CHAPTER 32
Sutton
It was a new morning. No tears, no anger, nothing but the kids and Dad.
I timed leaving my room so I’d be able to meet Naomi on the way down to the kitchen.
She already had Lee in her arms and I took the sleepy little girl from her and followed her downstairs.
I’d never been more thankful for the standoffish night nanny than I was when I saw Dominic sitting at the kitchen island, hands folded in front of him.
He looked like the judge, jury, and executioner with his stoic face and tattoos.
“Good morning.” He was staring holes through me.
I focused on Lee and ignored the awkward tension and my aching heart.
“Good morning.”
“I’d like to speak to you, Sutton.”
I glanced over at him with a blank expression and nodded.
“Of course, Mr. Dominic. However I have a busy morning planned with the kids.”
His jaw tensed. “Sutton.”
Ollie came sprinting into the kitchen and ran straight to me to hug me around the hips.
“Sullie! I had a dream that you went for vacation on a boat!”
I grinned down at the little boy.
“Did I have a good time?”
“You didn’t come back.” He pouted up at me. “I was gonna get my boat and come find you.”
“I didn’t come back? Oh, wow. I must’ve had a really, really good time. Maybe I found a treasure to hunt.” I put Lee in her booster seat and then knelt in front of Ollie. “What do you think I was doing?”
Focused more on the idea of treasure hunts than on me leaving him, he got excited again and hopped in place.
“Hunting treasure! With a prince!”
I forced my eyes to stay on him and not shift to his dad like they normally would.
“A prince, huh? A nice prince?”
“Yeah! And he has a horse that you ride. No!” He laughed excitedly. “A whale!”
He entertained himself with the rest of his story, happily carrying on without me.
He crawled into his dad’s lap and talked Dominic’s ear off while Dominic frowned at me.
I tuned them both out while I greeted Charlie and did my best to feed Lee without her throwing a fit.
The kid was not a morning person. Or she was maybe just a tiny female version of her big, cranky Uncle Leon.
Charlie stared up at me and tilted her head to the side.
“Are you sad, Sutton?”
I forced a smile.
“Why would I be sad? I get to hang out with you all day. And Lee and Ollie. I have big plans for us today, too. I thought we’d go to the park.”
“No.” Dominic put Ollie down and walked over to me. “Everything you need is here. The kids stay here.”
I turned away from him and bit back a sigh.
“Of course, Mr. Dominic. I’ll rework our day.”
“Goddammit, Sutton.” He gripped my arm and tried to make me look at him but Charlie was suddenly between us, her back pressed into me.
“Leave her alone.” She sounded like a different kid than the one who’d just been speaking to me. She sounded intense and ready to fight.
I knelt and pulled her into my arms.
“Hey, Charlie, it’s okay. You know your Uncle Dominic wouldn’t hurt me. You don’t need to protect me from him. You don’t need to protect me from anyone. You’re a kid, honey. I’m the one who’s in charge of protecting you. Okay?”
She was shaking in my arms, her eyes still narrowed.
“He made you sad.”
Ollie wedged his way into the hug.
“Daddy made you sad? Bad daddy.”
I raised my voice over everyone to stop the chaos before it got worse.
“Ollie, no. No one is bad here. I just woke up a little sad today. You know how you can wake up on the wrong side of the bed? I think I woke up under the bed. But it’s no one’s fault. So, we’re not going to blame anyone. And we’re all going to be nice to our family. Got it?”
Leon stalked into the kitchen and grunted a good morning before scooping Lee up and taking over feeding her.
“You look pretty today, Kitten.”
He’d never said anything like that to me. The words didn’t even sound right coming from him. They were awkward and stilted. I ignored the kids giggling and whatever Leon was trying to do. It seemed like that was going to be my normal. Ignore, ignore, ignore.
“Sutton.” Dominic softened his voice and tried again. “We need to talk. Please.”
I hummed and pretended like I was thinking it over.
“Sorry, Mr. Dominic. I’m all booked up today. Alright, kids. Since we’re staying here today, we’re going to get started with a morning swim.”
Lee was suddenly much happier.
“Swimming with Button!”
I didn’t have to force my laugh when all three kids instantly transformed into excited little angels, all ready to do whatever it took to get to the pool.
“We’re going to have to go on a treasure hunt to find our pool supplies first, though.
I have to go find the treasure maps. Think y’all can finish your breakfast and keep the grown-ups in here and busy?
I heard a rumor that if you let a dad or uncle sneak a peek at your treasure map the treasure won’t be as cool. ”
“Wait a second, Sutton.” Dominic followed me out of the kitchen and gripped the back of my neck, forcing me to look up at him. The hold still made my body melt but I kept my arms crossed and face blank.
“I’m not going to let you put up this wall between us. You’re going to talk to me.”
“There’s nothing to say, Mr. Dominic. I was confused about some things but you cleared everything up for me. Thank you for that. Now, I really do have to get their treasure maps.”
His hand tightened.
“Nothing’s changed. You’re going to the club with us. You’re not going to be able to shut me out forever.”
I twisted my mouth into a polite smile.
“I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal about this. If you need someone on your arm at the club, call Lauren. She’s beautiful and you two looked great together.”
He leaned in close.
“I’m going to ignore this attitude because I know I hurt your feelings. You—”
“Ignore the attitude and everything else about me. I’m not who you want.” I jerked away from him and nodded. “Have a good day at work, Mr. Dominic.”