by K. A. Linde
Linda held up her hand. “I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad. I was just asking.”
“You’re never just asking.”
Linda grinned. “I worry. I don’t have a son to worry over, so I do it for you and Jason now. If you’re happy and Jason is happy, that’s what matters.”
I released a breath. “Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that.”
“Just be careful, okay? With your heart and your son’s heart. I couldn’t bear to see either of them broken again.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime you need us to watch Jason, just give us a holler. We’re more than happy to have him.” Linda rose to her feet. “Now, let’s go outside and see my grandson drive a tractor fourteen years before he gets a license.”
I laughed but followed her outside. I’d thought this was going to be harder. Last time I’d talked to them about David, Linda had completely freaked out on me. I’d worried it would be like that again. But I hadn’t let her prey on my insecurities. I felt stronger. It was a relief, and I felt lucky to have them in my life.
Ten
David
We touched down at JFK International Airport early Friday afternoon. When I’d invited Sutton to come to New York with me, I’d been in the throes of passion. Or maybe I’d hit my head too hard. Because, now that I was here, I was not at all as confident as I’d felt when I had her back against that refrigerator.
It had been years since I was in my hometown, and I was not the man I’d been when I left. The day I’d turned my back on this place was the day that everything changed. For the better. I’d forgotten how suffocating this life was, and it took only two minutes after walking out into the smoggy summer air to remember.
Our chauffeur appeared then in a slick black Mercedes. He opened the back door for us and stowed our luggage, and then we were off.
Sutton yawned. “I’m going to need a nap. Jason had me up all last night. He was so excited about staying at his grandparents’ that he refused to sleep.”
“He’s lucky to have them in his life. Even if that makes you tired.”
“True. I’m glad they agreed to watch him, especially since the last time we talked it didn’t go so well.”
I understood Maverick’s parents’ unease. They’d lost a son, and now, the only two people who understood their grief were moving on. Or I was sure that was how they saw it. But I wasn’t replacing Maverick in anyone’s life. I wanted my own place in Sutton’s and Jason’s lives.
“Me, too.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you try to rest? With the traffic, it’ll probably be an hour until we get into Manhattan.”
“Nah. I’m pretty used to the exhaustion.”
She had said that and then promptly fell asleep against the window a few minutes later. I laughed softly under my breath and then watched my city come into focus.
Manhattan was a bustling metropolis of skyscrapers and chaotic streets and noise. So much noise. We crossed the bridge onto the island, and all the sights and sounds and smells assaulted me. Something settled in my chest. A feeling of rightness. I hadn’t known how much I missed it.
I’d forced myself to stay away. But, now that I was here, even the suffocating aspects of the Upper East Side didn’t seem so bad. I’d probably feel differently once I had to deal with it all again. Right now, I’d revel in that rightness. Knowing it wouldn’t last long.
I shook Sutton awake when we arrived.
“Oh God, sorry.” She rubbed her eyes and blearily looked up at me. “Did I pass out?”
“You did. We’re here. You ready?”
“Yeah, I’m alive.” She slunk out of the backseat, and I watched as her mouth popped open. “We’re staying at The Plaza?”
“I said I’d show you my world.” I walked around to her side of the car and wrapped an arm around her waist.
It was kind of cute to see her like this. Sutton Wright, who had a trust fund and a family name with more money than God, being awed by me taking her to The Plaza. Lubbock and New York might as well have been on different continents.
“Good,” she said with a smile on her face.
I checked us in up front before we took the elevator up to the top floor. I might have gone overboard when I’d promised Sutton I’d show her my life. I hadn’t lived liked this in a long time, but expensive taste had never left me. It was why I had the Ferrari and basically a mansion. You could take the boy out of the Upper East Side, but you couldn’t take the Upper East Side out of the boy.
“Well then,” Sutton said, dropping her bag in the front room. She arched an eyebrow. “Now, you’re just showing off.”
I laughed. “Only the best for my girl.”
“If you think a penthouse suite is going to get me on your good side, then…you’re absolutely right.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, dragging her into a kiss.
“Let me find one of the bedrooms. There has to be at least three in this place,” she teased against my lips. “Then, we can see who’s ridiculous.”
I groaned and leaned my forehead against hers. “Hold that thought. We have plans.”
“Oh? I thought we were just here to have a lot of make-up sex.”
“That, too.”
“Going to clue me in?”
“We’re going to Central Park.”
“And tell me again how we can’t do that after hot, sweaty make-up sex?”
“You’re killing me,” I groaned.
“I could in the best way.” Her hand moved down the front of my pants.
“Going to have to stop you there and promise to seduce you heavily tonight. But…we have to go meet my sister.”
She yanked her hand out of my pants. “What a buzzkill.”
“I’m the worst.”
“The Katherine Van Pelt?” She chewed on her lip. “I’m glad you didn’t give me much time to be nervous.”
“Oh, there’s still plenty of time.”
She smacked my arm. “Not helping. I have to change into something presentable.”
“I think you look beautiful.”
“Suck-up,” she called as she investigated the rest of the penthouse to find the bedroom.
It took her another twenty minutes before she emerged from the bathroom. Her hair had fresh waves in them, her makeup had been touched up, and she’d changed out of her traveling clothes and into a pale blue sundress and Tory Burch sandals. “Okay?”
“I’m reconsidering leaving.”
She winked. “Maybe later if you’re lucky.”
“I’m lucky.”
Every step that we took away from The Plaza and into Central Park felt like a step closer to my undoing. I’d told Katherine that we were coming into town. I’d assured her that she would get to meet Sutton but only if she promised not to bring up any of the shit with our parents. I didn’t want to hear a word of her propaganda. It was uncomfortable enough for me. Would be even more so for Sutton, who had only just found out I was a Van Pelt and had been managing her hatred of them for almost a decade.
I loved Katherine. She was loyal, considerate, passionate, and someone you always wanted in your corner. But she was also vapid, nosy, pretentious, and condescending. That was who they had made her. That was who I would have been if not for Holli saving me from the bullshit. When Katherine liked you, it was the best place in the world. When she didn’t, you might as well not exist.
“You seem more nervous than I do,” Sutton said.
We strolled hand in hand down the tree-lined walkway. It was a hot afternoon, and the trees were keeping the sun at bay.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.”
She squeezed my hand. “It’ll be fine.”
Sutton was reassuring me about meeting someone who, up until two weeks ago, she had utterly despised on principle. God, this woman was perfect for me.
We continued down Central Park Mall, past all the famous benches, and down the stairs that led to Bethesda Fountain.
There, standing at the base of the fountain, stood my sister. Her face was buried in her phone, but it was unmistakably her in a designer dress and heels, looking like she’d just stepped off a runway.
“Whoa,” Sutton muttered under her breath.
“Yeah.” We moved over to where Katherine was standing, and I cleared my throat. “Katherine.”
Her head popped up, and a smile graced her features. “Oh my God, David!”
Then, she threw all pretense aside and launched into my arms. I laughed, disarmed by her fervor. The Katherine I knew never hugged, especially not in public. She was an air-kiss-only kind of person.
“It’s so good to see you,” she gushed. She disentangled herself and ran a manicured hand back through her long, dark hair.
“You, too.” I gestured to Sutton. “Sutton, my sister, Katherine. Ren, this is Sutton.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Katherine said, leaning forward and air-kissing Sutton’s cheeks.
“You, too,” Sutton said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Katherine arched an eyebrow. “I’m sure they’re all lies.”
Sutton laughed. “It was all good things.”
“Oh,” Katherine said with a careless grin. “Then, I’m sure it’s all true.”
She linked arms with Sutton and walked her over to the edge of the lake, carefully avoiding all tourists.
“How was the flight? Easy trip? Have you been to New York before? Are you enjoying yourself so far?” Katherine asked.
“Easy on the interrogation mode, Ren,” I told her.
“I’m just excited. It’s not every day my brother is in the city, let alone with his girlfriend. I’ve never even met one of your girlfriends before. You’re going to have to give me this one, David.”
“I don’t mind,” Sutton said. “I’m excited to meet you, too. And, yes, it was an easy flight, but no, not my first time in New York. I’ve been a bunch. My brother used to live here for a while.”
“Jensen, right?” Katherine asked.
“Yeah.”
Katherine tapped her lip. “I do remember him. He’s friends with Penn.”
“Yes, I recently discovered that as well.”
“I thought he was hot. Too bad he was married. At least he’s single now.”
Sutton laughed. “His wedding is next weekend actually.”
“Damn! Missed my chance again.”
“Aren’t you engaged?” Sutton asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, Ren, aren’t you engaged?” I goaded.
“I am. You’ll meet Camden tomorrow,” Katherine said, losing all warmth from her tone at the mention of her fiancé.
Sutton glanced over at me with a question in her eyes. I’d have to explain that whole situation to her tonight. Because Camden Percy was not a train wreck you wanted to walk into, unprepared.
“Wait, what do you mean, tomorrow?” I asked.
Katherine gave me a simpering look. “There’s an event tomorrow at the MET. I got you two tickets when I found out you were coming.”
“Ren,” I groaned.
“It’ll be fun. Plus, it will give Sutton and me girl time tomorrow at the spa.”
“Spa?” Sutton asked with raised eyebrows.
“I booked us with my specialist. You’ll love him.” Katherine touched Sutton’s arm and then winked at me. “Don’t worry. I promise to steal her for only an hour or three.”
“Why am I not surprised?” I grumbled.
But Sutton looked as if she was interested in the notion. It wasn’t my idea of spending time together in New York, but Katherine was putting in the effort. I could give her that. I just had a bad feeling about going to a MET event. Katherine was a socialite. That was basically her job. Sutton and I didn’t belong in this world, and I knew how they treated outsiders.
“It’ll be fun,” Katherine said, nudging me. “Don’t look so dour.”
“I’m game if Sutton is.”
“You did say you wanted to show me your life,” she said, throwing my words back at me.
I sure hoped I didn’t regret them.
Eleven
Sutton
“So, what do you think of my sister?” David asked when we finally made it back to the hotel later that day.
I was utterly exhausted. I really had not had enough sleep last night.
We’d spent an exorbitant amount of time eating at Tavern on the Green before Katherine had to disappear to some meeting. I still didn’t understand what she did exactly, but she made it seem important.
My eyes were wide when I looked up at David. “She’s a lot but in a good way.”
David laughed heartily before sinking into an oversize chair in the sitting area. “That’s the nicest way I’ve ever heard someone describe her.”
“That can’t be true. She was genuinely happy to see you, and she treated me well. She’s taking me to the spa tomorrow. I think she seems like a girl with the world on her shoulders, pretending like she’s on top of the world.”
“Also accurate,” he agreed.
“What do you think about her? Is she different to you?”
“In some ways. In other ways, she’s exactly the same.”
“I’m surprised she never brought up your parents.”
“I asked her not to.”
“Oh. Aren’t you interested in seeing them since you’re here?”
He shook his head. “Not in the least.”
I frowned and considered that. I hated what the Van Pelts had done to my family and how they had treated David. I hated that the very mention of that name had pushed us apart. Or that I’d had to second-guess our relationship when he was nothing but genuine in all other regards. He cared for me and Jason and the company. He was understanding, loyal, gentle, and constant. He drew out passion in me that I hadn’t felt in over a year. But he was still hurting, and that was obvious to me.
“I think, if my parents were still here, I’d want to see them even if they’d done wrong. Maybe they’ve changed?”
“Are you defending my parents?”
“No. Absolutely not. I despise them for all they’ve done to hurt you and me and us. But…they’re still your parents. It’d be a shame not to see them while you’re here.”
“Well, this trip is for us,” David said, pulling me down onto his lap. “So, maybe I’ll do it on another trip.”
“I don’t believe you.” I straddled his lap and ran my hands up his chest and around his neck.
“I said I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Another trip could be anytime in the future.”
“All I’m thinking about is our future.”
“Oh?” I asked with a small smile.
“Like how we’re going to break in that bed.”
“And here I thought, you were being romantic when you were actually being filthy.”
He laughed. “You like that though. I heard your moans when I threw you against the fridge.”
My cheeks heated at the statement, and I ground my hips against his. “That is true.”
“But, if you want to hear me tell you that, by our future, I’m thinking about spending time with you and your boy, being the man you want and deserve, having a life of our own, then yes, I think about that future, too.”
My heart thundered in my chest so hard, it was ringing in my ears. “You really think about that?”
“Would I have brought you here if I didn’t want you in every part of my life?” His hands trailed up my neck to cup my face and ease my lips down onto his. Our eyes locked in the small space leftover after the kiss. “I have wanted you since the first day I saw you sprawled out on a blanket with Jason on the Fourth of July. I didn’t know anything about you. I didn’t know anything that would follow. I just knew that you glowed with an unparalleled energy. You were radiant. Unequivocally stunning, even in the simplicity of the situation. Maybe because of it.” He ran his thumb across my bottom lip. “I spent a year waiting for you to regain your joy, and I feel lu
cky just to be a part of your life.”
I was stunned into silence at his declaration.
He’d felt all of this for me for so long while I was stuck in my own slice of hell. Everyone had seen his affection but me. I’d brushed it off as a new friendship, unable to see what was really happening.
David was the one who had helped me all those months I was dead inside. All those times I needed a sitter for Jason, just to escape. All those times I heard ghosts in my house and voices that woke me in the night, expecting Maverick, his absence overwhelming me.
David had been a beacon in the darkness.
He had been the shining light that kept me from sinking to the bottom of the ocean and drowning in my own grief.
It had taken me a year to realize that we were right for each other.
To accept that I could feel this again.
To trust in love once more.
We might have been on rocky ground, but being here with him, when I knew how much strength it had taken to get to this moment, just proved that I had made the right decision. My feelings for David had never wavered. Just my uncertainty about his own feelings.
My heart had always been in the right place. But was his?
Staring down at him in a penthouse suite in New York City, it had never been clearer that the answer was yes. Beyond yes. He’d had those feelings a year before I could admit my own.
His secrets were armor. Bulletproof and impenetrable. Weathered from years of battle.
But I’d removed each piece until all that was left was my David. The man before me. And it felt right. We felt right.
“Sutton,” he whispered. There was unease in his voice, as if he was worried he’d just lost me.
“Thank you for being my joy when I needed it most,” I told him.
A smile grew on his face. Then, he captured my lips and stood. My legs wrapped tight around his waist as he scooped me up and strode into the bedroom.