Page 16 of Close to My Heart

“This is your life, but I don’t like how she’s pressuring you.”

Sutton sighed. “How else will I find someone to marry? Mom’s doing the legwork for me, taking some of the pressure off.”

“How was your date last night?” I asked tightly.

“Charles took me to the symphony in Baltimore.”

“That sounds nice.” Not the date I would have picked for Sutton. She might have come from money, but she loved the outdoors and the simple pleasures in life. Like an outdoor movie night.

“The music was. Him? Not so much. He talked about himself the entire night. I tried to say something about myself, and he just barreled right over me and continued to talk about himself.”

“You should want to get to know the other person.” Not that I had much experience in that department. At the end of every first date, I compared every woman to Sutton. No one measured up. Probably because I knew Sutton in a way I didn’t anyone else.

“You’re right. These dates my mom is sending me on are too stuffy: dinners at five-star restaurants, charity balls, and symphonies. I can’t get to know them. But if I did something a little more casual, maybe the outcome would be different. I could get to know these guys on a different level.”

“What did you have in mind?” I asked even though I didn’t want to know.

“It’s Christmas. Surely, there’s a million things we could do. Walk through downtown Annapolis and admire the lights. There’s the tree lighting ceremony. The walk-through light display at the Monroe Christmas Tree Farm.”

It sounded like she was reading from some list of things to do during the holidays. “You’re not going to Monroe farm.”

“They have a light display, and the Calloways don’t. It’s as simple as that.” But her voice held amusement.

“Aren’t you supposed to be loyal to me?”

“You know I am.”

“Then bring a date to our farm. Tell him you want to pick out a tree for your house.”

“You know we have staff for that.”

“This will be a test of sorts.” I could meet and evaluate the guy. It should have been a good thing, but there was a burning in my gut. “You can see if he loves the holidays as much as you. If he’s comfortable on a farm and in a ballroom.”

“I like it. It’s a true test to see if this guy could be the one for me.”

I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “That’s right. Let me know when you’re planning to be there. I’ll be sure to be there too.”

“Don’t you think that would be awkward? What are you going to do? Act like my big brother and interrogate him?”

“Someone has to. You don’t have anyone looking out for your best interests. Your mother just wants you married.”

“Don’t scare him off. Remember, this is a means to an end. I’m not marrying this guy for love.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to suggest she marry me instead. Wouldn’t it be safer to marry a friend than someone who was looking for a quick payday? But I couldn’t seem to form the words. It felt crazier than her marrying to inherit her grandmother’s estate. “Is this really want you want?”

“I want to share my home with everyone. This is the only way to do it. Otherwise, Grandma will sell everything, and you know what will happen. It will be torn down and turned into a housing development.”

I couldn’t respond because she was right.

“I just need to figure out which guy has potential. Maybe one of the guys I’ll see in the next few days.”

What had I done? Was I unwittingly pushing these two closer together? What if this guy enjoyed the outdoors? What if this was the guy she’d marry? Even if it started out as fake, it could turn into something more. They’d be playing house after all. Everyone knew that could feel real after a while. I’d seen the movies. Those might have been fiction, but this was a risk I shouldn’t have taken.

“You’re the best, Wes. Thank you.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” Apparently, to plan her dates with other men.

Even if it killed me, I was going to be there. I didn’t trust myself not to say what was really on my mind. That no guy was good enough for Sutton. No one understood her burning desires or put her first.

---