Page 50 of Sutton's Shadow

He had to keep reminding himself of that as he hugged her to him again. The relief nearly sent him to his knees. He locked them, needing to stay strong for Bethany.

Reluctantly leaving her with Sutton briefly when Ian caught his attention, he trailed behind the deputy, her voice following him down the hall as she reintroduced herself to his sister. He smiled, listening to them talk. Bethany had been ecstatic to learn Sutton was a photographer when they’d first met years ago. She’d always had an interest in the medium, and that hadn’t changed much as she’d aged.

Ian closed the door behind Wyatt, gesturing to the seat by his desk. Once settled, Ian explained what had happened. Apparently, Sheriff Dodd had made a few phone calls and discovered the house they had placed her in. Unfortunately, it had been a group home, full of other teenagers like herself who could so easily be lost in the shuffle. Dodd had ordered her returned to the sheriff’s office and informed Ian, who had called him immediately.

During the explanation, Dylan burst into the office, waving a sheaf of papers. She’d gotten a judge to grant him temporary custody. He signed the papers with a shaky hand until Sutton’s voice as she laughed with his sister floated down the hall. The sound calmed him until he could continue to write without the tremor.

Now he and his sister and his entire extended Nighthawk family were celebrating her return at Jolene’s. His gaze drifted around the table. The women had taken Bethany under their wing and were treating her as one of their own. Bethany’s laughter eased the vise that had clamped around his heart for the last twenty-five days. The men were ribbing him about being an insta-dad, which he didn’t mind one bit if it meant Bethany was safe.

After the food and the celebratory cake Natalie had made had been devoured, things were quieting down. The harsh feedback from a microphone made everyone wince but caught their attention.

“Sorry about that,” Jolene said from the little stage near the jukebox. “Now that I’ve got everybody’s attention. . .” She paused as the crowd laughed. “We here at Jolene’s are like a family. Loud, rambunctious, sometimes rude, but always chock-full of friendship and love. We’ve had a lot to celebrate recently with successful movie premieres and engagements.” She paused again for the cheers.

“And I think everybody can agree that having Little Bee back is a huge reason to celebrate.” The Nighthawk table burst into applause and cheers. Bethany blushed, ducking her head while pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Wyatt caught her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Therefore, in celebration, I think it’s time we brought back our impromptu karaoke night. The girls in the band have generously agreed to play for us.”

Every once in a while, Jolene’s hosted live music, and the band members now taking the stage were a favorite of everybody’s. “So, who’s first?”

There was ribbing and joking as everybody prodded everybody else into participating. Finch agreed to go first. Jolene handed him the microphone with a stiff arm, her eyes darting to the floor. She fled the stage without a word. Finch’s shoulders sagged briefly before he turned to face the crowd, a big smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes on his face. His friend was hurting, but hiding it well, and Wyatt wished he could help.

Finch sang “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Rae Cyrus, which had the bar roaring with laughter and set the tone for the celebration. At least until they prompted Wyatt to the stage. He could only think of one song to perform for his sister. A song he used to sing to her when she was young. He closed his eyes as the opening notes of Billy Joel’s “Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)” played. Then he opened them and started singing, drinking in the sight of his baby sister sitting among his friends.

She sat next to Jude, who had his arm across the back of her chair. As the lyrics left his mouth, she’d raised a hand to cover her lips, as if trying to hold back a sob. The tears soon escaped the confines of her eyelids to slip down her cheeks. Jude tightened his arm around her shoulders, and Sutton placed her hand over Bethany’s, each offering her comfort from the tumultuous emotions his song stirred.

When the last strains of the music faded away, the room remained quiet until Bethany jumped up, shouting, “So not fair, Wyatt!” She furiously wiped at her face while stomping to the stage.

He grinned like a fool when Bethany reached him. She placed her hands on her hips and attempted to give him her fiercest scowl. It just made him smile bigger.

“Sorry, not sorry, little heart,” he stated, using the affectionate nickname he’d used since the first time he’d held her. Her eyes narrowed, her frown deepening. He laughed and pulled her into his arms.

“You’re gonna get it for that one,” Bethany threatened. “And I have just the song for payback.” He knew he should be worried; she could be vicious in her retributions. But he was just too happy to have her back.

She broke out of his embrace and approached the band members, who broke out in laughter at whatever she’d requested. The leader grabbed her tablet, swiping through it until she found what Bethany wanted. After a few more adjustments on the screen, she handed the tablet to his sister.

Still glaring at him, she snatched the microphone from where he’d set it on top of the piano. He wasn’t worried about her song choice until that devilish glint appeared in her eyes. And with her next words, he knew he was in for it.

“Anything you can do, I can do better,” she bellowed into the microphone before clicking something on the tablet, and the opening strains of a song poured out of the speakers.

He groaned.

The song from the musicalAnnie Get Your Gunhad always been a favorite of Bethany’s. Years ago, there had been a YouTube video of creepy amateur cartoon versions of the characters fromFrozenperforming the song that was sung by Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat. She’d made him watch it over and over again. He’d sat through the damn thing so many times, he had the entire piece memorized.

That being said, it had been years since he’d last heard the song, and he wasn’t so confident in his memory. Just as Bethany started her part of the song, she shoved the tablet into his hand, pointing to the display. The lyrics scrolled by as she sang her part. He had no choice but to join in now.

Back and forth, the battle in song went, each trying to outdo the other. The audience was in stitches as he fumbled his way through it, and he’d never enjoyed it as much as he did then. Seeing Bethany let loose and enjoy herself made any embarrassment he might have experienced worth it.

After they belted out the last note, the spectators erupted. The women soon surrounded Bethany, who blushed at their praise, and he couldn’t stop smiling. He’d wanted this for her from the moment she was born. A family. Acceptance. And he hoped like hell the judge would give him full custody.

His gaze was drawn to Sutton as she approached Bethany for a hug. He’d thought about their night together non-stop. Being with her was like having every craving filled and still not being completely full. The craving only intensified.

She hugged his sister, then, with her hands on Bethany’s shoulders, Sutton said something that had Bethany nodding before they both broke out in laughter. She caught his eye and smiled.

The breath halted in his throat, his heart shuddering. She was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever seen. Over the last few weeks, he’d watched as she came back into herself. She was no longer the skittish, broken woman he’d noticed at the bar before Bethany went missing. She wasn’t hiding behind a curtain of hair anymore. The anguish in her eyes, while still flickering at the edges, wasn’t all consuming like it once had been. Her smiles came more swiftly, and she held her head higher.

And she was stealing more of his heart with every one of her smiles.

There was an instant urge in him. An urge to claim her, in front of everybody. But he knew instinctively she would balk at that. She was nowhere near as ready as he was. She would retreat back into herself, and that was not something he was willing to risk happening. He wanted her heart healed and happy and was prepared to lock his own heart down for the time being.

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