Page 46 of Close to My Heart

I wanted to get her out of her mother’s crosshairs, so I said, “This sounds like a discussion for another day. Let’s dance.”

I whisked Sutton onto the dance floor.

“Thanks for the save. It seems like you’re having to do that a lot lately.”

“Because we’re around your family. Maybe when the wedding’s over, we can concentrate on us.” I knew there was no escaping that she worked at the estate.

“I’m worried about what Mom said. I didn’t know she was planning on shutting down the tours. What will I do?”

“You’re the one inheriting the house. You can do whatever you want with it.”

Sutton gasped. “Are you suggesting I kick my parents out?”

“What was your plan for your parents when you inherited?”

“I hadn’t gotten that far yet. I was preoccupied with the getting married to inherit part.”

“It sounds like your parents want the house and the money.”

“Why can’t anything with my family be easy?” Sutton asked, and I knew it was a rhetorical question.

“That’s what you have me for. I’ll ground you and remind you what’s important.”

11

WES

Ifelt good for pulling Sutton from that conversation with her mother. She probably would have stayed and hashed it out with her, ruining our evening in the process.

Sutton’s mother tended to stir up trouble, trying to get whatever it is that she wanted. And Sutton tended to fall into the trap of engaging with her.

I led her the dance floor, carefully avoiding her parents who were dancing too. “This place will be yours one day. Not hers. Your grandmother wanted you to have it.”

Sutton tipped her head to the side. “Are you sure about that? She required me to get married first.”

“Maybe she just wants to see you settled and happy.”

Sutton rolled her eyes. “Maybe.”

I didn’t get the same vibe from Mrs. Rosesmith that I got from her parents. We danced for a couple more songs, then grabbed drinks at the bar.

Every few minutes someone would come up to Sutton and congratulate her, wanting to meet me. When they asked what I did, and I said I was a police officer, they looked confused. I think they were expecting more of a summering-in-the-Hamptons kind of answer.

It would be impossible to impress this crowd. They only cared about status professions: attorney, doctor, entrepreneur.

I glanced at the time on my phone. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?” Sutton asked as I held her hand and guided her toward the door.

“It’s almost midnight.” I let go of her hand and grabbed two champagne flutes on the way out the door.

“I don’t have my jacket,” Sutton said.

Just then, the butler appeared with hers, helping her to shrug into it.

Sutton accepted the champagne. “You’ve thought of everything.”

I led the way outside. “Let’s walk into the gardens.”

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