Page 40 of When Sparks Fly

Izzy chews quietly, watching the exchange. We’ve had our fair share of ladies’ nights over the years, but always with a solid plan. No doubt Izzy has questions about what went down last night. The worry written on her face is similar to the frustration I felt last night having Leah mostly slung over someone’s shoulder as she was deposited to me. Never mind having to be fully carried outside. I don’t even know what she remembers.

“I didn’t see you complaining when that stud of a cowboy swept you onto the dance floor.” Leah pointedly moves the heat to me. She takes a long gulp of her mimosa in quiet celebration and raises her eyebrows as if to sayso, there.

“Stud?” Izzy parrots. She shoves my chair with her shoulder. Her blue eyes sparkle at me.

“His name is Sutton, and he’s a rancher.”

Izzy’s mouth falls open.

Liv cuts in. “As in Sutton Strickland?” Her eyes are huge.

My brows pull together.“Yes? Why are you saying his name like that? He was just here last week.”

“Not as a date.” Liv grins.

“It wasn’t a date.”

“He candance.” Leah can’t help but stir the pot.

“Yes he can.” My eyes rest on the uneaten food centered on the round table. “It wasn’t what I was expecting for the night, that’s for sure.”

Leah refills her plate while Izzy and Liv continue to stare at me. Neither of them dares to ask anything.

“I met Sutton after Nana passed. He came with his mom when she brought over some food. She’s very sweet.” My mouth tips at her warm nature. Everyone should be so lucky to have a mom like her. “He happened to be at the bar last night.”

“Well he scared Colt off, anyway.” Leah speaks through her French toast.

“Colt?” Izzy is looking between us again. She and Liv shrug at each other.

“The biker?” I offer this information as if it will give them an inkling as to who he is. “Oh, really? Everyone knows Sutton, but no one knows Colt?”

The town is small, but I can’t assume that between the four of us we’ll know everyone. Although it’s starting to feel that way with each person I meet.Stupid small town.

I take a bite of the crispy bacon on my plate. “What about Pete?”

A thud echoes under the table and I snicker at Leah trying to kick me.

Liv grins widely as Leah and I stare each other down playfully.

No one bites on the Pete comment, so I give in and keep going. “It’s moot anyway. Sutton didn’t talk to him. Colt was angry with me.”

“You pissed off a biker?” Izzy’s mouth tightens.

“It’s not like that…”Maybe it is like that.“Whatever. He can fuck right off.”

Liv’s eyebrows raise and she suppresses a laugh. My eyes fly to her. “I love when you’re yourself,” she promises and pats my hand on the table. She spears a strawberry half with her fork and pops it in her mouth. “Are you going to see him again? Sutton?”

Leah’s sunglasses sit loosely atop her head, day old makeup visible around her eyes. “That man was watching Ms. Maci like she was the only woman in the world.”

We can always count on Leah for the drama. I roll my eyes. “He was a little intense, but I wouldn’t go that far.” I can’t hide my smile. “I gave him my number.”

Liv grins excitedly.

“Intense?” Izzy’s questioning this time is playful.

“He—" I halt, rolling my lips in and trying to determine how best to explain Sutton’s interactions.

Leah snorts at the same time. “It was some love at first sight shit.”

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