Page 70 of Enticing Her Love

Flynn looked up as they approached, and for a heart-stopping second his eyes locked on Sutton, sending her insides into a whirlwind. But those hawk eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening, turning that whirlwind into a gust of second guesses.

WHAT THE HELL? Your date is with my fucking brother?

Flynn pushed to his feet, his blood running hot. He couldn’t take his eyes off Noah and Sutton. He hadn’t even known Noah was in town. He was vaguely aware of Victory moving around him to hug the auburn-haired woman who was with them and Seth and Clay saying, “Surprise!”

Clay clapped Flynn on the back. “Good to see you back in one piece.”

“Thanks, man.” Flynn pointed to Sutton and Noah. “What’s going on here?”

“What? Oh, nothing,” Sutton said anxiously, ducking out from under Noah’s arm.

“The night’s young. We could make something happen.” Noah waggled his brows.

“Now, there’s an idea,” the auburn-haired woman chimed in.

Flynn’s jaw clenched tighter.

“We just ran into Sutton and Leni out front, and I invited them to join us to celebrate your birthday,” Seth explained.

“Happy birthday, bro.” Noah pulled Flynn into an embrace. “Surprised to see me?”

“You could say that.” Flynn had the urge to set Leni and the rest of them straight and stake his claim on Sutton. Jesus, she’d gotten so deep under his skin, he couldn’t even think rationally.

“Happy birthday,” Sutton said tentatively. “We don’t have to sit with you if you’d rather we didn’t.”

“Don’t be silly. It’s nice to see you, Steele. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I knew you would be,” Seth said with a big-ass grin.

A heads-up would’ve been nice.

As Seth snagged a waiter to arrange a larger table, Flynn turned his attention to Leni. She shared Sutton’s porcelain skin and dainty features, but she gave off a protective vibe over Sutton that seemed to be directed toward him. Either Sutton had shared what they’d done, or Leni was as good at reading situations as Seth claimed she was. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Leni.”

Leni gave him an assessing once-over. “So you’re the snake…slayer.”

Sutton shot her an imploring look.

Flynn didn’t know what that was about, but he didn’t have time to ponder it. There was a flurry of activity as their table was rearranged, and they took their seats. As the others settled in, Flynn lowered his voice for Sutton’s ears only. “I thought you had a date.”

“I did. With Leni,” she whispered. “I thought you had a date.”

“I never said I had a date. I said I had plans.” Plans that were supposed to help get my mind off you for a night, but apparently the whole fucking universe is working against me. It had been torture trying to keep himself in check at work, and their nightly calls had already become his favorite part of the day. He wasn’t about to give them up. He wanted a hell of a lot more, and this wasn’t helping.

They made small talk as they ordered drinks and dinner, and there was no missing the interested glances Noah and Clay were giving Sutton. Seth held up his glass in a toast. “To our crazy-ass brother. Here’s to another safe year around the sun, Flynn. Happy birthday.”

Everyone clinked glasses and drank.

“Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?” Sutton asked.

“It’s just another day,” Flynn said.

“Flynn isn’t a fan of birthdays,” Seth said.

“He hasn’t been since our parents forgot his when he was eight,” Victory added.

“They forgot your birthday?” Sutton asked.

“Yes, but that isn’t why I don’t like them,” Flynn argued.