“Over my dead body! What’s the population there, three?”
This time, Sutton didn’t hold back her smile. “A little more than that, but it doesn’t have a mall or the nightclubs you love.”
“Then that’s a definite no.” Stella smoothed back her already perfectly styled hair with her manicured hand. “Are you going to see your dad while you’re there?”
“No, and I’ve told you not to call him my dad.” Sutton’s voice was ice-cold.
Stella winced. “Sorry.” She waved her hand airily. “It’s getting embarrassing turning all his calls away.”
“Then tell him to quit calling.” Sutton began signing the paperwork she had already read through and making notes on those orders that needed to be recounted. Then she handed the pile to Stella when she was finished. “That’s it. You sure you don’t mind dropping those off at the office for me on your way to work tomorrow?”
“It’s only a few blocks away, and I can see that hot boss of yours. It will make my whole fucking day.”
“Just don’t be late to work. You’re already on probation,” she warned.
Stella winced. “Don’t remind me. You just had to take the fun out of it, didn’t you?”
“That’s what I’m here for.” She rose from her desk and stretched. She had begun working early so she would have plenty of time to get on the road and get at least six hours of driving in before dark. Even after all these years of being away from Kentucky, her body still clung to the time zone that was three hours ahead, sending her to bed long before others in the evening and rising early in the morning, which worked well with her work schedule that dealt with various time zones.
“I’ll keep in touch on my drive in.”
“You better. I don’t want to have to come up there and check on you.” She shuddered in mock horror. “You should have some fun, maybe fuck someone. It could improve your sense of humor.”
“I’ll be too busy cleaning up the house to have any fun, at least for a couple of weeks.”
Sutton hugged her good-bye before picking up her purse. “Make sure the house is locked up when you leave. I’m going to be worried about you while I’m gone. Who’s going to remind you not to be late or set the alarm?”
“Hopefully your boss,” she wisecracked.
“Just don’t get me fired for forgetting about that paperwork,” she reminded her again.
“I won’t. Be careful, Sutton.”
“Always.” Sutton headed outside of her large home to the car she had rented. Her own car sat in the garage, it would stick out like a sore thumb in Treepoint, and didn’t want to draw attention while in her hometown. The only person she intended to see had no idea she was coming, and certainly wouldn’t welcome her back. She was determined to see Rachel Porter and set things straight. Only then could she finally leave the weight of the past behind to move forward with her life.
Sutton put the key in the ignition, her stomach already clenching with nerves. Sliding her sunglasses on, she put the car in drive.
Her hometown had been calling her more and more each day. The constant niggling feeling becoming more forcefull, wearing on her determination to stay away. It was time to answer the call.
Chapter 2
“Who’s that?” Tate turned at Greer’s low whistle.
He glanced in the direction that Greer nodded his head, seeing a woman pull a red suitcase from the trunk of her car before slamming the trunk closed. Both men watched as the slim brunette rolled the suitcase to the hotel door, sliding the card into the card reader.
“I don’t know,” Tate answered his brother. There was something vaguely familiar about the way the woman moved, but Tate couldn’t place her, and was unable to get a clear view of her face.
“Do you think she’s staying long?”
“How in the fuck would I know? Let’s get these groceries loaded. We need to get home. I don’t like leaving Dustin home alone for long.”
The brothers finished loading the groceries into the bed of their truck before climbing into the cab. His eyes went to the closed hotel door the woman had entered. He had no idea who she was, but Tate could understand his brother’s interest. The woman had on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt that had showed her tanned skin and perky ass. If her face was half as good, Greer would be in Heaven. The man got a hard-on for brunettes, while Tate preferred fair-haired women. He had only dated one brunette, and she was a memory he wished he could forget.
Tate drove the old pick-up toward the mountains where their house was located.
“You going out tonight?”
“No, why?”
“Thought I would meet Diane at Rosie’s,” Greer explained.
“Why do you want to step in that dog shit? We have enough enemies without you adding her to the mix.”