A FORBIDDEN ROMANCE FOR THE GRUMPY COWBOY

(ROLSTON RANCH BROTHERS SERIES)

HANNA HART

Copyright ©2022 by Hanna Hart - All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Epilogue

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About the Author

CHAPTER 1

***SUTTON***

Sutton ground the heel of his boot into the ground to keep himself from kicking the high shelf of two-by-fours. It was blazing hot out in the lumberyard but it didn’t compare to how hot his temper was running. The entire morning had been one frustration after another. In fact, Sutton believed his entire summer was nothing but one long irritating to-do list.

“If you can’t deliver it, I guess I’ll just come back later and pick it up myself,” Sutton growled at the store manager.

“I’ll knock down the price, as low as I can go! I really appreciate it, Mr. Rolston.” The manager mopped his sweating brow.

Sutton gave him a sharp nod and marched out of the lumberyard. He knew his surly mood was cementing his family’s reputation for grumpy men, but he didn’t care. His brothers were far worse than him, and that just reminded Sutton how mad he was at them. Despite the damage an early summer storm had done to his hospitality ranch, and his brothers’ initial aid, the repairs still weren’t complete. Now, his second-eldest brother, Theo, had gone off and eloped. Surprisingly, his eldest brother, Dean, was picking up the slack on the family cattle ranches without a complaint, and that left Sutton to fix his problems by himself.

“And people think the youngest kid is all carefree and spoiled,” Sutton muttered to himself.

He kicked the tire of his pickup truck but before he could yank open the door, he caught a glimpse of platinum blonde hair in the driver’s side window. His head whipped around, and Sutton changed his mind and decided to walk to the hardware store via Main Street.

A beautiful woman might not improve his mood but she would be a good distraction, Sutton told himself as he marched along. Too bad that particular shade of glinting blonde made him think of the reason his spring and summer got off to such a bad start. It may not have been the storm’s fault at all.

Sutton shook his head and concentrated on his next errand. He had to wait in line in the hardware store while Mr. Mcginty figured out which hinge would hold the weight of a reinforced door. As interested as Sutton was in hearing why exactly Mrs. Mcginty had taken to busting into his office with a sledgehammer, he hoped the line wouldn’t take all morning.

“Mr. Rolston, wasn’t expecting to see you so soon.” The hardware store owner gulped hard.

Sutton gritted his teeth and waited.

“See, we got the light fixture you special-ordered, but our regular stock boy took a long weekend, and we’re just not sure where it got stored. The warehouse is a mess this time of year with everyone needing extra garden equipment.”

Sutton held up his hand to stop the explanation. “I’ll wait.”

He turned his back on the owner’s worried expression and leaned against the counter. At least he had a good view of Main Street; if that pretty blonde went by again, he was sure to get a glimpse of her.

A voice in his head asked him if it mattered. If that shimmering hair didn’t belong to Bethany Grant, then Sutton would probably never speak to the woman. Most women he saw with that shade of blonde got it from a bottle, except for his best friend. Bethany was a natural beauty, the kind that took men’s breath away, and Sutton knew for a fact that she was smarter than anyone else who graduated from Isabel High School. She also had a natural way with people that made everyone love her. That’s why he missed her so much.

When Bethany had visited in the early spring, she had completely transformed his view of the old hotel his family was forcing him to renovate. It was her vision and excitement that had made him decide to turn it into a destination for horse-lovers and riders from all over the world. After she had to cut her visit short, Sutton realized the place just didn’t shine without her.

Sutton stood up suddenly, thinking he saw a flash of bright blonde in the window of The Bluebird Cafe. Then he heard the hardware store owner’s cheerful voice interrupting him.

“I found it, hallelujah, though I’m sorry you had to wait,” he told Sutton.

Sutton scowled, wishing the man had searched just a few minutes longer. He eyed the large box and realized it would be a long haul back to his pickup truck. Was his day ever going to get better?

“Thanks,” he said as he hefted the box and turned to leave.

“Here, let me get the door for you!”

Sutton would have been grateful if it had been anyone but his brother, Drake. The second-youngest Rolston was all smiles as he held the door. Not only were he and Sutton the closest in age, but they were business partners. Drake ran a successful horse ranch where he trained most of the mounts Sutton offered to his guests. The partnership suited them both, though they never worked particularly well together.

“Not going to offer me a hand?” Sutton scowled as his brother strolled next to him with his hands in his pockets.

“You got this, little brother,” Drake said with an irritating grin.

He had a lot to smile about these days and Sutton couldn’t completely begrudge him his happiness. Drake had married the wrong woman right out of school, had a child before he was ready, and got divorced when his ex realized she wanted a higher social status. Only recently had Drake figured out he really was a good father, and he had found a love that put that obnoxious grin on his face.

Freddie, Drake’s lovely wife, skipped across the street and swatted her husband’s shoulder. “For goodness sake, help him!”

Drake shrugged, kissed her cheek, and finally helped Sutton heft the light fixture into the back of his pickup truck. “Since when are you elegant enough to pick out something like this?” he asked Sutton.

Freddie smiled wistfully. “Since Bethany picked it out while she was visiting.”

Bethany had taught Freddie to ride horses while she was in town and the two women had become quite close. Sutton had to stop himself from immediately asking Freddie when she last talked to Bethany.

Luckily, Drake distracted him with his teasing. “I’d say this here light fixture will impress the guests, but we all know there’s only one opinion you really care about.”

Sutton swatted Drake’s shoulder a lot harder than Freddie had. “I care what my guests think, and so should you.”

Drake refused to let Sutton off the hook so easily. “Speaking of guests, when will Bethany be staying at the hotel again?”

Sutton was hoping that Freddie would know, but she looked just as curious as her husband. He shrugged and told them, “Bethany said she’d visit sometime this summer. I have no idea when she’ll be able to break away from her family.”

Mention of the Grants won a sympathetic nod from Drake. His first girlfriend had been the Grants’ eldest and most ambitious daughter, Jane. She had pursued every benchmark of perfection from GPA to homecoming queen, then further checked off expectations by marrying the high school quarterback. Drake had been in love with Jane, not realizing she viewed their relationship as nothing more than a status symbol. The Grants struck it rich shortly after their vows, and Jane followed in her parents’ social-ladder climbing footsteps, leaving Drake and their son behind.

“Bet they’re holed up in some Galveston mansion while the rest of us sweat it out,” Drake said.

Freddie stopped Sutton from climbing into his truck. She was curious about her friend’s family, especially as Bethany’s older sister was Drake’s ex-wife. “I thought you said she was hell-bent on escaping the Grants.”

Sutton sighed. Bethany’s relationship with her family was complicated at best. He didn’t pretend his own family ties didn’t chafe him from time to time, but the Grants applied a different kind of pressure. “She still depends on them and Bethany is too nice to take her father’s money and run.”

Drake snorted. “Just because Mr. Grant has kept his daughters financially dependent doesn’t mean he can force them to parade around like old-time debutantes.”

His bitterness towards Mr. Grant was actually an extension of the hurt Jane had caused. Drake had been genuinely shocked to discover that Jane preferred that world to his own. She had easily sacrificed her first-born son in order to climb a little higher on the social ladder. It didn’t help that her father encouraged every step.

Bethany, on the other hand, hated every bit of it. The Rolston ranches had been her escape from early on and the brothers knew her friendship with Sutton was a lifeline away from the tight-laced expectations of her family.

Sutton was her best friend. He reminded himself of that even as he glanced back towards Main Street in the hopes of catching a glimpse of platinum blonde. It was a long-standing habit to look for Bethany, he reminded himself.

Freddie noticed his wistful searching. “You should definitely call her.”

He groaned. The last thing he wanted to do was call Bethany Grant. Despite their close friendship, Sutton was cautious. He remembered Drake’s devastation during the divorce proceedings and he had vowed to keep clear of any lasting hurt the Grants could cause. Even if Bethany had the best intentions, the Grants were just no good for the Rolstons.

“I’m not adding to her troubles. Bethany will turn up when and if she wants.”

Drake slapped him on the back. “That’s right! And, until then, you have plenty of time for Freddie to set you up on a date.”

Sutton shoved his brother back a step. “I’ve still got the hotel to fix up.”

It was true but it was also the perfect excuse. The real reason Sutton had refused all offers of dates was because he was jealous. Drake had found real love, it was obvious by just glancing at the happy couple in front of him, and Sutton hated how vastly different the forced interactions of his last few dates had felt. He knew it was jealousy, but Sutton now knew what real love looked like, and he couldn’t pretend he didn’t. He’d even seen his brother Theo fall head-over-heels for a spitfire named Hetty, and the power of that made casual dinner dates hard to stomach.

“Come on,” Drake coaxed. “While you fix up the hotel, let Freddie and I fix you up! Like you said, your pal Bethany will show up when she’s good and ready. Until then, the least you can do is meet a few nice women.”

Sutton glared at him. “I don’t recall you being an expert on dating. In fact, I don’t recall you dating at all until that one disastrous blind date.”

Freddie laughed out loud, stepping in between the brothers. “That date was an accident. I still can’t believe I was set up with my surly boss.”

Drake gave his wife a besotted look. “Little did we know the match was already made.”

“Exactly!” Freddie turned to Sutton. “So, why not let me try my skills at matchmaking. I promise I can do better than Ben Summers.”

Sutton had been avoiding their former classmate and small-town matchmaker for weeks. “Isabel is way too small of a town for more than one matchmaker. There aren’t enough single people!”

“Then why do you keep glancing around like someone has caught your eye?” Freddie asked.

“The only thing that turns his head is a bright blonde,” Drake told her.

“That’s not true,” Sutton protested uselessly.

“Hmmm, let me think about that. We do have a new educational assistant at school and she’s blonde. I mean, not yet but the Texas sun will have her light brown hair bleached out in no time,” Freddie said.

Sutton held up both hands and backed away until his back hit his truck door. “No, no, absolutely not. I’m too busy repairing the hotel after that storm, remember? And someone has to keep our business partnership afloat or we’ll never inherit.”

Drake relented and steered Freddie back onto the sidewalk. “Fine. You work on that and we’ll work on finding a blonde guest or two for our next cook-out.”

Sutton slammed his truck door and wondered why every married couple was so eager to become matchmakers. It was clear they had happiness to spare, but that didn’t mean they could spill it onto him. Still, he could imagine walking around Drake and Freddie’s old Victorian and finding that platinum blonde in the backyard. Her hair would be as bright as a ray of sunshine under their big shade trees. Sutton imagined he would feel his heart gallop, as both Drake and Theo had likened falling in love to riding a runaway horse.

The woman in his daydream turned and looked up at him with Bethany Grant’s eyes. She would laugh at the idea of Sutton Rolston dreaming up a date. Bethany herself was the one that had talked Sutton through those excruciating first encounters and had helped him find dates for everything from middle school carnivals to the senior prom. If he really wanted a love connection, he would ask his best friend.

Besides, he had better things to focus on. First off, Sutton had to get the light fixture Bethany had chosen installed at the hotel. After that, there was a long list of things that needed to be done.

A worrying rattle shook Sutton out of his thoughts. He glanced in the rear view mirror and realized his chat with Drake and Freddie had distracted him enough to leave the tailgate of his truck loose. The light fixture he had finally gotten his hands on was about to slip out and crash onto Main Street. He quickly pulled his truck to the curb and jumped out to fix the problem.

Grumbling to himself about distractions, Sutton slammed the tailgate and took a moment to strangle out his frustration on the handle. That glint of blonde hair kept running through his mind like a blinding ray of sunshine and he couldn’t keep his thoughts in line. He cursed his two happy brothers for disrupting the normal grumpiness of the Rolston family. Mostly he argued with the stubborn voice in his own head that told him it was about time he had someone besides his brothers in his life, someone who made his heart kick up its heels, someone who could turn every irritating item on his to-do list into a team effort, someone who knew he was more than just the youngest Rolston brother.

Still grinding his teeth in frustration, Sutton whipped around and ran right into a small someone who fell back with a laughing cry.

“Bethany!”

He’d knocked the package she was carrying right out of her arms, but she already had a hand reaching out for him. Sutton caught it and managed to soften her fall as they both stumbled to the asphalt. She landed on her backside, which hurt only marginally less than Sutton’s knee. He knelt beside her and they both laughed.

“This is exactly how we met in elementary school,” Bethany reminded him. “You were ahead of me in line for the slide and just as clumsy then.”

“Did I help you up then?” he asked, breathless with surprise.

Bethany grinned. “You did. Surprised the whole school yard with your rusty Rolston manners.”

Sutton helped her to her feet and pressed a hand to his racing heart. “You’re always surprising me, Bethany Grant.”

CHAPTER 2

***BETHANY***

Bethany knew she should have given her friend a little warning before showing up. She was forever popping into Sutton’s life and getting in the way. She had thought about that, her phone poised to call him all morning, but a sense of relief had carried her away.

Isabel, Texas was a small town, but to Bethany, it was a great big escape. It was also her hometown, though her family fought to deny it. Bethany couldn’t help but be distracted by a million happy memories, all from the simple time before her father made his outrageous fortune, and she had forgotten to call Sutton as she enjoyed a literal stroll down memory lane.

Bethany had window-shopped down Main Street, without her sister’s insistent snobbery in her ear dismissing everything she liked, and then she stopped for coffee at The Bluebird Cafe. For once, she was allowed to savor real cream in her cup without reminders about weight and haute couture dresses being impossible to tailor. Instead, she remembered lazy Sunday afternoons of ice cream eating curbside with Sutton dripping all over his shirt and not caring. She floated through the park and even found the picnic table where her initials were carved next to his; they met there after school every day from middle school to graduation.

“The table that heard it all,” Bethany sighed as she traced the letters.

Sutton had been the perfect best friend: cute enough her other friends were jealous, surly enough to scare away unsuitable boyfriends, and loyal enough he didn’t let anything get in the way of their friendship. They had been inseparable since they met on the playground in elementary school and the whole town accepted the fact they would always be friends.

The truth was, he made Isabel more of a home than her family ever had.

After accidentally knocking her over by the slide, Sutton had simply pulled her up and into his life. The Rolstons were a raucous and grumpy group, all boys led by an iron-fisted father, but they made Bethany feel right at home. She could do no wrong in the Rolston household, the complete opposite of her own home experience, and Bethany had spent countless hours on one or another of their ranches. Her father accepted it when she was young because the Rolstons were rich and the association suited his social needs. In middle school, her father tolerated it because Sutton quickly shut down any nonsense the other immature boys tossed at his daughter. When they were in high school, her father began to succeed beyond even his arrogant dreams and he was too busy to notice her life much at all.

No wonder Bethany was excited to be back in town. It was the only place she felt like she was allowed to be herself.

Feeling giddy, Bethany had forced herself back to Main Street. It had only been a couple of months since she had last been in Isabel. Sure, they were long, tedious months filled with her sister’s itineraries and her father’s strict insistences, but it wasn’t like she’d been gone for years. Bethany had to remind herself the reason she left the last time was Sutton was too busy with his brothers and his business. Helping out at the hospitality ranch had been the highlight of Bethany’s year, but she was well aware Sutton was a busy man and she was always in the way.

Even so, she had felt a jolt of excitement when she thought she saw Sutton ducking into the hardware store. They talked regularly and texted at least five times a week, but there was something different about being in the same place as her best friend. Bethany had blamed the coffee for her surges of anticipation and intended to call Sutton first and let him know she was on her way. He didn’t need to know she was mooning around Main Street, reliving their younger, easier years.

Was he ever so nostalgic? Sutton was thoughtful but taciturn and it was always hard to interpret the look in his deep blue eyes. Still, Bethany was assured she had an open invitation to his hotel and home, and she was grateful for that fact.

“Bethy? Bethy Grant?” A hearty voice hailed her from across the sidewalk just as she had grabbed her phone to call Sutton for the hundredth time that morning.

“That is you!” Ben Summers and his wife, Cheryl, charged across the street with broadly smiling faces.

“Good morning,” Bethany had greeted them as she reluctantly put her phone away. She’d gone to school with Ben, where he was notorious for being the biggest flirt and serial dater in Isabel. Now, he was happily married and hell-bent on setting everyone else up. Ben prided himself on his matchmaking skills, and it was very hard for him to take no for an answer.

“You look lovely,” Cheryl told her. “Did you just get into town? Have you seen Sutton yet?” Cheryl was just as keen on seeing other people happily coupled up as her husband. She also refused to believe Bethany’s and Ben’s insistence that she and Sutton were just friends.

“Come on, Cher, lay off,” Ben told her. “I’ve got someone perfect for her. What do you think about a blind date while you’re slumming it with us here in Isabel?”

“Trust me, Isabel is a paradise for me,” Bethany told them.

“Compared to your father’s place or wherever you all are jet-setting off to? I doubt it,” Ben snorted. “Though we all appreciate you lending your good taste to the Rolston hotel ranch. God knows Sutton needs you there, but you tell him from me that you need a break so you can meet Mr. Right!”

The Summers, like most people in Isabel, didn’t understand how much Bethany longed to be back in their small town. They had never endured etiquette lessons, expensive tutors, endless improvements to their looks and personality, or the rigid set of expectations her father held over her head. Despite the luxury her family’s new wealth provided, Bethany spent most days unable to take a deep breath without being reminded of how a proper lady acts.

And now, her father was heaping on the additional pressure of her becoming the perfect wife. The idea of a Ben Summers match would drive her father into a rage, as he had started paying the state’s top marriage consultants for lists of which potential suitors would benefit his family the most.

Bethany held up both hands to ward off Ben’s ideas. “I need a break, not a blind date, Ben. Thanks anyway.”

The couple followed her down Main Street, Ben with his arm around Cheryl’s waist and his hand in her back pocket.

“Being with the right person is paradise,” Cheryl told her.

It was hard to resist what they had. Ben kissed the top of his wife’s head every ten feet or so, and she cast adoring looks up at him as they strolled. They were so genuinely in love that it was no doubt the reason most people put their hope in them as matchmakers.

And they’d been right about Drake and Freddie.

Bethany remembered fondly how torn her friend was when she still worked as Drake’s nanny. It was clear the two were in love, but they let everything get in the way. It was Freddie who taught Bethany that dreams can change and that relentlessly pursuing one thing meant you missed out on so many other possibilities. Watching Sutton’s brother go from grumpy to happily married was a miracle that Bethany thought about every day.

Her sister had tossed Drake away with nothing more than a shrug, and now she was stiffly married to the wealthiest waste-of-space Bethany had ever met. It haunted her how Jane could dismiss her own son and pretend to be content with a marriage that only looked good on the outside. Bethany had seen Freddie, Drake, and her nephew together, and she knew what real love looked like.

That is why she was avoiding set-ups at all costs. Unless it was sudden, spontaneous, and completely real, Bethany Grant wanted nothing to do with love.

She had stopped suddenly on the sidewalk outside the florists and made an abrupt excuse to the Summers. “Sorry, but I have to duck in here. I promised Sutton I would get flowers for the front hall of the hotel.”

They were nice enough to let another Isabel single distract them, and Bethany was relieved they did not cram into the tiny florist shop behind her. She had intended to just hide out long enough for the matchmakers to move on, but an overflowing bucket of carnations caught her attention. They instantly reminded her of Sutton.

Bethany never understood why carnations got such a bad reputation. The ruffled flowers came in a rainbow of colors, they were always so cheerful, and they lasted a long time. Her sister disdained them as cheap, while her father called them trash. Even her closest girl friends from school couldn’t understand why she had a soft spot for them. Who could love something anyone could buy at a gas station? Unless a flower was forced in a hothouse and expensively rare, they thought it wasn’t worth a second glance.

Sutton had first bought her a spindly trio of carnations in sixth grade after her cat disappeared. He’d handed over the white flowers along with a handful of candy and a mumbled, “I’m sorry.” Since then, carnations were their most-often used gesture of friendship.

Bethany’s eyes teared up. Why was Sutton the only one that understood her?

Even as a grumpy young kid, he had noticed the balancing act of her life. Bethany was pretty, so everyone expected her to be perfect. He lamented how she could never have an ice cream smudged chin or a speck of dirt on her clothes. She was also never allowed to complain—she had everything! Thank god Sutton had let her rant and nodded encouragement or she may have exploded all those years ago. It only got worse as she got older, but Sutton’s support helped her stay balanced. He was the only one that just expected her to be herself.

She grabbed a handful of white carnations, completed the bouquet with a glass vase, knowing he wouldn’t have one, and paid the florist with an impatient smile. It was time to stop stalling and go see her friend.

The florist noticed her clumsy anxiousness and carefully packed the water-filled vase in a cardboard box. Too fussy for a bunch of carnations, but Bethany appreciated the extra precaution. She was feeling jittery from the coffee and likely to fumble the flowers along the way.

A few feet outside of the florist shop, Bethany got another jolt as she recognized Sutton’s pickup truck pulling over to the curb. He jumped out to check something in the back and she hurried across the street to catch him before he drove off again. Just as she reached him, Sutton whipped around and his hand knocked the cardboard box right out of her hands.

Bethany fell back with a laugh—of course she was in his way again!

“Gotcha!” Sutton caught her hand in mid-air, but it wasn’t enough to stop her rear-end from inelegantly hitting the ground. He bumped down on his knee beside her and burst out laughing.

Just like how they met in elementary school when Sutton had bumped her over in line for the slide, he pulled her back up to her feet and said something sweet about her surprising him. Except it was Bethany that was surprised this time.

Sutton Rolston had always been a good-looking kid with sandy blond hair and deep blue eyes, but everything was different about him now. Where his perpetual frown had made his young face pouty, now it accentuated a strong, square jaw. A few faint lines crinkled by his eyes with his rare smile and they were like exclamation points aimed towards his deep-ocean gaze. Bethany caught herself staring and dropped her glance.

Even as she recovered the spilled carnations, she was aware of his broad shoulders leaning down next to her. Had he always been so strong and sure? His hand seemed huge next to hers as he plucked a flower off the asphalt and twirled it in his tanned fingers.

He held out the carnation to her and grinned. “Sorry for knocking you down.”

Bethany handed him one right back. “Thanks for picking me up.”

They laughed again, and Sutton’s deep chuckle seemed to seismically set off a tremor in her mid-section. Bethany blamed the riot in her stomach on that darned coffee but took a step back to consider her oldest friend.

He was known, as all the Rolston brothers were, for having a surly deposition. Her friends had always complained about his constant frown. Bethany now realized that was one of the things she loved most of all about her best friend: he saved his smiles for the people he really cared about. There was nothing fake or put-on about Sutton. He never plastered one emotion over another or said something he didn’t mean, and that was one of the reasons Bethany felt so relaxed around him.

“Speaking of picking you up, need a lift somewhere?” he asked.

Bethany saw a hopeful spark in his eyes and felt off-balance for the first time around her best friend. Should she play it cool and pretend she’d come to town on other business? Jane would advise her to toss her hair and not answer at all. A Grant lady never let a man think she was actually interested.

“I heard there was a hotel just outside of town that lets the guests do crazy things like ride horses,” Bethany said.

Sutton scooped the flowers, vase, box, and all, out of her hands and opened the passenger side door of his pickup truck. “It just so happens I’m heading that way,” he said.

So much for playing it cool, Bethany thought as she climbed into his truck. As Sutton strode around to the driver’s side, she realized he hadn’t batted a blue eye at her sudden arrival. Once again, her best friend had come through. He had never even thought to judge her absence, her sudden return, or the fact that she was clearly in town just to see him.

Everything was as easy and free as it had always been between them and, as they drove off together, Bethany promised herself she would never do anything to complicate their friendship.

CHAPTER 3

***SUTTON***

Sutton could barely keep his hands on the wheel, he was so happy to see Bethany. He had a hundred questions but they were all clogged in his throat. Luckily, Bethany had never been put off by his reticence and rode along happily in the passenger seat. His mind stopped buzzing after a few more minutes; they’d ridden like this together hundreds of times. With her in the passenger seat, everything finally felt like it was heading back to normal.

After a few more minutes, he coughed and let it turn into more of a laugh. “I suppose I should have asked if you had luggage or anything else you needed.”

Bethany raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh, now I see that Rolston arrogance coming through. Think you’re the only hospitality game in town?”

He grinned at her. “Are you telling me you’re planning to stay at Macy’s bed and breakfast? Didn’t know lace doilies were your thing.”

“You mean you haven’t placed them on the headrest of every chair at the hotel?” Bethany threw her hands up in mock disgust. “Guess you really aren’t interested in running a fashionable place.”

With the ice officially broken, Sutton finally dared to ask his first serious question. “So, how soon until they send the hounds after you?”

Bethany’s smile waned. “Father is at a financial conference for the next two weeks, and Jane is busy with her new country club. They have a big golf tournament coming up.”

“I didn’t know she played,” Sutton said, turning down the long drive to his hotel.

Bethany gave a short bark of laughter. “Jane’s not going to play! She’s been overseeing the silent auction items so they will be of the highest caliber.”

“So, shopping,” Sutton glanced at his friend. Bethany rolled her eyes and nodded. He turned back to driving and wondered how two sisters could be so different.

She kept her eyes on him, her body turned in the passenger seat. “I don’t really have a plan for when I’m going back.”

“Good,” Sutton said and meant it.

Bethany relaxed back into her seat, but her fingers drummed nervously on the rim of the window. He could tell there was something she didn’t want to talk about, so he changed the subject.

“How do you feel about riding in those clothes?” he asked.

Bethany, per usual, was outfitted beautifully. Khaki-colored jeans clung tight to her long legs with a custom-tooled leather belt cinched around her waist. Underneath a floaty linen shirt, he could see the hints of a rosy-pink satin tank top. A gleaming gold chain curved just below the low drop of the V-neck tank, and matching gold earrings peeked through her platinum blonde hair. She looked fresh and pristine as always, but her expression was pure mischief.

“Who cares when I know for a fact you’ve had to do your own laundry since you were twelve.”

Sutton laughed. “Put one frog in the laundry basket and get punished for life!”

“I heard it was five.”

His grin widened; of course, she would remember that. “One for each brother, minus myself, of course.”

“So, who cares if I scuff up these pants? I’m ready to outride you anytime,” Bethany told him, tossing her bright blonde hair back over her shoulder.

He loved her bravado just about as much as he loved letting her ride the horses at the hotel. Bethany was an accomplished rider, but her father had all but banned it after she’d turned fifteen. Mr. Grant believed it was a foolish girl’s pastime and not suitable for an accomplished young woman. Bethany had been forced to trade her favorite thing for finishing school. Sutton had seen how that had crushed her and he relished any opportunity to undo that hurt.

With that in mind, he jumped out of his truck and immediately ignored the long to-do list waiting for him inside the hotel. He and Bethany headed straight for the barn and saddled up. Knowing she was a few months out of practice, Sutton led the way up the easy trail and used the chance to catch up with his friend some more.

“What have I missed out there in the fashionable world?” he asked as they rode side by side. “What’s the new must-have collection?”

Her father was forever jumping on the newest high-priced fad and amassing large collections that he just as quickly sold when they turned passé. Bethany groaned. “Paintings of fox hunts; can you believe it? Like he thinks us Texans are suddenly going to spout English accents and ride through foggy weather on some green, hilly estate.”

“Any chance his latest obsession will bring horses back to your stable?” Sutton asked.

Bethany shook her head. “Not ours. Father has been investing money in a few purebreds. He’s found out steeple chase races are still a thing.”

“All the jumps and water hazards and all that?” Sutton glanced at Bethany sitting so comfortably on the back of a notoriously skittish mount. “You used to be really good at that kind of riding.”

She hadn’t even noticed her horse’s nervous behavior and controlled the mount with easy squeezes and pats. “Which is exactly why I’m wondering why you’ve got us on the easy trail here.”

Sutton reined his horse aside and gestured to a side trail. “Be my guest.”

Bethany’s jewel-green eyes glowed. “Thanks.”

She spurred her horse into a gallop without a noticeable motion and they flew up the harder trail. Sutton, born and bred on ranches, took off after her but still marveled at her skill. Bethany rode with a grace and instinct that made her almost one with the animal, like a wild spirit straight out of a fairy tale. He didn’t manage to overtake her until they crested a small bluff and she stopped to admire the sun-streaked evening.

“Staying for BBQ and a bonfire?” Sutton asked, not noticing the sky at all.

“I don’t want to be in your way. Besides, I have Ms. Macy’s doilies waiting for me,” Bethany said.

Did she really feel like she was in his way? Sutton had no idea how to tell her she was wrong. Sure, he’d left a lot of things undone, but the afternoon ride had given him enough energy he felt like he could get his whole to-do list done before the sun went down. Though, he reluctantly admitted, that would only happen after he dropped her at her bed and breakfast.

Sutton contented himself with the healthy blush on Bethany’s cheeks. She was just as exhilarated by the ride as he was, and he was certain she would be back in the morning. Making sure, he asked, “Want me to let you help with chores tomorrow in exchange for another ride?”

Growing up, Bethany had often helped out the Rolston boys to buy time on their favorite horses and to ensure they didn’t tell her father. Bethany had gotten quite handy at all sorts of ranch tasks without her father ever noticing.

She grinned as she hopped back into Sutton’s truck. “Sure thing. I’ll even pick up some donuts on my way over.”

“Not staying around for Ms. Macy’s breakfast tea and crumpets?” Sutton laughed as he drove her back to town.

“I’ll be up and out before then,” Bethany swore. “And don’t worry about picking me up; I have the Land Rover this time.”

Sutton tried not to feel self-conscious about his dirty pickup truck. Sometimes it was easy to forget how down-to-earth Bethany was despite her rich and privileged life. She was used to every luxury, whether she wanted them or not, and Sutton found himself worried she wouldn’t be happy when she returned to his hospitality ranch. Why was he so worried about impressing her on this visit?

He was still puzzling over that, and a few other unfamiliar feelings about his oldest friend, when he dropped her off. Not ready to go back to the hotel and face all his work, Sutton decided to drop in at the local watering hole.

The Road House was relatively empty but he recognized the man sitting at the end of the bar. Diego worked for the woman Sutton’s second-eldest brother had just eloped with and the two men had already bonded over their surprise.

“Heard anything from the happy couple?” Diego asked when Sutton sat down and ordered a beer.

Sutton snorted. “You think Theo is calling to check in with me? Why don’t you tell me what Hetty’s had to say?”

Diego gave a contented sigh. “She still calls to check up on me and the boys every day, but she sounds so happy.”

Hetty ran the Thirsty River Ranch and was, by Diego’s account, the most stubborn woman in the entire South. The more Sutton heard about her, the more he was happy for his brother. Theo had spent most of his life with a smirk on his face, feeling too tall to be in their eldest brother’s shadow. Being second-born, Theo had long ago resigned himself to letting life happen instead of showing much initiative. Reuniting with Hetty had turned everything in Theo’s life upside down. Hetty was ambitious enough for all of Texas and she had pulled Theo into a whole new, happy life. Sutton never tired of hearing what she had Theo doing next.

Unfortunately, Diego had another subject in mind. “Say, who’s that beauty I saw you driving off with earlier?”

Sutton frowned into his beer, losing his taste for the lager. “That’s Bethany.”

“The best friend?” Diego had been in Isabel a long time and, like most small-town folks, knew everyone’s business.

“Yeah.”

Diego’s eyebrows went up. “You don’t sound so sure. I mean, I don’t blame you. A woman that beautiful, that makes you smile like she did, that’s not someone you want as just a friend.”

Sutton thought about that and didn’t like the way his stomach turned a somersault. Bethany had always been the most beautiful girl, then the most gorgeous woman he had ever known, but she was still Bethany. He needed her humor and insight, not to mention good taste and advice, just as much as she needed his support and listening skills. Being anything other than friends seemed impossible, and Sutton was again glad she was staying at the local bed and breakfast. Somehow, the thought of her in his hotel made his stomach do another series of flips.

Sutton snorted. “She’ll always be my friend. You don’t know Bethany or her family or you’d get it.”

“The Grants?” Diego nodded. “Tough family to love but, then again, so are the Rolstons. Or so I hear.”

Sutton had to smile despite his surly reputation. Then his expression dropped. For the second time that day, Drake appeared on the scene. He sauntered over, greeted Diego, and settled himself in next to his brother before Sutton could escape.

“Bethany told me she thought you were heading this way,” Drake said.

Sutton felt immediately steamed. “Why were you talking to Bethany?”

“You weren’t answering your phone this afternoon.”

Diego didn’t even pretend he wasn’t listening. “Would you have?” he asked Drake.

Drake grinned but Sutton interrupted him before he could comment. “We went riding. Come on, Drake, you’ve known Bethany for just as many years as me. The second she got near the ranch, she wanted to go horseback riding.”

“Exactly,” Drake said. He reached over and took a sip of Sutton’s beer.

Sutton slapped his hand. “What do you mean, exactly?”

“Well, it seems someone has to take care of business while you go riding off into the sunset,” Drake said.

“Like Theo and Hetty?” Sutton was glad to throw his brother off and make Diego splutter his own drink.

Drake’s own signature frown finally returned to his face. “Like I was saying, someone had to look after our business partnership. The hotel is supposed to be for horse riding enthusiasts, right?”

Sutton ground his teeth. If it wasn’t for their father’s will forcing them to form a business partnership, he would have gladly not seen his brother for a year at a time. Unfortunately, Rolston Senior had stipulated that each of his six sons had to work with another in order to inherit his billions. If Sutton didn’t love his nephew, and now Freddie, he would have happily let the money slide into charities, but he was stuck working with Drake to secure his family’s future.

Drake ignored Sutton’s irritated expression and continued, “so it stands to reason we need a talented riding instructor.”

Sutton rolled his eyes up to the clock behind the bar. It was just about dinner time and he wished he could ditch his brother, grab a couple of burgers from The Over Easy diner, and tempt Bethany into a picnic dinner at the park. Instead, he had to listen to Drake still droning on.

“We need someone likeable, stylish, the kind of rider other people will want to emulate,” Drake was saying.

“So that eliminates you,” Sutton snapped.

Drake grinned. “And you. Which doesn’t leave us much choice but to hire out for the position of riding instructor, now does it?”

“Fine.” Sutton’s mind was still on the idea of eating burgers with Bethany at their old favorite table. Then his attention snapped back to the conversation. “Wait a second. The whole riding school thing was my idea.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

Diego shifted on his stool, sensing the brothers were about to fight.

Sutton stood up. “It was my idea. Wait, it was Bethany’s idea! You were too busy bullying your poor nanny to notice that your son was taking secret riding lessons, and that was when we came up with the whole idea for the horse riding angle for the hotel.”

Drake smirked at his brother. “You mean Bethany came up with the whole horse-riding angle for the hotel. Face it, little brother, without her, that place would still be a ramshackle ranch with a worn out hotel gathering spiderwebs.”

“That’s some friend you got,” Diego said, settling back onto his stool.

“Exactly,” Drake added.

“Stop saying that!” Sutton was fuming but he didn’t know why. What were they even talking about? “So go ahead and hire someone to be the riding instructor. I’m heading out to grab some dinner.”

“I already did,” Drake called to his back.

“What? Grab dinner?” Sutton was losing patience.

Both Drake and Diego laughed. “No,” Drake said. “I already hired our new riding instructor.”

“Can’t you tell me about it tomorrow?” Sutton asked.

“Bethany can,” his brother said.

“Do what?” Sutton felt like shouting.

The two men chuckled again. Then Drake relented and finally explained to his distracted brother, “Bethany can tell you all about how I stopped by and hired her to be the riding instructor for our hotel venture. You’re welcome.”

Despite having only taken a few sips of his lager, Sutton felt the room spin.

Drake couldn’t help but add the final dizzying detail. “She’s moving into the hotel and starting work tomorrow.”

CHAPTER 4

***BETHANY***

Bethany couldn’t fall asleep and it had nothing to do with the scratchy lace bedspread in Ms. Macy’s best room. She had been so shocked and delighted by Drake’s job offer that she had accepted it immediately, without even thinking about Sutton. And now, Sutton was all she could think about.

Every time she closed her eyes, she could see his deep blue eyes twinkling at her. She would feel the sudden, strong grip on her arm as she tumbled backward and the ease with which he lifted her back up to her feet. When had his shoulders gotten so broad and powerful? When had he filled out and stopped being her scrawny best friend?

No. Sutton would always be her friend, Bethany vowed again. She couldn’t let anything get in the way of that, not even the amazing job opportunity Drake had given her just before dinner.

Bethany tried closing her eyes again, but there was Sutton smiling over his shoulder as he led her on a trail ride she wished would never end. Now it would be her job! Her eyes flew open again. Would Sutton get sick of her if she was there every day?

She took a deep breath and remembered every school day, every long summer afternoon, and every cold evening over winter break. Each day of the year had a memory of Sutton attached to it. They had spent almost their entire childhood together; there was no reason they couldn’t do the same as adults. In fact, the idea sent a warm, melting feeling over Bethany and she finally hoped she could drift off to sleep. Tomorrow she wouldn’t be in Sutton’s way; she would be an employee.

Bethany’s eyes flew open again. Most kids in Isabel had grown up working summers, some evenings too. Classmates had been lifeguards, nannies, waiters, or concession stand workers at the local movie theater. A few lucky ones had landed jobs in valet parking or caddying at the local country club, where the tips were huge. Even Sutton had been released from his regular chores on the ranch in order to stock shelves at the Tack and Feed and learn what it was to earn a paycheck. Bethany and her sister had been strictly forbidden to work as their father thought it implied he didn’t make enough money.

Jane had never cared; she always got what she wanted so money never seemed real to her. Bethany had longed for a job, any job, even tending Mrs. O’Henry’s overly-meticulous rose garden, just so she could have a role of her own. Her father refused every time. Grant ladies were never supposed to think about money because they could depend on him for everything. It never occurred to him that at least one of his daughters might long for independence.

Worrying about her inexperience, Bethany hardly slept a wink that night. She hid it behind expertly applied make-up the next day, but her best friend called her out immediately.

“You look exhausted. Ms. Macy put you in the room with her antique doll collection?” Sutton shuddered in mock horror.

Bethany swatted his arm away as she got out of the Land Rover. “I’m pretty sure that’s not something you’re supposed to say to co-workers.”

Sutton tilted his head and studied her face closely. Again, he hit directly on the subject of her sleeplessness. “This is your first job, isn’t it? I remember what a stink your father made when he caught you delivering take-out menus for Pappy’s Pizza.”

Bethany cringed. “And I was just helping out your brother Topher!”

“Well, I hear we’ll be paying you a nice salary, so welcome to your first day as part of the workforce.”

Was Sutton being sarcastic? Bethany worried again she had accepted the job too soon. What if he didn’t want to work with her? Would it damage their friendship?

He seemed to notice her anxiety and chucked her gently on the shoulder. “Don’t tell Drake, but he’s a pretty good judge of character. He always hires the right people.”

“Like Freddie?” Bethany wanted to crawl under the Land Rover until her embarrassment passed. Why was she likening herself to the employee Drake had fallen in love with and married?

Sutton was silent, studying her face too closely again.

“I’m sorry, Sutton. I should have asked you before I accepted this job. Like you said, my father never let me work so how would I know if this was a good idea or not. I totally get it if you want to find someone else who can handle the whole job better than me.”

He held up both hands to stop her nervous flow of words. “If your father had his way, you’d never get to ride horses either. Seems like he’s the one that doesn’t know your talents or what you can handle. You’ll be great as our riding instructor. Don’t worry.”

Bethany’s heart stumbled. How did Sutton always know just what she needed to hear?

“So, you’re okay with me being here? With me being an employee?”

Sutton’s expression turned serious again. “I should ask if you’re going to be okay with me being your boss. I’ve heard Rolstons are not easy to work with.”

Bethany laughed, feeling a huge weight lift away. “Luckily I know just as much about Rolstons as I know about horses.”

He grinned. “Good, because your first riding lesson just so happens to be everyone’s favorite Rolston.”

“Bethany!” Sutton’s nephew, Teddy, yelled as he galloped across the yard to greet her. “Wow, that’s a fancy car. Can I ride in it?”

Sutton caught his eager nephew by his shoulder. “No. You’re here to ride horses, remember?”

“Yeah! Let’s go, Bethany.” Teddy pulled her towards the barn.

Bethany felt Sutton’s eyes on her all the way across the yard but the feeling, along with her nerves, lifted as soon as she entered the stables. Horses were by far her favorite animal, they had always been closest to her heart, and Bethany loved being able to share that love with someone as excited as Teddy.

She started the lesson in the stall, reminding Teddy to keep one hand on the horse so it knew when he walked behind it and could avoid getting kicked. Together they groomed the horse, then saddled it, and she showed him the trick with her thumb that helped coax the bit into the horse’s mouth. He was barely tall enough to reach the mount’s chin, but Teddy took it all in.

Bethany felt a swell of pride as he rode out into the ring. Then she realized she had made her first mistake as an employee— she had never asked Sutton how long the lesson was supposed to last! He was frowning as he marched towards them from the hotel and Bethany cringed as she waited for his grumpiness.

Then Teddy cantered by and called, “Uncle Sutton, look! I can ride one-handed like Dad now!”

Sutton’s face instantly softened and Bethany felt her knees go wobbly. He obviously loved his nephew, and she felt a pang of jealousy that the youngest Rolston had so much love. Her family focused more on pride than adoration, but it was clear to see that Sutton adored his nephew.

He leaned on the fence near Bethany and told her absently, “The lesson’s only supposed to be an hour but I can’t ask him to dismount now.”

“I’m sorry, Sutton, really. I’ll figure out this whole job/employee thing. I promised,” Bethany told him.

He glanced at her and looked somehow sad for a moment. Then Sutton stood up and asked, “Any chance my best friend wants to have a spaghetti celebration after her first day on the job?”

Bethany’s heart soared. Maybe they could work together and still go on just as they always had. “Sure thing, though I bet I’m supposed to muck out the stalls first.”

“Funny thing, that’s on my to-do list too,” Sutton told her. He raised his voice so his nephew could hear, “And it’s about time that Teddy learned how to clean out the stables too!”

Teddy reined his horse into a walk and shook his head. “Sorry, but Dad will be here any minute to pick me up!”

Sutton followed his nephew towards the stable but spoke to Bethany over his shoulder. “Today’s an easy day but we have a full guest list this weekend and your job is about to get a lot busier.”

That night, it was just the two of them in the hotel. Sutton had given the entire staff the night off before the busy weekend. Bethany savored the emptiness as she admired all the hard work she had seen her friend begin but not finish.

“Hey, the light fixture I picked looks great!” she told Sutton in the front hall.

He gave the chandelier a gritted smile. “Yeah, it took a long time to get it ordered. Not to mention having to fix the huge hole in the roof from the storm.”

Bethany had missed out on a lot. She had left when Sutton and Drake were still fighting over their business partnership, before his brother and Freddie admitted they were madly in love. Bethany had also missed out on the terrible storm that had nearly ruined the hotel at the same time as it brought Theo and Hetty closer together. She hated feeling like she had missed out on so much when she was stuck with her family. Somehow, Sutton and the Rolstons felt more like her real life than her own kin.

Sutton didn’t like talking about the parts she missed either. He cleared his throat and led the way to the kitchen. There, for a little while, it was just like old times with Sutton frowning over the pot of noodles as she opened their favorite store-brand sauce. She still shrieked with delight as he suddenly flung a noodle on the wall to test if it was done—Bethany could never imagine doing something like that in the pristine kitchen at her home!

They ate big bowls of spaghetti while sitting on stools at the counter, lingering over the last scrapes of sauce. Then it was finally time to clean up for the night.

“I’ll show you to your suite.” Sutton shook his head. “What am I talking about? You know where it is—you designed it.”

“The Peony Room?” Bethany hopped off her stool in excitement. “Really?”

“It’s the closest thing we have to private apartment,” Sutton reminded her. “They’ll be guests down that hall sometimes too, but I live at the end.”

They walked together and it reminded Bethany of how Sutton used to drive her home then walk her all the way to the front door even though he didn’t have to. He stopped and leaned against the doorframe in the same no-hurry way he used to linger at her front door.

“So, how’d I do?” Sutton asked her.

Bethany looked up at him, confused. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

He reached out and tugged on a strand of her blonde hair. “Promise me you won’t quit, even if I’m a terrible boss.”

“Why?” The short, breathy question was all Bethany could manage.

Sutton dropped her hair and stood up to his full height again. “Drake would never let me hear the end of it.”

She nodded, not sure why she was unable to talk. Sutton nodded back at her and strolled down the hall to his own suite. Bethany slipped inside her rooms and wondered why it felt so strange and wonderful to be going to sleep just down the hall from Sutton. She had often dreamed of staying with the Rolstons and not having to go back to her house, but this was different. Luckily, her few days of travel and all the excitement of being back in Isabel and landing her first job caught up with her and Bethany was able to fall right asleep.

In the morning, the hotel was buzzing with cleaning staff. The chef and his assistant were trucking supplies in from a truck out back, and the front desk phone rang every few minutes. A few guests arrived early and Bethany was glad to escape all the activity and get to work in the stables. She didn’t see Sutton until 10:30 am when he swung through the stables and tossed her a granola bar.

“Next time, get up in time for staff breakfast. We can’t have you fainting from hunger on the job,” he called.

He was curt and frowning, but he’d brought her breakfast, so Bethany decided to let it slide. Unfortunately, Sutton’s boss mode was decidedly surly and for the entire weekend, he barked orders at her and everyone else in passing. She tried to reason that it was a busy weekend, but soon Bethany started to realize this was the other side of her best friend. In fact, this Sutton wasn’t her friend at all; he was her boss. And her boss was a giant grump!

He complained when she rearranged the tack room, saying it was a waste of time even when it helped her find the equipment she needed faster. He thought the riding clothes she’d had sent from her home were too fancy and he declared she would wear an ugly Polo shirt with the hotel logo on it just like every other employee. And Sutton took to standing on the hotel porch and tapping his watch every time she let a lesson run a few minutes over.

By Sunday afternoon, Bethany had had enough and she was glad when her last lesson turned out to be Freddie.

“Uh oh, I know that look,” her friend said as they rode out onto the trail. “I used to see that fed-up look in the mirror a lot.”

“Rolston brothers have to be the grumpiest bosses I’ve ever seen in my life,” Bethany told her. She was glad when Freddie didn’t comment on the fact that Sutton was her first-ever boss.

“I swear they are the hardest on the people they care about the most,” Freddie told her.

Bethany snorted. “There’s two Suttons now and I haven’t seen my friend in days. It’s just the short-tempered Sutton striding around and giving orders. He’s the Sutton I want to kick in the shins.”

“Lucky for you, I heard Drake say tomorrow is a day off for the hotel. There are no guests until Tuesday afternoon. Let’s hope you spot your friend around between now and then,” Freddie said.

The two women enjoyed the rest of their ride, and Bethany slowly started to relax. By the time they got back to the stables, she was reveling in the fact she had worked a few hard days and finally knew what it felt like to crave a night off!

“Say goodnight to Sutton for me,” Freddie said.

“Sorry, the only thing I’m talking to tonight is the bubble bath in my suite,” Bethany told her. She waved goodbye and sneaked in the back door of the hotel, determined to avoid her horrible boss at all costs.

CHAPTER 5

***SUTTON***

Sutton thought the long day was finally over but the front desk phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Most of their reservations came online, but they kept the landline as part of their customer service; he had no choice but to answer it.

An insistent voice interrupted him before he could give the normal hotel greeting, “I need to speak to Bethany Grant immediately.”

“Jane?” Sutton recognized her voice.

Bethany’s older sister had once been his sister-in-law, a youthful mistake on Drake’s part that everyone in the family was glad was over. Jane was unapologetically snobby and wielded her beauty and family wealth like a first-class pass to whatever she wanted. She treated everyone except her father like her personal servant, including her younger sister. Sutton despised her.

“This must be Sutton,” Jane said in an impatient tone. She had always thought his friendship with Bethany was a waste of her sister’s time. “I’ll wait while you put her on the line.”

“You should try her cell phone,” Sutton said.

There was an offended sniff on the other end of the line. “I don’t have time for nonsense from you. Just get my sister.”

Sutton considered hanging up the phone, but he had long ago realized it was useless getting between the sisters. No matter how different they were, the Grant sisters were tied together by family, and he knew how inextricable that could be. He sighed heavily into the receiver, then said nothing as he carried the cordless phone down the hall to Bethany’s suite.

He had suspected that Bethany was avoiding her older sister, she had not mentioned Jane once since her arrival at the hotel, but she was also avoiding him. Remembering they had not been on the best boss/employee terms, he knocked on her suite door quietly.

“Bethany, it’s important,” he called out.

Sutton heard an outburst of muttering, stomping footsteps, then the door was yanked open in front of him. “This better be good, boss,” she snapped.

The phone dangled from his suddenly bloodless hand, and Sutton completely forgot why he had knocked. Bethany was glaring up at him, wrapped in nothing but a fluffy white hotel towel.

“It’s after-hours. You’re off the clock. I’m not your boss right now,” was all he managed to say. Why had his mouth gone so dry?

Bethany nodded sharply. “Exactly. I’m done with work and about to take a bath. What could you possibly need right now?”

Sutton dropped his gaze, feeling it getting too heated. He couldn’t remember what he had come to her room to say.

“Is there a problem?” Bethany demanded.

There definitely was, but Sutton shook it off and remembered the phone. “Probably. It’s your sister.”

She looked in horror at the cordless receiver, then met his eyes, and he saw her dismay. It was clear Bethany had been enjoying her freedom, and Jane had a way of tying her up in knots. He regretfully held out the phone.

Bethany mouthed, “I’m sorry.” Then she snatched the phone from him and shut the door quickly.

Sutton made it three steps down the hallway and leaned against the wall. His heart was hammering like he’d tried to endure a marathon. He shook himself, then headed to his own suite. It had occasionally struck him over the years that Bethany was a very good-looking female. Sutton remembered trying to reconcile his adolescent body with his best friend’s proximity. Luckily, his older brothers had all coached him on how to control natural physical responses with mental focus.

Sutton thought about the first time they drank soda together and Bethany had accidentally burped in front of him; she was so embarrassed she cried. Then he conjured up the image of her getting food poisoning from old nacho cheese and puking under the bleachers at school. Lastly, he reminded himself of the countless times he’d listened to her disdainful comments about other boys and men. He had always felt better knowing he was never going to be on the receiving end of her physical judgment and dismissal. She rejected men faster than any female he’d ever met.

Bethany was a Grant, after all, and that meant she was snobby to the bone.

He tried to forget all about the incident, which was easy because there was still so much to get done at the hotel. In the morning, he got up early to avoid her and vowed he would stay in boss mode. Having a good season at the hotel meant he could get his brothers off his back and finally start making his own way in life.

Then he ran into her on the front porch and immediately saw the shadows under her eyes. Boss mode switched off as he worried about his friend. “Everything okay with your sister?” he asked.

Bethany was obviously not in the mood to chat to anyone. “Fine. You know, family. Gotta get to the stables.”

Sutton wondered what was going on, but soon the last of the storm repairs had him distracted. Then he soon experienced his own run-in with an irritating family member: his brother Topher called.

“Hey, little bro! Guess who’s coming back to town!” Topher crowed, some sort of party loud on the line behind him.

“You were supposed to be back months ago. Remember? You’ve got requirements on your inheritance, same as the rest of us,” Sutton said.

“Sure, sure, but first I’ve got a surprise for you. Me and a bunch of my friends are going to come check out your hotel. Doesn’t that sound great?”

Sutton gritted his teeth. “It sounds like a nightmare. You’ve got your own ranch, Topher. Go there.”

“And miss out on a chance to help my youngest brother? No way! Trust me; you’ll want this crowd to have your hotel on their radar. They travel all the time and they’re big tippers. You’ll set us up, right?”

Sutton juggled the phone as he signed off on a huge roofing bill. “Go ahead and see if you can make reservations. If there’s room, I’ll take it from there.”

“Right on, bro. See you soon!” Topher hung up the phone first, per usual.

Behind the roofing foreman was another contractor with the final estimate on the plumbing repairs the second floor had needed after the storm, and that reminded Sutton there would also be a bill from the water damage specialists. After he was done with all that, he felt like making a run for it, but Bethany blocked his way.

“The beginners' horse camp is fully booked! There’s going to be a bunch of families staying here in less than a week.” She grinned up at him.

Sutton groaned. “And did you double-check that they all made hotel reservations on top of filling out the horse camp registration? Accommodations for campers falls under your job description too. I don’t have time to do your work for you.”

Her bright green eyes hardened into an emerald glare. “Will do, boss.”

He ignored her sarcastic tone and the way her long, dark eyelashes contrasted so alluringly with her bright hair. Sutton focused on Bethany’s tendency to think other people would pick up the slack for her because she smiled so pretty. It was easy to remember how many times he had raced over to her house late on a Sunday to help with schoolwork because she’d been too busy with cheerleading or prom planning or shopping with her sister.

Still, she didn’t immediately step aside, even when he was toe-to-toe and towering over her. It was a mistake on his part because the vantage point offered him a quick glance down her scoop-neck shirt and the image of that fluffy white towel just barely clinging on popped back into his head. Sutton put his hands on her shoulders and physically moved her aside, despite his racing pulse.

“Most people realize that time is money, Bethany. It comes with working a job in the real world,” he grumbled.

She opened her mouth to say something, then glanced over his shoulder and popped her petal-pink lips shut again. He watched her walk away without another word and wondered belatedly if his friend was doing okay.

“There you are,” a stern voice sounded from behind him.

Sutton rolled his eyes, realizing why Bethany had beat such a hasty retreat. His eldest brother, Dean, stood in the front entryway of the hotel. “Checking up on me?” He snapped.

Dean ignored him in his imperial way. “Was that Bethany I saw?”

“You scared her off per usual,” Sutton told him.

Dean had always made Bethany nervous. As the oldest Rolston son, Dean had ruled over them as children. In school, he had been the senior god to their puny existences. And now, as an adult, Dean’s air of authority was nearly absolute. He oversaw the largest cattle ranch in Isabel and was heir to the largest portion of the Rolston fortune. He was also physically intimidating with impossibly wide-shoulders, heavily muscled arms, and the confidence of a bull.

“Too bad,” Dean said. “Bethany’s done wonders with this place.”

Sutton ground his teeth. Of course his brother would refuse to give him any credit. It didn’t matter that the most-complimented style choices in the hotel had been Bethany’s suggestions; he had done all the work.

“What do you want, Dean?” Sutton snapped.

Dean ignored his brother’s bad attitude and took himself on a tour of the hotel with Sutton trailing angrily behind. “I love the light fixture,” he said.

“All the repairs are done, the place is in great shape, so what’s your problem?” Sutton asked.

“Topher.” Dean stopped in the ballroom and turned to his brother.

“Any gambling debts he’s run up are on him.” Sutton pretended to wash his hands of whatever dirty laundry their brother was trying to toss on him. “And it’s not my fault his ranch is so neglected. I’ve been busy.”

“I understand he’s going to stay here when he returns.” Dean held eye contact.

“It better not be for long,” Sutton growled. “You can’t ask me to accommodate him and his horrible entourage for free.”

Dean nodded in curt agreement, then reminded him, “We need Topher to stay in town and sort out his inheritance requirements.”

“That’s between him and—”

Dean would not hear their other brother mentioned. He held up his hand and continued, “Just try to make the best of it and not scare him off. Topher’s bringing in some very wealthy friends. I believe Bethany knows some of them. If they like your hotel, you’re on the A-list, so it won’t be a waste of your brotherly love.”

Sutton itched to remind Dean that brotherly love extended even to the one they weren’t allowed to mention, but he decided to keep the peace. “Fine. I’ll play host until he gets on his feet and is able to face his own ranch full of problems.”

Dean nodded and headed out the ballroom’s tall French doors and onto the wraparound porch. “So, tell me about Bethany. I never thought I’d hear of a Grant being an employee of ours.”

“Mine,” Sutton said.

His eldest brother broke his normally stern expression and smiled. “How is your friend and employee?”

“I hired her to run the horse riding school and now she’s got a fully booked camp about to start,” Sutton told him. He leaned on the porch rail and stared off towards the stables. “You know, Bethany, she’s good at whatever she wants to do.”

“I’m glad she’s back in your life,” Dean said.

Sutton frowned at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dean smiled again, a rare occurrence. “You two are never happy apart, been that way since elementary school. I just hope she can handle you as a boss. I hear you’re just as grumpy as Drake when it comes to dealing with employees.”

“You’re one to talk,” Sutton snapped. “I bet DeeDee would have a few choice words for her boss that land a little harder than ‘grumpy.’”

Dean’s look drifted far off to the edges of his own cattle ranch. “DeeDee’s never called a man ‘boss’ in her life. She runs my house and just so happens to let me live in it.”

Sutton laughed. “That’s the truth!”

“Well,” Dean snapped himself back to the present. “Let me know when Topher and his circus arrive. And tell Bethany that she’s welcome at the Double R any time.”

Sutton watched his eldest brother march back to his truck and wondered when Dean had started sounding so fond of Bethany. She would be shocked to know that he even knew her name! The thought made Sutton smile, and he headed over to the stables to share the joke with his best friend.

The first thing he noticed when he reached the stables was how Bethany had cleared the entire back wall. The huge barn doors had been latched closed, so they provided a wall for tack and equipment. She’d removed all of that to god knows where and pried the big doors open. It didn’t matter that the view was shockingly beautiful; Sutton was annoyed she’d changed it without his permission.

He stalked into the stables, prepared to tell off his snotty employee when he heard Bethany’s voice. “I guess you could call it rustic. No, you’re right; I have no idea what other words people would use.”

Bethany was leaning over the gate to the riding yard, talking on her cell phone. One hand absently twirled a long lock of her platinum blonde hair, and it caught the sunlight as she spun the silk through her fingers. At first, Sutton’s chest softened; it was nice to see his friend so comfortable on his property. He had to admit he was glad she liked it there and she seemed to be happy working with his horses.

Then he overheard her side of the conversation.

“I mean, I wouldn’t recommend it for a vacation. It’s definitely rough around the edges. Yes, exactly, very Rolston.” Bethany’s laugh was like tight little bells.

Sutton stepped back behind a stall door and listened more.

“The hotel has been cleaned up quite a bit but you’d still think it was shabby. No, chic is definitely not a word that would apply. Trust me; you’d hate it.”

He had no idea who she was talking to, but the words stung. Sutton had worked so hard to revive the hotel; he had taken every silly suggestion and style idea she had given him and made the place shine. Bethany had all but told him she loved it there—otherwise, why would she have shown up and taken a job at such a place? And now he was hearing how she really felt.

Bethany Grant, his best friend, trashing the only thing in his life that Sutton had to be proud of. He turned around and headed out of the stables, leaving the spoiled rich girl to her snobby commentary without a single glance behind him.

CHAPTER 6

***BETHANY***

Bethany felt like ripping her hair right out of her head. Her sister, Jane, was not quite through scrolling pictures of Sutton’s hotel and finding excruciatingly petty details to dislike.

“I mean, the entire stables make me feel like I’m going to get a sliver just looking at them,” Jane said.

“I haven’t gotten a single one,” Bethany replied. She left the riding yard gate and paced up and down. “Why do you care what it looks like when you have no intention of ever coming here?”

Jane sniffed. “It’s my job to make sure our family keeps our high standards. What are people going to think when they hear where you are?”

Bethany stiffened. “Why would they hear where I am? You’re the only one that knows and that’s only because you are unforgivably nosy.”

“As if it was difficult to deduce you ran off to find your little friend. So nostalgic, Bethany. I swear, that’s your biggest fault.”

Crinkling her eyes up tight, Bethany reminded herself that her list of biggest faults was so long it was ludicrous. Still, her sister’s judgment stung. “Sutton’s a grown man, a good man, Jane. Why can’t you show a little respect?”

Jane ignored her. “You know what grown man I ran into at the country club? Penn Torrington.”

Bethany stopped pacing, saw a pitchfork, and considered throwing herself on it. “That couldn’t have possibly been a surprise. You two are there all the time.”

“I ran into him while helping approve the floral arrangements for the tournament brunch,” Jane snapped. “Some of us take our charity work seriously. Or don’t you remember you promised Daddy you would help too?”

“Our father is in so many golf tournaments, I can hardly keep them straight,” Bethany groaned.

“Well, Penn was there and he asked for you. I think, of everyone, I should probably tell him where you are, considering how close you’ve been getting.”

Bethany gripped her phone with both hands. “Being forced together by our families at every awkward opportunity does not count as ‘getting close.’”

“Well, the way Daddy talks about Penn makes me think he has a right to know where you’ve run off to. Maybe he can be the one to come and save you from those splintery stables.” Jane practically squealed with delight at her own romantic notion.

Bethany, on the other hand, felt like throwing up. “You say anything and I’ll never return that Vera Wang you love so much.”

Yes, she had resorted to haute couture threats, but those were usually the only things that got through to Jane. “The one that makes Alexa Benson so jealous? You wouldn’t!”

“You know me, Jane. I might wear it in the stables.”

Her older sister sniffed and huffed a few minutes more but luckily had a luncheon she needed to get ready for and soon hung up. The conversation left Bethany feeling jittery and upset. Of course, her sister would figure out where she was and remind her of her family obligations. Bethany had just hoped for a little more time. And a miracle.

Feeling hopeless and exhausted, she headed into the hotel for a quick cup of coffee. Her spirits rose as soon as she saw Sutton, but he only gave her a curt nod. She watched him stride out of the break room and felt her mood plummet. Their friendship was fraying and, most days, it was the only thing Bethany felt was stitching her life together. What was she going to do?

“Hand over your to-do list; I’m here to help!”

Bethany turned to see Freddie and she broke into a relieved smile. “Are you serious? Please tell me you aren’t joking.”

Freddie gave her a quick hug. “A little surly bird told me you could use an extra hand and it just so happens that I have two.”

So Sutton was mad at her but was still helping her from afar. Bethany felt her heart squeeze with gratitude; her best friend always came through.

“And all I ask in return is the full scoop. How are things with you and Sutton?” Freddie led the way back to the stables while she pried. “Have you had any time to just be friends or is it all work?”

“So much work,” Bethany told her. “Especially since I made a few changes to the stables.”

Freddie’s breath caught when she saw the open barn doors and the beautiful vista. “Who would have thought this was behind that big wall of bits and bridles!”

“Honestly, I think it could bring in extra revenue. I wanted to surprise Sutton but he’s mad because I neglected some of the horse camp details.” Bethany led Freddie to where her laptop was propped up on an overturned barrel.

“A whole new event space! What a great idea!” Freddie studied the mock-up on Bethany’s laptop and then stared up at the barn vista. “With some minor woodwork repairs and some paint, I could see parties and even weddings here. Very Texas!”

Bethany was overjoyed that Freddie saw the same potential. “I was even thinking of stringing those little globe lights, maybe adding some old brass to make it really glow.”

Freddie dug out her cell phone. “I’m calling Drake. He’s not as good with woodworking as Theo, but he’s the closest Rolston in town right now. And he loves going behind Sutton’s back.”

Bethany double-checked the reservations for the horse camp families and made sure they all had proper accommodations while Freddie ran around and gathered the materials Drake would need. Her husband showed up a quick quarter of an hour later and beamed at them.

“Changing Sutton’s horse barn into a fancy venue right under his nose—I love it. Where do I start?” he asked.

He got to work framing the doors with more decorative wood and cutting back the hayloft so the large window above was visible. They all cringed when he used the saw, worried Sutton would hear, but Drake also added two porthole-shaped windows for added light, and soon the wide center of the barn was glowing with sunshine.

“All you need is a disco ball in the center,” he called down from the ladder.

Freddie laughed. “That reminds me, I’ll head into town and get those globe lights so we can string them up.”

Drake descended the ladder for a break while she was gone and checked in with Bethany. “Sutton giving you a hard time?”

“And vice versa,” she admitted.

That made Drake laugh. “Good. There’s no reason your regular give-and-take should go away just because he thinks he’s your boss.”

“He is my boss,” Bethany pointed out.

“You’re as much a part of this place as him. Everyone can see that,” Drake said. He noticed she was uncomfortable, so he changed the subject. “Did you hear that Topher is coming back to town?”

“Really?” Bethany’s heart soared for a second; perhaps that’s why Sutton had been in such a mood. Maybe he wasn’t fed up with her at all.

“Yeah, he and his racetrack entourage are making a stop here in Isabel.”

Her relief sunk like a stone into the pit of her stomach. “Racetrack?”

Drake nodded. “I’m sure you know the guys, the ones that buy and trade and gamble the race horses. They travel all around in one big non-stop party except when they have to make polite stops at their parents’ country clubs or such.”

“Yeah, I know those guys.” Bethany suddenly felt like a huge meteor was bearing down on her, and all her thoughts were braced for impact.

“Leave it up to a Rolston to sour the mood.” Freddie returned with bags and bags of globe lights. “What are you grousing about now?”

Her husband held up his hands in all innocence. “Just sharing the news of Topher’s visit.”

Freddie took one look at Bethany’s face and told Drake, “Why don’t you sneak into the hotel and convince the chef to make us some sandwiches.”

Drake shrugged and headed up to the hotel.

“What gives?” Freddie asked Bethany. “Did he upset you somehow? He can be such a crank sometimes.”

“No, no, Drake’s been great. He just reminded me of this family obligation I’ve been dreading,” Bethany told her.

“Like an event or something you have to attend?”

Bethany sighed. “Did your father ever try to tell you who to date? Did he have someone in mind for you to marry before you fell in love with Drake?”

Freddie laughed, thinking of Fred Dover. Her father was a long-haul trucker who counted himself lucky his daughter was still in town when he came back. As long as she was happy and nearby, that was all he cared about. “Never!”

“Sounds archaic, doesn’t it?” Bethany blinked hard. “Feels that way too.”

“Wait, is your father pressuring you to marry someone?” Freddie didn’t have time to demand an answer because she heard Drake calling out. The women scrambled to meet him and Sutton at the front of the stables in order to keep the barn vista a surprise.

“Come on, Mrs. Rolston. We better go check on Teddy,” Drake said. He held out an arm to escort Freddie to his truck.

That left Sutton to frown at Bethany. Finally, he cleared his throat. “Chef’s too busy to make sandwiches. Want to go grab a burger in town?”

Bethany wanted to say no; she was sure he was busy and had been forced into the invitation by his brother, but her stomach growled loud enough for him to hear. The corner of Sutton’s mouth quirked up and he led the way to his pickup truck. They didn’t say a word until they were waiting in the drive-thru.

“So, how are things with your new boss?” Sutton asked.

Bethany glanced at him and saw some of his normal straight-faced humor glimmer in his blue eyes. “He’s way too young to be so grumpy but, the truth is, I really like giving him a hard time.”

“Seems like a quick way to get fired,” Sutton said. He refused to take the credit card she was holding out and paid for their lunches himself.

She shoved the card back in her purse. “Well, he should know I don’t need the money.”

He didn’t respond; instead, Sutton drove straight to the park at the center of town. Bethany followed him across the grass and couldn’t help but soften when they sat down at the old picnic table marked with their initials.

“So, you think my boss is going to fire me?” she asked.

Sutton shrugged and took a huge bite of his burger. Eventually, he swallowed and said, “I think it’s probably good you’re making your own way and voicing your own opinion. As your oldest friend, I’ve seen you let others take the lead too often.”

Bethany ground a French fry into her ketchup. “You think it’s pathetic, don’t you, as my friend. Here I am a grown woman and I still cater to the opinions and expectations of my family.”

Sutton scowled. “I didn’t say it was pathetic. Like I don’t know about living up to family expectations.”

She glared at him. “I’m just the obedient daughter.”

“You’re not just anything!” Sutton gnashed down a handful of fries. “Except driving me crazy.”

A bubble of laughter caught Bethany by surprise and she choked on her soda. “It was a short trip,” she told him.

Sutton tried not to smile. “Fine. You got me. Now, are you going to tell me what’s happening? Now that Jane’s caught you hanging out with the least reputable Rolston, when is she having you extracted from Isabel?”

Bethany dropped her gaze from his blue eyes and absently traced their initials on the picnic table. “I’m allowed to visit old friends, see our old hometown.”

“For how long?”

“For as long as I choose,” Bethany snapped. “My father and sister don’t get to dictate my life, no matter what they think. I can stay or go whenever I want.”

Sutton nodded. “Exactly right. I mean, I’m stuck at the hospitality ranch the rest of my life, golden handcuffs from my inheritance, but you’re free. I just hope you let me know what you think your future looks like.”

Bethany’s hands flew from the table to her hair and tangled there in a panic. “I don’t know! You know this is the first job I’ve ever been allowed to have. And I know I’m screwing it up, messing things up for you, and without you, I have no idea what I would do—”

Sutton jumped up and straddled the bench on her side of the picnic table. Even though he still felt a twinge of upset towards her conversation with Jane he knew deep down she didn’t truly feel that way. He caught both her hands and gently untangled them from her hair. “You’re not messing anything up, especially not with me. I’m sorry, Bethy. The last thing I want to do is add to the pressure you feel. I’m here for you. No matter what.”

“I just, I just feel like I don’t have anything.” She squeezed his strong hands. “Except you.”

Sutton scooted a little closer, making her look him in the eye. “You’ve always been the smartest person I know. You’re talented at every single thing you put your mind to. And you have a way of softening up even the hardest, most surly people.”

“Really?” Bethany leaned upwards, wanting to believe him.

She heard him catch his breath and hold it. Sutton’s eyes drifted down to her mouth and Bethany felt like it was on fire. One taste of Sutton’s lips would feel like a cool, quenching drink. She reached upwards, a breath away, then they caught themselves.

Bethany bumped back down onto the picnic bench, and Sutton dropped her hands and cleared his throat. Then he forced a laugh and change of subject.

“Even Dean asked about you by name.” Sutton joked as he got up and returned to the other side of the picnic table. “He says you’re invited to the Double R whenever you want.”

“Wow. That’s nice of him,” Bethany said. “My father has always talked about the Double R, and Jane gushed about it back in the day.”

Sutton concentrated on his burger again and shrugged. “Sure. It’s the best and fanciest of the Rolston ranches. Nothing shabby or splintery there.”

Bethany froze, an icy feeling forming in her chest. Had Sutton accidentally overheard her talking with Jane? She tried to play it off with a shrug. “I’ve never really liked the things that Jane gushes about, I mostly just tell her what she wants to hear.” she reminded him.

Sutton nodded in agreement and chomped down another big bite but said nothing. Bethany picked at her food, her appetite gone. As they quietly finished lunch, she grew more and more certain her best friend was back to assuming she was nothing but the snobby and spoiled girl her family still tried to force her to be.

CHAPTER 7

***SUTTON***

“Why is the honeymoon suite suddenly double-booked?” Sutton looked at his hotel clerk in horror. “And why on earth would there be a wedding scheduled in the barn?”

The young man swallowed hard but was unable to speak. He turned the hotel computer to show Sutton.

“Revel in the rustic charm of real Texas,” Sutton read aloud. He stared at the glowing photographs, all sparkling lights and glowing wood, and finally realized he was looking at his own horse stables. “She didn’t!”

The clerk squeaked. “It’s a huge hit, booked all the way until Thanksgiving. People from all around have been looking for a venue just like it.”

“And no one thought to tell me?!” Sutton’s voice reverberated through the hotel’s front hall. Then he noticed the cowering clerk and forced himself back under control. “The entire staff agreed to host a wedding? Even the chef?”

“He has a whole menu planned,” the clerk reported, still cowering. “He and Ms. Bethany finalized it yesterday. You should have tasted the crudités.”

Sutton gave his employee a sharp glance. “I should have but I was busy with the rest of the hotel business.”

Still, he couldn’t actually find anything to complain about. Somehow Bethany had created another entire stream of revenue and gotten everyone on board. He shook his head, recognizing typical Bethany magic when he saw it. She could rally volunteers and launch new ventures like no one else he knew. And now, suddenly, his hotel was a fully booked, in-demand destination.

“And, did Ms. Bethany tell you to keep all this a secret from me?” Sutton asked.

“No, not at all. We all thought you knew. I mean, you and Ms. Bethany are so close and you always consult each other about all the hotel plans.”

Sutton held up a hand to stop the young man. He was right but Sutton didn’t want to hear it. Without Bethany, his hotel would still be a shabby ruin and he would still be procrastinating the storm repairs. It was irritating how integral she was to his world, but it was the truth.

He scrubbed his hands over his eyes and sighed. “Fine. Just tell me what else needs doing before this next wave of guests arrives.”

The clerk tentatively held out a scribbled list. “The dining room buffet has water stains and needs sanding and sealing. There are two light bulbs out on the back porch. And the walkway to the barn needs leveling, maybe edging and some landscaping, before the big event.”

Sutton ripped the list out of his hand and fought not to crumple it in his fist. Somehow, he’d become head handyman at the hotel while Drake got to waltz in and out and Bethany played in the stables. “Let me guess, Ms. Bethany has a suggestion for stain color?”

“And landscaping plants.” The clerk held up another trembling list.

Sutton stormed out the front doors and stomped directly to his pickup truck. He didn’t even let himself look in the direction of the stables. One glimmer of Bethany’s platinum blonde hair and he felt like he might lose it. He was driving down past the front pastures when he spotted her.

Bethany rode a dappled gray horse, standing up in her stirrups as she directed the three novice riders in front of her. Her lithe, graceful body was so at ease on horseback and her smile so bright, Sutton felt his anger melt away. Her students were also grinning as they learned to coax their horses left and right. He almost drove into the gate as he watched her happy riding class.

She saw him and waved, but Sutton drove off without returning her smile.

He didn’t smile in town either, as his errands took too long. By the time the hardware store located the stain Bethany chose, he was sure he’d missed employee lunch hour at the hotel. He wouldn’t be able to catch up with her again until that evening. Sutton gritted his teeth and paid for the beautiful stain plus a new edging tool he hoped would make fixing the path to the barn a quick task.

“Congratulations on the hotel, Mr. Rolston,” the hardware store owner said. “My daughter has already declared she wants to rent your barn for her graduation party. Horses and a dance floor; it’s practically her dream come true. How’d you know?”

Sutton was forced to give Bethany credit for the great idea. Then, at the greenhouse, he was forced to agree that Bethany had a great eye for plant combinations. He even had a couple stop him in the street and tell him how romantic the entryway of the hotel looked and how did he pick out such a perfect light fixture? Everywhere he went, Sutton heard what a great influence his friend was on his hotel.

“Well, Ms. Grant certainly has wonderful taste. You are lucky to have her in your life,” the wife told him. “We’re definitely celebrating our next anniversary in your hotel. So romantic!”

Her husband nodded. “From one happy couple to another—thank you!”

“Oh, Bethany and I are not a couple. We’re best friends, have been since elementary school,” Sutton could not help but try to explain.

“What a perfect love story,” the wife winked at him.

Sutton watched them walk away, then noticed Ben Summers smiling at him. “I love a good love story, don’t you?” Ben asked.

Sutton scowled. “Not today, not ever, Summers. I’m not in the market for a blind date.”

Ben grinned. “I don’t blame you. Sounds like you’ve got yourself the perfect match already.”

“You, of all people, should know that Bethany and I are only friends. You went to school with us!” Sutton reminded him.

“Sure did,” Ben said. “So I’m not surprised at all that you always turn down blind dates to hang out with your best friend. You always did.”

“I don’t need you butting into my dating life, Ben. No set-ups, no blind dates, and no thinking you know my heart better than me.”

“Come on, a blind date could be fun,” the soft voice surprised both men. “You really should take a break and have some fun before your hotel gets filled up with guests again.”

Sutton’s scowl deepened as he turned on Bethany. “You seem to forget the time you set me up on a blind date with Maisy Munkle. She cried over her breakup with Dylan the entire date.”

Ben guffawed. “Maisy and Dylan, now there was a disastrous duo. Nothing like you two!”

Bethany raised a challenging eyebrow. “See? Ben thinks he can do better, and I think you should take him up on it.”

“The old creek is flowing nicely right now. Perfect spot for a romantic walk.” Ben suggested with a sly look.

“The one that winds past the old Grant place?” Sutton asked, not taking his eyes off Bethany. “No thanks to the blind date, but good idea for a quick break. What do you say?”

Bethany’s cheeks took on a rosy hue but she nodded. Together they left a beaming Ben Summers and strolled off Main Street and up the old dead-end. There, between the park and the library, they found the old creek and followed its steep bed along past people’s backyards. It wound in and out of little knots of trees until it seemed like the small town was nowhere to be seen.

Sutton was about to bring up the barn vista when Bethany stumbled on a loose rock and he caught her hand. The next section of the path was rocky, so he held on and they walked together.

“There it is,” Bethany finally broke the silence. She squeezed Sutton’s hand and nodded towards an old, paint-chipped white house.

“Looks like your father still hasn’t sold it.”

Bethany blinked hard. “He’d never give up any property, but I wish he would. It really looks lonely, doesn’t it?”

Sutton surveyed the house, glad for the comforting chatter of the creek behind them. Bethany’s old family home looked forlorn and he tried hard to stir up some happy memories for her.

“I like it this way,” he declared. “No one has been able to take down your Barbie-pink curtains.”

Bethany laughed. “I remember the first time you came over after they were put up. You climbed in the window like they were poison ivy and you’d get a rash if the curtains touched you.”

Sutton smiled. “The old trellis is still there too. How did your father never know everyone used it to sneak in and out. It’s practically a ladder.”

“He was too busy,” Bethany reminded him.

“Getting you a bigger house so you didn’t have to live in the attic like Rapunzel.” Sutton tried to put a good spin on her father’s notorious neglect.

She shook her head. “This place really needs a family again. I used to eat strawberries right out of the garden, then get in trouble for wiping my hands on the sheets that hung on the laundry line. And I loved that attic room. Remember how the floor was painted to look like a rug?”

“Back before your feet only touched handwoven textiles,” Sutton said.

Bethany dropped his hand and wrapped her arms around herself tight. “If I could move back in here, I would. In a second. Even if none of the rooms had rugs, it would still be the place I was happiest.”

Sutton couldn’t fight off the urge to hug her. He gathered Bethany into a tight hug, leaned down, and kissed her platinum hair. “The only person I’ve ever known who wishes she hadn’t been spoiled by money.”

She hugged him back, then tried to loosen the mood with other happy memories. Bethany turned to the bushes and laughed when she found the old flagstones. “Remember when we convinced Drake these were gravestones?”

“He told everyone in sixth grade that an unfortunate family had drowned at the old creek.” Sutton shook his head and smiled. “The principal had to have a police officer assure the students the ghost story wasn’t true.”

“We still had kids with flashlights scaring themselves out here for the next few years,” Bethany grinned.

“You are quite convincing when you want to be,” Sutton reminded her. “Like how you convinced my staff to open up an entire event space without letting me know.”

She gave him a pained look. “You brought me out here to talk about that?”

Sutton realized his mistake, but it was too late. Their friendship and work overlapped too much lately for him to keep separated. “If you don’t get fired, you might be able to buy this place from your father,” he pointed out.

Bethany glared at him. “I don’t like not knowing when I’m talking to my boss or my best friend.”

“Me neither!” Sutton cried. “Since when do you keep secrets from me?”

“Since I thought you hated my idea and would threaten to fire me. Again!”

They stood toe-to-toe in tense silence until the soft gurgle of the creek broke through again. Bethany’s gaze broke first and swept back to her old house. Sutton saw the wistful look and his chest softened.

“We can figure out how to be both,” he promised. “Together.”

She looked warily at his outstretched hand but finally nodded. “I know the hotel is yours; I just want my friend to succeed.”

“And I want my friend to love her first job,” Sutton told her.

The tension broke as they walked back to town, and Sutton gave her a lift back to the hotel. Unfortunately, three steps into the front hallway and all the stress came barreling back at them.

“We’re still overbooked! Neither party would budge and they’ll both be here within the hour. We didn’t know what to do!” the front desk clerk wailed.

Bethany shot him a look so filled with guilt and worry that Sutton’s heart squeezed tight. He took her hand and pulled her to his side. “Don’t worry,” he told the clerk. “We’ve got this.”

“Right,” Bethany agreed, her hand holding his tightly. “It was my fault, so I’ve got to come up with a fix.”

“While I sort out the to-do list you made for me earlier?” Sutton asked.

She smiled and nodded sheepishly, then slipped her hand out of his to get to work. Sutton felt the loss but knew he had to focus on work. He watched Bethany go around the clerk’s desk and search through the reservations with him. She looked like she belonged there, in charge of the entire lobby, so he took himself outside to tackle the sidewalk to the new event space.

Drake caught up with him there. “So, you’ve tangled up our venture into quite the knot,” he said.

Sutton growled at him. “Don’t worry; it’s getting sorted out right now.”

“You better hope things are running smoothly before Topher comes and screws everything up,” Drake warned.

“Why? What have you heard now?” The only reason Sutton stopped work on the sidewalk was the creeping feeling their brother was about to cause even more massive problems.

Drake took a deep breath, empathetic for once to all the stress, and explained. “Topher keeps talking about steeple chases and starting a new trend in racing and entertainment. I think he’s hoping to debut something here at your place so he can work on the fun parts instead of his own ranch.”

“Fun parts?” Sutton asked, deeper in dread.

“A big fancy party, worse than any country club soirée, from what it sounds like. Something to appeal to real high rollers. Too many snobby guests to count.”

“And we’re overbooked already!” Sutton groaned.

“Speaking of that, when I swung through the lobby looking for you, I heard Bethany giving up her suite. Your best friend’s homeless,” Drake told him with an accusatory glare.

Sutton groaned again, louder. “She must think that’s the only way to solve the overbooking. Great! She better not think I’m going to let her sleep in the stable.”

Drake gave an overly-dramatic gasp. “A Grant sleeping in a stable? I think the world would stop turning.”

“Laugh all you want, but you know how stubborn Bethany can be.”

Drake gave in and acknowledged that fact. “Calm down. This is supposed to be half my problem too. Why don’t you tell Bethany she can come stay with us. I know Freddie would love it and Teddy would be happy to talk horses all night.”

Sutton laid down his shovel to go tell Bethany, but something changed the second he got into the lobby. He saw her working hand in hand with the staff and suddenly didn’t want her going anywhere.

“You gave up your suite?” he asked her across the crowded room.

“It’s okay, Sutton. I’ll be fine,” she told him.

“I know you will,” he agreed sternly, “because you’re staying with me.”

CHAPTER 8

***BETHANY***

Bethany woke up in the morning and stared at the ceiling, too off-balance to move. The ceiling was the same pristine white as her hotel room but, without glancing around the room, she knew she was somewhere else. The blanket was heavier and the scent of aftershave lingered despite the fresh bed sheets. And there was the comforting sound of light snoring coming from the other room.

She had fallen asleep to Sutton’s snores last night, tucked into his bed as if his arms were still around her.

The memory of his tight hug at the creek side flooded back over her, and Bethany sighed deeply. How could a rugged, independent, and busy man like Sutton have the patience to deal with her and her problems? Not only did she accidentally insult him with her snobbish habits, but she constantly caused mix-ups that directly affected his business.

Not that she was complaining about this latest problem with the overbooking. Sutton was glad for the extra paying guests, and there was something deeply comforting about waking up in her best friend’s big, comfortable bed.

Except she was going to be late!

Bethany surged out of bed, then sneaked as quietly as possible into the suite bathroom. Sutton had insisted on taking the pull-out couch in the small living room and letting her have as much privacy as that provided. Tip-toeing past his sleeping form in her pajamas shattered the idea of privacy, but he didn’t seem to mind. Sutton slept on his back, sprawled across the pull-out mattress in nothing but a pair of plaid pajama bottoms. She stubbed her toy at the sight of his fully-bare chest with the mat of curly dark-blond hair she had only guessed at before.

Sutton snored and grumbled in his sleep. He sounded exactly like a snuffling bear, but Bethany still had the reckless thought that he would be cuddly and warm. She resisted the pull to snuggle up beside him and tip-toed into the bathroom. What was she thinking?

She could have taken Freddie and Drake’s offer to stay at their place, a morning ride from their adjoining ranch would not have been a huge problem, but Bethany didn’t want to be late for her job. Or was is that she didn’t want to be so far from Sutton?

Her best friend helped her keep it together, though that morning, thoughts of his half-naked form kept fraying her thoughts. She showered quickly, her cheeks on fire with a baseless blush, and by the time she exited the bathroom, Sutton was up and brewing coffee in his suite’s small kitchenette.

“Hope you like it black because I don’t have any sugar,” he grumbled.

Bethany’s heart flip-flopped. Awake, Sutton sounded even more like a grumpy bear but his rumpled hair and squinty blue eyes were adorable. She just wished he would put a shirt on so her pulse would stop skipping so strangely.

“You better have left some hot water,” Sutton muttered. He handed her a mug of coffee and shuffled past her into the bathroom.

She was grateful for the few moments to pull herself together and get dressed. Her day was back-to-back lessons and the first gathering of her horse riding camp, but Bethany’s thoughts kept drifting to one summer at the quarry swimming hole. It was the first time she had noticed that Sutton was developing muscles. He was no longer the scrawny kid she had always swam with before. She remembered the dizzying minute she actually noticed him as a strong attractive man, and now… he was even more of a Texas cowboy.

The bathroom door popped open a few inches. “Any chance you can toss me my jeans and the shirt I left on the chair?”

Bethany put down her forgotten coffee and handed his clothes through the door. She figured the wave of steamy air got to her as her cheeks flared hot. The smell of Sutton’s soap made her wish for another cool dunk in the quarry swimming hole to clear her head.

“Thanks for the coffee, I gotta run,” she called through the cracked door.

“Sure, yeah, I get it. Some of us have to work for a living,” he joked back.

Hot-cheeked, Bethany escaped into the hallway and was glad it was too early to run into anyone else. She slipped out the back door of the kitchen and rushed to the stable. Running through her checklist was just the thing she needed to get her new roommate off her mind.

Luckily, Bethany’s first lessons showed up early and she happily introduced them to Sutton’s stable of horses. Drake raised and trained many of the horses on his own ranch, though a few had been given to Sutton by Theo’s new wife, Hetty. The ones from Hetty were the best for new riders as she was a top-notch rider and had them trained to perfection. Hetty had also gone to school with them, though her focus had always been a beautiful place called The Thirsty River Ranch.

The first lesson was a huge success, the second one more of a trail ride than a learning experience, and the third was a trial of patience as the two brothers argued constantly. They reminded Bethany of Sutton and Drake, and she couldn’t wait to share some of the overheard insults with her best friend. She found herself looking for Sutton every few minutes. He was the one with whom she wanted to share every success, every challenge, and every complication.

By the time Bethany was halfway through the challenge of her first horse camp meeting, she was desperate to be able to check in with Sutton. Half the riders had never touched a horse, half were annoyed their parents had signed them up for an outdoor activity, and one of the youngest was so nervous she kept trembling and crying any time her horse moved.

“Don’t worry, Ashley, you just take a break and I’ll be there in a minute to help you remount,” Bethany told the tearful girl. She was running every which way trying to keep the riders in their saddles.

“Did you know your horse likes flowers?” Sutton appeared alongside the fence of the riding ring. He snagged a dandelion and held it out to the little girl. “Hold this up for her and she’ll sniff it.”

“No she won’t. She’ll eat it and then she’ll bite me!”

Sutton smiled and shook his head. “Blossom here doesn’t bite. And she only nibbles flowers.”

The little girl looked dubious, but she watched as Sutton held out the flower to her horse. Blossom, seeming to sense the little girl’s nerves, leaned over slowly and sniffed the flower. The big horse was so delicate in her enjoyment of the flower that Ashley had to smile. By the time Blossom took a gentle nibble, the little girl was giggling. She picked her own flower and held it out to her new best horse friend.

“Thank you,” Bethany told Sutton as she joined them at the fence. The first horse camp meeting was over and the riders’ parents were all appearing at the stables. She was exhausted but her heart was soaring at how happy the previously-terrified Ashley looked.

“Amazing! Absolutely amazing!” Ashley’s parents came over to join them.

“Her name is Blossom; isn’t she the best?!”

Ashley’s mom pressed a hand to her heart as she addressed Bethany. “She was so scared when we dropped her off. The horses are all so big and we thought she would hate it, no offense.”

“They’re just big ol’ softies, aren’t they,” Sutton asked the little girl. She nodded happily.

“Tomorrow you can put a flower in Blossom’s mane; that way you can see it while you ride,” Bethany told her.

Ashley’s mother complimented them again. “You’re so great with horses and with children; I couldn’t think of a better couple to run this beautiful place.”

Bethany opened her mouth to correct the woman but Sutton just shook his head and smiled. “Thanks so much.”

She watched them walk with Ashley and her horse back to the stables, then swatted Sutton’s shoulder over the fence. “They think we’re married or something.”

“People are always thinking we’re something, ever since elementary school. Honestly, Bethy, I thought you’d be used to it by now,” Sutton pointed out.

He put his cowboy hat back on and tipped the brim at her, then sauntered away back to the hotel. Bethany watched him go with a swirl of thoughts. Sutton didn’t mind if people thought they were a couple? Was it just such a ridiculous thought to him that he dismissed it? Or did he not mind being so closely associated with her?

She wished she knew, and that new nagging thought bothered Bethany.

It bothered her through the rest of her afternoon lessons. She and Sutton had always talked about everything. They had even supported each other through their first awkward relationships. She knew about his first kiss before his brothers! So, why was she worried about people mistaking them for a couple?

It just felt awkward, and that feeling followed her back to the hotel after work. Bethany dreaded joining Sutton in his suite, but she didn’t know why. All she knew is that she paused at his door long enough to hear him shuffling around inside and singing to himself out of tune. That made her smile and she opened the door.

“I hope you grabbed dinner with the other employees because all I’ve got is snacks and reruns,” Sutton said in lieu of a greeting. He jumped over the back of the couch (the bed part still tucked away) and kicked his feet up on the coffee table. Then he patted the spot next to him. “Bet you haven’t watched this show in ages.”

It was one of their favorites. The opening credits and the open bag of candy drew her over like a siren song. What had she been so worried about? Bethany realized sharing Sutton’s suite felt just like hanging out in the Rolston basement back in the day. She was welcome, they were just friends, and there was nothing to worry about between them.

The rest of the weekend fell into the same easy routine. Bethany got up first and claimed the bathroom, giving him time to wake up. He made her coffee, and even managed to remember to grab sugar for her to sweeten her mug. She left early and always forgot to grab breakfast. Sutton managed to saunter by the riding ring once or twice a day, and they hung out and chatted over the television until they were both ready to go to bed.

“I feel bad taking your bed,” Bethany told him a few nights later. She was done brushing her teeth and heading back to the bedroom. “Your feet hang over the edge! Sutton, we should switch.”

“No way,” he said, not even looking up from the television weather report. “I’m not tripping out here for a late-night drink of water only to discover you snoring away like a congested hippopotamus. Imagine my nightmares after that!”

“I don’t snore!” Bethany protested.

Sutton shrugged. “Either way, I’m not letting you sleep on a fold-out couch. Call me a good host or call me crazy. I prefer the idea of having you more comfortable in my bed. Plus, I love having you here and I think the bed sleep will convince you to stay longer.”

She lost her breath for a moment. Was he serious? Did he really like having her here as more than just a friend?

Bethany shook her head. She was the crazy one.

But she had to admit it felt good to be staying with Sutton. They even made noodles one night, laughing over the small stove in the kitchenette. Together, they ate straight from the pot, leaning together against the short counter. Then, she scrubbed it out in the sink while he dried, and it all felt very cozy and content.

Bethany knew it was a lot like playing house. They joked with their “goodnight dears” and jostling over couch space, but they seemed to work so well together even in the small suite that it was hard not to think about how easy it would be to really live together. As a couple.

That word was starting to keep Bethany up at night, curled up alone in Sutton’s bed. Guests mistook them for married almost daily, and even the staff kept slipping up and referring to them as a couple. The explanations were always awkward and met with doubtful looks. Was it really so odd for a man and a woman to be close friends?

They were close and getting closer. Bethany had woken up from a light doze on the couch to find her head nestled onto Sutton’s chest just the night before. He had wrapped his arm lightly around her and had just shrugged when she woke up.

“You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to wake you,” he explained.

That night it was his turn after a long, busy day. Bethany was watching the news as Sutton drifted off and his head slipped down onto her shoulder. His breath tickled her neck, causing a riot of sensations across her bare skin, and she woke him with a poke of her elbow in his ribs.

“Not much of a live wire these days, are you?” she teased.

Sutton sat up and shook his head. “Don’t try to guilt me into going out on the town just so you can have the couch to yourself,” he grumbled.

Bethany couldn’t resist the opening. “Are you blaming the busy hotel for your lack of a social life or did something else happen?”

He snatched the remote away from her and flipped through the channels with a deep frown. “No one broke my heart if that’s what you’re getting at. I’m just not dating anyone right now. No one has caught my eye. Is there something wrong with being single?”

“No, not at all!” Bethany laughed, though she felt suddenly nervous.

Sutton turned his full attention on her. “Speaking of, what’s your deal? Why on earth is Bethany Grant single?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I can’t be on my own?”

He looked her up and down. “I think you know that you’re good looking enough to get asked on dates even if you’re not interested. I can personally name three staff members that have been drooling over you.”

“But no one has asked me out,” Bethany pointed out.

Sutton shrugged. “They think you’re with me. Now, spill it, Bethy. Why are you single and hiding out here at my hotel?”

Her heart was racing for no reason at all. Everyone kept assuming she and Sutton were together, and it didn’t seem to bother him at all. Did he like it?

He was still staring at her, so Bethany leveled with him. “Just imagine what my father is like as soon as I show any interest in a man.”

Sutton leaned back on the couch and gave a howl of laughter. “Oh, god! You can’t be telling me your father has got you on the marriage mart! That’s terrible.”

Bethany sat up stiffly. “It is terrible. You have no idea.”

He heard her serious tone and stopped laughing immediately. “You tell him you’re not for sale,” Sutton snapped.

“He doesn’t care,” Bethany said sadly. “And he won’t stop until I’m married to the best and most lucrative match.”

Her friend gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze then, without a word, got up, stalked into the bathroom, and slammed the door.

CHAPTER 9

***SUTTON***

Bethany had slipped into his bedroom and gone to sleep before Sutton reappeared, and he didn’t blame her. What was he doing? Hiding in the bathroom wasn’t going to change the fact that he hated her father for trying to force her into a financially-beneficial marriage. It also wasn’t going to change the fact that Sutton didn’t know how to feel about that. Twenty minutes pacing the small bathroom hadn’t changed that either.

He barely slept that night. He knew Bethany would never agree to an arranged marriage, but he knew the hold her family had over her. Mrs. Grant had passed just before Sutton ran into Bethany on the playground, and her absence had always been hard. Everything her father did was to make up for that sad fact, despite his frustrating focus on money, and his daughters knew it. Jane strived to achieve anything and everything she thought would make her mother proud, even if it only looked good on paper. And Bethany refused to abandon her family no matter what restraints they put on her life because they were her only ties to a mother she missed more than she knew how to admit. Sutton feared her father and sister would convince her that a marriage of their choosing was the only way they could all move on together.

Those thoughts tossed and turned him all night, but in the morning, it was mostly guilt that got Sutton up earlier than Bethany. Her family had control over her only because she tried so hard to make everyone else happy. How could he add to that pressure? Especially when he didn’t even know why he was so upset. They had seen each other through relationships and rough patches before, and he knew what he needed to do for his friend.

Sutton sneaked into the hotel kitchen, grabbed a heaping plate of cinnamon buns, and was heating them up in his suite’s small microwave when Bethany woke up. She was already dressed, a sure sign she was prepared for whatever had carried over from the night before, but she was still blurry-eyed when she shuffled by to the bathroom. Sutton had a hot mug of coffee ready when she returned.

One glance at the offering and a tentative glance at his face and Bethany realized everything was back to normal. She smiled. “How do you always find the ones with extra frosting?”

“There are some perks to being the hotel owner,” Sutton replied. He leaned against the kitchenette counter and marveled at how happily accustomed they had become to the close quarters.

She nodded, then licked frosting off her lips. “And there are perks to being an employee here. The barbecue is tonight, right?”

Sutton handed her a napkin. “It starts at seven. See you there?”

The busy day flew by and Sutton saw Bethany as soon as she rounded the shed wall. The employees had claimed the flat yard beyond the storage shed as their hang-out spot and Sutton had long-ago furnished it with a fire pit, benches, and a barbecue. Party lights dangled from the side of the shed to poles the employees had dug into the ground, marking the spot for their after-hours gatherings. As the boss, Sutton normally avoided the area but tonight, he couldn’t resist.

He met up with Bethany over a bowl of potato chips and smiled. “Long day at your lessons?”

Bethany grinned. “Back to back all morning, but I love it. It’s going to be really hard to say goodbye to this group of campers. We’ve had so much fun.”

The horse camp was so successful, Drake had brought over a few more horses from his ranch and Sutton had hired a new stable hand. The young woman joined them at the snack table, bouncing more from her own excitement than matching the beat of the boom box music someone was playing.

“This is so great! Thanks so much for hiring me.” She grinned at Bethany and Sutton. “It feels like working with one big family here, and no wonder because you two are the nicest couple I’ve ever met.”

Sutton waited for Bethany to correct the young woman but she only smiled. Their newest employee skipped off to chat with her new friends and Bethany turned back to Sutton as if nothing was wrong. They moved from the snack table to a bench near the firepit and kept talking, though Sutton couldn’t get his mind off the assumption. He saw the way employees sneaked glances and smiles at them but Bethany seemed oblivious. Did she not care that people thought they were together? Or did she like it?

Sutton couldn’t be sure of how he felt, so he ignored it. The big wave of guests soon packed up and the hotel schedule returned to normal. A few days later, Bethany was able to move back into her own suite, and Sutton assumed he would be able to sleep at night. He blamed the stiff couch for his restless nights but it soon became apparent that wasn’t the cause of his sleeplessness. His mind kept replaying the moments people assumed he and Bethany were a couple, and how his whole body warmed when she didn’t deny it.

He flopped and stretched over his own bed, frustrated when he found himself searching for Bethany’s scent. All he sniffed was clean sheets. He should have been relieved to have the suite to himself again but it felt too quiet and strangely too big. His eyes kept snapping open as he wondered how Bethany was doing. Did she miss sitting up too late on his sofa and eating snacks as they watched whatever was on?

His stomach grumbled and he cursed the comfortable routine he and his friend had fallen into during her stay. They loved ignoring the late-night talk shows as they rehashed their own headlines from the day. Sutton had gotten used to eating sweets while listening to Bethany laugh over little things, and his stomach was clearly reminding him of that bad habit. Knowing he wasn’t going to sleep well anyway, Sutton got up and shuffled down the hall from his suite to the hotel vending machines.

“Glad to see I’m not the only one with bad habits.” Bethany shot him a guilty grin as she pressed the buttons on the vending machine and leaned down to retrieve a bag of sour candies.

Sutton smiled. “I blame the late-night hosts for not being funny without your commentary.”

They ended up leaning against the glow of the vending machine as they ate their snacks and talked about their days. Sutton’s body ached to be back in bed after work but there was a magnetic pull keeping him in place. It was different from the friendly reliance he had felt for Bethany when they were young. It was different from the awkward attraction he had felt and fought through their adolescence. This was a comfortable connection that kept him slumped against the vending machine for too long just because it felt right.

He and Bethany simply fit together. That’s why living together in the cramped suite had not felt strained at all. They fit into each other’s lives and routines so easily that it only felt odd when they had to push apart. This wasn’t the same as all their years growing up together; this was a compatibility that Sutton had never felt.

It was hard to resist heading back to the vending machine the next night, but both he and Bethany had agreed to stop their bad habits. After a few more sleepless nights, Sutton was bothered enough to ask one of his brothers for advice. Unfortunately, the only available brother was Drake.

“So, your problem is that you and Bethany get along too well?” Drake gave Sutton an unsympathetic grin. “Boy, your life is rough.”

“It’s not funny,” Sutton fumed. He paced the length of the hotel office and checked that no one was out front listening in. “I hate knowing it’s not going to last. Everything was easier when we were at war over the whole boss/employee thing. I kept thinking how great it would be for everything to get back to normal and now this is normal.”

“Why does it have to change?” Drake asked. He strolled around Sutton’s desk and glanced out the window to the front of the hotel. Then he frowned. “Nevermind. The only advice I can give you is to hang on to whatever or whoever makes your day-to-day better. Life is too messy if you don’t recognize what makes you happy.”

Sutton glared at his brother, suspicious. “Why are you so philosophical? You never give good advice free of charge.”

“I’m just saying if Bethany makes you happy, then focus on her. It’ll help you deal with the rest.” Drake stopped behind Sutton’s desk and appeared to brace himself.

Before Sutton could wonder, a tsunami of greetings crashed into his office. Topher flung three Gucci bags on the ground and held out his hands like a showman in front of a curtain. “Gentlemen, the party has arrived!”

Sutton glanced over his brother’s shoulder and saw a pile-up of guests at the front desk. Topher’s jet-set already had the hotel clerks scrambling and the whole front hall was in chaos. The young men were well-dressed, obviously well-off, but otherwise loud and rambunctious. It was like a traveling bachelor party where each of them intended on all the fun and none of the responsibility. The only difference was none of them would wake up to an expectant bride, just a big bank account given to them by their wealthy families. They were free to go where they wanted, spend what they could, and have nothing but fun along the way.

Topher, always the ringleader, ignored the circus and looked to his own affairs. “No one tells Dean I’m in town until we’ve had a good dinner without him. I don’t need a lecture along with my steak, know what I mean?”

Drake scowled. “What about your friends?”

“I’m sure they’ll spread out in town; maybe some of them will give your chef a run for his money. Who cares? We need to catch up.” Topher didn’t notice his brothers’ discontented looks; he was older and used to giving them orders.

Sutton fought off Topher just long enough to help his staff get all the new guests settled. Then he found himself chauffeuring. Drake scowled in the back seat of Topher’s rented luxury car. Their brother regaled them with his adventures and didn’t stop talking until they had ordered dinner at the steak house.

“So, when are you going to tell me about your new wife?” Topher finally asked Drake. He sat back and gave his frowning brother an expectant look.

“I was just waiting for you to breathe,” Drake said stiffly.

Topher laughed. “I can’t believe you married the nanny. I guess marrying and divorcing the head cheerleader wasn’t enough of a cliche for you.”

Sutton ground his teeth. “Freddy is wonderful.”

“You always had better taste in women. How’s that bestie of yours?”

Drake surprisingly came to Sutton’s rescue and changed the subject back to his own wedding. “Trust me, it was a shock to realize I was really in love. You always think you have the upper hand and then, wham! I think love gets everyone that way.”

“Not me,” Topher scoffed. As a habitual gambler, Topher always thought he had the upper hand. “Congratulations on your marriage, D. I’m sorry I missed out on the festivities.”

Sutton ignored the rest of his brothers’ conversation as he thought about what Drake had said. He believed love had a way of blindsiding people. He’d seen it first hand with Drake and then Theo. It was one of the only reasons he wasn’t worried about how his feelings for Bethany seemed to have changed. He knew her so well and she was so familiar with him in all his moods. There wasn’t much between them that could be a surprise, was there?

Besides, Sutton reasoned with himself, there wasn’t any time to shock or surprise him with all of Topher’s friends overtaking the hotel. He fielded five text messages and two phone calls from the hotel staff while his brothers chatted over their steak dinners. By the time Sutton drove them all back to the hotel, there was a huge party spilling off the front porch and into the hotel driveway.

Topher’s friends had called their friends and, through friends of friends, had managed to invite half of Isabel, Texas to an impromptu party at the hotel. The staff were running around like crazy but still seemed to be having a good time. Everyone was, and Sutton tried to follow Topher’s flippant advice and just ‘go with it.’

“I can’t believe you’re not all red in the face and yelling like old man Wharton when the football team threw a party in his barn.” Bethany appeared behind Sutton.

He offered her his arm and was glad when they were linked tightly together in the sea of partygoers. “I’m trying to tell myself this is just free advertising. Fun events are great marketing, right?”

Bethany nodded, then leaned close. “Want to know the biggest shock?”

Sutton’s stomach tightened, whether from worry or excitement, he couldn’t tell. “Please tell me it’s something good.”

“Chef loves making tapas! He’s been making these amazing small plate appetizers all night and people can’t get enough of them.” Bethany grinned. “You should convince him to offer them during events.”

“Scheduled events. Events that take place in the barn space you created. Events that aren’t total and complete surprises,” Sutton said.

She agreed with him, squeezing his arm, but said, “Definitely. Though I love surprises; don’t you?”

Sutton didn’t know what to say and was pulled away by Drake before he could formulate a response. Getting tongue-tied around Bethany was one of the bad side effects he’d noticed lately and he didn’t like that one bit.

“I told Topher there’s an expiration date on this party and that everyone has to be out by midnight or I’ll turn them into pumpkins myself,” Drake said.

“Thank you,” Sutton muttered. “I’ll give Topher this one pass, but the rest of his stay here won’t be like this.”

Drake outlined a few ideas for keeping their older brother in line but he quickly noticed that Sutton wasn’t paying attention. “Keeping an eye on Bethany? She seems to be doing just fine in this crowd.”

Sutton scowled. “Exactly my problem. Who is that guy?”

They both eyed a tall, handsome guest that had cornered Bethany on the front porch. She was smiling politely, but the newcomer was standing much too close to her, and his eyes roamed all over her as he talked.

“That’s Penn Torrington.” Topher popped up behind his brothers. “Great guy, old money. His family runs in the same circles as Bethany’s dad. I believe they even share a country club.”

“So they’re close?” Sutton’s question came out a growl.

“Penn and her father?” It only took one hard glance for Topher to realize his mistake. He laughed. “I don’t know how close. Penn was pursuing Bethany for months, then she disappeared. Kinda romantic they ran into each other on your ranch, don’t you think?”

CHAPTER 10

***BETHANY***

Bethany couldn’t believe Penn was standing in front of her. What was worse, he was smiling like a cat that had cornered its prey. And, worse than that, she could see Sutton staring at them from across the hotel driveway. A sea of partygoers moved in between them, but she could see the deep frown on her friend’s face.

“I remember Topher telling me you knew his family; I just never thought I would run into you in some small Texas town. Maybe it’s fate,” Penn said.

Bethany stepped back from his caressing hand. “This is my hometown. It’s just a coincidence you happened to come here. What are you doing here?”

Penn shrugged in his careless way. “Looking to invest in some new horses, maybe a racetrack or a concert venue. If you like quaint hotels, maybe that is something I would consider as a little side project.”

His fortune could buy and sell twenty each of the things he mentioned, and it was that fact that had Bethany’s father drooling. A connection with the Torrington family would skyrocket her father’s credibility and lift the Grant fortune to astronomical heights. Bethany clearly remembered her father outlining all those juicy possibilities the first night he introduced her to Penn.

“This isn’t a side project,” Bethany told him stiffly.

Penn’s eyes flickered as he looked her up and down. “No, this is a million-dollar merger you and I should really talk about.”

Bethany’s stomach soured. “I’m not a merger, Penn. Nice to see you.”

She slipped away and thankfully lost him in the crowd. Her relief was short-lived as Sutton blocked her way with a scowl on his face.

“What happened to Mr. Perfect? I wanted to meet him,” Sutton said. He scanned the partygoers with an angry glance.

Bethany, suddenly sick of men pressing their opinions on her, snapped, “You don’t know him at all. Penn is a gentleman.”

“And your father served him up on a silver platter. Only the best for the Grant princesses, right?”

“Where did you hear that?” Bethany asked.

Sutton snarled. “One night, you’re telling me your father is pushing you to make a lucrative match, then the next, a model millionaire shows up to fawn all over you. Guess I should just get out of the way.”

Bethany helped him by shoving Sutton aside. “Good idea, and good night.”

That was the last thing she said to him for two days. There was a small mid-week break before new riders arrived for horse camp, and Bethany spent them trying to avoid both Penn and Sutton. Without sharing her plans, she spent most of her time out on the horse trails, clearing low branches and brush by herself. It felt good knowing how horrified her father would be to see actual blisters forming on her hands, and Bethany relished how the hard work sapped her energy for overthinking. Topher’s party entourage was easy enough to skirt around as they were always coming and going with lots of noise.

After two days, Bethany was exhausted but couldn’t stay away from the stables. There was always more work to do and she found she preferred it to overthinking about her last exchange with Sutton. Then he appeared in the doorway and she wished she had stayed locked in her room.

“Can I be here if I offer to help?” he asked.

“These are your stables,” Bethany shot back.

Sutton sighed and chewed on his frown for a moment. Then he gave in and said, “I’m sorry. I really just wanted to say that I’m here for you, but if that’s not what you need right now, I’ll leave.”

“I could use a hand with the hay,” Bethany told him. She smiled. It was impossible to stay mad at her friend for too long.

At first, they worked side-by-side in the stalls, but when the new stable hand came in, Bethany moved away from Sutton. The new employee still assumed they were a couple and there was no way to correct her in front of Sutton without it getting awkward. Her friend seemed to notice the move and frown, but he kept working quietly and Bethany tried to convince herself the tension was all in her head.

Then the stable hand left and Sutton spoke up. “So, I never asked. How’s your sister?”

Bethany moved to the next stall and eyed him suspiciously. Sutton never asked about Jane. “She’s fine.”

“How is her new husband? You haven’t told me anything about him.”

Bethany bit the side of her tongue. Jane’s new husband was as exciting as cardboard, but she knew Sutton was fishing for something and she didn’t want to give him any bait. “He’s nice, active at their club, all the things Jane loves.”

“Yeah, I always forget how different you and Jane are. I suppose that’s why she’s content with an arranged marriage,” Sutton commented.

Bethany froze, pitchfork in hand. “It wasn’t an arranged marriage.”

“I know, I know,” Sutton kept working, his head down. “We don’t call them that here in the states. I just don’t know what other term applies to a marriage that was decided based on financial and social concerns. What would you call it?”

“Nothing to do with me,” Bethany snapped.

Sutton moved to glare at her over the stall door. “So, what’s the deal with Mr. Perfect? Did your dad send him down here to bring you back or is he a natural romantic?”

Bethany ground her teeth but couldn’t stop herself from responding. “Penn came with your brother on some horse-racing party tour. Why don’t you ask Topher?”

“So, he’s not here for you?” Sutton asked.

It was her chance to come clean and spill all the frustration she had been holding inside. Avoiding Penn had been harder than expected, and he was more and more determined to capture her attention. That was all something she was supposed to be able to share with her best friend, but Bethany found herself holding back.

“It’s just a coincidence.” She told Sutton the same thing she had Penn.

Sutton might have believed her if some of Topher’s entourage hadn’t entered the barn at that exact moment. In a panic, Bethany dropped the pitchfork and pretended she was simply visiting the horse whose stall she was actually cleaning out. She couldn’t risk the rumor of her doing manual labor getting back to her father or she would never be able to stay and finish her horse camp sessions. The men, all too impeccably dressed to stay in the barn for too long, greeted Bethany and kept strolling. They ignored Sutton, who had also paused in his work.

He stared at Bethany. “Too good for this kind of work, Ms. Grant?”

She heard the hurt in his voice but couldn’t answer until Penn’s friends were out of earshot. Then she came around the stall door and faced her friend. “You don’t understand. What if my father heard I was mucking out stalls?”

Sutton got back to work with a vengeance, his face a ruddy color. “I know full well that Mr. Grant is horrified by my hands-on life. I just didn’t know you were so embarrassed to be seen with someone like me.”

“Like you?” Bethany threw her hands up in frustration. “Your family is just as rich as any of them. How are you so different?”

He paused and caught her with a hard stare. “My hands are dirty; my collar might as well be blue. Even Topher sneers at all of this. Deep down, it seems you do too.”

Bethany’s eyes burned with tears. “That’s not true. That’s not fair!”

She looked at her own dirty hands, the nails chipped and her blisters barely healed, anything to avoid Sutton’s gaze. Bethany was caught between two worlds, like she had always been, and it felt like it was tearing her apart.

Sutton threw down the shovel he’d been using and marched out. Over his shoulder, he grumbled, “Just let me know when you’re done playing around so I can hire someone who really needs the work.”

Bethany couldn’t respond or he would have heard the sob that caught in her throat. She needed the work, not for the money, but for her soul. Without the horses and the daily tasks and the sense of providing real help and a valuable service, she knew her life would go back to feeling like a thin, magazine cut-out. Then again, Sutton was right; she was taking the job away from someone who needed it more. Caught between what she wanted and what felt inevitable, Bethany returned to the hotel and locked herself in her suite.

Unfortunately, that meant Penn was able to find her. Despite having regained her sense of duty towards the horse camp and her desire to work, Bethany found herself being lured back into a gilded cage.

Penn cornered her in the hallway outside her suite, cheerful and confident as always. “My family and I had a wonderful conversation with your father at the club a week ago. It would have been nicer with you there, but the negotiations were a breeze. We can go ring-shopping any time you want.”

“What?” Bethany bumped into the wall, needing the extra support. “What kind of conversation was it?”

Penn smirked, lifting a tendril of her hair as if he owned it. “The kind where everyone agreed we’d make a great match. I’ve already got great investment ideas for our pooled fortunes, and I’m sure we’ll find easy ways to get along.”

“Get along?” Bethany gulped for air. “You mean get married?”

He leaned too close, looking at her gaping lips. “Yes, I mean getting married. I know it’s old-fashioned, but then our fortunes will be united and we’ll be an epic couple. From there, we can make up the rules to suit ourselves.”

Bethany felt sick and searched for an escape. Down the end of the hall, she saw some of his cronies helping themselves to an early drink in the lounge. “Aren’t you too young to leave all your traveling and fun? What would your friends say?”

Penn snorted. “They know how it is. At least half of them already have fiancées waiting for them. Though I know every single one of them will be jealous that I landed a Grant.”

It was supposed to be a compliment but Bethany felt like a piece of meat. She slipped away from Penn but only made it a few steps before he caught her hand. She turned on him and snapped, “You act as if it’s all a given. Well, I should have been part of the conversation because from my point of view, you just landed in my hometown and I barely know you.”

Penn’s good humor slipped a little, as it did when he didn’t immediately get his way. “I agree you should have been part of the conversation, but you just happened to have disappeared. Perhaps you need a family reunion first?”

Bethany was breathless at his threat. “What do you want from me, Penn?”

He smiled at that, more relaxed as it seemed he was back in control. “How about we start with dinner?”

She slipped away from him again, this time walking fast into the lounge so his friends could hear. “Sorry, I can’t do dinner. I have plans tonight.”

Penn didn’t pursue her past his friends, not wanting to lose face, but she could tell by his predatory grin that he took her response as a challenge. More guests arrived, and she was busy down at the barn with riding lessons and horse camp. Bethany played it off as if she was just filling in, having a little fun, and all the jet-setters believed her. Unfortunately, Penn caught on to her schedule quickly and spent the long weekend popping up and asking her out whenever he could. All the riders thought him dashing and handsome, like something out of a romance film, and Bethany was quickly running out of reasons to turn him down.

The worst afternoon was when Penn appeared at the stables, having paid for riding lessons. “It’s such a lark, you filling in for the riding instructor; I couldn’t resist joining your little charade. We can pretend we’re cowboys.”

Bethany was forced to take him out on the trails, where she couldn’t help asking, “Have any rumors of my helping out made it back to my father?”

Penn grinned, knowing that information gave him the upper hand. “Not yet. I told everyone you deserved to have a little fun. In fact, it’s been entertaining watching you live out your little Texas fantasy.”

She despised the way he made it sound like he was giving her permission. Bethany was about to admit the truth, that she loved this lifestyle and had begged to work as a real employee on Sutton’s ranch, when Penn further shredded her plans.

“I figure that means the least you can do is join the boys and me for golf. Some of the fiancés are coming to crash the party, and they’ll want lunch at the country club,” Penn announced as if her compliance was guaranteed.

“You want our first official date to be a country club luncheon?” Bethany resorted to the snobbish tone she’d heard her sister use to manipulate men for years.

Penn’s eyebrow went up. “Ah, there’s my Grant girl. Of course I can do better than that for our first date. I’ll even wait and surprise you with it.”

Bethany couldn’t even enjoy the slight respite her ploy had given her because they rounded a corner of the trail and ran right into Sutton. He was clearing a fallen sapling from the trail, but the chainsaw was done and he was stacking the wood to the side. He had clearly overheard the last part of their conversation. He wouldn’t meet Bethany’s gaze, but the haggard look on his face said enough.

That night, Bethany knocked on his suite door, desperate to explain.

“I think your party is sipping champagne in the ballroom,” Sutton grumbled when he saw it was her at his door.

“I’d rather eat candy and watch the late show,” Bethany said.

He shook his head. “I’m tired. Best I can do is buy you an ice cream when you give your two weeks notice.”

Bethany’s chest hurt; she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs. Sutton assumed she was leaving with Penn and Topher’s jet-set friends. He thought that was who she really would turn out to be. All her work and all the time they had spent together had not convinced him that she was anything but a spoiled rich girl.

“I’d rather help out in the hotel between lessons and camp,” she told him in a small, tight voice.

Sutton shook his head, determined not to believe her. “Don’t worry about that. I don’t really mind the extra work.”

“But if I help out, maybe we would have time to picnic at the park again.”

He wouldn’t look Bethany in the eyes; he refused to see that she was practically begging him to intervene. More than an excuse, she needed a reason not to go out with Penn. Sutton couldn’t see that and started to shut the door.

“No thanks. See you around,” was all he said.

CHAPTER 11

***SUTTON***

Sutton wanted to use work as his excuse for avoiding Bethany, but the hotel staff had reached a good rhythm. The challenge brought in by Topher’s demanding friends had forced the staff to team up even stronger than before, and Sutton had to admit they could run the place without him. He was proud but also irritated as it left him with pockets of time that filled up with thoughts of Bethany.

It felt like she wanted something from him and he was letting her down, but Sutton didn’t understand what she needed. Bethany had always relied on him to listen and support her. They had the kind of friendship where they talked about everything, then went off and did their own thing. Now, it seemed that she was upset when Sutton had encouraged her to be herself. She moved in different circles than him, ever since her father’s fortune expanded, and that had always been fine. Except now, Bethany did not seem fine.

He watched her finish up a quick snack in the staff break room. Sutton kept to the door of his office, trying not to interrupt. Bethany laughed with her new stable hand, gossiped with the front desk clerks, and complimented the chef on his new recipes. She was interested and engaged with everyone, but there seemed to be a haze of sadness around her. Whenever there was a pause in the conversation, Sutton saw her shoulders droop and her eyes drift to the floor. What did Bethany Grant have to be sad about?

She seemed to have it all: a bottomless bank account, an involved family, a friend who indulged her whims. Sutton had assumed from the beginning that working at the hotel was another one of Bethany’s whims, and now it was coming to an end.

Sutton shook himself, moved through his office to the opposite door, and peered out to the front desk. Topher’s crew was thinning as a few of his friends took off for bigger cities, other continents, or the next hotspot. He should have felt relief, but Sutton couldn’t help but grit his teeth. Penn Torrington was still at the hotel.

Worse than always appearing in flawlessly tailored outfits, his hair perfect, and an air of complete ease, Penn was clearly pursuing Bethany. Over the past few days, he had taken multiple riding lessons and timed his meals to meet her outside the staff break room. Sutton and his staff had overheard Penn suggest a dozen romantic dates to Bethany. And now, it looked as if she had finally accepted.

Bethany appeared from the break room just as Penn slipped a peony from the flower arrangement at the front desk. He presented it to her with a flourish and she smiled. Sutton noticed her wearing a sundress he had never seen before, and her hair was elegantly woven into a loose braid. Diamond earrings dangled from her ears—a gift from her father or a token from her new beau? Sutton felt a burning in his chest and decided he needed some fresh air. As the happy couple went arm-in-arm out the front, he marched out the back door and ran smack into Topher.

“Man, are you ever in a good mood?” Topher joked.

“I’m busy. Some of us are working for our inheritance.”

Topher snorted. “I’ll get to it. I just need an idea of how to make small-town living work for me, you know?”

“I don’t know,” Sutton muttered, “because I’m too busy working.”

“So, it’s not working for you either?” Topher grabbed his arm.

Sutton sighed. Nothing seemed to be working lately, and he knew it was obvious to everyone around him. “What do you want, Topher?”

“Pappy’s Pizza and a few rounds of video games with my brother. Is that too much to ask?”

Sutton shook off Topher’s grip but considered his offer. They had always shared a special bond over being the only brothers that loved video games. He and Topher had spent countless hours in their own basement hideaway, playing games and talking about anything that came to mind. No matter how different they were in their day-to-day life, he and Topher were the same over a slice of pizza or in front of a video screen.

“You’re on,” Sutton told him.

Twenty minutes later, Sutton was already losing the first round of their favorite racing game. He hit pause and licked his wounded pride with a large slice of pepperoni. Topher grinned and reached for a piece of mushroom pizza.

“So, tell me again how Drake fell in love?” he asked.

Sutton swallowed and shot his brother a suspicious look. “Since when do you care so much about love?”

Topher shrugged. “Since always, but no one ever believes me. Now, what I can’t believe is that he fired her and they still fell for each other!”

Sutton had to smile. “I think Drake fired her because he loved her and he couldn’t do anything about it while she still worked for him.”

“So he knew.” Topher chewed, a dreamy look on his face. “I like that, don’t you? The idea that you can know something so instinctually?”

“Like you know what horse will win a race?” Sutton asked, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

“Sure, it’s a gamble, but I think love is worth it,” Topher admitted.

Sutton was a little shocked at that, enough to blurt out. “So, where did your friend take Bethany tonight?”

Topher shot him a look over another bite of mushroom. “To the Road House. There’s live music, maybe some dancing. I told him that Bethany really loves all that small town, hoedown type stuff.”

Sutton laughed, picturing Penn in the middle of the sawdust-covered dance floor. “And what is Penn into?”

“Bethany.”

Topher was watching him carefully, but Sutton couldn’t wipe the scowl off his face. He tossed down his pizza slice and picked up his video game controller. They were halfway through the next race when he couldn’t resist a few more questions.

“Is he being honest with her?”

“Who? Penn?” Topher maneuvered his car back into first place. “Sure. They both know the score. Their families think it’s a good match, they move in all the same circles, so it’s easy for them to be together.”

“All the same circles except this one,” Sutton muttered.

Topher looked at him again, his car sliding into second. “Has something changed between you and your bestie?”

Sutton shook his head and won the race without a smile. The last thing he needed was Topher getting involved in his relationship with Bethany. “So, you’re still really into jump-racing?”

Topher tossed down his controller and grabbed another piece of pizza. His whole face lit up as he started talking about his real passion. Topher had always loved horses not for their usefulness like Drake, or for their beauty and grace as Bethany did, but for their speed and agility. He also liked to explore sports and races that were not as exploited because he could control the stakes and gamble at whatever level he liked.

“It’s huge in the Carolinas,” Topher explained. “They say the sport originated in Ireland, but there are some world-class racers here.”

“I can’t believe you love such an obscure hobby,” Sutton baited him.

Topher sat forward, gesturing with his slice of mushroom. “That’s the best part about it. I could be the one to bring it to Texas! And everything’s bigger and better in Texas, am I right? We could design a great course with all the best obstacles and racers would come here just to run it.”

Sutton chuckled. “So maybe you could make small-town living work for you.”

“With a few modifications,” Topher grinned. “What else am I going to do with my ranch?”

“They’ve always bred and trained race-horses there,” Sutton pointed out.

“Boring!” Topher was getting more excited about his idea, flopping his pizza slice around. “It’s been neglected so long that it’s in desperate need of a rebrand.”

“And rebranding it as a place for jump racing and steeple chases is your idea for the new business? The one that will earn you your inheritance? What does—”

Topher shook his head hard. “Don’t say his name. Not now. I just ate.”

Sutton sighed. He had been unhappy to learn he needed to partner with Drake in order to work towards his inheritance requirements, but now that everything was working out their differences seemed silly. He knew Topher and their other brother would be able to do the same, as soon as anyone was willing to mention him by name.

They went back to their video games, finished the pizzas, and ended the night in a good mood. Topher slapped his youngest brother on the back and headed off to his suite, but Sutton lingered in his office. He told himself it was because he needed to check his chef’s ever-expanding supply list, but he was waiting for Bethany.

She came in just after midnight with Penn holding the hotel door wide open for her. Sutton scowled at the gentleman from his office, but his look softened when Bethany told the handsome man goodnight without any indication of wanting a kiss. Penn shrugged, self-assured and smiling as always, and disappeared towards his suite. Bethany took a deep breath in the hallway—was she hoping Sutton was still up?

“How was the band?” Sutton asked, strolling out of his office.

She was startled, smiled at her friend, then her expression slipped. “They were great. Not really Penn’s style but it was a fun night out.”

Bethany had her chin angled up high, stubborn, but Sutton could see a sad look in her eyes. He walked right up to her and asked, “Is Penn your style?”

She gave him a pained look. “People seem to think so. Goodnight, Sutton.”

He didn’t sleep well that night, which is why he wasn’t too irritated when Topher distracted him early in the morning. His brother searched him out before his second cup of coffee, already brimming with energy.

“I’ve got a plan,” Topher announced. “You’re going to help get the buzz going.”

“What buzz?” Sutton asked, already regretting getting involved.

“We host a steeple chase here, let everyone see just how exciting it is, then I’ll continue to build the sport over at my ranch. Soon, Texas will be on the jump-racing map and I’ll be at the epicenter.”

Sutton groaned, then thought of the perfect out. “I can’t do anything without my business partner’s approval.”

“Drake? No problem. I already told him to get over here. We’re going riding!”

Sutton was glad to see Drake was even more suspicious about Topher’s plan. He rode up to meet them at the stable and immediately frowned.

“Since when do you like trail rides?” he asked Topher.

“Since we’re going to convert this boring old trail into a steeplechase,” Topher told him with a wide grin.

“It’s all part of him rebranding his ranch,” Sutton added.

Drake scowled at both of them. “I know I’m going to regret this, but tell me more.”

Topher swung onto the horse Bethany’s stable hand had kindly saddled for him. Surprising both his younger brothers, Topher took off at a good pace. All the Rolston brothers were good riders, but he had been away long enough they assumed he’d forgotten how to handle himself on horseback. Over the first quarter-mile it became obvious that wasn’t true.

“So, you can ride like a devil,” Drake told Topher. “That doesn’t mean you can conquer this jump racing or whatever you call it.”

“The last thing Texas needs is another regular old horse ranch,” Topher pointed out.

Drake bristled; he was proud of his horse ranch. “You always had to be so different, didn’t you?”

They started arguing, and Sutton let his horse drift behind. He was relieved to hear hoof beats behind him, knowing his brothers would cut out the fighting in front of guests. Then, he turned around and saw Bethany.

“What are they bickering about?” she asked with a smile.

Sutton couldn’t summon a smile in return. All he could think about was her walking out the front doors of the hotel on Penn’s arm. When would that happen for the last time? He felt like saying goodbye to Bethany was inevitable and this time seemed much more painful for some reason.

“Sorry if we’re in your way,” he grumbled.

“Bethany likes steeplechases. It’s quite an elegant sport, isn’t it?” Topher called out.

Her smile reignited. “I love steeplechases. I even got to see one when my father took us to Ireland. I spent the whole next summer learning to jump.”

“Until your father found out and forbid you from such danger,” Sutton reminded her.

Bethany arched an eyebrow. “That doesn’t mean I stopped. I just stopped telling people I was practicing.”

Sutton felt the sting. What other secrets was she capable of keeping?

Drake interrupted, still irritated. “So, you want to convert this entire trail into a steeplechase. Who is going to do the work?”

“It’s Sutton’s ranch and half your business,” Topher pointed out.

Drake hissed, “I knew it. I knew you’d dump all your work on us.”

Topher laughed, gracefully maneuvering his horse past his brothers to Bethany. “I’m giving you a new revenue stream. Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it.”

“With your gambling winnings?” Sutton asked.

“Why not?”

Sutton and Drake exchanged looks but it was too late. Topher was already graciously offering to guide Bethany through his course ideas and she was grinning. They rode off together and left the brothers boiling.

“I should have known better than to accept his invitation this morning,” Drake grumbled.

Sutton shook his head. “Are we sure we want Topher back in town?”

Drake sighed. “It’s either that or listen to Dean gripe about Father’s final wishes until the end of time.”

They rode back towards the stables together. Drake broke the silence as they approached the barn. Bethany’s event space was beautiful, and it was easy to see why it was such a hit with locals and guests alike.

“We’ve got enough revenue streams as it is,” Drake pointed out. “We could just tell Topher to take off.”

“He’s determined,” Sutton reminded Drake.

They both sighed.

“Speaking of having enough revenue streams, I think I’m going to cancel horse camp,” Sutton said.

Drake shot him a hard look. “Why?”

Sutton felt the tightness in his chest as he considered it, but there wasn’t any other way around it. “Bethany’s not going to stay here permanently. Once she goes, the whole thing is going to fall apart. Better to cut the program now than watch it unravel.”

Drake looked at him as if Sutton was the one unraveling. “Have you mentioned this to Bethany?”

Sutton scowled. “She doesn’t have a stake in this place. She’s just an employee, if you can even call her that. We both know working here was just one of her rich girl whims and she’ll be back to her comfy life soon enough.”

Concern cracked through Drake’s irritated facade. “Are you two okay?”

“Sure, same as always,” Sutton snarled.

The worst part was Sutton couldn’t tell if he wished that was true. Or did he want things to change between him and his best friend before it was too late?

CHAPTER 12

***BETHANY***

Bethany couldn’t help but be excited by Topher’s plan. Just the thought of jump racing made her own heart gallop. She loved the speed and sportsmanship and thrill of riding a horse over obstacles, and it was easy to picture an exciting course along the trails she had groomed at Sutton’s ranch.

Her only regret in going with Topher was the look on Sutton’s face. If she didn’t know her friend so well, Bethany would have sworn it was jealousy. As it was, Sutton was just irritated with her and she didn’t know why. Maybe they were finally coming to the end of their ability to work as boss and employee.

“Not only does Sutton’s ranch have the perfect space for a steeplechase course, but you created the perfect venue for the party,” Topher told her the next day. He had cornered her in the stables before her first lesson and made it clear she was now his partner in the new endeavor, whether she wanted to be or not.

“Party?” Bethany hesitated to even ask. She liked Topher’s enthusiasm but he was notorious for good ideas that were then left for others to implement.

“A really fancy to-do, the kind that perhaps Penn would escort you to,” Topher told her with a sly grin.

Bethany buttoned up her lips. The best part about helping Topher was that it was a built-in excuse to avoid Penn altogether. Her father’s preferred suitor had been making scenes all over the hotel, asking her on romantic dates and making sure any other male who looked in her direction knew that he had staked a claim. The whole thing turned her stomach. Especially when Sutton overheard Penn.

“Come on; we’ve known each other too long to not talk,” Topher said.

“Tell me more about the party you envision,” Bethany replied.

He launched into another of his enthusiastic visions, telling her all about the white linen tablecloths, imported rugs, and chandeliers he wanted to decorate the barn. Topher also wanted a top-notch menu and everything from the champagne to the napkins to be of the highest quality.

“We’ll make it the social event of the season,” he declared.

“In Isabel, Texas?” Bethany asked. “Aren’t we too small town for the majority of your guest list?” She was being hopeful, clinging to the idea that her two worlds would not collide and explode.

That hope ebbed over the next week as Topher expanded his plans and started creating the elite guest list. His personal invitation was enough to intrigue most of the names he had included, and Bethany knew the word would spread. Her quiet hometown would be overrun with the country club set she had tried to ignore. Her only solace was the riding lessons she still taught and the last scheduled horse camp.

Then, even that refuge was threatened.

“What do you mean he scaled back the schedule?” Bethany asked the hotel front desk clerk.

He cowered from her uncharacteristic upset and gestured to his computer screen. “Mr. Sutton changed the offerings on the website. See? The hours are limited for riding lessons, so naturally, people haven’t signed up for those slots.”

Bethany studied the screen with eyes that threatened to blur. “Am I not doing a good enough job?”

The clerk looked horrified. “That’s not possible! It’s just been busy with the event space and the full rooms and everything.”

Bethany wished she could be so certain, but she felt that the change reflected directly on her performance as an employee. She hadn’t seen Sutton in days, and had felt that it was better that way, but now she had to face him. The front desk clerk pointed towards the ballroom, then looked as if he wished he could find somewhere to hide.

“What is wrong with you? Or do you think something is wrong with me?” Bethany burst into the ballroom and confronted Sutton.

Sutton was standing with a wedding planner and did nothing but raise an eyebrow at her intrusion. “I’m sorry. It looks as if another employee needs my attention,” he told the planner.

“Excuse me,” Bethany absently told the woman as she made a hasty exit. Then she pointed a finger at Sutton. “You changed my hours without even consulting me. What kind of a friend does that?”

“A boss does that,” Sutton told her with a deepening scowl.

“So, that’s it? I’m just an employee now?”

His blue eyes hardened. “Are you actually an employee or are you just here playing make-believe? This is a real business; this is my real life, Bethany. You can’t just try it out and then leave when it suits you.”

“That’s what you think?” Bethany lost her breath.

All the contributions she had made to the hotel when it was still in rough shape, all the decisions she had helped Sutton with, and all the time she had spent making it a success, and he thought she was just pretending. It sucked the air right out of her lungs. How could Sutton not know what the hotel meant to her?

He was still glaring at her. “We both know your job as riding instructor wasn’t going to last. You were bound to go back to your real-life sooner or later. I just wanted to make sure we scaled it back for the guests before you cut out completely.”

Tears stung her eyes. “You know I love it here. You know I put my heart and soul into working here. Why are you doing this?”

Sutton was silent, his jaw stiff. He shook his head and finally said, “I have to get back to that wedding planner. Because of you, I have a full event schedule on top of everything else.”

He left her standing alone in the ballroom, her heart beating loud enough she was sure she could hear it reverberating off the walls. Robin’s Egg Blue walls, the elegant color she had suggested. Bethany blinked hard, tipping her head up to stop any more tears. She saw the chandelier she had picked out, then the antique mantel she had shipped in from San Antonio, and the wall sconces she had saved from the old city hall in Isabel. The whole room shone with her touches, yet Sutton couldn’t picture her there.

So, where did she belong?

Bethany left the ballroom in a haze and headed towards the stables but Penn caught her in the hall. “How’s my beauty today?” he called.

She suppressed a shudder. Penn’s compliments sounded great but always set off a hollow, insincere ring inside her. “I can’t talk now, Penn. I have to get to work.”

He disliked being put off. “You know, I’ve been meaning to mention your little job to your father. Does he know you’re down here working like some hired hand?”

Bethany held her breath. She hated that his threat still worked on her, but how could she face her father’s lectures without her best friend by her side?

“Sorry, Penn, but our Bethany’s dance card is full. I need her to plan the party of the century. You understand.” Topher swept across the hall and put his arm around Bethany. “The boys are waiting out front to go golfing.”

Penn pouted at them both then shrugged. “I love being the hostess’ date. There’s always so many perks,” he said pointedly.

Topher whisked her onto the back porch of the hotel and did not remove his arm. “What is going on with you? Are you okay?”

She shook her head, not trusting her voice.

“All right, something’s gotta give. I saw Sutton stomping around like he could spit a hurricane out, and now you’ve got me scared you might cry.” Topher put both hands on Bethany’s shoulders and shook her lightly. “Tell me what’s the matter!”

“You don’t understand,” she babbled.

Topher narrowed his eyes, a sharp blue so similar to Sutton’s. “Then let me guess. Penn has it in his head that you would make the perfect wife, but you’re not ready to be a trophy. Sutton’s mad because he thinks you’re too good to work at some rancher’s hotel. And you don’t know how to tell your daddy that you’d give up all the inheritance in the world just to ride horses and be happy.”

Bethany’s mouth fell open.

“I know, I know, I’m supposed to be the careless gambling Rolston who doesn’t notice anything but a good time.” Topher gently shook her again. “But I’m not blind, Bethany. And all this drama is really going to kill the mood at my party.”

That last part made her smile. “That’s more like it,” she said.

He grinned. “Now, before we get back to me, I have to warn you: your father is hinting at your engagement all over. News doesn’t travel that fast to Isabel, but it will be on its way soon.”

“We’re not engaged!” Bethany protested.

Topher let go of her shoulders and held up both hands. “None of my business. I’m just telling you what the rumors are whispering. Oh, and there’s one more thing you better prepare yourself for.”

Bethany’s shoulders dropped lower. “What?”

“The Rolstons are all coming here for dinner tonight and your presence is required,” Topher said.

She shook her head violently. “No. No way. Sutton’s mad at me.”

“Come on, you two have been friends too long not to be able to weather a little argument. And what kind of selfish, careless man would I be if I didn’t expect you to be there and convince everyone that we’re planning the best party ever?”

Bethany glared at him, finally recognizing the Topher she knew. “You just want me to help sell your steeplechase idea to your brothers.”

“Exactly. Glad you get it. See you tonight.” Topher backed away and blew her a kiss. “Oh, and Bethany?”

“What?” she snapped.

“Once you know what you want, I will help you get it,” Topher promised. “Until then, all your secrets are safe with me.”

He breezed back into the hotel and Bethany collapsed against the porch railing, feeling completely deflated. Not only had Topher completely seen her problems, but he had pointed out the biggest issue: she didn’t know what she wanted.

Her thoughts still hadn’t cleared that night when she joined the loud party in the dining room. The dinner party was overwhelming, way too many Rolstons in one room, and Sutton was clearly not speaking to her. He moved clear to the other side of the room when she entered.

“Things are still rough with Sutton?” Freddie asked.

Bethany tried to keep the emotion out of her voice. “Pretty soon, I won’t have to worry about being his employee or his friend.”

Freddie gave her shoulder a sympathetic squeeze. “Maybe you’ll be something more.”

“Like an enemy?” Bethany asked.

Freddie laughed at that but realized quickly that Bethany couldn’t see any other alternative. Before she could explain, Topher whisked Bethany away to help him convince his brothers that his new plan had merit. So far, the brothers were not warming to the idea and all frowned at the least mention of the steeplechase. Dean doubted anyone really liked such races, Theo thought it was all too risky, and Drake couldn’t imagine training horses for anything else but ranch riding. Sutton kept his mouth shut and refused to make eye contact with Bethany or his brother.

Topher, on the other hand, was overly charming and exuberant. He touted her planning abilities and smoothed over every conversation.

Dean, the eldest, was the most skeptical. “What makes you think Texas needs a new sport? Why can’t people just ride horses the regular way?”

Topher groaned. “It’s exciting. The thrill of seeing the horses come around the corner, make the jumps, clear the obstacles. Isabel needs that kind of excitement.”

“But it’s such a blue blood sport, for the rich and snobby,” Drake pointed out.

Bethany cringed but spoke up. “The riders are real athletes, putting themselves at risk to complete the course. I would think Texans could appreciate that.”

Topher grinned. “See? It’s the perfect mix for me.”

The brothers didn’t immediately shoot him down, but they changed the subject and were soon arguing about other things, like the Rolstons typically did. Dinner, on the other hand, was delicious. Still, it was all a nightmare for Bethany, until she met Hetty.

Theo, the second oldest Rolston, had finally returned to Isabel, and he introduced Bethany to his new wife. The women had met long ago at school in Isabel, but since then, their lives had taken drastically different paths. Hetty had gone into hiding as she desperately tried to save her family’s estate, while Bethany had been sky-rocketed into the best boarding school in Texas. At this point, they should have been polar opposites but they had a strong, immediate connection.

“I hear you love horses almost as much as my Hetty,” Theo said.

Bethany shot Topher a look and almost laughed when he mouthed “you’re welcome.”

“My family doesn’t necessarily approve of my hobby, but I love riding.”

“Then let’s escape before the brothers bicker, and you can show me the stables,” Hetty said. She linked arms with Bethany and steered her outside.

The two women were halfway to the barn before Bethany took a deep breath. “Thank you,” she sighed.

Hetty squeezed her arm, recognizing a kindred spirit. “You looked like you were about to tip over. Let the brothers all hash out this crazy new plan of Topher’s. Why don’t you just tell me about the horses.”

Bethany could have hugged Hetty for her insight and compassion. Instead, she took the escape offered and told her all about the horses. By the time they came to the last stall, Bethany blinked in surprise.

“You really love it here,” Hetty observed.

“I do. I love it here. I want to stay and work on Sutton’s ranch,” she told her new friend.

“Even if it means giving up a life of luxury?” Hetty asked.

Bethany realized the truth out loud, “Especially if it frees me from that life. All I really want is here. This is my real life.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Hetty wanted to know.

Bethany blinked hard again. She knew the only issue now was trying to convince Sutton that she not only knew what she wanted but who she really was.

CHAPTER 13

***SUTTON***

Topher was always good at keeping the party going, but even he noticed the absence of Bethany and Hetty. Without a real fan of jump racing to back him up, Topher had to resort to his own expert opinion to convince his brothers.

“The best part about it is the niche. There is a select group of people that really love the sport and they are willing to travel. That’s why we’ll be able to bring them to Isabel and put Texas on the map for steeplechases,” he told them around the dining table.

Freddie came in from the kitchen where she had been helping Drake’s son get an extra round of dessert. “What did I miss?” she asked.

The men all shook their heads except for Topher. He smiled and launched his spiel right at her. “You love riding. Have you ever tried jumping? What would you think of seeing an entire race of horse riders who tackled the most amazing obstacles?”

Freddie looked at Drake’s stern face, but her smile didn’t fade. “I think it’s great that you’ve found something new and different to bring to town.”

“Always the diplomat,” Drake told her.

Sutton took that chance to jump in. “How about we move into the lounge? If Topher’s going to keep trying to convince us, at least we can sit in comfortable chairs.”

He intended to ditch the dinner party as they walked from the dining room across the hall to the lounge. Sutton knew it was his fault Bethany had looked so uncomfortable all through dinner. Usually, he helped her brave the Rolston gatherings because he knew just how overwhelming his older brothers could be. Not that he wasn’t still upset about her so casually mentioning her potential matrimony, but Sutton felt bad that he had let his friend down. Bethany looked so pale and sad as she slipped out of the dining room.

Sutton shooed everyone along the hallway, then turned to escape out the back door. He watched Dean lead the way into the lounge with Teddy close behind. His nephew was balancing a huge handful of cookies, with Freddie watching for any crumbs. Drake followed them closely behind, and everyone was almost inside when Theo turned to grin at him.

“Thinking of escaping too?” his second-eldest brother asked.

“I just thought I would check on the ladies. Maybe Hetty needs a coffee or something?” Sutton tried to sound innocent.

Theo stood aside and gestured for Sutton to lead the way into the lounge. “The last thing Hetty needs is another Rolston trying to take care of her needs. She barely tolerates me asking how her day is, much less someone trying to rope her back into a dinner party.”

“So, the honeymoon’s over?” Sutton tried to joke, staying in the hallway.

Theo gestured for him to enter the lounge again. “The honeymoon is not over; I just know Hetty. Kind of like I thought you knew Bethany.”

Sutton scowled at that. He decided his best course was to go into the lounge, distract Theo, and figure out another reason to escape.

“Now, hold on. Drake told me you and her were having a rough time. I can hardly believe it. You’ve always been the best of friends,” Theo said.

“I hear you and Hetty had quite the road trip. Must have been fun to get out of Isabel for a while.” Sutton ignored Theo’s inquiry completely.

Inside the lounge, Dean was being challenged to checkers by Teddy and Drake was offering to act as referee. Sutton tried to join them, but Theo kept him back yet again.

“I’m not one for gossip,” Theo reminded him. “So, I would just as soon hear from you how things are going.”

Sutton saw Topher regaling Freddy with stories of jump racing and, for the first time, he wished he could join their conversation. Instead, he had to shake off Theo’s arm. “I’ve been busy at the hotel, Bethany had fun trying out her first-ever job, and that is it. Everything’s fine.”

Theo snorted. “Any time someone says ‘everything’s fine,’ it is 100% certain that things are not.”

“Wait, what gossip have you heard?” Sutton turned on his brother.

“Nothing really, just that you and Bethany have a lot more tension between you than you ever did,” Theo said.

Sutton glared at him. “I don’t recall you ever noticing Bethany before. In fact, you were the only brother that never bugged me about having a girl as a best friend.”

Theo laughed. “That’s because I thought you two were dating.”

Sutton was shocked. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“What can I say? I had other things on my mind in high school,” Theo reminded him.

“Other things like being inadvertently rude to Hetty,” Drake sauntered up and reminded their older brother.

Theo frowned. “The past is in the past. We’re happy now.”

Drake slapped Theo on the back. “Everyone can see that. Congrats again, old man. Now we just need Sutton here to find such happiness.”

Sutton groaned. “Now you two are going to turn into matchmakers? Thanks, but I think Ben Summers has that position covered, and there is no way that Isabel, Texas needs more than one matchmaker.”

“He doesn’t know you like we do,” Theo pointed out.

Sutton sharpened his gaze on Drake. “Wait a minute. You’re the gossip! What have you been telling him?”

Drake shrugged, pretending to be innocent. “We’ve just been catching up.”

“You’ve been talking about me behind my back!” Sutton was furious, like he was a kid again and his brothers were ganging up on him.

Theo tried to soothe his youngest brother. “We were only discussing Bethany’s good influence on the hotel. This is the first I’ve heard of the new event space. And it sounds like her riding lessons and camp have been going great.”

“Until Sutton cut back her hours,” Drake said. He shot Sutton a grumpy look. “I certainly did not agree to that.”

“Why does everyone think Bethany had such a big hand in the hotel?” Sutton said a little too loud.

Theo leaned against a stunning antique sideboard and glided a hand along the sleek wood. “I remembered when she found this in an old barn and knew it would be perfect for this room.”

Drake glanced up to the chandelier. “And I’m pretty sure we’d all be in the dark if Bethany hadn’t picked out all the light fixtures.”

Sutton ground his teeth. “So she’s good at shopping. That doesn’t mean this place won’t run without her.”

“Do you want it to?” Theo asked.

“What does it matter what I want?” Sutton asked. “Bethany is her own person and, believe me, she has an entirely different life to lead.”

“What about the life she wants to lead?” Drake asked.

Sutton threw his hands up in disgust. “What do you know about it?”

Theo drew himself to his full height, trying to look every inch the older, more authoritative brother. “We have a theory about you and Bethany.”

Scowling at Drake, Sutton asked. “You two together have a theory about me?”

Drake looked only slightly guilty as he nodded. “Want to hear it?”

“No.”

Sutton made an attempt to skirt around them and join Freddie as Topher’s audience, but his brothers stepped in his way. Despite having been through a delightfully adult dinner party, and being in an antique-filled room, Sutton considered shoving Drake into Theo and making a run for it. Somehow the rough and tumble ways of being raised with five brothers had never left any of them, no matter how grown up they became.

Drake anticipated Sutton’s move and made a feint of his own. Sutton dodged him and found himself spun by Theo into the far corner of the room.

“I think I’ve been right all along,” Theo told him.

“Of course you do.” Sutton looked to Drake for support. Their eldest brothers were always assuming they were right. Unfortunately, Drake seemed to agree.

“You and Bethany have always been friends because that was the only way you could really care about each other this long,” Drake explained.

Sutton gave him a look as if he had a screw loose, so Theo tried to describe it a different way. “If you and Bethany had started dating way back when, you would have fought over something and broken up. Trust me; sometimes it is hard for people to forgive childhood hurts.”

Drake snorted with laughter. “Hetty made sure he learned that.”

Theo ignored Drake and tried to explain their theory to Sutton. “We think you two sensed that and therefore never started dating. Without that extra label, those pressures, you two were able to always be there for each other.”

“That sounds like real love to me,” Drake added.

Sutton felt his neck getting hot. “It sounds like you two are lovesick fools. Talk to me when you’re not both still gaga over your own relationships.”

He shoved past them but didn’t make it to the door. Freddie blocked his way with her sweet, concerned smile. “Are they torturing you again?”

“Yes,” Sutton said, hoping his sister-in-law would help.

“Good.” Freddie crossed her arms and shot Sutton a deadly look.

Sutton heard Drake and Theo break into smothered laughter behind him. “What did I do now?” Sutton asked her.

“Exactly. What did you do now? Why is Bethany feeling like you’re running her out of town?” Freddie asked.

“I’m not running her out of town!” Sutton ran both hands through his hair in frustration, then tried to explain. “I cut back on her riding lessons and camp enrollment because her real life is going to take over any minute now.”

“What real life? What has all this been?” Freddie asked.

Sutton scowled. “This is my hotel, my business, my life. Bethany’s life is fancy clothes, country clubs, trips overseas, and special gallery openings. The Grants don’t go for horseback rides or spend time mending fences. They don’t accommodate guests or switch rooms when things get crowded.”

Freddie softened an inch. “So, you think Bethany is going to go back to all of that, and that’s why you started to cut her free of her work here?”

Sutton realized he had everyone’s attention, including Dean and Teddy. He gritted his teeth and tried to explain it once and for all. “Bethany doesn’t really belong here, and I can’t keep holding a place for her. I have my guests and business to protect. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” Freddie asked. She didn’t look convinced at all.

“Look,” Sutton snapped, “I know Bethany better than anyone here because we have been friends for a long time. Just friends! And I know that her family is going to rope her back into their lifestyle and she’ll forget all about that summer she helped out at good ole Sutton’s hotel ranch.”

“But she’s your friend too,” Drake pointed out. “You really think she’s been working here for completely selfish reasons?”

“Pretty selfish of her to give up all the time it took to help you redesign and start renovating this place,” Theo reminded him.

“Then she left!” Sutton shot back.

“That was mostly my fault,” Drake admitted. “I wasn’t ready for Teddy to be learning to ride and I took it out on Freddie and Bethany.”

“Yet she just slipped away back to her debutante life like nothing had ever happened. Then she started hanging out with those country club types that Topher loves so well. Haven’t you told them all about Penn?” Sutton knew he was losing it, but he couldn’t stop.

Topher held up both hands, trying to calm him down. “Now, I don’t go around airing other people’s business, but it sounds like you’ve figured out what is really bothering you.”

“What’s really bothering me is a room full of people thinking they can tell me what to do and what to feel,” Sutton snapped. “I’m the one that Bethany left without a backward glance, and I’m the one just waiting around for her to do it again. Not a single one of you know what that feels like.”

Dean stood up, ready to put an end to the whole scene. “I think Topher can talk to Drake about this whole steeplechase business. Theo, you can take on our nephew here, and Freddie can watch him whoop you in checkers.”

Sutton glowered at his eldest brother. “And what about you and me?”

“You can take a breath,” Dean said in his stern, imperial way.

Hating how right his brother was, Sutton turned around and looked out the window while he gathered himself. Topher launched into his whole new plan with Drake groaning at regular intervals. Oblivious to the adult conversation, Teddy joyously took on his uncle Theo and immediately started winning the checkers game. Freddie settled down next to her stepson and only shot Sutton a few concerned looks. Dean took a slow stroll around the room like an emperor.

Sutton breathed in and fought the reflexive desire to talk to Bethany. His best friend was usually the one that helped him through messes like this one. He exhaled and felt the hurt she’d caused by leaving all those months ago. Why hadn’t he ever realized that before?

He had forced himself to stay busy with the hotel renovations. Drake was newly married, Theo was a wreck when he ran into Hetty again, and life had wrapped him up in Isabel. Sutton was just as guilty as leaving Bethany as she was for going home. In all those months in between, he had only rarely allowed himself to message her or catch up even a little. Sutton had been guarding his feelings the whole time.

“Now, how about you walk me to my truck?” Dean asked.

Sutton frowned but had no reason not to accompany his eldest brother.

Dean was quiet until they walked across the driveway, well away from the hotel. Then he gave a long, slow sigh and turned to Sutton.

“Friends or whatever you are, you and Bethany have always made a great pair,” Dean told him. “That’s not something all of us can say.”

“Drake and Theo seem pretty paired up,” Sutton remarked.

Dean pierced him with a serious look. “You know as well as I do that what you and Bethany have is special. Good things like that don’t come easy.”

Sutton ground the heel of his boot into the ground. He hated when Dean was right. “That doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for us.”

“Sounds like you have to make it right.”

He slapped Sutton on the shoulder after that and climbed into his truck. Sutton watched Dean drive away and wished his words hadn’t made so much sense. Making things right with Bethany meant he would have to take a chance, and Sutton wasn’t sure he could handle that at all.

What if he took that chance with her and it ruined their friendship?

CHAPTER 14

***BETHANY***

Bethany was settled on a hay bale, listening to Hetty’s story of falling for Theo, when Freddie found them in the barn. Not wanting to disturb the best part of the story, Freddie joined her on the straw with a wide smile.

“Then I found out that Theo had already given me back the Thirsty River Ranch. I had everything I wanted. Except him,” Hetty told them.

Freddie sighed. “So romantic!”

“And only slightly less contentious than you and Drake,” Hetty joked.

Bethany looked at both smiling women and wished she could join in their happiness. She knew that Hetty had told her love story just to convince her to go after what she wanted, but neither woman had families like hers. Freddie’s father was a long-haul trucker with the softest heart and only wanted his daughter to be happy. Hetty’s father had run their ranch into ruins, then disappeared, so his opinion of her life meant nothing. Then there was Bethany’s father. And her sister Jane. And, worst of all, the family fortune and all the expectations that came with it.

Desperate to change the subject to something less complicated, Bethany asked Freddie, “how did dessert go?”

“I was lucky and escaped to the kitchen for a second round of ice cream with Teddy,” Freddie told them. “By the time we got back, it looked like Sutton was going to jump out a window.”

Bethany smiled though it turned wistful too quickly. She cleared her throat. “I hope Topher wasn’t too mad I ditched his big campaign speech.”

“Strangely, I think the Rolston brothers might be on board. Whatever keeps Topher in town and helps him fulfil his inheritance requirements, the others will make work,” Freddie said.

“I doubt Sutton is looking forward to all the hosting he is supposed to do. He barely survived the arrival of Topher’s jet-set friends,” Bethany commented.

Freddie shrugged. “That’s not what he was preoccupied with when I saw him.”

She couldn’t help but be curious. “What’s Sutton surly about now?”

Hetty laughed. “Sounds just like a regular Rolston to me!”

“Drake and Theo had him cornered. Something about a theory they have about your friendship. Sutton was looking a little upset,” Freddie told her.

Bethany sat up. “A theory about us?”

Freddie nodded. “And, I don’t mean to talk out of turn, but it seems Sutton was pretty upset at how you up and disappeared the last time.”

Bethany turned to Hetty to explain. “Freddie had gotten into big trouble for having me give Teddy secret riding lessons. That was right when Sutton came up with the idea for the riding school. Drake shot it down and I guess I figured it was better to put up with my own family than get in the middle of a Rolston row.”

“Reasonable,” Hetty agreed, “but what happened after that?”

“I don’t know. Sutton got busy with the hotel and didn’t call. I fell back into the routine of my old life. Before we knew it, a few months had gone by, but I had no idea he was upset with me for leaving!” Bethany protested.

“The important thing is what’s going to happen now,” Hetty told her.

Bethany stood up and flapped her hands nervously. “Nothing’s going to happen. How can it?”

Freddie stood up too. “What did I miss?”

Hetty looked at Bethany and decided her friend’s pained expression meant they needed more help. “She wants to stay and be with Sutton.”

“Be with Sutton?” Freddie asked. She pressed her hands to her lips, then pulled them back far enough to ask in an excited whisper, “Like together?”

“Anywhere but the ‘friends zone,’” Bethany confessed in a wail. “I think. I don’t know. What if trying for anything more screws everything up?”

Freddie suppressed a scream of joy, then got serious. “No, you’re right. You and Sutton have been friends for so long. This isn’t going to be easy.”

“Is that helping?” Hetty asked Freddie. “Don’t worry, Bethany. Sutton was your friend first. That means you should be able to talk to him. You just have to be brave.”

The women assured her all the way back to the hotel that everything would be all right. She had even convinced herself to go straight to Sutton’s suite and see if they could talk. Then Freddie went home with Drake and Hetty went home with Theo, and Bethany sneaked into the hotel like a stray cat that didn’t really belong.

What if Sutton didn’t want to be saddled with a woman like her? Bethany was used to having everything, she could barely make toast for herself, and he admired all things self-sufficient. He had renovated then repaired the hotel with his own hands while all she had done was suggest paint colors and shop. There was no way Sutton actually needed her in his life. He probably wasn’t even attracted to her because the only thing he saw when he looked at Bethany was a woman spoiled by too much money.

She lost her courage before she even got up the hotel steps.

Then the screen door swung open and Bethany wished she had been more decisive. Penn strode onto the porch and greeted her with his perpetual lofty smile. “There you are. Heard there was quite the Rolston reunion and I wondered if you had gotten trapped in with them.”

“I’m helping Topher with his new plan,” Bethany reminded Penn. “In fact, there were a few things he wanted to go over before the end of the night.”

She tried to step past him, but Penn caught her arm and gripped it tightly with one hand. “Topher knows all about the deal your father and I have been hashing out. There’s no way he would begrudge me a little time with you.”

Bethany yanked her arm free. “I’m a human, not a deal, Penn.”

“And a beautiful one at that,” he said in a soothing voice. “That’s why I think it’s time you stopped hanging around men like Sutton.”

“What do you mean ‘like Sutton?’”

Penn raised his nose to a snobby angle and sniffed. “Men who pretend to be your friend but can’t keep their eyes off you. It’s not appropriate.”

“Sutton is my friend,” Bethany said firmly. “And what’s not appropriate is you trying to tell me who I can and cannot spend time with.”

“If this is going to work, and you know your father wants our marriage to work, then you better get used to considering my opinion,” Penn said sharply. He held open the door for Bethany, expecting her to be docile and walk inside.

She glared at him and rushed away around the corner of the wraparound porch. By the time she made it to her suite and locked the door behind her, Bethany’s hands were shaking. That was the man her father wanted her to marry?! He had the looks and the fortune, he even had the manners in public, but Penn was cold and shallow. She knew he would turn cruel if he didn’t get his way, and the thought turned her stomach. He had the looks and the fortune, he even had the manners in public, but Penn was cold and shallow. She knew he would turn cruel if he didn’t get his way, and the thought turned her stomach.The worried feeling did not fade away overnight and it followed Bethany through her regular morning routine and into her day.

Fretting over her next encounter with her father’s fiancé of choice, Bethany barely even thought about Sutton until he came marching out to see her in the stables. She really needed her friend to talk to, but he was in full-on boss mode“You changed the schedule online?” he barked at her from the barn doors.

Bethany notched her chin up. “I made the website. I can edit it.”

“And it appears you can double book yourself too,” Sutton snapped.

She had forgotten about her promise to host Sutton’s party and had left that day available for riding lessons. “I’ll find someone to cover those lessons. Maybe Freddie could handle the beginners.”

“Or you could come back to the office right now, call those guests, and cancel the lessons. You can’t keep on trying to live two lives.” Sutton caught himself and snapped his jaw shut.

“Just like you can’t be my boss and my friend. Maybe it will be better for me to leave,” Bethany cried. She marched back to the hotel with Sutton hot on her heels.

Unfortunately, a worse scene waited for her in the front hallway of the hotel. Penn was holding court at the foyer table and an admiring group of his friends and a few hotel guests were all admiring something he had on display.

“Perhaps Bethany here would be the best judge,” he called across the front hall. “Can you help me out, dear?”

She approached cautiously, then gasped at the table display. Penn had five ring boxes open in a row, each diamond more dazzling than the one before.

“I think she likes them already,” he joked to his friends. “Too bad the woman I propose to will only get one.”

Bethany tried to back away but she bumped into Sutton. He appeared to have turned to stone and didn’t even move when Penn caught her hand and pulled her closer to the glittering rings.

“Help me decide which one will tempt my lady the most. Try one on, or all of them. Even Sutton here knows you have the best taste of anyone,” Penn said.

Bethany shook her head. “I can’t.”

Penn’s look sharpened. “Oh, come on, help a poor man out.”

His friends all laughed, and so did the guests. The rings caught the light and refracted rainbows all around. The cut and clarity could only mean one thing: those rings were worth a fortune and so was Penn.

“I want my fiancée to have the best of the best,” he pleaded.

“Which one is in style this year?” Sutton asked Bethany.

She turned around and stared at him in shock.

Sutton gave her a quick smile; he was going to get her out of the awkward scene. “Penn should pick the one that’s the hottest trend. If his lady only loves the best of the best, she may want a new ring to match every new trend.”

“Princess cut is very popular these days,” Bethany said. Then, pretending her job was done, she slipped out of Penn’s grip and away from the gathered crowd.

Sutton followed her right into his office and shut the door firmly behind them. Her friend had returned and gave her a quick, sympathetic hug. “I’m assuming that wasn’t the big romantic proposal you were hoping for.”

Bethany hugged Sutton again. “That was awful! What a scene.”

“Those were some beautiful rings, though,” Sutton said quietly.

Bethany shoved him back and shook her head hard. “Those cold, gaudy things. They were just bribes. Disgusting.”

A new light shone in Sutton’s eyes. “So, the rumors I heard aren’t true? You and Penn aren’t a done deal?”

“No!” Bethany cried. “If I had my way, there would be no future connection between Penn and me.”

Sutton moved around his desk and collapsed into his chair. He rubbed his hands over his face, covering what looked like a relieved smile, then his characteristic frown returned. “That’ll cause some problems with your father, won’t it?”

“And probably a few with my sister,” Bethany admitted.

“Problems like them never speaking to you again?” Sutton asked. Then he caught Bethany’s pained look and sat up quickly to apologize. “I’m sorry, that was mean. I just hate the hold they think they should have over you. I mean, if Penn is the best your father thought he could do for you, then he doesn’t know you at all.”

“But you do?” Bethany asked.

“Well, now I know you hate princess-cut diamonds,” Sutton joked.

He stood up when Bethany leaned across the desk and tried to swat his shoulder. She suddenly felt dizzy and took a step closer to him so she could sit on the corner of his desk. He caught her hand, worried.

“Are you all right?”

“I don’t know,” Bethany said. “My father is going to have a fit if I turn down Penn. My sister will never let it go. They’ll make my life a living hell.”

“If?” Sutton let go of her hand.

Bethany jumped up, trying to explain. “They both act as if making a ‘good match’ is my duty. Like I have to pay back all these years of luxury by entering into some loveless marriage.”

“And you never even wanted to be rich in the first place?” Sutton asked, softly hopeful.

Tears sprung to her eyes. “Yes! That’s what I’ve been trying to show you. This is what I really want: a job I love, good, honest work, and, and...”

He picked up her hand again. “And what? What could be better than a marriage that pleases your family and assures your fortune for the rest of your life?”

“I don’t know,” Bethany said, suddenly breathless. “This?”

She reached up on her tiptoes and pressed her trembling lips to his. The kiss was nothing but nervous contact for a second, then Sutton’s arm came around her back. He steadied her and Bethany finally reached for what she wanted. She put her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, hoping he would return it.

His lips parted, then flew back as the door to his office popped open.

The kiss broken, Bethany turned to see who interrupted them. Topher stood in the doorway, his mouth gaping, then he quickly came into the office and shut the door to block anyone else’s view of their embrace.

“I’m sorry!” He said immediately. “I just heard about the whole scene Penn put on in the foyer. It is all anyone is talking about. I had to come and see if Bethany was all right.”

Sutton dropped his hands from her waist and Bethany tripped back to her spot sitting on the corner of his desk. “She’s fine, but she’s not going to be bullied into marrying that man.”

Bethany was relieved to hear him say that, but her insides were still rioting. What did Sutton think of the kiss? Did it mean anything to him? Or were they always doomed to be just friends? Bethany didn’t think she could stand that, and felt like she was waiting for the gallows floor to drop out from under her.

“Well, Penn might not be done with his, ah, forceful campaign for marriage,” Topher said. He scrubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with what he had interrupted but also with the news he had to share.

“What else has Penn done?” Bethany asked. The sinking feeling in her stomach told her she already knew.

“I’ve been getting RSVPs for our soiree all morning,” Topher said. “And I just got one from your father.”

“My father?” Bethany asked in a defeated voice.

“And your sister,” Topher said.

“So, the Grants are coming here to my hotel?” Sutton asked.

Topher choked, nodded, then said, “They’ve already asked for the best rooms you have. But they made sure to tell me that neither of them will be requesting riding lessons.”

Bethany pressed a hand to her mouth, barely holding back a panicked sob. So, her father and sister now both knew about her escape. Her gloriously happy time at Sutton’s ranch was about to come to an end, and there was nothing she could do.

She stood up and faced Sutton on shaking legs. “I’m sorry, Sutton, but it’s better if I quit now.”

“No!” both Rolston brothers said in unison.

“I’m not about to lose my party planner right before the big event!” Topher cried.

Bethany smiled at that but looked at Sutton, still so unsure.

“I won’t let you quit the job you love,” he said. And Bethany felt he meant it.

CHAPTER 15

***SUTTON***

“I don’t mind if you help Topher out with his whole crazy plan, but could you keep him off my ranch?” Drake marched up and joined Sutton on the porch.

Sutton tore his gaze off the stables and blinked in surprise. If Topher had been over at Drake’s place all morning, why wasn’t his first question about the kiss? He was certain Topher had seen it, and he assumed his brother would never be able to keep quiet about it. Yet, all Drake seemed to care about was his own complaints.

“He burst in over breakfast and announced that he has a bunch of horses coming from North Carolina. Apparently, I’m now in charge of boarding his special race horses?” Drake huffed then leaned on the porch railing. “You watching to see if Bethany has added early morning lessons?”

Sutton braced for questions or comments about the kiss, but Drake just looked at him. “I know she does. She made the website, so she was able to edit it and change her whole schedule back to the way it was.”

The way it was before she kissed him.

Drake’s deep chuckle shook him out of his dreamlike recollection. Then Drake asked, “Does that mean you’re going to let Bethany stay on?”

Sutton frowned at his brother’s triumphant look. Of course Drake would assume it was his insistence that changed Sutton’s mind. He had no idea what had transpired between them. Apparently, Topher was now very selective about his gossip. Drake was still assuming the last development between him and Bethany had been the harebrained theory he and Theo presented at the dinner party.

“So, all Topher wanted was for you to board a few horses?” Sutton asked, studying his brother to see if there was any flicker of further knowledge.

Drake pushed off the railing and paced a few steps. Then he sighed. “I guess I can’t ask you to board the horses because Bethany’s still bringing in good business. And you have the big party to plan for.”

Sutton ground his teeth. “Topher’s big party. How did we end up doing all the work for his latest idea?”

Drake shrugged. “Old habits? The funny thing is how focused Topher seems this time. Do you really think he’s trying to come up with a way to stay in Texas?”

They both still assumed their wild card brother would take off at any minute, but as the days passed, it seemed Topher was more and more interested in staying.

“He may stay for a while,” Sutton guessed, “but that doesn’t mean he’ll fulfill any of his inheritance requirements.”

Drake snorted. “Not that missing a fortune would bother him. I’ve never seen such a lucky gambler. I better go find him and let him know I’ll take care of those horses over at my ranch.”

Thinking about gambles, Sutton moved down the front porch steps and started towards the stables. He waved goodbye to Drake over his shoulder and headed straight for Bethany’s riding lesson. He knew intruding as her boss could throw off the delicate truce they seemed to have reached, but Sutton had to see her. Just as he thought, Bethany had scheduled a lesson behind his back and was leading the beginner rider around the practice ring.

He watched his friend guide the uncertain guest and felt his heart kick into an uneven trot. In a wave of frustration, Sutton realized his brothers’ theory was correct. He had always cared about Bethany enough to always choose the more stable, lasting relationship with her. He could never have risked losing her.

Sutton leaned on the fence and watched her teach while memories flooded his mind. Freshmen year of high school, Bethany thought she was in love. The lucky young man was on the starting line-up of the football team and kept interrupting practice just to flirt with her. Sutton remembered he didn’t even feel the sting of her attention going elsewhere because he knew it wasn’t going to last.

The jock flirted with Bethany, took her out on a few dates, and talked a good game. Sutton smiled to himself as he remembered how romantic Bethany thought a drive-in movie was at the time. She just couldn’t see how the football player was using her to boost his image.

When he got cut from the starting line-up, he had a fit. Sutton remembered how he immediately blamed it on Bethany. She had distracted him and Sutton worried she would think it was true. Bethany, on the other hand, was furious. She called him out for being immature and too full of himself. Their breakup was a big scene, and Sutton was there to soothe her when it was all over.

That red-faced kid could have easily been him. In high school, it was impossible to discern the right moves from the selfish ones, and Sutton knew the only person who could forgive the wrong choices was a close friend. He had promised himself that he would never date Bethany so there would never be a chance of him screwing things up.

“Come to check up on me, Boss?” Bethany greeted him as she cantered by the fence.

Sutton saw that her smile was genuine and grinned back. “I was surprised to see the extra lesson scheduled, that’s all.”

He heard her sweet, musical laugh as she kept riding with the guest. She really did love her job, and Sutton was glad he had insisted she keep it, no matter how awkward things were going to get.

Thoughts of awkwardness made his mind jump right back to their kiss. It was easy to go back to joking about work, even if the boss/employee dynamic was still strained, but how were they going to talk about the kiss?

Sutton kept waiting for her to bring it up. They walked back to the hotel together, shared a table during the employee lunch hour, and she helped him sort out a missing luggage issue later in the day. Over the next few days, they worked side-by-side and were alone dozens of times but she never once mentioned it. He started to think maybe he dreamed it.

What he had not imagined was Penn.

Somehow Penn remained undeterred after the public scene over the engagement rings. A few days later, Sutton walked into the kitchen to find Penn had cornered Bethany for an apology.

“I should have realized you wouldn’t want things to be so public. Silly me for trying the big romantic gesture,” Penn told her.

Bethany shook her head. “That wasn’t romantic. You were trying to force my hand. Literally! You were holding my hand over those rings and trying to make me choose one in front of everyone.”

“Well, I’ll have you know that I chose one and I will surprise you with it when the time is right.”

Bethany was flabbergasted. “You’re not taking ‘no’ for an answer?”

“Your father told me he’ll talk to you. There’s no reason for me to think we still can’t make a fabulous couple.” Penn tried to take her hand, then frowned when she pulled back. “I don’t know why you have to be so childish about this, Bethany. This is all for your benefit.”

Sutton cleared his throat to catch their attention.

Penn just smirked. “Ah, I see your friend has come to find you again. Before I let you go, I have a request for the hotel manager.”

He sauntered up to Sutton and blocked his view of Bethany. “I would like to reserve the dining room for a private party this week.”

Sutton flexed his jaw. He had no reason to reject Penn’s request and, as the hotel manager, it was his duty to accommodate guests whenever he could. He was forced to say, “I’ll check the schedule and let you know which evenings may work.”

Penn laughed softly in Sutton’s face, triumphant. Then he took a very abrupt step backward. Theo, the tallest of the Rolston brothers, loomed over Sutton’s shoulder, and he had no reason whatsoever to accommodate or even tolerate Penn.

“You the brat with all the shiny toys?” Theo asked. He took a step forward and forced Penn back another two. “Bit of advice: you’re the thing a woman’s choosing when you propose. The ring is just a bit of metal and rock.”

Then Theo looked over Penn’s head and greeted Bethany. After that, it was clear that Penn was in the way and Sutton was delighted to see him scurry out of the kitchen. Sometimes it was nice to have big brothers.

Bethany smiled at Theo, then excused herself and went out the other door, leaving Sutton to ask, “and what can I do for you?”

“Would I be able to reserve the dining room for a private party?” Theo asked with a sarcastic smile.

Sutton laughed. “I plan to charge him for it.”

“Make it double,” Theo replied. Then he slapped Sutton on the back and turned him around. “I’ve been gone a while and thought I should take a look at what you’ve done with the place.”

That made Sutton groan. “Can’t you ask Drake? This is half his business too.”

“Drake is busy with his wife and child. Perhaps if you could sort out your problems in the relationship department, I would find you too busy too.”

Sutton braced himself, sure that Theo would bring up the kiss he shared with Bethany, but he was really just interested in a tour of the hotel. They stopped in the front hallway, and Theo marveled at where the ceiling had once been sagging.

“You sure cleaned it up nice after that big storm,” Theo told him.

Unfortunately, all Sutton could see were flaws. “I think this table is too big for the foyer because guests keep having to walk around it.”

In the ballroom, he noticed one of the wall sconces was loose. The dining room linens looked dingy in the bright afternoon sunlight. And the main staircase had developed a new creak.

Sutton pulled out his phone and started making notes of all the things he needed to do before the next big weekend.

“I keep forgetting this hallway needs some kind of art,” Sutton sighed.

Theo arched an eyebrow at him. “I’m sure Bethany could help pick out something nice.”

Sutton eyed him, then assured he wasn’t hinting at the kiss, he shrugged. “I’m glad I have someone who can advise me on style and design stuff. Sure beats asking you or Drake.”

“Or Dean?” Theo asked.

Sutton laughed. “He’d probably just prop up some bulls horns and call it good.”

They both chuckled until they got to the back porch. “This whole side of the hotel really needs landscaping or something, doesn’t it?” Sutton asked.

“What it and I need are for you to take a break,” Theo said. “Are you always this picky about the hotel?”

Sutton sighed. “Topher’s got me convinced he has all A-list guests coming for his big race party and weekend. I have one chance to make the hotel look like somewhere they want to come back to for other stays.”

“This is meant to be a Texas hospitality ranch, not some five-star resort. People come here for the Texas feel,” Theo reminded him. “And the horseback riding.”

“Did you know that Bethany’s father is coming?” Sutton asked.

A look of understanding broke over Theo’s face. “Ah, now I get it. Joseph Grant is going to walk these halls and if they’re not paved with gold, he’ll turn his once up and not like your hotel.”

Sutton had to laugh. “He really has always been a big snob, hasn’t he?”

“I don’t recall our father ever being able to stand him,” Theo said.

Sutton flexed his fingers in frustration. “But I have to, not only for the hotel but for Bethany’s sake.”

Theo frowned. “I don’t like the way Mr. Grant has his daughters all wrapped up in his purse strings. I know he did the best he could for them after their mother died, but riches don’t make up for losing a good parent.”

They both paused for a moment and thought about their own father. Rolston Senior had been a hard driver and a taskmaster, but he had loved his boys. Even after he passed, he insisted that they all work together and be a family. Family came first for the Rolstons, even if it made each and every one of them frown.

Joseph Grant, on the other hand, put fortune first.

Finally, Theo laid a big hand on Sutton’s shoulder. “Look, you leave the Grants of the world up to Topher. He’ll spin the whole thing to perfection. He’ll probably have your guests so wrapped up in his horses, the big race, and that fancy party that they won’t even know they’re in Texas.”

Sutton laughed. “I hope so.” Then he gave Theo a serious look. “Has Topher talked to you lately?”

“Not about anything but jump racing.” Theo laughed and then left Sutton to get back to work.

Instead of heading straight into the huge to-do list he had created, Sutton went in search of Topher. Why was his gossiping brother keeping the kiss a secret? Was he going to spill it when Sutton least expected it? He had to know.

“There you are,” Topher called when Sutton found him in the ballroom. “I’ve found all these historical prints of steeplechases and I’m going to have a printmaker blow them up. Can we change out these paintings during the party?”

“Why haven’t you told everyone that Bethany kissed me?” Sutton burst out.

Topher’s eyes widened along with his grin. “So she kissed you and not the other way around. Brother, that is good news!”

Sutton stopped, shocked. “Wait, why is that good news?”

“Bethany kissed you! You were just talking with Theo and Drake about how you never dated her because you never wanted to lose her. The love was all on your end. Then you turn around and boom! She kisses you. Sounds like there’s love on her end, too,” Topher explained.

Sutton grabbed his arm to quiet him down. “What if someone hears you?”

Topher laughed. “You are really worried everyone’s going to find out?”

“Well, someone interrupted before I could find out what that kiss actually meant, so, yes, I don’t want everyone else to hear about it,” Sutton admitted.

“Sorry I interrupted,” Topher told him.

Sutton let him go. “So, you really haven’t told our brothers? Not even Drake? I know you were over at his ranch this morning.”

“I haven’t told a soul,” Topher said. “But I’m willing to bring it up to Bethany if you need a wingman to find out what’s going on.”

“No, no wingman!” Sutton cried. Then he saw that Topher was teasing and laughed. “Just remember who’s helping you with this crazy idea of yours.”

Topher nodded. “So, you forgive me for bringing the bad news of the Grants’ imminent arrival?”

Sutton sighed. “Guess I’ll have to take the good news with the bad. You really think that kiss was good news?”

“Wait and see,” Topher said with a wide grin. “All we can do is wait and see.”

CHAPTER 16

***BETHANY***

Bethany caught herself daydreaming, leaning against the gentle brown mare in the last stall. She had gotten up early and out to the stables to avoid Sutton even though things were going well. The last few days felt almost back to normal, but Bethany often found her mind wandering.

She refused to let it wander back to that kiss.

Patting the horse, Bethany forced herself back to work. “Just a normal day,” she promised herself and the mare.

The only problem was Bethany didn’t know what normal was anymore. A few months ago, normal had been flying to Beverly Hills just to go shopping. She had spent her weekends on yachts, her mornings at the spa, and every meal was prepared by a Michelin Star chef.

Now normal was waking up at sunrise in order to muck out stalls, groom the horses, and exercise the ones that wouldn’t be participating in lessons. Bethany grabbed her coffee to go and ate her breakfast on the walk to the barn. She’d worn the same two pairs of blue jeans until they were faded and soft. Her hair was ragged and her nails were worse.

Yet, somehow, every time she caught sight of herself in the stable windows or the occasional mirror inside the hotel, Bethany was smiling. And that felt better than always having the latest shade of the best brand of lipstick.

She spent all day comparing and contrasting her two lives, but there wasn’t any competition. Bethany loved working with the horses. She adored teaching guests young and old how to ride. And she couldn’t imagine heading home after a hard day’s work to any place except Sutton’s hotel. She even loved the rustic comfort of her suite and looked forward to soaking in the big bathtub when she could.

That night, however, her thoughts wouldn’t stop spinning, so Bethany resorted to her old bad habits. Late-night talk shows were a great way to drown out her circling thoughts but they just weren’t the same without sweet snacks. Then she remembered the chef had left a pan of brownies in the kitchen for the staff. Hoping there were still some left, Bethany pulled on her robe and sneaked down the hallway.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Sutton joked, his mouth full of brownie.

Bethany froze in the kitchen doorway; he was the last person she was prepared to meet, yet it felt perfectly normal to see him there. The truth hit her harder than her craving for brownies: Sutton was part of her normal. She knew deep down she would look for him every day, even if she was on a private jet over Paris.

“I saved you one,” he said after he had swallowed.

Bethany smiled. “Just one?”

“Well, maybe I can spare another.”

She bustled over to the pan as he greedily scooped up a second brownie and started devouring it. Luckily, the sweet treats kept them from chatting too much, and that felt normal too.

It wasn’t until later, when she was back in her suite, that all sorts of questions she had for Sutton started to haunt her. Was he dreading the upcoming event? Did he get the back gutter fixed like he wanted? Would he be open to an autumn horse camp? What did he think about taking guests on overnight horseback camping trips?

And did he regret letting her stay and work?

Bethany now knew he was bracing himself for the day she would leave. The worst part about that was Sutton had no idea how badly she wanted to stay. And it wasn’t just the horses and the freedom; it was him. The biggest question that kept her awake all night was why did Sutton promise her the job she loved but not say anything about him or their future?

In the morning, Bethany saw Sutton hauling a ladder around the hotel, still needing to fix that gutter. While she brought the horses out to the exercise ring, she watched his progress along the edge of the roof. He worked so hard. Did he know that was one of the things she admired most about him?

She promised herself she would tell him, but then the morning got away from her. A lesson was canceled but she was kept busy trying to fix a water basin two of the horses had upended in the back pasture. By the time she was done, Sutton was gone from the roof and there were only a few minutes left of lunchtime. She rushed into the staff break room, hoping there would still be a sandwich left on the tray the chef left out for employees.

“You’re in luck,” one of the housekeepers told her. “There’s a ham and cheese left.”

“But no brownies,” another employee added.

Bethany smothered her smile and told them thank you. She then settled down by the window to eat quickly. While she ate, it was hard not to overhear the other employees chatting.

“Can you believe how crazy the boss is getting?”

The housekeeper heartily agreed. “He had me clean the east wing two times this week! The second time he told me, I had to focus on all the crazy details a guest might see, like spiderwebs on the curtain rods that can only be seen while lying in bed. I went over each room like I was in CSI or something!”

“I hear he’s losing his mind because some really fancy guests are on their way. I thought the whole appeal of this place was that it’s a ranch, not the Four Seasons!”

“And I like our regular clientele. These trust fund guys have been good tippers but they are totally a pain.”

Their honest conversation echoed in Bethany’s head as she went back to the barn to meet her next lesson. Her new student was a shy young woman who reminded Bethany a lot of herself at that age. She had been on a horse a few times but appreciated the beginner refresher. Then they headed out on the trail. It was an easy, quiet ride and Bethany’s thoughts kept drifting.

Her riding lessons had been a stark contrast to the sun-dappled trail and easy pace. Bethany had worn the proper costume all the way from the stiff, shining boots to the hard, velvet-covered helmet. Her hair had to be tied back with a black ribbon, and she had to carry a riding crop at all times. The lessons took place in a tidy indoor arena where the instructor used a bullhorn to remind her to keep her posture straight.

Despite all the prim and proper expectations of her strict riding lessons, Bethany had felt the freedom of being on horseback. She loved it, and for a while, her father indulged her passion. Then, just when she was working up the courage to ask for a horse of her own, her father put an end to her lessons.

“It’s a childish hobby, Bethany. One that a proper lady outgrows. You should be more interested in selecting your social circle. You’ll be off to boarding school soon,” her father had told her.

“They allow horses at boarding school,” she pointed out.

Her father shook his head. “My dear, we are rich enough to own the horses and stables without ever having to get dirty riding them.”

Horses reminded her father too much of Texas and those early days when he had worked for a living. To him, being on horseback meant you worked a ranch, and he wanted his daughter to grow up as far away from that life as possible.

Bethany swallowed hard, realizing how much her father would hate seeing where she was now. Then she focused on the young woman ahead of her, who was fully allowed to enjoy every moment of her ride.

“You’re a natural, Sadie. I hope you keep riding,” Bethany called to her.

The young woman smiled broadly, her love of horses brightly reflecting Bethany’s own feelings.

Feelings that were quickly extinguished when they returned to the stables and Bethany saw Penn waiting for her. He had decided to laugh off the entire ring incident and was now proceeding with his plan as if nothing had happened.

“Thanks for such a pleasant ride, Sadie,” Bethany told her student. “I can take care of the horses from here. You go join your parents.”

Penn watched them dismount and flashed the young woman his most endearing smile. She blushed and headed up the walk to the hotel, leaving Bethany holding the reins.

“Don’t you have someone to do that for you?” Penn asked.

Bethany raised her chin a notch. It was time she claimed the things she loved. “It’s my job and I don’t mind caring for the horses at all.”

Penn frowned but said, “I don’t mind horses. I even own a few. I just hire people to groom them or whatever.”

“What if the ‘whatever’ is the part I like the most?” Bethany asked him.

“Then you better enjoy it now before we’re married,” Penn said. It wasn’t a mean tone, just another casual example of the privileged control he had over his life and everyone in it. “At least ask that stable hand to help. I want you to join me for a round of golf and then drinks,” Penn whined. He thought he was charming.

Bethany looked him square in the face and said, “I can’t. I’m working.”

“Fine.” Penn waved a dismissive hand. “I know ladies don’t like to change their plans last minute.”

She watched him stalk away and wished it was for the last time, but Penn was becoming more stubbornly convinced he had to have her. Knowing that left a hard pit in her stomach.

Her next visitor was the complete opposite of Penn. Freddie popped into the stables and immediately began helping brush down the horses. The gentle brown mare knickered fondly at her, and Bethany was happy to see someone as in love with horses as herself.

“You’re so nice to help,” Bethany told her.

Freddie laughed. “I can’t help myself. Ever since you taught me to ride, I absolutely love horses. You have the best job.”

Bethany’s smile slipped. “I wish everyone thought that.”

Freddie immediately sensed the direction of her friend’s thoughts. “You’re worried about your father coming and telling you to quit, aren’t you?”

“He wouldn’t even consider it quitting. My father is going to be horrified that I was even here in the first place. He probably thought I was on a cruise or something.”

“And your sister covered for you?” Freddie asked.

Bethany had forgotten that Freddie knew her sister Jane from school way back too. She pulled a face. “You can imagine that Jane had to be bribed to keep my secret.”

“How did that work?” Freddie asked.

“Actually, it was blackmail. I threatened to incinerate her favorite dress if she didn’t stay quiet for a while.”

They both laughed, but then Freddie had to ask, “You knew it wasn’t going to last. Why didn’t you just come clean before?”

Bethany shrugged and went back to brushing her horse. “It wouldn’t matter either way. As soon as my father arrives, he will think he can order me around. He doesn’t seem to understand that I don’t care if he cuts me out of his will or not.”

“Yeah, but his control over you isn’t really about the money, is it?” Freddie said.

Bethany led her horse to the stall, then had to admit Freddie was right. “He lost a lot when my mother died. I was almost too young to notice, but he really struggled. So, I can’t imagine putting him through another loss, no matter how hard he is to live with.”

Freddie led the other horse into its stall. “What I can’t understand is how your father hasn’t noticed how different you are. You’re certainly not like Jane. How come he doesn’t see that you prefer this kind of life?”

Bethany had been thinking about that a lot lately. “I think he can’t imagine it because he hated it so much. He started out here in Isabel with nothing, then he lost my mother. There’s nothing for him to come back here for. He doesn’t have the same memories of this place that I do.”

“Or the same friends like Sutton,” Freddie pointed out.

“And you!” Bethany grinned and walked her friend back to the hotel. “Are you here with Drake?”

“He’s currently complaining to Sutton about the trail improvements Topher wants done.”

Their chatting was interrupted by the hotel’s front clerk coming out to deliver a cream-colored envelope. “Mr. Torrington asked me to give this to you and for me to wait for your response.”

Bethany gave the clerk a sympathetic look. “I hope he tipped you well.”

The young man nodded but kept up the formal etiquette he had been asked to use. She cringed at the servile scene but opened the envelope anyway.

“What does it say?” Freddie asked.

“Oh, great,” Bethany cried. “It’s an invitation to a private dinner in the hotel dining room this week.”

“Well, it could be worse,” Freddie pointed out.

“No, this is the worst. He’s planning to propose,” Bethany confessed. “He is my father’s perfect suitor, and I’m expected to say ‘yes.’”

Freddie looked horrified. “You have to go to that dinner, don’t you?”

Bethany nodded. And the worst part was she didn’t know what else she would have to do. It all depended on how her father twisted her family loyalty and how she felt after he had arrived.

CHAPTER 17

***SUTTON***

Sutton’s stomach clenched when the next delivery arrived. He had decided to upgrade all the toiletries for the hotel rooms, a luxury he never thought he would consider, and now he was surrounded by fancy organic soap, delicately-scented shampoos, and lotions that made promises he didn’t understand. People wanted their skin to be soft and tight at the same time.

All he really knew was that the new orders were expensive.

He took a deep breath and went over his justifications. The barn venue brought in extra revenue. The riding lessons were a popular amenity that many guests had added to their stay. The hotel could afford to upgrade and high-end toiletries would attract more guests.

The battery-operated candles made him groan. Sutton understood guests liked the ambience and he liked the reduced fire hazard, but even he felt his product ordering had gotten out of control. What was he doing?

He blamed the internet for taking him farther and farther into unnecessary but tempting hotel offerings. The candles had come up during a search for robes and Sutton had even gone so far as to pick out chocolates that somehow paired with everything. He gritted his teeth and watched the delivery men bring in the last of the boxes, barely recognizing his own front hallway.

At least the staff seemed to be enjoying the unboxing. They were gathered around as the front desk clerk cut open another box and Sutton could hear the excited exclamations. He scowled at them despite their joy.

Each staff person had a new uniform and his head spun as he thought of that added expense. Sutton had always meant to upgrade his staff to better shirts, but now they had matching vests with a brand-new hotel crest. He had hired a graphic designer and subjected himself to a flurry of emails discussing the new logo that still gave him a headache. The new crest was supposed to embody the strength, elegance, and simplicity of his hospitality ranch.

The thought made him snort out loud. Nothing was simple anymore.

Sutton knew he shouldn’t complain; his hotel was quickly becoming a destination and a full-blown success, but he missed the lazy days of leaning against the front desk and hearing the horses knicker in the far-off stables. He remembered when the hotel was still half-abandoned, faded, and cobweb-infested. He and Bethany had spent countless quiet hours wandering from room to neglected, empty room and Sutton could still hear her dreamy voice as she imagined new ideas.

“So, are we going to talk about this credit card bill or what?” Drake wove his way through the excited unboxing and joined Sutton behind the front desk.

“Where were you a week ago when I ordered all this stuff?” Sutton grouched.

Drake smiled, then raised an eyebrow as he lifted a newly-designed coffee mug from a box. He dangled it on one finger and said, “I noticed you were changing things up but I didn’t think you were going completely off your rocker.”

“And now?” Sutton asked.

“Well, you are clearly a few beans short of a burrito, but the hotel has never looked better,” Drake admitted.

Sutton crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. “I was always going to upgrade the hotel.”

Drake nodded, noticing his brother’s touchy attitude. “And, as your business partner, I approve. I’m just wondering if you’re okay doing it all right now.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Sutton snarled.

“Pressure never sat well with you, and I’m sure Topher has been pushing for things. Maybe Bethany has been making suggestions again?”

Sutton snapped, “leave her out of this.”

Drake raised an eyebrow. “Maybe it’s not her but her family?”

“Bunch of snobs. I never in a million years wanted them to come here,” Sutton muttered. He tried to escape to his office but Drake followed. “They won’t be impressed with any of this anyway, so why am I wasting my time?”

“Because you’re good at your job and you’re turning this place into a total success?” Drake suggested.

Sutton growled and flopped into his desk chair. “Some of the employees have been floating the idea of a gift shop next. Can you imagine? I’m supposed to add selling tee-shirts and cheap cowboy hats to my to-do list?”

Drake checked the label of the coffee mug he still held and gave it an appraising look. “From what I see, I doubt the hats will be cheap.”

“This isn’t how it’s supposed to be!” Sutton burst out. He flung his elbows onto his desk and buried his head in his hands.

Drake dropped into one of the office chairs opposite his brother’s desk. “Are we still talking about the hotel?”

Sutton raised his head and glared at him. “All this must be easy for you, over at your ranch raising and training the horses. You don’t have to deal with the hospitality side of it. Must be nice to sit back and look at the paperwork while I run around and try to make everyone happy.”

“You saying I’m not holding up my end of the deal?” Drake growled back at him.

Sutton sighed, got up, and paced to the window. “I’m just not sure this is what I want anymore.”

Drake stood up and joined him. “It’s been nearly a year. We’ve almost fulfilled the requirements of Father’s will. Our partnership is still functioning and our business venture is definitely showing a profit. Soon you’ll have millions of dollars in your bank account.”

“Then what?” Sutton asked, not cheered by the turn in the conversation.

“Then you can hire a full-time hotel manager and do whatever you want,” Drake pointed out.

“I don’t know what I want.”

Outside the window, a couple appeared on the walkway. Sutton had recently hired a landscaping artist to add gardens, so they wove around past the new, Texas-hardy plantings. As they came closer, Sutton saw it was Bethany and Penn.

She walked primly, keeping a good distance between her and her would-be suitor, but every now and then, she turned to him and smiled. Penn was animated, his hands moving as he told some sort of entertaining story. When she tipped her head back and laughed, Sutton felt his stomach tie in knots.

“I didn’t know they were getting along again,” Drake said quietly.

Sutton turned away from the window. “Sounds like their families have a lot in common,” he muttered.

He knew Bethany was conflicted. He had known his friend long enough to tell when she was struggling with a big decision. What killed him was the idea there was still a decision to make. Penn was pushy but he also understood Bethany’s life. Outside her escapist job at the hotel, Penn was the one who knew how to fly in private jets, dress for country club events, and order the best of the best in the fanciest of restaurants. It was a whole other world that Sutton didn’t understand or even care to explore, but it was Bethany’s world.

Sutton now knew that she loved the hotel and her job, but was it enough? Bethany also loved her family, as flawed as they were, and she had always struck a precarious balance in order to please them. Why would now be any different?

He barely heard Drake excuse himself as his thoughts spun. The truth was he had dug up all Bethany’s original suggestions and made all the upgrades on her past advice. Sutton was trying to impress her with everything he did, but what did it matter? If she didn’t know what she wanted, then he had no idea what to do.

So, he focused on work.

It took a few days to unpack all the new luxury touches and distribute them around the hotel. Guests were very pleased, and the comment cards all sung the praises of the hotel upgrades. The staff looked sharp in their new uniforms, and Sutton had noticed they had leveled up their service to match. He had even started wearing the new wardrobe he had secretly bought and now wore dark jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a sports jacket on a daily basis.

Sutton was glad he had refused the tie as he tugged at his shirt collar. Most days, he only managed to keep the sport coat on for an hour before it got too hot. By mid-morning, he had his shirtsleeves rolled up and was back to handling all the odd fixes and last-minute jobs the hotel needed.

That morning he was glad he had endured the sports coat a while longer because he finally saw Bethany. She had obviously rushed back to her suite in-between lessons to grab something she needed and was now coming down the hallway in a flurry. He happened to be at the end of the hall, placing a huge vase of fresh-cut flowers on the sideboard. The expensive flower arrangements were a new touch Sutton was trying but was not at all sure he could stand. The scent tickled his nose and he could feel a sneeze brewing.

“Wow, what are you wearing?” Bethany called out as she approached.

He frowned. “You don’t like it?”

Bethany laughed. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Sutton set the flowers down with a thunk. “Hello, I’m the owner of this establishment. And you are?”

“Running out to meet another lesson,” she said.

“Here, take one of these with you.” Sutton tugged a bright, ruffled flower from the arrangement and held it out to her.

“Really?” Bethany’s tone was not at all pleased. “We haven’t said so much as ‘howdy’ in days and now you’re in a sports coat trying to hand me flowers?”

Sutton shoved the flower back in the vase. “Guess not.”

So, nothing he did would impress her. Sutton turned to leave; he had nothing else to say. Bethany was making it clear she didn’t want anything from him. He started to remember how their friendship had always been on her terms, she was always the one to come and go, and the thought quickened his angry steps.

He ditched the sports coat for the white flannel work shirts he preferred and kept his sleeves rolled up all day. At least some part of his hotel would still represent an actual Texas ranch. Sutton even managed to keep Bethany out of his thoughts all the way until that evening.

“What’s with all the grills and tables?” he asked his staff as he discovered the gathering on the front lawn.

“For the cook-out tomorrow night,” someone told him.

“Cook-out?” Sutton stared blankly. “Did I know about this?”

The chef appeared and explained, “It’s the easiest way to feed all the guests while the dining room is being used.”

Sutton frowned, “And why is the dining room being used for something besides feeding all the guests?”

“Mr. Torrington requested the space for a private dinner tomorrow night,” the chef told him.

“And who’s preparing this private dinner?” Sutton asked.

The chef puffed up his chest. “I’ve been asked to prepare a special menu. It’s a great chance for me to impress one of our best guests.”

Best guests? Sutton tried hard not to hate Penn anymore than he already did.

“Don’t worry, my sou-chef and team will handle the cook-out,” the chef assured him. “The guests are excited for it, I hear.”

“Good. Great. Thanks,” Sutton muttered as he strode away.

It was great for the hotel. Penn’s opinion mattered to Topher’s group of jet-setting A-listers, and word would certainly get around that his hotel had wonderful accommodations. But, Sutton’s head spun as he thought about what the private dinner meant: Penn was planning to propose to Bethany.

Bethany was right, they had not talked in days, and he had no idea how she felt about anything. Why hadn’t his friend come to him with any of this? Was she bracing for another big scene or was she excited about the prospect?

Sutton headed straight for his office, hoping to shut the door and gather his thoughts, but a delivery person stopped him in the front hall. “Excuse me, I was asked to deliver this to a Ms. Grant but she is not available. Could you please sign for it and see that she gets it?”

“What is it?” Sutton eyed the large, flat box.

“Her dress. Shipped straight from Gucci.”

Sutton managed to flag down one of the front desk clerks to deal with the dress delivery—Bethany had ordered a haute couture dress for her dinner with Penn?! Then he spun on his boots and headed straight to the barn, not to speak with Bethany but to escape the hotel completely.

“Get my saddle and bring it to the back paddock,” Sutton barked at the stable hand as he strode up the walkway to the barn.

Bethany rode over from the practice ring when she heard his loud tones, but he couldn’t even look at her. Instead, Sutton sprung over the fence into the paddock where he kept his own horse. He hauled the saddle the stable hand had brought over the fence, then quickly prepared his mount.

“Is everything okay? Sutton?” Bethany called.

He swung into his saddle and spun his high-spirited horse around. “Your dress arrived,” he snapped.

Then he spurred the horse for the back fence without a backward glance. Sutton kicked open the gate from his saddle and took his horse on a hard ride until he had made it a few miles away from the hotel. From there, when he looked back, he could see it as the old ranch it had once been. He reined in his horse and took in the entire vista.

From that distance, the hotel was just a large ranch house and the riding rings and barn venue were just a set of stables. Sutton finally started to breathe again as he took in a simpler view of his land and his life. Drake would understand if he scrapped the whole thing. After they inherited, Sutton would be able to do anything he liked with the land. He could kick everyone out and live on it like a lone cowboy if he wanted.

The only problem was that the longer Sutton looked, the more he squinted to see the things he liked: the front porch with smiling guests in Adirondack chairs, the wide-open front doors that welcomed everyone in, the lines of guests on horseback heading out onto the trails.

Sutton took a deep breath and realized he loved running the hospitality ranch.

So, why was he so upset?

He shut his eyes and let himself finally feel it: the only person in the world he wanted to run the ranch with was about to have dinner with another man, a dinner that might take her away from him forever.

CHAPTER 18

***BETHANY***

Bethany kept an eye on the nervous rider, relieved when the young man finally found his seat. He got brave enough to take the horse for a walk around the ring himself, and she was finally able to see where Sutton was heading. It had been a long time since she had seen him on horseback, much less riding as if he didn’t plan on returning.

She swallowed hard. What if Sutton didn’t come back?

He, of all people, deserved a break, and his hotel staff could try to handle things in his absence. Most hotels that Bethany had stayed in had managers, and Sutton would not be the first hotel owner to relinquish the day-to-day jobs to other people. The more she thought about all the extra time and effort he put into the hotel, the worse Bethany started to feel. Her best friend was stressing himself out, and for what? Was the hotel really what Sutton wanted out of life?

The young rider asked if he could steer his horse around the ring again and Bethany encouraged him to do so. Then, she squinted towards the horizon where she had last seen Sutton. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest as she scanned and could not find him. How could she lose sight of him?

Bethany was polite but glad when the lesson was over and she was able to send the young guest back to the hotel. She was about to turn around and ride after Sutton when Drake showed up in the stables.

“Have you heard anything from your brother?” she asked him immediately.

“Which one?” Drake was clearly in a foul mood. He had his own horse in tow and was clutching a hastily hand-drawn map. “The brat that drew this crazy race trail and then ditched me? Or the one that’s been spending money like a madman in anticipation of this big event?”

“Sutton took off earlier; he looked upset,” Bethany told him.

Drake was no help. “I’d be upset if I was him too. How would you feel if you bent over backward to turn your own ranch into a paradise for the kind of people you don’t even really like?”

Bethany blinked. “Is that really how he feels?”

“You know him, Bethany,” Drake shot her a look. “Has he seemed like himself lately?”

She remembered running into Sutton in the hallway and again regretted teasing him about the sports coat he was wearing. He had looked so handsome, it had thrown her off and, in her nervousness, she had made a joke. Then he tried handing her a flower, not understanding how sick she was of cliche gestures because of Penn’s incessant insincerities.

“Don’t let Drake get you down,” Freddie called from the door. She led her own snow-white horse into the stables to join her husband. “He’s just cranky because we have to go survey the trail. There’s apparently a lot of work to do in order to make it challenging enough for Topher’s racers.”

“Do you need an extra hand?” Bethany offered right away. She was starting to worry that she was no help around the hospitality ranch at all.

Freddie smiled but shook her head. “Don’t tell Drake, but I’m looking forward to a romantic ride with my husband.”

Drake grumbled but looked pleased. “We’d better get going. It may take all afternoon to figure out this map.”

“If you happen to run into Sutton out there, will you tell him I’m looking for him?” Bethany asked, trying hard to keep the tinge of worry out of her voice.

“Speaking of Sutton,” Freddie remembered, “the front clerk asked me to let you know your dress has arrived. Super fancy from Gucci? Apparently, Sutton signed for it.”

Bethany groaned. “Penn ordered me a dress.”

“Is that so terrible?” Drake asked.

Freddie shot him a look. “Would you be looking forward to an awkward private dinner with Penn Torrington?”

Drake shook his head. “That man is the reason I refuse to give Teddy a trust fund. Some people have entirely too much privilege.”

They wished Bethany good luck, mounted their horses, and headed out on the trail. She didn’t know what direction to turn. Alone in the stables for a moment, Bethany wrung her hands together.

“He thinks I ordered a dress for tonight,” she worried to herself. “He’s going to think I actually want to sit down with Penn. This is awful!”

Her horse snuffled her agreement and helped Bethany decide what to do. She was still ready to ride, and she would go out and find Sutton herself. Even if he refused to talk to her, she would explain the mix-up with the dress. She would tell him that she dreaded the dinner with Penn.

Bethany reined her horse in. Could she really tell Sutton she thought Penn was going to propose? Even the idea of it had thrown him into a bad mood, but now the prospect was real. She wasn’t sure she could stand the look of distrust on her friend’s face. Somehow, Sutton still believed there was a chance she would say yes and leave with Penn. The thought turned her stomach.

Not knowing what she was going to say, but knowing she had to do something, Bethany rode out in the direction she had seen Sutton take. It felt great to be out of the well-maintained riding ring and off the beaten path. Past the back fence, it was all wild Texas scrubland, and the riding was exhilarating. For a moment, she enjoyed it, remembering how much she had loved learning to jump and race horses through obstacles.

Then she met Sutton riding in the opposite direction. He frowned at her, slowed his pace, but did not wait for her to turn around. Bethany wheeled her horse around and cantered to catch up with him.

“I was worried you were heading off to camp in the canyons like Hetty did,” she told him as they rode side-by-side.

“Not a bad idea,” he said in a clipped tone.

Bethany tried again. “I’d much rather do that than dress up for dinner. Can you believe Penn ordered a dress for me? Such a misogynistic move.”

“I’m sure you’ll look nice in it,” Sutton replied, stone-faced.

“It’s the hotel that looks great. I haven’t had a chance to tell you how wonderful it’s looking. I mean, I loved it before, but now the guests are raving about every little thing. I bet that feels good, doesn’t it?” She was babbling but couldn’t stop herself. “My favorite thing is the new crest. It reminds me of the little monogram you carved into that tree in my old backyard. Remember? Back when we thought we were going to have the best secret club around but then no one came? It was just the two of us.”

Sutton refused to look at her. “Do you need something, Bethany?”

She took a few short breaths. “No. I just wanted to check in with you.”

He wasn’t up for reminiscing or for talking about the hotel, and Bethany had to respect that. She was dying to know what had driven him out and what was making him head back so calmly, but he wasn’t in the mood to talk to her at all.

At least he had heard her about the mix-up with the dress. Bethany had to comfort herself with that because in the next moment, Sutton spotted his brother. He rode off to join Drake and Freddie, calling his goodbye over his shoulder.

“Enjoy your fancy dinner tonight.”

There was no chance of that, Bethany thought as she watched him ride away. She wished she could join him, imagining the fun they would all have if things were different. If Sutton wasn’t her boss, if she wasn’t being pursued by Penn, and if Bethany’s other life wasn’t creeping in to ruin everything, maybe life would be good.

She thought about that as she returned to the stables. Sutton wasn’t a bad boss but it had strained their friendship. If their friendship wasn’t strained, then maybe he could laugh about Penn’s pursuit and help her get out of it. If she could get out of the awkward expectations with Penn and her family, Bethany knew she would have a fighting chance of finding the life she really wanted.

Except those were all “ifs” and the reality was her alone in her hotel room getting dressed up for a dinner she dreaded.

She refused to open the fancy dress box until after she had showered. It was like Bethany was washing away everything she had come to love: the horses, the ranch, the look on Sutton’s face. When she stepped out of the shower, the suite was in a haze of steam, and it felt like another place entirely.

It was hard not to feel herself slipping into that other world as she zipped herself into the perfect little black Gucci dress. Bethany hadn’t done her makeup in weeks and now hardly recognized herself in the mirror. She smoothed her hair into a tight, shiny bun and felt as if the other her had disappeared completely. Fitting into high heels instead of cowboy boots was painful because now the transformation was complete. Bethany glanced at herself in the mirror again and saw Ms. Grant.

Ms. Grant, Jane’s younger sister, her father’s darling. The shy one who always accompanied her family and hardly ever said a word. The pretty picture that completed her father’s vision of good fortune. The dutiful daughter that would marry well and continue on pleasing everyone around her even if it left her with no personality at all.

She dabbed at her mascara before it could run, then put on a pale shade of lipstick to offset her frown. Where was Sutton now?

A few hours had gone by as she lingered over getting ready. Every minute she had dragged out just in case Sutton would make it back from his ride and decide to come find her. Bethany knew that Penn would be waiting for her soon, but she decided to be fashionably late. Maybe she could run into Sutton in the hallway.

What would she say?

Bethany considered herself in the mirror again. Now she in no way looked like a woman capable of helping Sutton out on the ranch. She was really only suited to museum charity events, debutante balls, or dinner parties hosted by famous dignitaries. Bethany knew no one believed she belonged in Isabel, much less on a ranch, and they would never believe that was exactly what she wanted. Especially if they saw her now.

She couldn’t force herself to leave her suite and stood just inside the door, her heels stuck into the plush carpet. How could she face the horrible farce of a dinner? Penn only knew the surface of this Bethany, the dolled-up debutante, and he was really only looking for an image. How could she submit herself to that?

On the other hand, Bethany was too polite to be able to stand him up. She had to face the invitation she had been forced to accept. With a deep breath she reached for the door and almost shrieked when a knock surprised her.

“Sutton?” she whispered, too hopeful to speak.

The door handle rattled and Penn called out. “Come out, come out, wherever you are! I thought I would be a true gentleman and escort my lady to dinner.”

Bethany cringed but opened the door.

Penn looked every inch a Prince Charming. His shoes were so shiny they reflected the hallway lights, his suit was impeccable without a speck of lint, and his tie was perfect. Not only that, but he was tall, handsome, broad-shouldered, and gifted with a dreamy, hypnotic pair of eyes. The only thing that offset the picture of a perfect suitor was the odd screw to the corner of his smile.

He was irritated that his date was late but determined to play it off like nothing was wrong. How could anything be wrong when this is what he had decided he wanted?

Bethany took his offered arm and tried not to scan up and down the hallways for Sutton. Penn led her to the dining room and she discovered he had reserved the entire room for just them. All the other tables and chairs had been moved and one linen-covered table was placed directly in front of the fireplace. Candles lit the entire mantle and flowers scented the hearth. It was beautiful and romantic, and Bethany wished she could have been anywhere else.

“Where are all the other guests eating?” she asked.

Penn sniffed, not really caring. “I think they are having some sort of cook-out or something. We, on the other hand, are having seafood I had flown in this afternoon.”

Three servers appeared, and Bethany blushed when she recognized the staff members she had chatted with frequently over breakfast. One delivered delicate salads, another placed a caviar tray on the table, and the third poured champagne. She had no choice but to clink her crystal glass against Penn’s and fake a smile.

“And how is everything tonight?” Sutton appeared in the doorway and stalked across the empty space to their table. “As owner of the hotel, I thought it my privilege to check on you myself.”

Penn’s smile puckered but he nodded. “Everything is fine so far.”

Bethany was afraid to meet Sutton’s eyes but she was glad when she finally did. He winked.

“I’m certain your carefully chosen menu will be delicious, but you are also welcome to partake in our Texas barbecue if you are so inclined,” he told them.

Sutton was making no move to leave and his imitation of an innocent smile was causing a bubble of laughter to form in Bethany’s stomach. Her friend was back, and he was making sure she knew what he thought of this nonsense.

“I do love Texas barbecue. Have you ever had it, Penn?” she said, letting Sutton know she also thought the entire scene was ridiculous.

Penn shook his head slightly while sipping his champagne. “Thanks so much,” he said. “Here, darling, let me get you some caviar.”

Sutton gave a sharp bow, rolled his eyes so only Bethany could see, then disappeared into the kitchen. She accepted the tiny plate of delicacies from Penn and wished desperately she could run outside and join the cook-out.

“Now that we are finally alone,” Penn said. “How about we discuss our upcoming nuptials.”

“I didn’t know you had proposed and I said yes,” Bethany said, raising her chin.

He frowned at her. “It’s what your father wants, and I think you underestimate what a great connection it will be for us. We’ll be a power couple all around, even global if you like. Together we’ll have it all.”

“And love?” Bethany couldn’t help but ask.

Penn gave a long, drawn-out sigh. “Really? So childish. My parents had an agreed-upon marriage and it has served our family well. Your sister had no trouble finding a good match, even after her disastrous attempt at ‘love.’ You should know by now that fantasy has no place in the real world, but money certainly does.”

“I won’t marry you, Penn. Not now, not ever, not for my family or for your fortune.” Bethany put down her champagne glass and stood up.

He stood up too, his voice rising as he told her how wrong she was. “Luckily, your father will be here to straighten all this out soon.”

Penn pressed his perfect tie straight again, then stalked out of the dining room, leaving her standing alone. For a moment, Bethany was fine, feeling brave and free, then the reality of what she had done came crashing down on her.

She needed her friend; she needed a shoulder to cry on. “Sutton?” she called out.

“Right here,” he said, appearing from the kitchen and gathering her into his arms. “I heard everything.”

The tears spilled over. “I tried, but he won’t take no for an answer. What am I going to do?”

Sutton hugged her tighter. “We’ll think of something.”

Bethany liked hearing “we,” though the relief of it opened the floodgates for more tears. Luckily she had her best friend to lean on as she cried.

CHAPTER 19

***SUTTON***

Sutton slept great that night and only felt slightly guilty that his friend’s dramatic evening had ended so badly. He knew it was for the best; after all, it had brought him and Bethany back to being friends, so he didn’t think twice about it. In fact, Sutton didn’t think about the incident again and went about his work happily all day.

Until he overheard Penn berating the front desk staff.

Sutton did feel guilty about leaving his staff to deal with the overly demanding guest, but he reasoned he would only make things worse. Instead, Sutton slipped out the back door and headed straight for the stables. He hadn’t seen Bethany all day but assumed she wouldn’t be able to stay locked in her suite all day. The horses were the first place she would go.

Except the stable hand had not seen her all day. Her lessons had been canceled early that morning and the guests fully refunded. No one had seen Bethany around the barns all day.

Sutton didn’t panic until he saw her favorite horse was not in its stall. He checked and her saddle was gone. Bethany must have ridden out early and not told a soul, including him. His heart dropped.

He was rushing back to the hotel when Theo blocked his way. “Not now,” he growled at his older brother, trying to step around him.

“Fine. I’ll tell you later how Bethany is doing okay,” Theo turned around and started walking back towards the hotel.

Now it was Sutton who blocked his way. “How do you know that? You know where she is?”

Theo gazed off over Sutton’s head with a faux wise look on his face. “Women need their space; you really shouldn’t intrude on their solitude.”

Sutton squeezed his hands into fists. “Where is she, Theo?”

“I just overheard the staff telling me about a crazy mess in the dining hall last night. Who wastes caviar? That’s what I want to know,” Theo said.

“Penn Torrington can waste all the caviar he wants and not care one bit.”

Theo arched an eyebrow. “I heard he cared a lot after dinner did not go as planned. What did you hear?”

Sutton sighed, knowing his brother wouldn’t relent. “I heard that Penn was pressuring Bethany into a loveless marriage, something about a financial and family deal her father made with the Torringtons. Bethany said no.”

“That’s why she’s so upset?” Theo looked understandably confused.

“Penn can’t believe she would say no. He’s probably never heard the word in his life. Bethany’s worried her father is going to get involved and they’ll somehow trap her into the deal anyway.”

“This is the 21st century, right?” Theo clearly did not like what he was hearing. He relented and told Sutton what he knew. “Hetty loaned Bethany her old trailer at Thirsty River.”

Theo offered him a ride, but Sutton had a better idea. “She rode over, so I’ll saddle up too. That way she won’t have to ride back alone,” he told his brother.

A half an hour later, he rode his horse up the hill in the back of Hetty’s ranch house and found the little Airstream trailer propped in front of a glorious view. Bethany was there, curled into an old lawn chair with a blanket tucked around her. She did not look too surprised when Sutton rode up, dismounted, and tied his horse up next to hers.

“So your brother tattled on me?” she asked Sutton.

“I twisted his arm,” Sutton said. He found another lawn chair and unfolded it next to Bethany. “Not a bad place to escape.”

They both looked at the long and wide Texas view, then Bethany sighed. “He was so sure I was the one making a mistake, like I couldn’t possibly answer for myself. I just couldn’t face him today.”

Sutton continued to gaze at the horizon. “I’m just glad you didn’t fly back to your family yet.”

Bethany’s eyes widened. “Do you really think they would take my side?”

“I think they should, and I believe they will,” Sutton said, “eventually.”

That made her scoff. Then she got up, opened a cooler by the trailer’s steps, and picked out light beers. She handed one to Sutton and sat back down, smiling as the sun was beginning to set.

“Well, this will go straight to my head,” Sutton joked.

Bethany laughed. “You know I’m not much of a drinker. Diego bought it for me when he heard why I was hiding out.”

Diego Gutman was Hetty’s ranch manager, a kind and practical soul that had a soft spot for independent women. He considered Hetty as close as family, and her friends were an easy extension of that sentiment.

Sutton sipped the watery beer and switched his stare from the landscape to Bethany herself. “You know, I’m surprised how well this place suits you. No, really, you look more comfortable here than you have the entire time you’ve been back in Isabel.”

Bethany leaned back in her lawn chair and gave the trailer and its impressive view a loving look. “I could get used to this. The trailer has everything I need, there’s plenty of space for my horse, and it’s so peaceful.”

“No one really tells someone in a trailer what to do because they can always pull up stakes and move on,” Sutton said.

That made her smile widen. “How great would that be? Total freedom.”

Sutton smiled too, then he leaned forward, “Yeah, but what about the food? You got a chef stashed away in that trailer?”

Bethany jumped up again and opened the trailer’s tiny door. Sutton could see her in the little kitchenette, reaching into the mini-fridge. She pulled out a small tray and hopped back down the trailer’s steps and showed him the rack of ribs.

“I was in the mood for a little Texas barbecue,” she said.

“Then, by all means, fire up the smoker.” Sutton kicked his feet up on her vacant chair and grinned at her.

Bethany seemed delighted with the challenge and tackled the charcoal grill all by herself. They chatted about old times, the weather, horses, and anything easy that suited the mellow sunset hues around them while the coals heated up. Then Bethany popped back into the trailer to make a small tossed salad, grab a bag of chips, and come back with plates.

Sutton hopped up to hold the door open for her. “Better grab a whole roll of paper towels too, because I like a lot of sauce.”

Diego had also provided the barbecue sauce, and it had them both sweating, but everything tasted better out there in the fresh air. The sunset was unfolding in front of them like a giant cactus blossom, and there were already stars winking in the approaching night-blue sky.

They decided to have one more beer to wash the spices down, and Sutton sipped his very slowly. He didn’t want the evening to end. “I don’t want to go back to being the boss again tomorrow,” he admitted.

“You mean my boss?” Bethany asked.

Sutton laughed. “It’s not that bad.”

She shook her head. “I’m serious, Sutton. I don’t think I can handle you being my boss anymore. I need you as my friend.”

He sat back in his lawn chair and wondered about that. If Bethany didn’t work at the hotel, would she leave? He knew he couldn’t live with that, but what could he do? Suddenly, inspiration struck. He sat forward and clinked his beer bottle against Bethany’s with a wide grin.

“Fine, I’m not your boss anymore,” he agreed.

Bethany’s eyes widened with hurt. “You’re firing me?”

He caught her bottle before it crashed to the ground and set both bottles aside. “Calm down, just hear me out.”

“You don’t understand, Sutton. I can’t believe you don’t understand! How can I convince you that I love it here? I don’t want to leave! If I had my choice, I could happily live in a trailer like this and spend every day teaching horseback riding lessons. I don’t need fancy clothes or country clubs or manicures or box seats. I just want to be happy, but everyone has a different idea of what my happy should be, and no one is listening to me!”

Sutton slipped out of his chair and knelt on the ground in front of her. “You have to hear me out!”

She was wild-eyed and breathing hard, like a horse about to bolt, but she met his gaze and slowly calmed down. “Tell me,” she finally managed to say in a quiet voice.

“You should be an independent contractor,” Sutton told her. He squeezed her fingers. “I outsource the riding lessons to you, and you give me a small percentage of your profits. The scheduling, teaching, and customer feedback are all up to you.”

“And you provide the horses, the facilities, the equipment, and—”

He interrupted her worries, “All of which would sit unused if it wasn’t for you. This is equally advantageous.”

“Equal.” The word pleased her.

Sutton looked up at her. “What do you think? You’d have to go into business for yourself. It’ll be a lot of work.”

Bethany jumped forward out of her chair and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. “You’re the best!”

“So, you like the idea?” he asked, his voice muffled by her platinum hair.

“I love it!” Bethany sat back and pressed her hands to her face as if trying to contain the joy that was clearly overtaking her expression.

Sutton forced himself to move back into his lawn chair. Bethany’s joy was magnetic and he felt so drawn to her he could hardly keep from reaching out.

He hesitated, but someone had to say it. “I can help you be independent in your working life, but I can’t do anything about independence from your family.”

Her smile faded but did not disappear. Instead, Bethany leaned back in her lawn chair and gestured at the wide Texas sky. “I can’t go back to that life when there is this. You don’t see this in any fancy restaurant or five-star hotel. And those stars are worth more than any diamonds to me.”

Sutton couldn’t take his eyes off her shining happiness, even when he mentioned, “After a few nights in the trailer, you may be willing to trade it all for a good mattress.”

Bethany laughed. “I’m serious, Sutton. I don’t want to live where I can’t work in a stable, join cookouts, see the stars, or be with my friends.”

“You know the majority of Texas would trade places with you in a heartbeat,” he pointed out.

“I know,” Bethany turned to him, serious again. “My family’s money would mean freedom to a lot of people, but it’s just smothering me. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t live like that. It doesn’t actually feel like living to me!”

Sutton didn’t want to ruin the mood, but he had to push her. He had to know just how serious she was about staying. “It’s your family, though, Bethany. He’s the only father you’ve got and you’ve been through so much together. And he is the most persuasive man any of us have met.”

“I know, but I have to do this, Sutton.”

“And what about Jane?”

Bethany paused, a pained look flashing over her face. “Jane has always wanted different things. She’s always wanted me to be a different person. Sometimes I was able to do it just because I wanted to be with her, but it was all an act eventually. She doesn’t deserve someone who just pretends to enjoy life the way she does.”

“And you deserve to enjoy life your own way,” Sutton agreed. “But what if she decides that means you’ll never see each other again?”

That was painful, and he felt like a monster for bringing it up, but Jane was notoriously selfish and he was afraid she would cut Bethany off for not doing what she wanted.

“We will. It may take a long time, but we’re family, and they won’t be able to forget that either,” Bethany said.

They both sat back for a moment and watched the emerging stars. There were coyote calls in the distance and the shift and sigh of their horses, but other than that, the night was quiet. Sutton tossed Bethany the blanket and she wrapped herself up, but he felt as if his whole body was on fire. He was burning to be as brave and sure as Bethany had become.

The time wasn’t right. She was on the verge of a major life change. She still had Penn and his persistence to deal with. They were both busy at the hotel, and Sutton had completely forgotten about Topher’s crazy party and race! Still, Sutton could feel the words flaring inside him and he couldn’t keep them down.

“Can I tell you one more thing?” he asked Bethany.

“No, you can’t spend the night. Even if you’re scared to ride home in the dark. You should have thought about that before you rode over here,” Bethany teased him.

He chuckled but was suddenly breathless. “No, I’ll head out and give you your space. It’s just that I’ll kick myself all night long if I don’t tell you the absolute truth.”

She turned to him with a worried look. “You should always tell me the truth. That’s what friends do.”

Sutton shook his head. “That’s just it, Bethany. I don’t want to be friends anymore. I love you. I think I’ve always loved you, and I want you to know that feeling keeps growing every day.”

Her mouth dropped open and then formed into a wordless circle of shock. Then she pinched her lips closed and worried at them with her teeth, trying to think of something to say.

He jumped up and waved both hands at her. “No, stop. You don’t have to say anything. You just had to know the truth. I love you, Bethany Grant.”

With that, he turned to his horse, untied it, swung up into his saddle, and rode away into the deepening darkness.

CHAPTER 20

***BETHANY***

Bethany watched the road below long after Sutton disappeared. When she blinked she could still see the shining look in his eyes. He loved her. The echo of those words made her feel dizzy and she was thankful for the lawn chair holding her up. She could have melted right into the Texas topsoil.

Why did his present confession of love keep reminding her of high school?

She tucked the blanket tighter around her as she remembered. Junior year, months after a messy breakup in her world, Bethany had realized her feelings for Sutton were stronger than friendship. She could depend on him for everything from a ride to cheerleading practice to heartfelt advice on college plans. There was no escaping the fact that he was tall, handsome, and always there for her.

Maybe the weather was the same, she reasoned, as the clear Texas night spread over her. It had been dusk when Sutton dropped her off at her childhood home, and her heart hopped with the desire to tell him she loved him. They were so young! Bethany remembered her fingertips tingled with fear and excitement, and she was breathless trying to work up the courage.

She never told him. The time was wrong. She worried too much what he would say in return. So, Bethany had never told him that night, and the urge was forgotten in all the swirling drama and hormones of high school. She realized soon after she was happier to have his friendship, and that is how it had stayed.

Now, Bethany marveled at the courage Sutton had summoned that night. It was much harder to say those words as an adult when everything felt like it had added weight. It wasn’t just an emotion anymore; it was a commitment, a life change, and a huge risk.

The risky part of love started to worry Bethany. Why did Sutton love her now? Was it because he was worried he would lose her? Was it because he couldn’t stand the idea of Penn having something he didn’t?

She was so used to looking suspiciously at other people’s motivations. It came from hearing her father talk about their family fortune. Everyone wanted something; he certainly did. None of his friendships, acquaintances, or even casual connections were without something to gain. Joseph Grant always had an angle, and he had taught his daughters early on that most people who befriended them or pursued them most likely did it for the money.

But Sutton wasn’t after money or status.

So, why was she so afraid? Bethany snuggled deeper into the blanket and blinked up at the bright stars. She was relieved Sutton had left without asking for a response. She needed the time to think and it warmed her heart that he had considered that need. Spending the night in the quiet trailer would let Bethany think about what she wanted and what was ahead of her.

The biggest thing she needed to face was her family. With Sutton or not, Bethany was about to throw their lifestyle away and try for something completely different. Her father and Jane would never approve.

She sat up suddenly and whispered her worry, “What if they blame Sutton?”

Part of her feared for the problems that would cause him, while the other was insulted. This was her decision and Bethany wasn’t about to let that be overshadowed by anyone, not even Sutton. This was her life! In defiance, she threw off the blanket and built herself a small fire. The night was darker, but soon, the friendly glow made her think she could figure anything out.

Could she really handle the huge lifestyle change?

The last few weeks had been glorious but they had also felt like a drawn-out summer vacation. Isabel was her hometown but it was also an escape from the life she had been leading since she graduated from high school. A vacation that she never wanted to end. Bethany looked at the crackling fire she herself had lit, her horse secure near the cozy trailer, and the whole wide sky above her. It was dark and quiet, and she was alone but instead of being afraid or longing for silk sheets, Bethany was exhilarated. She finally felt alive and there was no going back now.

She stayed up late, thinking over every detail of the life she loved: her days filled with tasks and guests and horseback riding and her evenings exhausted but satisfied with work well done. Finally, she put out the fire and curled up to sleep in the small trailer, reveling in her independence.

So what if she woke up in the morning longing for a cappuccino. The day was bright and instead of lounging in bed wondering how boring her social schedule would be that day, Bethany sat up excited to get back to work. Her neck was stiff from the lumpy pillow she had made from her own sweatshirt and her legs were cramped from the small trailer bed, but she was still certain that her day would be good.

A real toilet would be nice, Bethany reasoned as she got ready. Running water would also be a necessity. How did Hetty do it for all those years?

“Slow down, Bethany. You don’t have to go from one extreme to the other,” she joked with herself.

The trailer was off-grid and a challenge, the perfect escape for the night, but it got Bethany thinking about how she was going to live on her own. Her stomach still fizzed with excitement every time she thought of Sutton, but there were practical things she needed to consider. Nothing could ruin a new love faster than too much dependence. How could she explore the feelings between them while trying to figure out where to live and how to feed herself?

Her stay at the hotel was all part of her employment there, but Bethany knew as an independent contractor, she should really make other arrangements. An off-grid trailer might not work, but there had to be something in between.

“So, how did the little tin can suit you?” Hetty called out. She hiked up the hill with a large Thermos of coffee and two mugs. “I gotta admit I’m surprised you stayed in it all night.”

Bethany smiled but shot her friend a sad look. “You really didn’t think I could survive out here for one night?”

Hetty sat down in a lawn chair and poured Bethany a coffee. “Now that you’ve seen how I was living, why don’t you tell me about your life. A little compare and contrast.”

She asked it with such open curiosity that Bethany couldn’t resist. “I think maybe four of this trailer could fit in my bedroom. I have a queen-sized bed with a canopy higher than the skylight on top of your tin can. And I slept on Egyptian cotton sheets. Air conditioning, of course, and an electric fireplace just in case I wanted the ambience.”

Hetty smiled dreamily but said, “Nah, nothing beats a campfire.”

“I agree,” Bethany said, then sighed, “but I miss my bathroom with the huge, sunken bathtub and the rain shower head. It even had stained glass windows, oh, and the floor tiles were heated so my bare toes wouldn’t get cold in the mornings.”

Hetty laughed and held out the Thermos. “And a butler that brought you coffee?”

Bethany blushed. “A maid, and it was a cappuccino.”

“Is it all right if I think you’re crazy for giving all that up?” Hetty asked.

“As long as it’s all right that I think it’s nuts you lived in this trailer for so long,” Bethany shot back. Both women laughed.

“So, tell me what’s fueling this big life change,” Hetty said.

Bethany sipped her coffee but couldn’t contain her grin. “I really like working. Is that weird? I never had a job before, and now I can’t imagine going a whole day without working.”

Hetty nodded at that. “Too much idle time just makes me worry.”

“Exactly!” Bethany beamed. “I used to spend whole days deciding what to wear and when to arrive at fancy parties. Hair, make-up, who to sit next to, and who to avoid. It was exhausting and boring and maddening all at the same time. And I never slept well, always tossing and turning and dreading the next day.”

“A good day’s work definitely gets you a good night’s sleep,” Hetty agreed.

“Plus, I get to spend every day working with horses and teaching guests how to ride. I know some people think it’s silly, but I love spending time with horses more than I do a whole yacht of people.”

That made Hetty laugh out loud. “You are preaching to the choir on that one!”

Bethany sat forward, excited to think again about Sutton’s idea. “And now I have a chance to go into business for myself! Sutton wants me to be an independent contractor. That way he is not my boss, we’re equals, and I control my schedule and everything else. All I have to do is give him a percentage of the profits.”

Hetty’s smile softened. “Good thinking, Sutton. I’m glad to hear one of the Rolston men can sort things out before making a big boss mess of everything.”

“Even though Sutton seems like he is permanently sour, rough around the edges and maybe a tiny little bit head strong, he is really thoughtful. At least he’s always been to me in his own way. He also listens really well, so he knew just exactly what I wanted and needed. Maybe that’s why he told me he loved me—”

Hetty whooped in surprise and almost spilled her coffee. “He told you he loves you! That’s wonderful!”

Bethany sputtered in shock. “I wasn’t going to say anything! I didn’t say anything back to him. I mean, he told me I didn’t have to say anything. He gave me the night to think it over and not respond yet, but I’m going to have to respond—”

“Breathe!” Hetty commanded.

Bethany took such huge, gulping breaths that both women started laughing again. It took a few minutes for them both to calm down enough to talk again.

“I don’t know what to say,” Bethany confessed.

Hetty nodded. “You have a lot going on. You’re trying to break ties with a life that won’t let go easy. You want to hang on to a job you love and make it into your own. You’re fighting for your independence. And you have strong feelings for a man who has always been something else in your life.”

Bethany slumped back in her lawn chair. “No wonder I feel off-balance.”

“The real problem is that love is a big emotion. It’s a headliner, but that doesn’t mean you should let everything else be forgotten. I don’t know one person who was able to love right when their whole life was off-balance. Trust me, I needed to get my feet on solid ground before I even thought about love.”

“What if Sutton doesn’t want to wait?” Bethany asked in a tight voice.

Hetty stood up, shaking her head. “Then you ask your best friend what he thinks about a man that won’t wait for the right woman.”

Bethany jumped up and hugged Hetty. “Thank you for letting me stay the night. This was just the space I needed to think things through.”

“Anytime,” Hetty told her.

Bethany thought over everything Hetty said as she rode back to Sutton’s hospitality ranch. She was right, his confession of love was the big headline, but Bethany couldn’t afford to miss any of the fine print. There were too many details she needed to figure out before she could give him a fair answer.

She was so engulfed in her own thoughts that she rode into the hotel yard and waved at a friendly guest before she realized it was Penn. He came down from the front porch and started across the lawn. In a panic, Bethany spurred her horse into a canter and raced away to the stables before he could call out to her.

By the time she reached the barn, Bethany realized he would find her anyway. Then she looked back and saw that Penn had not followed her. It was a relief until she thought about why he wouldn’t pursue her even as far as the stables. Penn was confident that he did not have to chase her. Not only did he really believe they were a good match, but he knew her father was on his side. The pressure they were going to put on her made Bethany’s stomach turn to lead.

She remembered Hetty’s command to breathe and did so as she unsaddled and groomed her horse. The beautiful animal calmed her and soon, Bethany was thinking about her independent teaching contract again. There were so many details to consider but one thing kept pulling her focus.

Sutton was just down the walkway, somewhere in the hotel. The man she knew so well, the man that loved her. Soon, she wasn’t able to think about anything else. Yes, she needed balance in her life, but she also needed to see him again.

Bethany practically trotted out of the barn and ran right into her father.

CHAPTER 21

***SUTTON***

Sutton woke refreshed and was surprised to find himself in his hotel suite. His mind was still on Bethany, and all his dreams had centered around her and their time at the trailer. He opened his eyes, expecting to see her smile. The thought that that could soon be a possibility squeezed his heart with joy. What if today was the day they started a whole new relationship?

He jumped out of bed, reluctantly showered off the charcoal smell that reminded him of his dinner with Bethany, and got dressed for a busy day. Sutton paused, considering wearing the sport coat again, then decided he needed to be himself. If Bethany was going to love him, it was for who he really was and not what he wore. He tugged on his bright, clean work shirt and rolled up the sleeves.

It felt good. Sutton was lighter now that he’d let out the truth. He was focused, confident, and ready to tackle all the little day-to-day problems that came with the hospitality business.

At the door of his suite, Sutton paused for just a moment to allow himself one small worry: what if she didn’t feel the same? Then he closed his eyes and remembered her luminous smile. He had to hope for the best; Bethany had taught him that.

Sutton strode out to the front desk, ready to take on the day, and not even the appearance of Topher could ruin his morning momentum. “Good morning, bro.”

Topher was clutching his phone and looking more disheveled than normal. “I’ve got a few new ideas for the big bash. It’s gotta be perfect.”

Sutton was about to tell him that was not in his job description, then he realized Bethany was the party planner. He did not feel like broadcasting why she was not around, so he took a calming breath and allowed Topher to follow him into his office.

“At some point, you’re going to have to stop adding details and deal with the ones you already have,” he pointed out.

Topher laughed. “Like I said, everything has to be perfect. Not only is this great advertising for your hotel, but it’s the start of my business. It’s potentially the start of a whole new sport trend in Texas.”

Sutton sat down and braced himself for his brother’s over-enthusiasm. “So, what changed between last night and this morning?”

The thought made him chuckle and Sutton had to swallow the sound. For him, the entire trajectory of his life may have changed, and here he was asking his brother what crazy party ideas popped into his head in the middle of the night. He wished Topher would just leave a list or something so he could go back to thinking about Bethany at the trailer, but Topher had already launched into a full description.

“The ballroom will be all high-class, of course, but I want to mount some flat-screen televisions into big frames and make them look like artwork. Then we’ll have trail cameras along the race route and partygoers can see all the obstacles.”

Sutton shook his head. “Did you already swap out the art for those Irish steeplechase paintings? Now you want to change everything again? And how many televisions are you talking about? It’s already too many.”

Topher snorted. “This has to be top-notch. Do you know that I once saw Joseph Grant walk out of the best box at the Kentucky Derby because he didn’t like the angle of the sun? That’s what we’re up against here.”

The thought was sobering. Sutton knew how demanding Bethany’s father was but it had never bothered him much before. His life was always separate, except that was now potentially going to change.

He spent fifteen minutes talking Topher down to a reasonable amount of televisions and trail cameras, and then tried changing the subject. “So, have you heard when our A-listers are arriving?”

“Imminently,” Topher said. It felt as ominous as it sounded. “Have you thought of how badly Bethany’s father is going to react when he finds out you’re making her work in the stables?”

Sutton laughed, “I’m not making her. In fact, I’m not even overseeing her anymore. I decided the whole boss/employee thing was really not working for us.”

Topher switched his attention from his phone and last-minute orders and studied his brother’s face. “Was the fact that you were her boss getting in the way of something?”

He narrowed his gaze, letting Topher know he was on thin ice. “I think Joseph Grant should be proud to find out his daughter is an independent contractor. She’ll have complete control over her schedule, clients, and class offerings. I get a percentage of the profits without having to micro-manage.”

Tipping his head thoughtfully to one side, Topher smiled. “That puts Bethany on equal footing with you. Very smart.”

Sutton wanted to discuss it further, but movement outside his office window distracted him. Down the ranch driveway, Sutton spotted a horse. He held his breath until he saw platinum blonde hair glint in the sun—Bethany had come back! His heart felt each hoofbeat as she came closer, then he scowled.

“You gotta give Penn credit for not being a quitter,” Topher said. They both watched as Penn appeared on the lawn and waved to Bethany.

“She’s not an auction object he can keep bidding on. He should know when a woman says no and means it,” Sutton said. He watched as Bethany waved back at Penn and felt his heart stumble.

Luckily, she did not ride over to Penn or Sutton would have lost it completely. He couldn’t stand the idea of her visiting with that horrible man. She was supposed to ride up to Sutton and tell her how she felt. Would he be able to wait until she was ready or would Sutton not be able to fight the need to demand an answer?

Instead of coming closer, she took off for the stables, and both Sutton and Topher were surprised to see that Penn did not follow her. Minutes later, they could hear his petulant voice harassing the front desk staff.

“I should go and save the clerk,” Sutton said.

Topher went with him. “Sounds like he’s on a tear.”

Penn was standing front and center at the desk and complaining loudly about the quality and quantity of towels in his room. Then he added a lengthy opinion about the scent of the new soaps and ended with a derogatory comment about the coffee.

“I’ll fill everything in on a comment card for you,” the terrified clerk told him.

“Really?” Penn scoffed. “You still use comment cards? I mean, I know we’re down in the armpit of Texas but I thought this place was a little higher class than that. If this place had any interest in discerning guests, you would employ a concierge, or do you not even have a clue what that fancy word means?”

Sutton had heard enough. “Why don’t you lodge your complaints directly with me?” he told Penn.

“I am not complaining. These are all reasonable requests when dealing with a guest who has a bit more experience in the first-class world,” Penn snapped.

“Are you suggesting Texas is not first-class?” Sutton growled.

Penn’s eyes narrowed meanly. “I’m saying I’ve gotten better accommodations in third-world jungles than this hotel. In fact, I was once on safari and slept on better sheets in the middle of the Serengeti. The Grants were part of our travel tour; you should ask Bethany. She and I spent many nights complimenting the five-star accommodations together.”

Topher stepped in. “I think you should be careful what you’re implying. I was on that tour as well and the women had their own glamping village. We were in hunting tents, though I will agree the sheet sets were heavenly soft.”

“Always the diplomat,” Penn said to Topher. “Though you may not remember how often I walked Bethany and her sister back to their tent due to your fondness for playing cards out under the African stars.”

Sutton gritted his teeth, refusing to take the bait. So what if Penn and Bethany had traveled in the same circles? She had turned down this spoiled man, then smiled at Sutton’s confession of love. The thought gave him patience.

“So, should I be writing these suggestions down or not?” Sutton asked.

Penn glared at him, realizing that his rant was never going to be taken seriously. He slammed a hand on the front desk, then stalked away.

“I swear he’s not always in such a foul mood,” Topher said.

“I don’t blame him,” Sutton forced himself not to smile, “after all, Bethany turned down his wedding proposal last night.”

Topher’s eyes went wide with comprehension. “That explains a lot. And that’s why I couldn’t find my party planner this morning. I don’t blame her for giving him some space. Though it may not do her a lot of good.”

Sutton frowned at his brother. “What do you mean?”

Topher motioned Sutton back into the office to warn him. “Penn is definitely not the type to take no for an answer. He’s also not the most liberal when it comes to women’s roles. In his mind, he made her the best possible offer and if she is too silly to take it, then her father will make her.”

Sutton simply couldn’t accept that such Neanderthal thinking still existed in the modern world. “Her father can’t force her into anything like that.”

Topher gave him a sympathetic slap on the shoulder. “I’m just saying it’s not over yet.”

Sutton knew he needed to brace himself for more scenes; he just wasn’t expecting there to be a full-on circus when they opened his office door again. The hotel staff was running all over the front hall, it appeared as if even waiters from the dining room had been recruited to help. They rushed outside and came back in single file with loads of Louis Vuitton luggage.

Behind the parade of hotel workers, Joseph Grant strolled into the hotel.

“I haven’t been to a hotel with only one valet in forever. How quaint,” Bethany’s father intoned regally. He looked over the foyer and puckered his lips in a distasteful smile. “Yet, I suppose I should readjust my thinking to where we are geographically.”

Sutton was sick of hearing how far off the radar his hometown was to other people, especially a man who used to live there. He knew it was cruel to leave his staff to deal with the already-difficult guest, but he ducked down the hallway and escaped into the kitchen.

“And I expect your chef to compensate me for all the food that was wasted.” Penn was in the kitchen harassing one of the poor waiters who had not been recruited to carry the Grants’ luggage.

Sutton just needed a minute more to brace himself, so he stepped behind the racks of pans. Penn soon stalked out of the kitchen, and Sutton made his move towards the back door. He needed to get out to the stables and warn Bethany that her father had arrived.

He moved quickly, then stopped himself short; Joseph Grant had ignored the “staff only” sign and let himself out onto the back porch. He was clipping the end of an expensive cigar when Penn joined him.

“I can see by your face that last night did not go as planned. From what I’ve seen around here so far, I’m not surprised. The ambiance and service could hardly help you,” Joseph said to Penn.

“Things are rustic here, to say the least,” Penn told him.

“I blame myself for my daughter’s nostalgia. She was spoiled as a child and therefore only has rose-colored memories of this town.” Joseph lit his cigar directly in front of a no-smoking sign and puffed away. “I’m surprised she has yet to notice how few of her favorite creature comforts are hard to come by.”

Penn made no mention of Bethany’s contentment. In fact, he seemed to ignore her current happiness as it did not fit with his own feelings. “This is all fun for a weekend stay, but things are dragging out a bit too long. I’m ready to head back to the real world and announce our engagement.”

Sutton stood still, fuming at how Penn made it sound like a done deal. It did not help as he heard Bethany’s father think of their engagement in the same way.

“Her sister Jane thinks a winter wedding would be beautiful. Only the best for the two of you,” Joseph told Penn. “We’ll indulge Topher for the next few days and then be done with this end of Texas.”

“So, you think Bethany will be ready to leave with us?” It was the first time Penn had expressed even a hint of doubt.

Joseph gave him a sharp glance. “What could she possibly want to stay for? I told you, this is all just foolish nostalgia. I allowed Bethany to keep her childhood memories rosy, but she must be as tired of this rustic place as we are.”

He didn’t know his own daughter at all, Sutton thought. Or did he?

Penn wasn’t the only one that had sudden doubts about Bethany. Sutton knew it was wrong, but he was worried. It was hard not to wonder how her own father could paint such a different portrait of her. Was Bethany really so different when she was not in Isabel, Texas?

Then there was the whole story Penn had told about their vacation. Sutton knew the man was just trying to get a rise out of him, but now he couldn’t help picturing Bethany wearing pristine white linen in the middle of a safari. It wasn’t the image of the horse-riding ranch woman Sutton was hoping she would become.

What if the two sides to Bethany were impossible to reconcile?

Sutton watched the two men congratulate each other on the upcoming nuptials and he felt his doubt grow. He had not seen Bethany with her father in ages. He remembered how quickly her attitude, mannerisms, even her voice changed when her father entered the room. As children, Sutton had imagined it was the angelic ruse many kids put on when they just didn’t want to get into trouble, but what if that had been closer to her regular self?

“There she is now,” Penn pointed out to Mr. Grant.

Sutton’s breath caught. Bethany was coming across the lawn towards the hotel, unaware of the men on the back porch waiting for her.

“That can’t be,” Joseph blustered. “Is she in denim? She looks like she’s been in a barn!”

“Didn’t you know?” Penn looked pleased that he could out Bethany’s secret. “She’s been riding horses every day since she arrived.”

Joseph’s face reddened. “This little rebellion of hers has gotten completely out of hand. We’ll get her packed up and back early enough that that ugly suntan will fade before your engagement party.”

Sutton curled his fingers into fists, upset on his friend’s behalf, then he realized he really didn’t know which Bethany was coming towards the hotel. Would she see her father and immediately switch back into that world? He doubted his confession of love would be on her mind, not when faced with Penn and her father. With that heartbreaking reality in mind, Sutton slipped back into the kitchen and left Bethany to face her other world on her own.

CHAPTER 22

***BETHANY***

Everything was different, as if her father had brought an entire other atmosphere with him. The hotel was polished and looking better than it ever had, but the staff was subdued and unsmiling. There were no more employee cookouts behind the outbuilding, and everyone cut out of their shifts as soon as they ended. The feeling of family and comfort had all fled when her father arrived.

Other A-list guests arrived, too, and the entire hotel was full. Instead of the festive feeling the other large parties had brought, there was a sense of anticipation that did not feel entirely fun. The new guests were there to have a good time but, following her father’s lead, they were too busy finding whatever faults they could with the accommodations.

The worst part was Bethany’s refuge had changed. The horses Sutton kept for lessons and trail rides were all taken back to Drake’s ranch. In their place, the jump-racers and their teams had taken over. The barn was full of ultra-focused riders and the pretentious owners. Bethany had nowhere she could escape to for a deep breath, and it was no wonder she was starting to feel faint with stress.

Even her suite was no longer a safe haven.

“Honestly, Bethany, you owe me a huge thank you. Not a single one of these clothes is in any way appropriate. What would you have done if I hadn’t brought you your luggage?” Jane had dumped everything out of Bethany’s closet and was carefully hanging up the haute couture she had handpicked for her sister.

“You know I wasn’t down here going to gallery openings and afternoon tea,” Bethany snapped.

Jane smirked. “Yes, I know. You were down here playing make-believe with your silly friend. As if you were ever going to make it as a riding instructor.”

“I did,” Bethany tried to tell her for the fifth time. “The guests loved my lessons and I was about to start my own business teaching. I’m going to be an independent instructor and have complete control over my own schedule and earnings.”

Her sister ignored the outlandish idea completely. “The big question is what are you going to wear to your dinner with Daddy?”

“I don’t care. Shouldn’t you choose so we don’t clash?”

Jane pouted. “Daddy says I should wait here for my husband to arrive.”

Bethany slumped onto her bed. “Shouldn’t that be a good thing? He’s been traveling so much, I would think you would be glad to spend an evening with your husband.”

“He’s a bore,” Jane said.

“I thought you said he was your perfect match,” Bethany reminded her.

Jane sighed and spoke to her as if explaining something to a small child. “He is my perfect match. We both have the same good breeding and upbringing. He went to all top schools and made a decent reputation for himself. He’s proficient at his work though rich enough he doesn’t need to do it at all. And he has excellent connections.”

“Yet he’s boring and you don’t want to spend any time with him,” Bethany frowned. “Can’t you see why I’m not convinced an arranged marriage is right for me?”

“It’s the only thing for someone in our position to do,” Jane told her. “Now stop messing up your hair and get dressed. This little black Kate Spade dress should be nice enough for the steak house.”

“We’re not having dinner here?”

Jane rolled her eyes. “Ask Daddy.”

Bethany slumped even further down after her sister left. She had never felt so trapped in her life. It had only been a day since her family arrived, yet it felt like an eternity. She hadn’t so much as glimpsed Sutton in the last twenty-four hours, and waiting to catch up with him made everything else drag.

She heaved herself up with a groan, knowing full well she couldn’t just chat about recent developments with her friend. Sutton had confessed his love and now expected some sort of answer in return. She couldn’t expect him to forget about that and concentrate on the horrible time she was having with her family. They needed to talk and the chances of them being able to do so before Topher’s big event were slim.

Was Sutton busy or was he avoiding her?

A timid knock on Bethany’s door was followed by a subdued voice announcing, “Mr. Grant will be expecting you in the foyer in twenty minutes.”

Bethany groaned again and went to get dressed. It was hard to slip on the designer dress and not miss her comfortably soft denim jeans. The dress fit perfectly but made her feel awful. She looked in the mirror and did not recognize herself. Why did she always feel like there were two of her?

She forced herself to put on makeup just so she wouldn’t have to hear comments from either her sister or her father. They both made it a near-constant habit to tell her what they thought of her outfit, her hair, her face, and even the way she smiled. At the moment, it was impossible to conjure a smile, so Bethany settled for lipstick instead.

Her father was impatiently waiting in the foyer when she arrived. “The car is waiting, my dear. Let’s go.”

“We can eat here, Father,” Bethany said, glancing around in case she could spot Sutton.

Joseph Grant shook his head. “I’d rather go somewhere the food and service is assured. Penn told me that the dining here is hit or miss.”

Of course Penn would slander the chef and the entire menu after his disappointing proposal dinner with her. Still, Bethany had no choice but to join her father and listen to him lament the lack of fine establishments all the way to the Isabel steak house.

“I suppose we can at least hope the food is fresh,” he said as the waiter seated them.

Bethany cringed as she saw the spark of irritation in the waiter's eye. Her father had the horrid habit of pontificating about places right in front of the people who loved them the most. Joseph cared more to hear his own voice opining than he cared who was hurt by his words.

“Is there any chance you have a sommelier?” Her father asked the waiter. “Does that even translate into Texan?”

“You’re from Texas,” Bethany reminded him, embarrassed.

“I’ll send our wine steward over immediately,” the waiter said stiffly.

“And you don’t even drink,” Bethany whispered.

Joseph arched an eyebrow. “Best to put the service to the test anyway. My review will either send or deflect a lot of business for this little diner in the next few days.”

Bethany wished she could crawl under the table. The local couples around them were all starting to frown as he insulted their best and favorite establishment. It only got worse when the menus arrived and her father sighed and shook his head over every single item.

“Honestly, I don’t see how you made it half a week here,” he told her.

“We lived here for the better part of two decades, or are you still pretending that didn’t happen?” Bethany hissed.

The waiter arrived, already looking like he was in pain, and asked, “Are you ready to order?”

Bethany opened her mouth but wasn’t given the chance to speak. Her father jumped in with two dozen unnecessary questions about ingredients, a lengthy opinion on flying in seafood from the coast, and a demand to hear the chef’s credentials.

The waiter answered everything with increasing frustration, then turned to Bethany. “And the lady will have?”

Her father cleared his throat. “I’ll order for the table.”

“It’s no problem,” she tried to tell him. “I have a lot of favorites on the menu. They do a really wonderful—”

Joseph Grant overrode his daughter as if she hadn’t been speaking. Bethany saw the look of judgment in the waiter’s eyes and couldn’t blame him. What grown woman let a man order for her? It was as insulting as it was embarrassing.

When the waiter finally left with his lengthy written instructions for the chef, Bethany could not bring herself to attempt small talk. She just stared at her father, wondering how on earth she had given in to his edicts year after year.

He, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow at her and reminded her, “Good manners mean you should have a few topics on hand for pleasant conversation.”

Bethany notched her chin up higher. “How about we discuss my new business venture? I’m now an independent contractor and—”

Her father waved off that topic as if it was an annoying fly. “Say, I ran into an old friend today. A lawyer who, honestly, is much too sharp for this town.”

Did her voice, her life, her dreams mean nothing to him? Bethany could barely listen as he went on about some amusing business advice he had once received from this very talented lawyer.

“He also happens to work for the Rolston family,” Joseph said.

Bethany was both chagrined and relieved when their food arrived. She disliked almost everything on her plate, but the sooner they ate, the sooner she could escape and try to find Sutton.

“Wait, did you say he works for the Rolstons?” Bethany had not heard her father mention Sutton’s family by name in years.

Again, Joseph ignored her question. “It looks like the chef needs lessons on what medium-rare should look like. Be grateful I ordered you the mussels. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. I’ve decided to indulge you one last time, Bethany.”

She frowned at him, almost afraid to ask. “Indulge me how, Father?”

He shoved his plate aside, rejecting the excellently cooked food, and grinned at her. “I’ve decided to let you choose your own husband. Either Penn Torrington or Sutton Rolston.”

Bethany thought she might be sick. “What do you mean? Why are you talking about Sutton all of a sudden?”

“I told you, Bethany, I ran into the Rolston family lawyer. He was well aware of your long-running friendship with Sutton and let me know some very good news. It appears that Sutton has actually inherited. You know there was quite a lot of speculation about how Rolston Senior had added all sorts of requirements to his will. I thought for certain none of his sons would ever see a dime of his fortune.”

“Sutton inherited?” Bethany asked, still confused.

Her father laughed. “Yes, darling. Billions. It turns out your little friend is now quite the lucrative connection.”

She dropped her fork, just now realizing the implications of what her father was saying. “So, because Sutton is now a billionaire, I’m suddenly free to marry him?”

“I still think Penn has better manners and is overall the more suitable match for you but, like I said, I’m willing to indulge you.” Joseph clearly expected to be showered with gratitude.

“You’re indulging me by giving me the choice between two rich suitors?” Bethany asked. Her hands strangled her napkin under the table.

Her father beamed. “Yes. I believe either would assure our family of greater status and wealth.”

“So, you’re using me to further your fortune.” It was a statement, not a question. Bethany had long ago realized her father viewed her and her sister as playing piece in his own monopoly game.

“It’s my duty to see you happily settled,” her father said as his excuse.

Bethany took a deep breath. “I will be happily settled once my business starts. I plan to find a small place of my own and work on my own independent savings. I’ll live simply and not be dependent on you for a dime.”

Her father seemed to finally hear and he frowned. “What nonsense about your own business. I’ve told you hundreds of times, Grants own horses, not ride them. Have a little respect for your station in life, Bethany.”

“It’s not my station and it has never felt like my life!” Bethany knew her voice was getting too loud but she was already embarrassed enough. “How about you respect the fact that I want to work for my own independence before I get married.”

Joseph sighed and pretended like she was having a childish tantrum. He smiled indulgently and told her, “I already discussed the marriage possibility with the other old acquaintance I ran into today. You remember Dean Rolston, right?”

“Why can’t we talk about my work?” Bethany asked loudly. Then she blanched. “What do you mean you talked to Dean about it?”

“He seems to think you and his brother are an excellent match.”

Bethany fell silent, smothered by the realization that her father had ruined everything for her. Not only did he completely belittle her work by ignoring it, but he had made sure she and Sutton would never find true love.

If there was one thing that Bethany knew about her best friend, it was that Sutton hated people who were only interested in his money. Now that her father had endorsed their possible engagement, due to his vast inheritance, Sutton would never believe that she had always returned his love. It was too late to tell him how much she loved him, how she had always loved him, because now it was sullied by his own hard-won inheritance.

What was she going to do?

“You just take the next couple of days and decide,” her father told her in a gratingly sweet voice. “I think you will find that Penn is the least complicated option. He understands our world, whereas Sutton will probably fit in like a bull in a ballet class.”

Her father chortled at his own joke and flagged the waiter down for the check.

“How was everything?” the waiter asked, looking pointedly at the untouched food.

“As good as to be expected,” her father replied with a dismissive wave.

“Should I box up the leftovers?”

“God no,” her father said. He then ignored the waiter and told her, “Your brother-in-law assured me he’d arrive tonight with his own chef. We’ll have a little something to eat with them later.”

The waiter stalked away.

Bethany couldn’t bear the thought of going back to the hotel. How was she going to face Sutton now?

“You talk it all over with your sister, Bethany,” her father said. “Jane has always been such a good example to you.”

A good example for me? Bethany thought. The problem wasn’t her sister; it was the fact that Bethany wasn’t even sure who she was anymore.

CHAPTER 23

***SUTTON***

“I’m what?!” Sutton asked. At that moment, he wasn’t sure who he was or if the impromptu meeting was all a dream.

“We’re billionaires,” Drake told him. He slapped him on the back. “Remember? That was the whole point of this hotel venture? We did it!”

Sutton shook his head, feeling as if he was underwater and sinking fast. “We did it?”

Drake laughed. “If he is not of sound mind, does that mean I can inherit his share too?”

There were chuckles, but Sutton couldn’t focus on the people around him. The feeling that had started with the sport coat, the idea that he was trying to be someone he was not, had only gotten stronger. Who was Sutton Rolston? Suddenly, he was a billionaire, and someone Sutton himself did not recognize.

Papers were placed in front of him, and he was shocked to see his own hand signing his name. Somehow it was all happening with him watching from outside of his body. The signature was in place, everything was notarized and made official, and the people gathered in the hotel office were all congratulating each other.

Sutton blinked and shook Drake’s hand. His closest brother and business partner was grinning from ear to ear. Behind him was their eldest brother, Dean, with a reserved but pleased smile on his face. Even their family lawyer had the corners of his mouth quirked up. It seemed like he had every reason to celebrate.

But, instead, he felt completely lost.

“You don’t look happy, Sutton. What’s the matter? You can’t tell me you forgot all about the money,” Drake said.

“I did.” Sutton was just as amazed as Drake at his answer. “I honestly forgot all about it.”

“Well, then, surprise!” Drake laughed. “Only you could forget that all the work of the past year was to earn your billion-dollar inheritance.”

“I’ve still got work to do,” Sutton pointed out.

“Only if you want to. In fact, I personally think it would be hilarious if we hightailed it out of here for a luxury cruise and left Topher to deal with this whole big event on his own. How many times has he done that to us?” Drake asked.

Sutton shook his head. “I can’t leave. I don’t want to give it all up.”

Drake looked worried, then it dawned on him that his brother had another reason for wanting to stay. “How could I forget? You need to go tell Bethany! I bet she’ll be even more surprised than you were.”

Dean cleared his throat. “Maybe not, and I’m to blame for that.”

Their lawyer contradicted him, “No, I was the one that brought it up.”

“Either way,” Dean continued, “we ran into Joseph Grant and we shared your good news when he inquired about the state of Father’s will.”

“What did you tell him?” Sutton asked.

Dean told him, “We assured him that all his past assumptions about you were incorrect and that now you are an excellent match for his youngest daughter.”

“Dean’s playing matchmaker? What else did I miss?” Topher burst into the office, never wanting to be left out.

Drake beamed. “Sutton and I completed the requirements for our inheritance and are now far, far richer than you. How’s that feel?”

Topher shot his youngest brothers a dark look, then laughed. “So, that’s why Penn is stomping around looking like someone rained on his parade. I bet Mr. Grant now has a new favorite suitor for his daughter!”

Everyone thought that was hilarious except for Sutton. He slumped down in his desk chair and wished his brothers and the family lawyer would hurry up and disappear. Everything was starting to come into focus, and Sutton did not like what he saw. And no one seemed to remember the only reason there was a fortune to inherit was that they had lost their father.

Rolston Senior was a hard man to please, especially when it came to his youngest son. With five older brothers, nothing Sutton did was exceptional. He had long ago stopped trying to impress his father, but that didn’t mean he didn’t love him. Sutton respected his father’s work ethic far more than his money acumen and his vast wealth. Rolston Senior worked side-by-side with his ranch hands every day and that was what Sutton remembered most about his father. The money seemed like a temptation to forget who their father really was in life.

“So, how about we break out the champagne? Don’t worry, I bought the good stuff, but the guests don’t need to know that!” Topher laughed.

Sutton shook his head and stood up. “No, thanks.”

“You’re not celebrating?” Topher asked him.

“There’s nothing to celebrate except the fact that Father is still gone. Now, will you all get out? I have work to do,” Sutton snarled.

“Whoa, you’ve got it all wrong, brother,” Drake said.

Only Dean seemed to understand. “Sutton, I’m sorry for letting Mr. Grant know out of turn. It wasn’t my place to share your news.”

Sutton turned on him. “And now I’m supposed to be happy that Mr. Grant finally sees me? I was sub-human before, barely upright enough to speak to his daughter, let alone be her friend, and now he’s trying to match us in marriage. Thanks a lot, Dean.”

“You mean that isn’t what you want?” Topher was very confused.

Drake was catching on but didn’t stay to clarify. Instead, he shooed Topher out of Sutton’s office. The family lawyer followed, and Sutton stood up to show Dean the door too.

“It doesn’t have to change anything,” Dean told him.

“Our family’s wealth has always changed everything,” Sutton snapped. “Don’t you remember when you had just started high school and met that girl from Montana? She was new to town, and you fell hard, but she totally ignored you. Then, all of a sudden, she wanted to be your girlfriend and she pushed so hard. You found out that someone had told her we were the richest family in town.”

“Bethany is not like that,” Dean reminded him.

“How would I know?” Sutton couldn’t keep the edge of despair out of his voice. “She’s never said anything about loving me, and if she does now, how I am supposed to know if it is really her or just the fact that her father approves?”

Dean scowled. “You shouldn’t talk about Bethany like that. You know her better than that.”

Sutton ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “You know why Bethany and I became so close?”

“You’ve got a lot in common,” Dean responded.

“We bonded over the fact that money affected most everything in our life.”

Dean raised an eyebrow. “But she wasn’t wealthy right away.”

“Her father was so money-focused and we were a good, wealthy connection, then suddenly she was dealing with all the gold diggers and I understood.”

“Yet now you think Bethany can’t separate you from your fortune?” Dean crossed his arms over his chest. “Give her some credit, Sutton.”

“Give me some credit, Dean!” Sutton cried. “I know Bethany but I also know how much influence her father has over her. Even Jane can make her change her mind about the smallest thing, and we all know what a terrible role model she is!”

“You need to calm down, Sutton, and start thinking clearly. Congratulations on your inheritance, now get it together before you lose everything.” Dean speared his brother with one more stern look then left his office, shutting the door hard behind him.

Sutton collapsed back into his office chair and wondered if he’d ever get himself back together again. Why did everything feel so different now that he was a wealthy man? Because Sutton knew as soon as he stepped out of the office, he would start noticing people treating him differently.

The Rolston family fortune had overshadowed many parts of his life. Sutton remembered store clerks always treating him differently from his friends, even when they were just coming in after school to buy candy. The dean of his college had invited him to exclusive events and was horrified when he brought “regular” friends and roommates along. His wealth, when known, would change the way everyone looked at him.

What if Bethany looked at him differently?

The thought killed Sutton.

His mind skipped back to when he and Bethany first returned together to Isabel. They had breezed into town, thinking it was just going to be a fun run down memory lane, then they had seen the possibilities. His old, neglected hotel needed so much work and it was the actual work that had attracted them both. Bethany was dying to use her fashionable eye for something more practical and Sutton needed a project to make him feel like he could contribute.

The pressure from his brothers, especially Drake, had always felt more like the pull of family than the need for monetary gain. And the hospitality ranch was the only place Sutton could make his mark without it being just the stamp of Rolston wealth. His hard work made the place shine, not his father’s ability to pay for it.

Then Bethany had started making suggestions, each one making the hotel better and better. Now, Sutton wondered exactly why she had made all those suggestions. Was she really interested in seeing the place succeed or was she trying to groom it to be a place she could stand? He still doubted that she loved the work of it as much as he did, and Sutton worried the other part of her would show suddenly and tell him it still wasn’t high-class enough for her.

Another thought hit and made Sutton feel sick. He had forgotten all about his inheritance, but what if Bethany never had? Was she helping him out, biding her time, waiting for the time when he would inherit and finally be her equal?

A knock on the office door interrupted his dismal thoughts. “What?” he growled.

Topher opened the door. “The riders are going to start testing out the trail. Want to come check out the closest obstacles? I thought you might want to see the sport before you host the sporting event.”

Sutton scowled at him. “Do I have to?”

“It’ll help you escape Mr. Grant. He’s heading this way.”

They slipped through the kitchen, out the back door, and headed through the garden down to the wooded edge of the horse trail. There, Sutton stopped and studied his brother.

“Why do you think Mr. Grant is coming to see me now?” Sutton asked.

Topher sighed, not relishing the conversation. “You’re the hottest bachelor at the hotel.”

Sutton groaned. “You’re serious? Is this really happening? That man has hated me for years.”

“I never understood that,” Topher led the way to the first obstacle, a high log jump. “From what I remember, Mr. Grant always doted on Father.”

Sutton snorted. “He always wanted Father to use his wealth and influence to help further Mr. Grant’s prospects. As soon as he made money, he thought he was better than us. Our money comes from dirty cattle and old Texas, and the Grants were suddenly to white-gloved for all that.”

“Are you sure Mr. Grant just didn’t like the fact that you and Bethany were so close?” Topher asked.

“What does it matter now?” Sutton couldn’t keep his biggest worry in anymore. “I told Bethany I loved her. Then I gave her space so she could think about her answer. Then her father arrived and she never came to talk to me. Not a word!”

“You told her you love her and she didn’t say anything back?”

Sutton spread his arms wide. “See why I’m upset?”

“And now you’ve inherited and her father approves and you are afraid you’ll never know how she actually feels,” Topher concluded.

There was the thunderous sound of hooves and two riders came galloping down the trail. The first one took the jump easily, the horse flying through the air just a few meters from their vantage point. Then the second jumper went and waved to them as he flew by.

The pure exhilaration of the moment was lost as both Rolston brothers glowered over Sutton’s current situation.

Finally, Topher spoke up again. “So, what if Bethany loves you?”

“Conveniently, she won’t have to sacrifice any part of her old lavish lifestyle to be with me,” Sutton said in a snarky tone.

“She seemed to enjoy escaping that lavish lifestyle these past few weeks,” Topher pointed out.

Sutton ran his hands through his hair. “Was it just a fun escape for her or was she serious?”

“If she’s serious, she won’t care one bit about the money,” Topher said.

“But she does care about her father’s opinion.”

They both silently agreed on that point.

Another pair of riders came thundering along the trail and the brothers watched them fly over the high log. It was amazing to see, but Sutton still couldn’t see straight. That’s why he was surprised when a hand landed on his shoulder.

“There you are, son. Nice to see you, Topher.” Mr. Grant smiled at them both. “I certainly see why you chose the steeplechase for your first race event. Very exciting. Speaking of exciting, I heard your good news today, Sutton. Congratulations.”

Sutton nodded. Bethany’s father had never said five words to him in all the years he had been best friends with his daughter. It was disgusting how the man now found it easy to chat with him, all due to the change in his bank account.

“My daughter has always had a fondness for horses,” Mr. Grant said.

“I thought you forbid her from riding them.” Sutton was sick of pretending like he didn’t know Bethany better than her own father.

“And you let her work in your stables like a common ranch hand,” Mr. Grant snapped back. Then he forced his expression to clear and pasted a charming smile back on. “But you Rolstons always liked having a rough exterior. I suspect that is how your father kept the gold diggers away all those years.”

“Gold diggers?” Topher asked. He too was suspicious of Mr. Grant even though the man was one of his guests of honor.

“Yes, see I thought perhaps Sutton would need advice on things like that. Wealth brings lots of good things but also quite a bit of difficulties. I just wanted to let you know that I am here for you,” Mr. Grant said.

Sutton scowled at him. “You called me a gold digger last year when I accompanied Bethany to her birthday party. Or don’t you remember, sir?”

Mr. Grant laughed it off. “Well, that’s in the past, my boy. You’ll be glad to know I gave Bethany my permission to accompany you to Topher’s shindig as your date.”

He left them at the trail and carefully picked his way back up the path to the hotel. Topher waited until he was out of earshot, then asked his brother, “Don’t you think you better go talk to Bethany?”

Sutton shook his head; his doubts had taken over. “Now that she has permission, she can come find me.”

CHAPTER 24

***BETHANY***

“I got your message. I’m here! Are you okay?” Freddie climbed the ladder to the hayloft and grabbed both Bethany’s hands.

“I know, I know. I’m hiding out in a hayloft and that’s totally crazy, but my family has already got me all wrapped up again.” Bethany squeezed Freddie’s hands and thanked her friend for showing up.

“Just tell me what you need,” Freddie said.

Bethany swallowed a stressed-out giggle. “My sister took all my riding clothes. She actually had one of the housekeepers bring a garbage bag and scoop up my entire wardrobe.”

“That would explain the really expensive black slacks you are currently ruining,” Freddie tried to joke. She saw Bethany blinking back tears. “No! I’m sorry. It’s not funny. I’ll get you riding clothes. Should I meet you back here?”

“Can you bring them to my suite, please?” Bethany asked. “I’m sure they are both looking for me and I have to get dressed for the party soon.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you skipped the party and hid up here all night. In fact, I bet Hetty would be happy to join you,” Freddie said.

That made Bethany laugh. If anyone felt the same way as she did about the black-tie event, it was Hetty. She pictured the two of them galloping off across the scrubland and hiding out in one of Hetty’s canyons, but that just reminded her of her big plan.

“I’ll feel better if I know I can go riding soon,” Bethany told her. Freddie was more cautious than Hetty and couldn’t know her real intentions yet.

“Then don’t worry,” Freddie promised. “I’ll see you in your suite soon.”

She started to climb down, then Bethany stopped her. “Wait. I almost forgot! Tell Drake congratulations from me.”

Freddie rolled her eyes. “Isn’t it crazy? That amount of money just isn’t real, and we’ve already decided to live like it isn’t real for as long as we can.”

“I knew Drake would know exactly how to handle it,” Bethany said.

“He’s worried about Sutton, though. I’m sure you are too.” Freddie looked worried herself. “I don’t think he’s ever been happy with the Rolston family wealth; he’s tried to deny it for as long as I’ve known him.”

“I know. This is tough on him,” Bethany said even as it tore her up inside.

Freddie left and she climbed down, her mind churning over her best friend. She knew Sutton was probably irate by know. Her father had suddenly decided to acknowledge him and it was only because of his money. That had always been Sutton’s worst nightmare, and now she was part of it.

And she had never found a chance to talk to him about love. What could she possibly say now that he would think sounded sincere?

Her sister Jane only made things worse when she opened Bethany’s suite door to let her in. “There you are. You don’t have a lot of time to get ready! And is that hay in your hair?”

“I can get ready on my own,” Bethany told her.

Jane smirked. “Fine. I just thought you might want to know that Father has given you permission to be Sutton’s date tonight. Don’t worry, he let your friend know too. Now, aren’t you glad you still have time to make yourself presentable?”

Jane stalked out of the room and Bethany fought off tears. Her father had given her permission to be Sutton’s date? Now if she approached Sutton in any way, he would assume it was only because her father had allowed it.

Bethany’s head was spinning. She had seen her life so clearly at the trailer when Sutton had confessed his love. She would teach riding and they would be together and money would have no more part in their lives than a mere practicality. They would work and love and live happily ever after.

Now Bethany had lost the trust of her best friend. When she didn’t immediately seek him out to talk, she made him think her family’s opinion meant more to her than him. Now he only saw her through her father and her sister. Instead of proving herself through hard work, Bethany had allowed herself to be banned from the stables. Worst of all, she had missed her chance to tell him the truth about how much she loved him. Sutton would doubt anything out of her mouth now.

“At least I have permission to go near him at the party,” she told herself in the mirror.

A bubble of hysteria threatened to escape Bethany. She swallowed hard but couldn’t keep down another big feeling. Recklessness rose up inside her. She felt like she had lost so much that she didn’t have anything else to fear. The plan she was worried was too daring for her, was now her only focus.

Freddie sensed it as soon as she entered Bethany’s suite. “You’re not going to do anything crazy, are you?”

Hetty handed her the riding clothes. “I hope you are,” she told her friend.

Bethany laughed. “I’m a Grant. I can’t even go on a date with a man I’ve known most of my life without my father’s permission.”

Hetty grimaced. “All the more reason to break out and do something crazy.”

“I was hoping you’d say that because I need your help,” Bethany grinned.

Freddie listened to the plan with wide eyes and shook her head. “You could break your neck. Sutton may be full of doubt now, but he’s never going to believe you love him if you’re dead.”

Bethany waved off her concern. “You know I can ride, Freddie. I’ll be fine. This is the only thing I can do that is 100% just me. Not my father, not my family, not anything but me.”

“We’ll see you at the party,” Hetty promised.

Bethany got dressed and was waiting when her father arrived to escort her. “I thought Sutton would be here. Or at least Penn.”

“Oh, Daddy,” Bethany said in a simpering voice. “I thought it best to go with you.”

He was pleased and marched into the black-tie party with her proudly on his arm. The ballroom was full of familiar faces from their social circle and everyone was enjoying champagne and fancy crudités. Bethany did her best to play the dutiful daughter and she fulfilled her role perfectly.

Until she met eyes with Sutton.

He came over and gave her a hard smile. “No congratulations? I thought you would be relieved to know we’re finally financially compatible.”

Bethany took a breath, then told him in her best aloof tone, “It’s not good manners to discuss wealth in public, Sutton. You really should work on that.”

He glared at her. “Now you want to fix my manners?”

She met his gaze. “What manners? Anyone who doubts their best friend is a lost cause.”

“Wait, Bethany,” Sutton started to catch back his harshness.

It was too much. “You have no reason to doubt me, and I can prove it.”

She tore away from him, not caring if she was making a scene, and disappeared into the crowd of well-dressed partygoers. She saw her sister and had to veer back, but Sutton made no move to stop her. There was still doubt on his face and it drove her to the edge of the party.

The reckless feeling was overwhelming and Bethany was glad when she spotted Freddie and Hetty. Her friends waved her over and they quickly helped her sneak into Sutton’s office. While they kept watch, she changed into her riding gear and sneaked out. Freddie and Hetty would cover for her until it was too late for anyone to stop her.

Earlier, Bethany had used her family’s money and influence to bribe a trainer in the stables, and the irony pleased her. Using the very thing her father and sister tried to control her with in order to gain even a few moments of freedom was a wonderfully rebellious feeling.

The riders were being released from the starting line one at a time. Some steeplechases were run all at once, but Topher wanted to show off the sport and give the partygoers the chance to see each rider take the obstacles individually. That suited Bethany as she hoped everyone saw her ride.

“Wait, no way. This is not happening. Bethany, are you crazy?” Topher shoved his way past the other trainers and tried to grab hold of her reins.

“I’m doing this, Topher, and I certainly don’t need permission.” She spurred her horse forward before he could stop her and left confusion on the starting line.

She’d gone out of order, the race clock hadn’t started, and her jeans certainly weren’t the proper formal attire for the race. The inappropriateness of it all pleased her to her soul.

“This is how we do it in Texas,” she cried as she urged her horse over the first obstacle.

There were cheers from the staff side of the hotel, followed by more whoops from the locals that were watching along the trail as she tore through the course. Her hair fell loose, and she shook it free, flying over the water obstacle with a smile on her face. The horse was sure-footed and wanted to go faster so she gave it its head and the trail turned into a blur.

In the distance, Bethany could see the ballroom doors of the hotel bursting open and the black-tie guests swarming onto the lawn. In front, a tall man tore off his suit coat and tie, rolling up his sleeves as he rushed to the finish line.

Her horse's hooves clipped the next jump and she heard it clatter to the ground behind her. Bethany’s heart pounded at the near crash but her horse didn’t falter and she couldn’t lose courage now.

Bethany was riding for everything she wanted. She had to prove to her father that she would make her own decisions no matter his expectations or pressure. Bethany was determined to show her sister that she didn’t have to follow in her tight-heeled footsteps in order to be happy. She wanted everyone to see riding was her passion and her talent. And she wouldn’t settle for wearing shiny boots and riding around in polite circles; no, Bethany felt her Texan blood pumping in her veins and couldn’t hide it any longer. She would ride wild and free or die.

Sutton cried out as she approached the last obstacle, the highest jump with a water hazard below. She took a big breath and concentrated everything she had on the horse she rode. If this didn’t prove to him that she wasn’t a country club, trust fund, white-gloved rich girl and every inch the rough and ready ranch woman he wanted, then she could be satisfied knowing she tried.

Bethany felt her horse surge up into the air and she molded herself to its power as they flew together. At the right angle, she tugged its head up and they made the landing smoothly to huge cheers all around. Feeling her triumph, the horse galloped in a wide circle before she could rein it in and bring it back to the finish line. Everyone was there, but there was only one that mattered.

“You couldn’t just come talk to me?” Sutton asked. He reached up to help her down but she brushed his hands aside.

Then Bethany saw the tears in his eyes. “Would you have believed me?”

He reached up again. “I was so scared.”

This time she let his hands encircle her waist. She put her hands on his shoulders and let him swing her off the horse. “You shouldn’t have doubted me.”

Sutton held on to her even after her feet touched the ground. “I never will again.”

Bethany smiled up at him. “I love you, Sutton Rolston.”

EPILOGUE

***SUTTON***

It felt strange to find the hotel so empty and quiet. Bethany and Sutton let themselves in the front door and set down their luggage. A few guests finished checking in and were led upstairs, so there wasn’t even a clerk at the front desk. It was so quiet they could hear a fire crackling in the front parlor.

“Shall we take a minute to warm up, Mrs. Rolston?” Sutton took Bethany’s hand and tugged her towards the roaring fire.

She smiled and let herself be led to the cozy couch where she curled up next to her husband. Fresh flowers in autumnal colors adorned the mantelpiece and warm blankets had been placed around the comfortable furniture. It was fall and the evenings had a definite chill to the air. Where they had honeymooned, further north, there had even been dustings of snow. It had made it very easy to stay warm and close in their honeymoon suite.

The thought brought a warm and rosy glow to Bethany’s cheeks.

“Do you think they have our room ready?” Sutton joked. Despite it being a hotel, he was warmed by the feeling of home.

“It’s so nice to be home,” Bethany agreed. It didn’t even matter that they shared their home with dozens of guests and staff members and other people’s huge events. This is where she belonged.

“I think it may be this quiet all winter,” Sutton told her.

“We could use a little peace and quiet.”

There had been chaos after her crazy ride. Her father was in an uproar and tried to force her to leave. That had caused all the Rolston brothers to rally around and take a stand between her and the Grants. In between, she and Sutton had made their escape and eloped, which had upset both sides of the family.

Sutton chuckled. “You know, I think we should enjoy all the peace and quiet we can get this winter. Maybe spring will be better.”

Bethany agreed. “By the time the snow melts, I bet our families will have thawed a bit too. They’ll realize soon enough it was our choice and we made the best one.”

“So you don’t regret eloping?” he asked.

“Not for a second.” Bethany looked up at him. “Why? Do you doubt me?”

“Not for a second,” Sutton told her and sealed his promise with a kiss.

* * *

Did you enjoy this grumpy cowboy’s love story? If so, CLICK HERE to read “A Nanny for the Grumpy Cowboy” for a sweet story about Theo’s grumpier brother Drake! This troubled single dad falls head over heels for his happy-go-lucky nanny Freddie. But when his overprotective nature kicks in and he finds out she has been keeping a secret, Drake’s surly nature turns this love story into a tragedy. CLICK HERE to see if Drake gets his happily ever after in book 1 of my NEW series “Rolston Ranch Brothers”.

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About the Author

Hanna Hart is a passionate sweet clean contemporary romance author who has found a love for writing since the age of 6.

Hanna lives in the beautiful Santa Cruz California with her loving husband, two children and dog Milo. Other than dreaming up extremely sweet and romantic stories, Hanna enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, cooking great food, travelling the world, and getting a lot of exercise.

Hanna’s purpose is to deliver very sweet romantic stories to her readers that will touch their hearts in a very meaningful way, taking them to another place that will positively impact their life.

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