37. Sutton
Sutton
Ihad the spaghetti sauce cooking on the stove as Sophie happily played with toys on a blanket near the island.
From here I could keep an eye on her and cook dinner.
This kitchen was a dream so although there wasn’t much I was good at making, this was one of them.
I loved being here, even when Ash wasn’t home. Something about it just felt right.
Sophie also felt at home and had started to get used to the sounds around here too, since suddenly she got on her knees and started crawling to the door leading to the laundry which would take her to the garage, having figured out the sound of the garage opening meant Ash was home.
Although it was rare he wasn’t pulling in at the same time as me anymore.
I moved to the entry of the kitchen and leaned against the wall. Sophie had gotten fast but the door opened before she got there. Asher already had his eyes on the floor—looked like he was being trained too.
He bent down in his full navy suit, tailored perfectly to his muscular body. I had asked him if he had them custom tailored and he said yes. It showed. The frown on his face relaxed the second his eyes locked on Sophie. I watched as he scooped her off the ground and she squealed in delight.
“Hi, sunshine, were you a good girl today?” He pressed a kiss to her face as she brought her hand up to his scruff like she always did. “Did you and Mama make dinner because it smells incredible.” He looked up at me after another kiss to her head and smiled in a way that melted my heart.
“Hey,” I said as he came up to me and pressed a soft kiss on my lips. I let out a contented sigh and went back for a second kiss because I could. “How was your day?”
“Better now.” He looked at Sophie who babbled on his hip. I smiled at him and turned to go back into the kitchen to stir my sauce. “What’s this?”
I didn’t need to look over my shoulder to know he was talking about the gift bag in the middle of the counter. “It’s for you.”
There was a pause, so I turned to look at him. He was staring at the bag, but then a moment later he reached for it. He pulled out the puzzle before he looked at me, his face unreadable.
When I saw the puzzle I knew he had to have it. He always put his away if Sophie was coming over but I knew he always had one going, had even pulled it out at night after she’d gone to sleep, and I learned I didn’t mind them either.
“I didn’t even know they made puzzles like that. And the dog looks just like Thor,” I pointed out when he didn’t say anything. It was a thousand-piece puzzle of a backyard that honestly looked a little like his, the night sky full of stars and a dog sitting near a campfire.
I watched as he blinked, then looked up at me, wonder on his face. “You bought this for me?”
“Well, I’m hoping I can do it with you so it’s something for both of us.”
“Let me pay you back.”
I scoffed. “That’s insulting, Grizzly. It’s a gift.”
He came forward, pulling something out of his back pocket before holding it out. “Take this then.”
His black card hovered between us. “For what?”
“So the next time you want to buy me something you can use it. Buy stuff for Soph, buy groceries. I don’t care, just use my money.”
“I’m not taking your card.” I rolled my eyes at his ridiculousness and turned back to the stove.
“Sutton—”
“It’s a gift, Ash. I wanted to do something small for you. You should just say thank you.”
His free arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “I can’t remember the last time someone bought me something.”
“It’s just a puzzle; it’s small. Please don’t worry about it,” I said as he pressed a kiss to my head.
“It’s not small, sweetheart.”
We stood like that for a moment before he pulled away and I decided to put some normalcy back into our night.
“Today we got a call from the CBC. They want to do a news segment on the foundation,” I told him as I checked on the noodles.
It was our routine when he got home. He claimed he wanted to hear my stories from the day first. Initially it felt like I talked too much but now I knew he just liked hearing my voice.
After I finished mixing the pasta and the sauce, we all sat down to eat, Sophie in her highchair and Ash and I on either side of her.
“Would you share your location with me on your phone?” he asked without preamble.
“Will you share yours with me?” I shot back with a raised eyebrow.
Instead of answering he pulled out his phone and a moment later I got a notification that he had shared his location with me.
I smiled and did the same. “I assume this is because you worry about me and this helps.” I tried to not feel giddy about it but I couldn’t help it, especially when he nodded.
“If I could get Sophie a tracking bracelet I would.” I laughed but when I looked over at him he wasn’t laughing. “I’ve got Jaxson looking into it,” he mumbled.
“I don’t mind. It’s nice to know you care.” I took a bite.
“Will you be around the house tomorrow?”
I looked back up, frowning at the question. “Do you not—” I stopped when he shot me a look. “Sorry. It’s Thursday so I’ll be at the office. Why?” He smiled at my edit. It was a gut reaction but I was getting better at being wanted, and wanting someone in return.
“I’m having an updated security system installed tomorrow so I’m working from here. There will be workers around for a few hours.” I watched him closely, trying to look for tension, but the only thing he was doing was looking over at Sophie every once in a while and softly smiling.
“Any reason for the sudden upgrade?” He had one here but it was pretty basic. He set it when we went to bed or left in the morning.
“No, Jaxson just told me about some new tech and with my two precious girls spending so much time here, I wanted you to be safe.” He reached over and bopped Sophie on the nose.
This man. “I wanted to ask if you would leave Sophie here with me tomorrow.” My eyes moved to his to find that they were already watching me.
“But you’re working…”
“I’ve got a light day since the crew will be here and it’s an extensive update. I can watch her no problem as long as you’re comfortable.”
I reached out and grabbed his hand. “You give me heck when I second guess if you want us here so I’ll give you heck when you try and diminish your role in Sophie’s life.
I trust you completely with her, I know you love her, and I’m so happy that she has a man like you looking out for her.
And I see that love every time she looks at you and brushes her hand on your face.
So my hesitancy was because I don’t want you to be distracted with her here.
But if you want to keep her tomorrow, you can. ”
His intense eyes blazed as he stood up from the table, came around, and pulled me up to kiss him.
“I love you,” he said as he pulled away.
“I love you back.” I rested my head on his forehead. Sophie, not one to be left out, screamed and threw her sauce on the ground.
Me
Guess what?
Will
Oh man, I don’t like this game.
Oli
Can you give me any context? Parameter perhaps.
Quinn
You boys are ridiculous, it was a rhetorical question.
Me
Quinn’s right
Jane is in town!
Noah
She is??
Me
You didn’t know?
Noah
Like my mum, that Jane?
Me
Did you seriously not know?!
Noah
Nah, I’m kidding.
I set up the jet for her.
Quinn
I mentioned to her that I was going cake testing and how I would love to have her here. I did not expect her to come in on the jet!
She’s already coming in three weeks for dress shopping with me and my mom
Oli
I called her to chat the other day and she couldn’t stop talking about shopping, didn’t even really care why I called.
Will
Between Q, the wedding, and Sophie, I really don’t think she cares about the rest of us anymore
Knight
Your feelings hurt Will?
Will
No, just pointing it out.
Noah
Mine are.
Jaxson
I think you’ll survive.
Quinn
Wait, Sutton, how did you know about Jane?
Me
She texted me because…
She’s here on Friday…
And she offered to babysit. So I thought it was finally time.
Quinn
YOU’RE COMING?!
Jaxson
Hell yeah!
Knight
It’s about time you joined us.
I meant that like it feels wrong not to have you there not that it isn’t right you stay with Sophie.
Oli
Thanks for editing him Quinn.
Will
This is huge!
Asher
You didn’t tell me.
Me
You were in a meeting and I knew everyone would be excited.
Jaxson
Plus you get her all the time.
Asher
She’s watching her at the house.
Quinn
^I think that was supposed to be a question
Me
Yes Grizzly. Jane is coming over to the house. She’ll have dinner with us and then we can do most of the bedtime routine before we leave.
Asher
I won’t get to read her a story if we go on time.
Quinn
Awww, you old softy.
Me
You get her every night Ash. She’ll be good with Jane.