Page 111 of Denial
Sutton captures my jaw between his index finger and thumb, holding me steady as his mouth collides with mine. The kiss is urgent, brimming with desperation and all the things we left unfinished.
“I love this mouth,” he growls, pulling away, his lips glistening from my gloss.
I rub it off with my thumb. “That’ll do it.” I feel dizzy with the emotions he stirs up.
“Figured it was time I showed you a proper Saturday night.” He smiles a rare smile, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes.
The words make my heart race, hinting that this may be more than just a casual outing. I swallow down the question, not brave enough to ask and ruin our night.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Sutton returns to the door, picking up a large white paper bag, and passes it into my empty hands. “Wear these. I’ll be back to pick you up in twenty.”
My grin expands. “Bold, Sunny. You don’t know this about me, but I love a good surprise. You might actually have to impress me now.”
“I’m up for the challenge, Firecracker,” he replies confidently.
He calls down to Nellie. She bounds up the stairs with her pink backpack resting over her shoulders. She moves straight into me, wrapping her arms tight around my waist.
“Good night, Alice. See you tomorrow.”
I tousle her hair. “Have a good time at your grandma’s, kiddo.”
Sutton lingers for a moment, giving me a long, heated glance before he follows her out of the house.
I waste no time shucking the packaging right there in the kitchen, the tearing paper filling the air. I flip the lid on a box and reveal a brand-new pair of suede cowboy boots. Myjaw drops as I take in the intricate stitching around the top in a pattern that looks like flames. The pink-to-gold ombre coloring reminds me of the sunset from atop the Ferris wheel. The two-inch heel promises to add a much-needed boost to my short stature. These are undeniably beautiful. And entirely too expensive.
Sutton put the time and care into picking these out for me, so who am I to refuse them?
In record time, I clean myself up. I throw on a black babydoll tee and pair it with my favorite cutoffs. I’m just finishing up swiping on pink and gold eye shadow when I hear the front door open and close.
“Coming!” I call. I throw a lip gloss in my crossbody, grab the boots, and rush up the stairs.
I’m surprised to find the kitchen empty. I glance over my shoulder to the living room, not finding Sutton there. I slip on my snug new boots and repack my diabetes supplies, all while wondering where he is.
Just as I round the corner to search, Sutton walks down the hall. My mouth falls open, words escaping me. Somewhere between leaving me here and dropping Nellie off at his mom’s, he managed to change. The outfit is simple. He’s wearing worn, light denim jeans. They hug his muscular thighs as if they were molded on. He stepped outside his usual casual tee and opted for a sandy denim pearl snap button-down. One arm is extended, the other flexed as he rolls the cuff up over his muscular forearm. He finished off the look with a pair of brown, round-toe boots.
“All you’re missing is the hat,” I remark, biting my lip.
Sutton’s lips twitch. “That was a step too far.”
I peruse him from head to toe. “What a shame.”
He stops in front of me, so close that the tips of our toes nearly touch. “What do you think?”
I make a show of dragging out my response. “I think if you really want to take me out, we’d better get going.”
“Why’s that?”
My gaze fixates on his lips, and the sinful things I recently discovered he can do with his tongue. “Because if we don’t leave now, there’s a good chance we won’t leave this house.”
“Alice.”
“Yeah, Sunny?”
“Get your ass to my truck.”
“You sure?”
