Page 99 of Enticing Her Love

“Just you and Leni and Indi. The rest of us have men to go home to.”

Sutton swallowed against the emotions clogging her throat. She wasn’t in the mood for a party and was relieved to hear that it would just be the three of them overnight. “What are the guys doing tonight?”

“Dad took them out to dinner. But Raz isn’t here yet. He’s coming from LA and should be here around one tomorrow.” Jules drove out of the parking lot. “You’re lucky you haven’t been home this week. Archer is so freaking nervous, he’s been a total grouch.”

“He’s always grouchy.”

“Trust me, he’s worse. He’s a total groomzilla.”

“The ceremony is just the family. What is he up in arms about?” Sutton’s phone vibrated with a call, sending her nerves into a panic. The sight of Flynn’s name on the screen made her feel like she’d swallowed a bowling ball. She didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with excuses, and she didn’t need to break down in front of Jules. She sent the call to voicemail and turned off her phone, suffering in silence as Jules went on about the wedding.

“Everyone is going to be at the reception, and Archer wants every little detail to be perfect for Indi…”

When they pulled up in front of their childhood home, a rambling two-story with weathered cedar-shingle siding, peaked roofs, and a built-in gazebo anchoring the right side of the wide porch where Sutton had spent many hours reading throughout the years, it brought a modicum of comfort. As did the winery and its sixty beautiful acres next door.

“Everyone is excited to see you,” Jules said as they walked up the front steps. She pushed open the door, and they were greeted by the sounds of laughter and conversation floating out from the kitchen.

Joey’s adorable freckled face peered out of the living room at the end of the hall. “Aunt Sutton’s here!” She bolted toward Sutton in striped leggings and a cute green shirt with a bear riding a yellow skateboard on it, her cinnamon hair flying over her shoulders.

Hadley ran after her calling out, “Aunt Sutton!” She was as cute as a button in a pink dress with a matching headband in her wispy blond hair.

Sutton set down her bags, and the girls threw their arms around her legs. It was hard to be upset with two adoring girls beaming up at her. “How are my favorite nieces?” As she crouched to hug them, her mother and grandmother headed up the hall from the living room.

“Good!” Joey and Hadley said in unison.

“Hey, where’s my auntie love?” Jules teased.

The girls ran over and hugged Jules as Leni, Indi, Daphne, and Tara came out of the kitchen.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Her mother wrapped her in a warm embrace, hugging her tight, drawing her emotions closer to the surface. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Me too,” Sutton said as she moved to hug her grandmother. “Hi, Gram. How are you?”

“I’m just dandy. I’ve got wine and time with all my lovely girls.”

“She’s talking about me,” Leni teased. “I’m the lovely one.”

“We know,” Indi said, bumping Leni’s hip with hers.

“Did you bring us anything?” Joey asked.

“Joey.” Tara shook her head. The tall, slim blonde looked pretty in shorts and a blue tank top, her curls hanging loosely down her back.

“Presents?” Hadley chimed in, bouncing on her toes.

“I might have brought you each a little something,” Sutton said coyly, and grabbed her tote bag.

Daphne, a curvy blonde, touched Hadley’s shoulder. “Had, what did we tell you about begging for presents?”

Hadley’s smile fell. “That it’s not nice, but it doesn’t feel mean.”

The adults tried to stifle their laughter as Daphne crouched in front of her daughter, in her jeans and peach top, and said, “It’s not mean, honey. It’s just that we don’t want the people to think we only care about them for the gifts they bring.”

Hadley blinked wide eyes up at Sutton. “I don’t only care about presents.”

“I know that, Had,” Sutton reassured her.

“But I like them,” Hadley added, making everyone laugh.