I nodded. “Let me know what you need.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Brody, it’s frickin’ lingerie and dildos. It feels so weird having you pay for them! I mean, if it was office supplies, that would be one thing. But knowing you’re buying sex toys is…too much.”
My dick jumped in my pants. “You were the one who told me what the items were, Sutton. I would never have asked.”
“Oh. I wasn’t even thinking about that.”
I laughed and kissed the top of her head, trying to ignore the fact that my cock was growing even harder. “Let me know how much you need, and we’ll get it taken care of.”
She nodded and drew in a shaking breath. “I hate that he makes me feel this way.”
“What way?” I asked.
“Helpless. Dependent. He thrived on that when we were married, and I vowed to never let him make me feel that way again—and here I am.”
“You’re far from helpless, and you’re not dependent on anyone.”
“Really?” she asked with a disbelieving laugh. “Because I’m borrowing money from you and asking you to give up your life and marry me to keep my crazy ex-husband from tormenting me. That sounds a hell of a lot like being dependent on someone.”
“To me, that sounds like Asshat is playing games and toying around with your life. It’s not your fault he had access to the money. And trust me, marrying you isn’t going to end my life.”
Sutton turned and started toward her office. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m getting married again. Two unwanted marriages. What are my parents going to think?”
My steps faltered at her words, but I ignored the stab of pain and followed her. “Hey, why don’t you let me clean up my mess, then we can go and grab something to eat. My treat.”
Sutton stopped right before she walked into her office. “Can we go somewhere with alcohol? I need a strong drink. Maybe ten.”
I winked. “We sure can. Let’s drop your car off at your house so I can be your designated driver, and you can drink all you want. How does that sound?”
“Good. It sounds good. And we can talk more about the party. I already have a list of to-dos drawn up.”
“Okay, give me ten, and I’ll meet you back in here.”
She nodded.
As I turned around to go clean up, Sutton called out, “Hey, Brody?”
I turned to face her while still walking backward.
“I don’t know how to thank you for all you’re doing for me,” she said. “And I don’t know why you’re being so nice.”
Tell her, Brody. Tell her you love her. Tell her she means the world to you and always has.
I opened my mouth to reveal my true feelings, but then stopped. She had been through so much in the past day with all this Jack drama. Did she need the added weight of my feelings?
I smiled. “That’s what friends are for, Sutton.”
She smiled in return, then walked into her office.
I wanted to punch my fist into the wall, I was so pissed at Jack. Instead, I picked up my phone and sent off a text.
Me: Hey, it’s Brody Wilson. You on a job?
Miles: Not at the moment. What do you need from me, Sir?
Miles had served under me in the Navy and was the best out there when it came to digging into people’s lives. And their pasts. He always knew how to find information.
Me: I need info on someone. I’ll send you all of his details on Monday. And I need you to work fast.
Miles: You’ve got it, Sir.
Staring at my phone, I drew in a deep breath and then let it out. “You won once, Jack. But you won’t win this time.”