Page 111 of Double or Nothing

“Things change,” I tell her.

“Even after last night?”

I brace for the words I fear are coming next. The admission that in our short separation, Sutton found comfort in her arms.

“Don’t do that. Don’t insinuate something that didn’t happen.”

“You told me you wanted this… the tour, us, all of it.” Her voice is strained voice, trying to hide the emotion behind it, but it seeps through. I can hear it clear as day because I understand it. The only difference is she doesn’t deserve him—not after what she did.

“Is that why you did it?” If she was going to destroy him, I would like to know it was with semi-decent intentions. His career, for one.

“Did what?” Sutton asks.

I hadn’t intended to tell him this way, not with her standing near enough for him to throttle, but Val made her bed, and now she has to lie in it.

“She paid your dad to show up at the Sapphire. She told him to say and do whatever it took to get you to leave town.”

“Is that true?” Sutton asks, glaring at Val.

“I had to get you out of this town and on that tour. It was for your own good, Sutton. Everything I’ve done is for your own good. You know that.”

“Everything? What else have you done?” Anger rises in Sutton’s voice.

“It doesn’t matter, baby,” I tell him, trying to calm him down. “I’m here. We’re together. That’s all that matters.”

“I’ll take care of her,” Mac says, stepping onto the plane. The gentle man I know appears intimidating as hell, taking me off guard.

“I thought—” Sutton begins.

“Yeah, right. Like your ass can survive without me.” Mac chuckles.

Sutton clearly wants to handle her, but with my hands on him, my lips near his ear, I do my best to distract him.

“Please, baby, can we just go?” I plead with him.

“I want her off the team.”

“That won’t be a problem, Sut,” Mac promises.

“Let’s go home,” Sutton tells me, intertwining his fingers with mine.

“Where’s home?” I ask him.

“Isn’t it obvious? Wherever you are.”

We step off the plane and head to the limo Mac and I arrived in. I sort of stole it from the Sapphire, not that I imagine Jack will disapprove. Sutton’s hand is no longer in mine, and as I turn to make sure he didn’t get back on the plane, my heart stops.

There, down on bended knee, is Sutton.

“What are you doing?”

“What I should have done five years ago. Will you marry me, Kat?”

“What… Are you…?” I vanquish all the doubts and reservations from my head and give him the only response I want. “Yes.”

Sutton jumps up from the ground, scoops me into his arms, and twirls me around.

“Tonight, Kitty Kat. I want to marry you tonight.”

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