl. That she doesn’t have sex with someone unless she’s in a committed relationship.”

Huffing in disbelief, she gives me an incredulous look.

“She said what, now?”

Lifting my hands in exasperation, I chuckle in kind. I know I really have to sell this, I try to recall everything I learned fifteen years ago back in high school drama class.

“I’m just as shocked! I tried to talk her into it, I used all of the tricks in my book, but…she stuck to her guns. She said that she really liked me and that she didn’t want to ruin what could be if she let me use her before I loved her.”

Widening her blue eyes, I can tell my Mama is having a hard time believing me.

Her opinion of women my age isn’t that high, she doesn’t think that there are still ladies with morals. I know this will be a tough pill for her to swallow.

“You should have tried harder, Sutton. A lot was riding on tonight, you know that.”

I hate to hear the disappointment in her voice.

It takes me right back to when I was nineteen and had botched my first kill.

After I thought Cara had slipped, I called my Mama to tell her the good news, only to have the tight bodied brunette wake up sputtering on her own blood.

My Mama had to then walk me through it, coaching me the correct way to hold her throat, and how much pressure to use.

She had the same tone to her voice then as she does now.

Even with me not wanting to hurt Dolly, it still fills me with shame to disappoint her.

“I know, Mama! But what would you have had me do? You know that I only kill the ones that deserve it. And this girl? I promise you that she doesn’t. She’s intelligent and kind. She’s sweeter than honey and has a giver’s heart. She’s perfect. She really is. I know you will love her!”

Studying my face, a loud gasp leaves her lips.

She knows me better than anyone else on this planet, she can tell that I’m smitten.

She always told me that I would know when I found the one.

She might not want to admit it right this second, but she can feel in her mother’s heart that I have met her future daughter-in-law.

“Think long and hard about this, Sutton. Senator Murphy really, really needed that liver for his niece. This girl, what’s her name?” she asks.

“Dolly, her name is Dolly,” I reply, my expression softening from the affection I’m harboring in my heart.

Noticing my dumbed expression, she pushes out a sigh. Bringing her middle finger and thumb to her finely featured face, she carefully pinches the bridge of her nose. Closing her eyes, she says something that lets me know that everything is going to be ok.

“Goddammit. Her name is Dolly. Of course it is.”

Relaxing my shoulders, I nod my head, the tiniest smile lifting my lips. My Mama’s favorite singer is Dolly Parton. She’s going to take this as a sign from God. She’s big on signs, which I suppose works perfectly in this situation.

“This…Dolly…she had perfect markers to be a perfect match for Senator Murphy’s niece. Now what are we gonna do? Huh? We really need his backing with all these new energy bills popping up!” she exclaims.

Staying quiet for a long moment, my own mind races for an answer.

I’ve been trying to move Douglas Oil and Solar into the twenty-first century since my father began the step-down process over two years ago.

Unlike many of the people I’m surrounded by, I believe that climate change is a real problem for our society, and the planet.

I have been slowly trying to edge out the company’s reliance upon fossil fuels to other forms of energy.

I drive an EV truck, for fucks sake. But money is still king, and I have to play this game strategically.

I will need to stay on Murphy’s good side. For a while, at least.

“Can’t you just work your Mama magic? Do it for my future wife?” I ask, trying to make my voice sound as sweet as possible.

Pressing her lips into a fine line, her eyes narrow in annoyance. It’s short lived, though. She can never stay mad at me for too long. She’s always wanted to plan a huge wedding.

“I’ll see what I can do. Murphy’s niece is on death’s door anyways.

Harrison said he didn’t think she would last until tomorrow.

God willing, she won’t,” she says with a sigh, pausing as her mind tries to find an excuse.

“Maybe I can say there was a mishap during the harvest. The doctor nicked into the liver’s artery or somethin’, I don’t know.

Murphy is a dumbass. Just as long as I sound professional, he will believe whatever I say.

And he won’t make waves. I’ll make sure of it. ”

Closing the gap between us, I pull my Mama into a warm embrace. Sweetie growls at me as she presses into my torso but I don’t pay the pup any mind. I feel like a kid on Christmas, I know my Mama will fix everything. She always does.

“I love you, Mama,” I say.

Squeezing me one more time, she finally pulls away from my arms. Giving me the tiniest wink, she reaches up with her free hand to pinch my cheek. Right where Dolly had given me her sweet kiss.

“And I love you, my Sutton boy. I will move heaven and hell for you. And I just want my baby to be happy. Remember that.”

Nodding my head, I give her a thankful grin in return.

Stirring behind us, my Papa pulls himself upright from his oversized armchair. Struggling to breathe due to his sleep apnea, he chokes himself awake.

“What! What happened! What’s wrong?” he asks, trying to make sense of where he is.

Rolling her eyes as she turns towards him, I catch a mixture of annoyance and adoration on her face. It’s heartwarming to see that even after all these years, she loves him with her whole heart. I know Dolly will have that same love for me.

“It’s just Sutton, Michael, he came to tell us the good news.”

Lifting his hand to his face, my Papa wipes the sleep from his eyes. Focusing his gaze on her, he lifts a grey brow. I doubt he will even remember this interaction in the morning.

“Good news? And what’s that?” he asks.

Making a show of her next comment, she slaps the widest smile on her face that I have ever seen from her. Giving Sweetie a rub on her head, her gaze moves from my Papa to me.

“Sutton’s gonna go huntin’ again, Baby! Only this time, he’s gonna snag himself a wife!” she replies.

Mumbling something under his breath, my Papa rests his body back into the armchair. I think he says something like “atta boy” but I’m not sure.

Zeroing her eyes on mine, my Mama pushes out a dramatic sigh. I’m sure she has a million questions swirling around in her head, but she keeps them to herself.

“Hunt her down, Sutton boy. Make sure she’s worth her weight in salt. And if she isn’t well then, I guess she will meet Brenna.”