Page 102 of Enticing Her Love

“I think you should put the meanie back in the body bag,” Joey said, sparking a round of laughter.

Pieces of that particular conversation came back to Sutton. Leni had said she should bag Flynn, and Sutton had said something about putting him in a body bag. When Joey had asked what she’d meant, she’d said it was a place where you put arrogant bosses when they pissed you off.

“Hear! hear!” Leni said, and took a swig of her wine. “Sutton, it’s a good thing you applied for that other job. Have you heard back yet?”

“They emailed today to schedule an interview for next week. I said I was interested. I’m just waiting to get a date and time.”

“Good. You’ll show Flynn Braden what Steeles are made of,” their grandmother said.

“I just don’t get it,” Tara said. “Why would he do that to you if you guys were so close?”

“Because he’s a”—Leni looked at Hadley—“a big, fat jerk.”

“Hello? Where is everyone?” Bellamy Silver’s voice sounded in the hall.

“We’re in the kitchen, Belly!” Jules called out.

Bellamy, a petite brunette lifestyle influencer, and Jules’s bestie, walked into the room, looking as stylish as always in black shorts and a white cap-sleeve top, her dark hair sweeping across her shoulders. “I knocked, but no one answered.”

“Sorry, honey, we were talking and didn’t hear you.” Their mother went over and hugged her.

“I didn’t know you were coming by,” Jules said. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine,” Bellamy reassured her. “I’m super excited about the wedding. I’m sorry to crash your sisters’ night. I promise to only take a minute. I just wanted to talk to Sutton before wedding craziness takes over. Since The Bachelor turned me down, which I still can’t fathom. I mean, look at me. I’m cuter than half the women on that show. I’m submitting my application to LWW’s new reality show, InstaLove. I was hoping Sutton wouldn’t mind reviewing my submission since she used to be an editor.”

“Sure,” Sutton said. “I’d be happy to look it over for you. Just email it to me.”

“Awesome. Thank you! Do you have any connections that might help nudge me up the list?” Bellamy asked.

“No, sorry. That’s a whole different division.”

“Bummer. Okay, I’ll email it to you. One more thing.” Bellamy hiked a thumb over her shoulder. “There’s a hot guy out front who claims to be your boss. I know you said your boss was a total jerk, so I didn’t invite him in. But wow, Sutton, he is gorgeous.”

Panic flared in Sutton’s chest. “Flynn is here? Why is he here?”

“The man must have a death wish,” her grandmother said.

“He said he had to talk to you.” Bellamy’s brows knitted. “You look upset. I can take him down to Rock Bottom for a drink if you want.” She winked.

“Nobody’s drinking with him. He hurt Sutton,” Jules snapped.

“In that case, I’ll get rid of him,” Bellamy said. “Why do they waste hotness on a-holes?”

“Don’t bother, Bellamy. I’ll take great pleasure in getting rid of him.” Leni walked into the hall.

Sutton went after her. “Leni, stop. I can handle my own business.”

Anger and hurt warred inside her as she strode out the front door with her cavalry on her heels. Her heart thundered at the sight of Flynn standing in the walkway, unfairly handsome in jeans and a dark T-shirt, looking uncharacteristically perplexed. Every fiber of her being ached to go to him as she descended the porch steps. But she forced herself to stop several feet away and crossed her arms, steeling herself against those feelings.

FLYNN HAD BEEN gutted, and a little pissed, when he’d found that Sutton had left the gifts he’d given her in his office. But that pain was nothing compared to the hurt in Sutton’s eyes right then, which nearly dropped him to his knees. He’d spent the last two hours out of his mind with worry as his texts and voicemails had gone unanswered. But now, as Leni and several of the women he recognized from the pictures on Sutton’s walls filed out of the house looking furiously at him, he was rethinking showing up there. Leni held a golf club, glowering at him like she intended to use it, and Jules held an umbrella, which he had a feeling was also meant for him, since the sky was clear.

Sutton lifted her chin, those sad eyes trained on him. “What are you doing here, Braden?”

He held up the bracelet. “I believe you forgot something.”

“The only thing I forgot was that you weren’t to be trusted.”

“You have some nerve showing your face on our island,” Leni seethed.