“I’ll just be a professional beekeeper, then.”
My brother huffs a laugh, grinning at me.
“Good to have my brother back.”
My smile widens to match his. I haven’t been myself for years, and finally, I know who I am and what I want.
“Good to be back.”
I pull at my bow tie, already itching to take it off.
“Here, let me.” Charlotte steps forward and grabs my tie, undoing it and retying it with clear experience. I’m nervous, not for the launch, hell, I could do that in my sleep. But I’m nervous about leaving her. Almost everyone will be coming with me. Charlotte and Preston are the only ones who aren’t. Thank God, Jackson will be here. Otherwise, I’d call the whole thing off.
“What other man have you tied bows for?” My eyes narrow on her, and she giggles, then snorts, and all thoughts of anything else disappear, my love for her expanding even more.
“Just Preston’s.” She grins, and more than anything, I want her on my arm tonight. But that isn’t our story. Yet.
“I wish you were coming with me,” I tell her softly.
Her eyes meet mine, and I wrap my arms around her waist, keeping her close.
“I know. Me too.”
I see it in her eyes. I see her wanting to be with me, sad for missing this milestone. The launch at Whiteman’s has already started. Tanner, Connor, and I are making our grand entrance in about half an hour.
“I hear the media are camped out. The commercial is going live across digital and TV at the same time as the launch, so you’ll see my face even though I’m not here.”
“We’ll be watching. Preston is already in front of the TV, waiting for it.”
“I have my cell. Call me if you need me.”
“We’ll be fine. We have no plans of leaving the sofa,” she assures me, pausing with the tie to look into my eyes. I think she can sense my nerves about this.
“Jackson will be here and won't leave the house until I’m back.”
“Sutton. Relax. We’ll be okay. The gates will lock, and Jackson is here. Preston and I won’t move. You’ll have all our attention, even if it has to be through a screen.” Smiling, she tries to lighten the mood, and I press a kiss to her forehead.
I don’t know why I feel agitated. It isn’t like I haven’t left her before. But I haven’t left her side since I got back. We’ve both been holed up here in my new place, surrounded by the media pack for a few days. Furniture and things arrive every day, her adding her flair with ordering new rugs and cushions, adding a feminine touch to the place, which I love.
“There.” She finishes the bow, her hands sliding down my chest, and I look up in the mirror. The tuxedo I’m wearing is molded to my frame. The bow tie she just tied looks perfect, better than I can do myself.
“We need to go!” Sawyer yells from down the hall, but my hands don’t want to leave her.
“I’m so proud of you.” Her words are a sweet whisper, and my throat constricts. No one has said that to me in a long time, my mom the only one.
“Thank you for that, for everything.” I stare right at her. Holding her hand to my chest, I pull her body to me.
“I love you.” She lifts up onto her tiptoes, her lips connecting with mine briefly. “Have a great time and celebrate. And we can have our own celebration later.”
I hum, already looking forward to getting home and doing just that.
45
Charlotte
Sutton walks out with his brother, slides into the truck, and drives out of the gates. I’m equal parts happy for him and sad that it isn’t something that I get to experience at his side.
Looking every inch the billionaire he is, his suit fitted to perfection, his broad shoulders and strong physique one girls swoon over—including me—he’ll be the talk of not only the town but the country. This new release of Whiteman’s Whiskey, along with the global release of the new commercial, will have the media buzzing. No doubt, he’ll be there all night, fielding questions and smiling for photographers. That’s what it’s all about. And he needs to play his part. Showcase the whiskey for Tanner and Connor. It’s exciting, nerve-racking, and entirely new.
