Chapter 46
Sutton
I smile for what feels like the hundredth photo.
“She’s safe, at home,” Sawyer reminds me as I smile wide again, shaking someone’s hand.
The media are everywhere, the distillery restaurant packed.
When we aired the commercial, we got a standing ovation and a few wolf whistles.
Not to mention, the new whiskey is a huge hit.
It’s trending on all social media, and print ads roll out starting tomorrow across national newspapers and magazines.
The commercial will run for a few weeks before we replace it with a new one.
Each made with a large budget, telling the story of the Whiteman’s brand and a snippet about the Save the Bees charity.
Not only are Tanner and Connor pleased, but their smiles are hard to tame.
It’s the dream outcome, really, for Tanner, Connor, and me.
“I know,” is all I can say, before he goes back to Annabelle.
I’m feeling off. I want Charlotte with me tonight.
I want her with me, always. But I know she’s home safe.
Jackson has checked in. Told us the property is secure, that they’re where we left them in the living room.
But the commercial went live around the country at the same time as we launched, and I thought I might get a text from her or something.
“Sutton, good to see you.” Tyler Grant strides up to me, and the cameras flash.
“Tyler. Long way from home for you here.” This business billionaire could probably buy the whole town of Whispers, he’s that wealthy.
“Well, I love Tanner’s whiskey and wanted to fly out and see what all the fuss is about in this town. I have to say, it’s appealing.”
“The whiskey or Whispers?” I ask him with a quirked eyebrow.
“Whispers. I’m starting to realize these small towns have a hell of a lot of potential if you find the right one.”
I nod, fully understanding that now. “Whispers is pretty special.”
“Heard you’ve built here?”
“Yeah, I’m planning on staying a while.” I keep my answers loose, not wanting anyone to know my business, although Tyler is a decent guy.
“Maybe we need to catch up for a drink soon. Good to see you.” He slaps my arm as we shake, and I see him move on, his team scuffling behind him, already out the door, probably straight back to his jet.
“Sutton.” Tanner walks up, eyes bright, his grumpy side put aside for the evening. “You saw Tyler?”
“He’s happy. Likes the whiskey. Likes Whispers.
” Tanner’s keen to work with Tyler—what that looks like, I’m not sure, but there’s certainly a lot of money in this room tonight.
I spot another guy I know over in the corner.
He owns a family winery in Northern California.
They make a great wine, one I think Tinker might like, so I make a mental note to say hello.
Maybe I can take her out to California to taste a couple; it could be a beautiful weekend trip when everything settles down.
“Good.” Tanner grabs my shoulder, giving me a squeeze just as a journalist approaches, grinning at me before a microphone is put in front of my face.
“Sutton, tell me, you’ve been asked before to be the face of many brands and many products, but you haven’t done that until now. What is it about Whiteman’s Whiskey that has you putting your name to it?”
“Whiteman’s isn’t just whiskey; it’s heritage in a glass.
Every drop carries the craftsmanship of generations, and if I can be a small part of sharing that story, that’s a legacy worth raising a glass to.
” I nod at her and feel Tanner beaming by my side.
I swear, if there isn’t a box of this release on my doorstep tomorrow morning, he’ll be woken up with a call.
The journalist turns to him. “Tanner, how did you know Sutton Silvers was the right man to be the face of your whiskey?”
“I could’ve picked anyone, but Sutton gets it.
He knows Whiteman’s Whiskey isn’t about trends; it’s about tradition, about craftsmanship, about taking your time.
About family. That’s why he’s here tonight, and that’s why there was never another choice.
” Tanner squeezes my shoulder again. We’ve hit a gold mine working together, and this is just the beginning.
“And Sutton, there’s no woman on your arm tonight. Is that a sign for all the ladies that you’re still single?” There’s a cheeky, flirty glint to her eye. She’s pushing the boundaries and knows it.
My answer is instant and without hesitation. “No. I’m not single. I’m very much taken.”
She looks shocked, and Tanner coughs, but I can’t play the part any longer. I’m not single, and I want the world to know. I just hope it doesn’t paint a larger bullseye on our lives.
“Anyone we know?” she asks.
I grin because I can’t help it. Every time I think of Charlotte, I smile.
“No. And no more questions. You got your scoop.”
She nods, her excitement palpable, knowing I just handed her the leading story that she’ll now break to the world.
“Sutton. There’re some people here I want you to meet.” Tanner turns slightly as a familiar couple stands before me, and my jaw tightens.
“Colin Titan and his new wife, Maribel. Colin is a longtime lover of my whiskey.” Tanner beams, having no idea he’s just shit on my life.
I look at Charlotte’s father with barely contained anger.
Then my eyes move to her stepmother, and my lip almost curls in a sneer.
Standing there, all polished, not a hair out of place.
Diamonds dazzling around her neck, her lips plump, her hair frozen solid in place with so much hairspray you could start a wildfire.
“Pleasure to meet you.” Her father extends his hand, and I take in a breath.
“Pleasure is all mine.” I grip his hand tight.
“So you like Whiteman’s Whiskey?” My throat tightens around every word, trying to sound normal and pleasant.
“Yeah, well, it has sentimental value to me.” He nods, suddenly looking a little solemn.
My brow pinches. “Sentimental value?” I ask as Tanner turns away, talking to someone else close by.
“I only open a bottle of Whiteman’s on special occasions. The last time was with my daughter for her twenty-first birthday.” As the word “daughter” leaves his lips, his face falls, dripping with sadness.
I frown. “Oh, did she like it?” I watch him closely as he answers, trying to get a gauge on it all.
His smile is small as he gets lost in his memories. “Yeah, not a lot, but a little. She was my shining star, my baby girl. I came tonight to remember her. She and my son have been missing for months.” The raw pain in his eyes isn’t something you can fake.
Fuck, my chest hurts.
Before I can tell him that I’m sorry or that I hope he can reunite with them soon—something someone would say who doesn’t know where his kids are—Maribel speaks up.
“Oh, I’ve told you, you need to move on,” his new wife basically scolds him, slapping his upper arm with her bejeweled fingers, albeit with a little chuckle, like it’s all in good humor. I’m not sure what she finds funny.
“Move on?” I tilt my head her way, and she looks at me, a small smile on her face. Sly, almost like a fox.
“Yes, move on. We need to start traveling. Forget about them.”
“Forget about them?” both Colin and I say in unison before looking at each other. I see it then with undeniable certainty, the immense sadness in his eyes. Deep remorse for losing them. I know for sure he’ll want them back, want them in his lives. But then Maribel speaks.
“Nothing but trouble. They left. We can’t find them. They’re ungrateful,” she says flippantly.
“I never lose hope that they’ll come back.” He gives me a forced smile. “So I bought one of Tanner’s finest bottles tonight, one I can keep to open with my daughter when I see her again.”
“What would you do if they turned up tomorrow?” I ask him, but I watch her. Her eyes burn holes into me; she might as well be throwing flames.
“I would give up everything to have them back. I haven’t been a great father. Not for a few years anyway. I have my faults. But I’ll make it up to them,” he admits. I want to dig deeper, see what he might say about Preston, but Maribel interjects once again.
“Well, they don’t want to be found. We’ve looked everywhere. Even in the deepest forests,” Maribel says, and something about the way she says it has me looking back at her with intensity.
“Forests?” I bite out, jaw clenched tight as my heart stutters.
“Yeah, you know, there are little cottages hidden all among those types of places. I’ve left no stone unturned.”
My phone rings, and I pull it out, hands shaking as I see the number.
“Excuse me,” I say to them and hold up the phone.
“We need to get going. Pleasure to meet you,” Colin says politely, and I watch them turn to leave as I pick up the call.
“Tinker?” I breathe out, already worried.
“Sutton… Maribel…” is all I hear, her voice sounding slurred and breathless before the line goes dead.
I stand in shock for a second. My feet unmoving, my heart rate escalating. She sounds off. Something is wrong, wrong, wrong. I look at my cell again, like it can tell me something more, and then I realize she called from the satellite phone and I start to fully panic.
“What is it?” Sawyer’s right at my side. I look up and around, feverishly scanning the crowd for the couple who were just here a moment ago.
“Where are they?” I demand, starting to gather interest from the people around me, but I don’t care.
“Who?” Tanner asks as he strides over.
“Where’s Colin Titan?” My head whips from side to side, and finally, I spot Colin and Maribel as they’re walking out the door.
“Hey!” I shout, dodging waiters as I stomp through the crowd, almost bowling over the wine guy I wanted to talk to in my rush to chase them down.
“Fuck!” I hiss as I see them now outside, almost to their car, and I start to sprint, my brother following, my security team on our heels.