Page 25 of Close to My Heart

“It will be interesting to see how it turns out,” I said blandly.

Jameson smirked. “I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.”

“I think having a Santa is a good idea. It’s the perfect opportunity to draw people in.”

“As long as I’m not dressed up as Santa,” Jameson said.

“You’d be perfect as Santa. You’ve got the muscles. The facial hair,” I teased him.

Jameson punched me hard in the arm.

On Saturday night, I was trying to relax at home with Otto on the couch next to me. He groaned every time he rolled over. “Are you missing Sutton too?”

She’d been out on dates every night this week. She called it speed dating. I called it torture.

When my phone rang, I moved for it a little slower than I would have normally. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear about her latest dating escapade. I certainly didn’t want to learn that she’d met the one.

With a sigh, I answered, “Hey.”

“Wes, oh, thank god.”

The desperation in her voice had me sitting up straight, immediately on high alert. “What’s wrong?”

“I went on a date tonight, and he’s creeping me out.”

My jaw tight, I asked, “Where are you?”

“Max’s Bar & Grille. I’m hiding out in the bathroom.”

I was already moving. “Did you ride with him?”

“No. I always insist on meeting these guys out.”

“What do you need me to do?” If it were up to me, I’d be in my truck and on my way to her. But I needed the go ahead. Sutton sometimes preferred to talk things out. She didn’t necessarily want me to fix it for her.

“He’s insisting on driving me home, and I took a car service here. Could you—” Her voice dropped.

“Whatever you need, I’m here for you.” I stood in the foyer, my keys in my hand.

“Could you pick me up? I’ll say I have a ride with a friend. Even if he insists on walking me out, he won’t mess with you.”

Fuck, no he wouldn’t. I’d make sure of that. It was the permission I needed to walk out my door and head toward my truck. “Do not for any reason go outside with him. I’ll come to you.”

“Thank you, Wes. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I turned on the truck and switched to Bluetooth, letting her voice fill the cabin. “You know I’ve got you. Anytime. Anywhere. You can always call me.”

“I love that about you. But I shouldn’t depend on you like this?—”

“That’s what friends are for,” I forced myself to say, even if I hated the word friends when it came to Sutton.

“I have to go back downstairs. He’s going to wonder why I’ve been in the bathroom for so long.”

“Stall him for as long as you can. Order another drink. A water or a soda. You want to be clearheaded. Plus, I don’t want him drinking.”

“He’s been downing beers. I couldn’t count how many. Plus, he was already drinking when I got here.”

That was the worst kind of guy. The drunk, belligerent one.

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