Then I Met You: A single dad romance (Love in Everton Book 6)

by Fabiola Francisco

Penny was only a baby when Hadley left, but I sometimes wonder if somewhere in her subconscious, she remembers her mother leaving her. She’s so attached to me that I have to think it’s rooted in the fear of being abandoned, even if she doesn’t consciously remember the experience.

  “Thanks.” I hang up and look at Sutton. My eyebrows pull together.

  “Sorry about that. Penny called to see when I was going home.”

  “If you need to go, I totally understand.” She waves a hand.

  “I’ve got more time.” I reach for her hand again, tangling our fingers as I lift our connected hands. “She’s okay, just curious.”

  “Where to then?” Sutton takes a step closer.

  My hand lands on her waist. “How about we have lunch?”

  “I should probably be full after eating all that ice cream, but I could totally go for lunch.” I laugh at her honest response and lead the way to a burger joint down the street.

  After we’re seated and have ordered, Sutton takes a sip of her water and looks at me.

  “What’s your favorite thing about being a dad?” she asks.

  “Asking the more difficult questions, I see,” I tease. “Honestly, I love everything about it. It hasn’t been easy,” I shake my head and look at the wood grain design on the table.

  “But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love teaching Penny new things, watching her grow and turn into the person she’s becoming. My favorite thing is probably the moments where it’s just the two of us, and she’s telling me about her day. She gets so animated when she speaks.”

  “It’s clear the two of you have a strong bond. She’s crazy about you.”

  I nod. I’ve raised her all on my own, with the help of my family. Penny’s never known another parent.

  “My turn to ask you all the questions.” Right on cue, the waiter brings our burgers.

  “This smells so good,” Sutton says, licking her lips.

  “They’re the best burgers in town. I know that doesn’t say much, seeing as Everton is a small town, but I promise they won’t disappoint.”

  Sutton nods, cutting her burger in half and taking a bite. She moans and covers her mouth. “This is good.” Her eyes widen as she swallows and licks her lips.

  I eye her movements, taking in every detail about her. Being with her like this is seamless. She almost makes me forget about the past and focus only on the present moment.

  “Told ya.” I take a bite of my own burger and wash it down with some pop. “What do you miss most about home?”

  A slow smile builds on Sutton’s face. She brushes a hand through her hair. “My family. In the past couple of years, I’ve only been able to see them on holidays and the rare visit home or theirs to Nashville. It’s hard since my siblings are still in school.”

  “I can’t imagine living away from mine,” I comment. My life would be completely different, had I not lived in the same place as my family.

  “It’s a struggle, but we make it work. I talk to them on the phone all the time. Hopefully, they’ll be able to come to one of my shows soon.”

  “When is your next one?”

  “We’ve got a few local ones coming up in two weeks. This summer, we’re touring again for a couple of months, and I’ll be in a few summer festivals.”

  “That’s great,” I say. Knowing Sutton will be away for the summer makes me wonder how we can make this work. It was one of the reasons I had kept my distance in the first place. How can a growing music sensation and a cowboy merge their lives together?

  “Maybe you and Penny can come to one of the local shows.” Sutton reaches across the table and holds my hand.

  “She’d love that.” Penny would love to be in the center of it all.

  “We have smaller gigs that wouldn’t be so hectic for her. A lot of kids actually come to our concerts.” Sutton gives the reasons for Penny and me to go. She wants us there, and she’s justifying it any way she can.

  “I’m sure we can make it to one that’s in the area.” She was in awe when she watched Sutton and Knox perform at the ACM Awards, and then yesterday at the sock hop. Given the chance, Penny would snatch it up and run on her own two feet toward the concert.

  As we continue to eat, we talk more about our lives and careers. Sutton makes me laugh. Everything about her relaxes me. Her confidence is contagious, and I lift some of my guard with her.

  I may not be sure exactly how we could work, but I know that I want to see her again. For the first time in years, I feel free of the weight I’ve been carrying. I feel happy.

  After I pay for our meal, I walk Sutton to her car parked not far from the restaurant.

  “Thank you for today.” She smiles up at me.

  “I had fun. Sticking to my original question, are you free this week? I promise to have a better plan for a date.”

  “This was perfect. Dessert before lunch, how can a gal complain about that?” I stare at her eyes, wanting nothing more than to stay with her.

  “Go out with me again,” I demand, my voice husky.

  “Tuesday night,” she says. Her eyes move from mine to my lips, and I know what she wants, but I won’t do it in public. This town has eyes and ears everywhere, and I’m already expecting questions about Sutton after walking together around town.

  “It’s a date.” I lean in and kiss her cheek, my lips lingering a moment longer than normal as I inhale her sweet scent.

  Sutton’s lips are parted when I lean back to look at her. I wink and tighten my hold on her waist. It’s been years since I’ve been with a woman. People would say there’s something wrong with me, but between the pain of losing Hadley and taking on a full-time parenting role, I had no time or desire to allow someone that power over me.

  Sutton brings that out in me, though. I don’t know how patient I can be. I clear my throat and take a step back from her intoxicating energy.

  “I’ll see you Tuesday,” I promise.

  The smile that lights up her face speaks volumes. This could be the beginning of something great. I hope so, at least.

  Gavin

  It took me a little longer than I imagined to say goodbye to Penny. She asked if I’d be home before she went to bed. When I said no, she begged me to read her a bedtime story before bedtime. It wasn’t easy, and guilt seeped through my veins at her confused expression as to why I wasn’t having dinner with her and my parents.

  My mom promised Penny would be okay and urged me to have fun. After my impromptu date with Sutton on Sunday, my mom smiled at me and patted my hand. Silently, she reassured me that this could all work out.

  “What are you thinking about?” Sutton asks next to me.

  “Sorry, I spaced. I was thinking about Penny.” I shift gears and drive up the dirt road.

  “We can reschedule, honestly.” This woman has been a saint. After apologizing for being late and explaining Penny was having a rough evening, Sutton told me it would be okay to reschedule our date so I could go home to Penny. The sincerity in her eyes is what tugged at me.

  “No. I want to do this. Besides, this will be an adjustment for everyone, and I know she’ll be okay with my parents. Thank you for understanding, though.” I reach for her hand.

  “Of course. Penny comes first, always.” She shifts, and the sound of leather creaking beneath her sounds. “So, where exactly are we going?” I glance quickly and catch the deep furrow of her brows.

  Chuckling, I say, “You’ll see in a few seconds.” I release her hand to shift gears and turn into an open field.

  Sutton leans forward, resting her arms on the dashboard and staring out the window.

  “Where are we?” Her chin rests on her hands as she turns her head to look at me.

  “Technically, on the ranch. I packed a picnic and some blankets and cushions for the bed of the truck. Sunset picnic and stargazing are on the agenda. What do you think?”

  “I think that’s really thoughtful. It sounds perfect.” She leans over and kisses my cheek. The green in her
eyes seems brighter today as she leans back and smiles at me.

  Making my way around, I open her door, and she hops out of the truck. My gaze sweeps over her again in a pair of fitted jeans that flare out and cover her cowboy boots. They smooth over her curves, and I itch to pull her to me and run my hands down the sides of her body. Her sweater hangs a bit off her shoulder, exposing a few freckles there.

  “You look beautiful,” I say.

  “Thank you.” She bites down her smile. “Now, show me this picnic you planned.”

  I grab her hand and lead her to the bed of my truck. I unlock the retractable cover and let it roll to the rear of the bed.

  Sutton gasps, and I smile at her reaction.

  “This is incredible.” She looks at me with wide eyes. Blankets cover the floor of the bed, and a handful of cushions rest against the back with the picnic basket and a cooler.

  “No one has ever done anything like this for me.”

  “I’m glad I did,” I respond, lowering the tailgate.

  Once we’re settled on the bed, I bring the cooler over to us. “I cheated a little and asked Ainsley what your favorite wine was. But, she told me you’re a beer girl.” I smirk.

  “Ah, that I am.” She rubs her hands together. “What’d you get.”

  “Well, Everton’s supply is limited, but I did find some local IPA.”

  “Ah, a man after my own heart.” Sutton giggles and reaches for the bottle. When I offer her a glass, she shakes her head and tells me the bottle is perfect.

  “This is really good,” she says after she’s tasted the beer.

  “I’m glad you approve.” I wink and touch my bottle to hers.

  Sutton sighs and looks out at the view before us. The mountains, trees in the distance, and a wide-open field with wildflowers growing.

  “This is beautiful.” She leans into me and puts her head on my shoulder.

  We drink our beers in silence for a moment as we take in the view. My guilt from earlier melts away. I trust that Penny is okay, and it’s only normal that I have a life that includes things I have to do without her.

  “I also have some wraps, pasta salad, and dessert.”

  “Okay, just leave me here for another minute,” Sutton murmurs.

  I laugh and switch my beer to my other hand so I can wrap my arm around her. “I’m in no rush,” I say against her temple.

  “Hmmm…” Sutton sighs. “It’s so peaceful. It makes you forget you live surrounded by people.”

  “I know. Being out here always feels like I’m the only person in the world. Although, tonight, I’m glad I’m here with you instead of alone.”

  Sutton smiles up at me. “Me too. What dessert did you bring?”

  I shake my head. Smiling, I tell her, “That’s a surprise for later.”

  “Cupcakes, right?” Her eyes light up.

  “I don’t know,” I shrug and purse my lips. “You’re gonna have to be patient.” I tap her nose. She pouts, but I don’t fall for it.

  “How about we eat?” I suggest.

  Opening the basket, I grab our wraps and pasta salad. Serving us each a plate, I hand Sutton a fork.

  “Thanks.” Sutton takes a bite of the salad and moans, saying how good it is.

  “It’s my mom’s recipe. There’s nothing much to it.”

  “It’s really good.” She takes another bite before having a sip of beer. “How was your day?”

  “It was good. Got a lot of work done with the cattle and mending some fences. We sheared the sheep a couple weeks ago and are preparing the wool to be sold.”

  “That’s one thing I’ve never done.” She looks over at me with a raised eyebrow. “I guess I still have some things to learn when it comes to ranch life,” she winks.

  I chuckle and nod. “Not everyone shears sheep. It’s turned out to be a good business for us at the ranch. The cattle will always bring in the majority of our profit, but this helps, especially in years where money is tighter.”

  “Every little bit helps. Besides, it’s good not to have all your eggs in one basket.”

  “Definitely. How was your day? Did you finish the song you were working on?” I lean back against the cushions and take a bite of my wrap.

  “Almost,” she beams. Every time she talks about her career, her face lights up. It’s clear Sutton loves sharing her music. “We need to finalize the music, but the lyrics are complete. Then, it’s off to record.”

  “That’s awesome. This is part of your second album?”

  “Yeah. I hope for a fall release. Fingers crossed we can get it all done by then.” She crosses her fingers and giggles.

  “I’m sure that’s possible.”

  As we finish eating, we talk about the rest of our day. The sun begins to dip behind the mountains, turning the sky into shades of orange and pink.

  “This sunset is stunning,” Sutton says, and she scoots closer to me. I smile and wrap an arm around her shoulder. I watch as she admires the descending sun, her eyes slightly squinted, and a permanent smile competing with the sun’s brightness.

  Sutton extends her legs forward, crossing them at the ankles, and leans into me. A soft sigh leaves her lips. She feels good in my arms. Any fear or hurt from the past drowns with the sun. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but I can’t deny the desire I have to be with Sutton. It’s as if she gets me, gets my situation. She’s proved that time and again by the way she interacts with Penny and her selflessness by putting Penny first when she offered to reschedule tonight’s date.

  “I’m going to clean this up a second. Stay here.” I kiss her temple and scoot up, grabbing our plates, empty beer bottles, and food containers. Putting the garbage in a bag I packed, I place the rest of our things in the picnic basket and take it to the backseat. I leave the small cooler that has the beers and pop the cap on one before handing it to Sutton.

  “Thanks,” she smiles over at me.

  We settle back into the cushions, my arm back around Sutton, and look at the darkening sky. Stars begin to appear, twinkling in their arrival.

  “When is your birthday?” Sutton turns her head back to look at me.

  “February 19th.”

  “I’m January 19th!” Her voice rings with excitement.

  I laugh. “You don’t say?”

  “Yup. Except I’m a few years younger than you.”

  “How are you so sure? Maybe you’re the older one in this relationship,” I tease.

  “Are you calling me old?” She sits up with a hand over her chest and mouth dropped.

  “What if I am?” I play along with her mocking humor.

  “Ever been with a cougar?” Her eyebrows waggle, and I burst out laughing.

  “Get over here, cougar.” I bring her close to me again. “I’m twenty-nine.” My fingers brush against her exposed shoulder.

  “Pfft… I’m twenty-five, oldie.” She playfully slaps my chest. Before she can remove it, I grab her hand and lace our fingers together. Then, I lift our hands and kiss the inside of her wrist.

  Sutton trembles beside me and scoots closer.

  “Are you cold?” I look down at her silhouette. Once the sun dips behind the mountains, night comes fast.

  “No, I’m just gettin’ comfy.” She shifts her body until her head is leaning right below my shoulder. I keep our linked hands on the other side of my chest.

  “I can turn on the light back here,” I suggest.

  “Nah, let’s look at the stars.”

  Silence washes over us as we stare at the sky. I run my hand back and forth across her shoulder as I inhale her sweet perfume that floats in the breeze. I feel like I’m living a different life as I lie here with Sutton.

  Just the other day, I believed I had no other role than to be a father and sulk in the past. Sometime between Sutton running into me and fishing, she wiggled her way into my life. I don’t even know what exactly happened, but I do know that this moment is perfect.

  A content sigh leaves Sutton’s lips, and I brus
h her hair away from her face and behind her ear. “What are you thinking?” I look down to make out what I can of her face.

  “How nice this is. I’m going to take the opportunity since it’s dark, and chances are you can’t see my face, to confess that I’ve had a crush on you for a few months. I didn’t really think we’d go out, so I’m enjoying this moment.”

  I chuckle at her honesty. “I’m glad I asked you. These last few years haven’t been easy, and I was hesitant to ask at first.” I tell her the truth. “But I kept seeing you, and the fight I was trying to put up started to dissolve. With help, I’m starting to realize I need to start living my life again.”

  Sutton turns over and puts her arm on my chest and rests her chin on it. Her other arm swings around my body.

  “Whatever happened, I’m grateful that you want me in your life.”

  I blindly reach for her. Sutton’s laugh rings through the night sky like music to my ears.

  “That’s my nose,” she says as she snorts. I’d bet a million dollars she’s blushing right now, and I wouldn’t be as rich as I am for sharing this moment with her.

  She grabs my hand and kisses the inside of my palm before placing it on her cheek, reading my mind. My thumb brushes against her smooth skin as I collect my thoughts to speak.

  “Penny’s mom, Hadley, and I were high school sweethearts, and we got married when we were twenty-one. Penny was born a few years after, yet earlier than we planned on having children. Hadley was still in school, and I was working on the ranch already. I was certain we’d make it work, though. I believe that things come to us when we’re ready, so we prepared for this baby.” I take a hard swallow and a deep breath. Sutton is still as I speak.

  “About six months after Penny was born, she left us. Hadley had a hard time after giving birth, but I blamed it on postpartum depression and read all I could about the topic. It didn’t get any better, and one day she packed her stuff and said she couldn’t do this anymore.

  “She left Everton and never looked back, leaving me with an infant. My entire world crashed down on me. I’m certain if it weren’t for the love I have for Penny, I wouldn’t be in the place I am right now. I never expected Hadley to do that, and I should’ve been more aware of the signs.”