by Lori Foster
True, but to her, Tash and Sadie were more than mere clients. “You know what happened last night.” They’d talked about it on the drive home. “And I told you Sadie is wary about things.”
Ember nodded. “It’s no wonder the girl doesn’t trust easily. Sounds like her mom wasn’t very steady.”
It was the least critical word Ember could have used. “Even more than that, she had Sadie keep secrets from Tash. I can’t imagine how he must feel.”
“Poor kid.” Ember plucked a tall weed and rolled it between her fingers. “I’m sorry the evening went so badly off the rails for you. I really did think you’d have fun or I wouldn’t have dragged you along.”
“I did.” Loads of fun, actually, since Tash had been there.
“But, Patricia,” she said. “And finding out about that dick, Chuck. Then everything with poor Sadie...”
“First, who cares about Patricia or Chuck? I don’t, so forget it.” Sure, she dreaded running into Chuck, but she was a different person now, and her heart was free and clear. She could deal with him, and once she did, she’d prove to everyone that the unfortunate incident had no lasting effect on her. “As for Sadie, I’m glad I was there. Tash handled it well, but I’m sure it angered him, and we both know Sadie doesn’t need to see that.”
“Both, huh? You sound like a couple of concerned parents.” While Autumn sputtered over that, Ember stretched out her legs and stared at her boots. “You think work on the yard equipment will reassure Sadie that she’s here for good?”
“It’ll have to help, right?” Talking about her feelings for Sadie, instead of what she felt for Tash, was a lot easier. “It’s what I’m hoping. She adores Tash, anyone can see that, and she wants to trust in what he promises, but the uncertainty is there in her eyes.”
“Her mother did a number on her,” Ember said with banked heat. “Some people aren’t meant to be parents.”
“Very true.” Ember, however, would have been an amazing mom—and it only just now occurred to Autumn how difficult this conversation must be for her. Appalled at herself, she frowned. “God, I’m so sorry, Ember. With Sadie being older, I didn’t think—”
“It’s fine,” Ember said, denying the pain in her eyes. “I can’t fall apart every time someone mentions a kid, right? Besides, I want to help, so just tell me what to do.”
Autumn knew that would be Ember’s answer, and she loved her for it. “Do you think you could fit it in right away?”
“I’m almost done with the deck I’m building for Frances Richards. I could leave a few of my guys there to finish that up and I could get the groundwork going for the yard equipment right after. Is that soon enough?”
“That would be perfect!”
“I’ll get all the supplies there, get some posts in the ground, let her see that it’s underway. Do you think Sadie would want to help? I could give her a few small chores to do. Nothing dangerous or anything.”
“I bet she’d love that, and I’ll help, too.”
“You? With a power tool?” Ember laughed...but quickly cut her humor short with a wince of guilt. “I mean, yeah. I’m sure you could do anything you decided to—”
Far from insulted, Autumn grinned. “We both know I’m incompetent when it comes to that stuff, and since I like my fingers and toes, maybe I could just hammer in a few nails where you tell me to?”
Suddenly, her sister scrubbed her face. “Damn it, he has me second-guessing myself.”
That had been...oh, four minutes, tops. Knowing this had to do with Mike, Autumn asked, “Who?”
“Mike. He says he likes me but I can tell he doesn’t. In fact, he thinks I’m a jerk.”
Autumn laughed. “Given what I saw, that can’t be true.”
“It is! He said so.”
“Not exactly true, and you know it.” Coming around the corner in a lazy stride, Mike said, “I told you I understand your defenses and I don’t mind them.”
Pavlov lunged forward, shook hard—spraying everyone with lake water and dog hair—then padded over to cuddle Ember.
While petting him, she said, “See?” as if vindicated. “He doesn’t mind. Hell of an endorsement, isn’t it?”
“Umm...” Autumn looked from Ember’s flushed face to Mike’s amusement, and decided to steer clear. “Tash and Sadie are due here soon. I think I should head back up front.”
“I’ll join you,” Ember stated, hot on her heels. “Come on, Pavlov.”
Tipping his head, Pavlov looked at her, whined and chose to lean against Mike.
“Smart dog,” Mike said. “When she’s in one of these moods, it’s probably best to avoid her.” He picked up his shirt from where she’d thrown it on the ground, saw it couldn’t be salvaged, and tossed it over his shoulder.
It surprised Autumn when he belied his own statement and trailed close behind them.
Even on the wide-open farm, tension gathered, pressing heavily against the small group. It wasn’t in Autumn’s nature to stay quiet in times like these. The urge to break the ice, to attempt to smooth things over, nearly strangled her.
Mike did that, and in a big way. “Does this current mood mean you insulted your sister again?”
Hands clenched tight, Ember jerked around, now walking backward. “I didn’t.”
At the same time, Autumn said, “She didn’t!”
Unfazed, Mike asked Ember, “So what were you second-guessing?”
To Autumn’s surprise, Ember didn’t bite off his face. Instead, she drew a slow breath...and faced forward again. She stepped over and around a tree root before mumbling, “I realize sometimes my jokes are abrasive.”
The moderate tone and admission surprised Mike as much as it did Autumn.
Staring at Ember’s rigid back, he moved up closer to her, until their shoulders bumped. “Your jokes are fine.”
Ember didn’t move away. “I detest that word.”
“What word?”
“Fine.”
Wow. Autumn couldn’t stop staring. So much chemistry bounced off the two of them, she felt like a very interested voyeur.
Pavlov, unsure which way to go, trotted over to Autumn. She quietly praised him. He was such a smart dog. Beautiful, too, with his short reddish fur, and quite the character. Maybe they could both slip away... Who was she kidding? She wasn’t about to budge until she saw how this war of wills played out.
They were almost back to the barn when Mike said softly, “I think we got off track a little.”
Gaze straight ahead, hair drying around her face and her eyes narrowed against the morning sun, Ember stayed silent.
Undeterred, Mike persisted. “For the record, I think you’re a very talented, smart, caring woman.”
Without missing a step, Ember said, “Not how it sounded earlier.”
On an aggrieved laugh, he dropped his head, shook it, then glanced at her again. “Horny men aren’t as articulate as they could be.”
Whoa. Autumn fanned her face.
Even Ember fought a grin, before she worked up a frown. “You said I bring out the claws.”
Mike nodded. “Do you deny you give Autumn shit? Often?”
“Nope.” She shot Autumn an apologetic glance. “But I’m going to do better.”
Autumn blinked. How had she gotten dragged into this again? Though it was true, she felt compelled to defend her sister. “Ember and I are close.”
“I know,” Mike said. “It shows, even when your sister is defensive.”
“We each have our individual personalities,” Autumn explained, because he was right. Ember was often defensive, and more cutting because of it. Autumn knew why, so maybe Ember should tell Mike. Then he’d understand, too.
Mike slanted her a look. “She dishes it out and for some reason you take it.”
Oh, Mike, Autumn thought. Now you’ve stepped in it. Definitely, h
er sister needed to explain a few things to him.
From her hairline to her toes, Ember stiffened. They all paused beneath the shade in front of the barn. The silence grew while Ember looked ready to detonate.
A big blowup right before Tash and Sadie arrived would be very inconvenient, so Autumn made a deliberate attempt at steering the conversation. “I’d always thought you were smooth, Mike, but you obviously insulted Ember and now you’re calling me a doormat?”
“Never that.” The glint in his eyes proved that he understood what she was doing, but wasn’t yet ready to play along. “What I’m saying is that good times and bad, you’re a natural-born peacemaker, so you temper yourself.” He looked at Ember with a mix of affection and lust. “Your volatile sister here doesn’t.”
“See?” Ember crossed her arms. “He thinks I’m terrible.”
Deadpan, Autumn said, “I think he was actually calling you hot.”
Mike laughed. “That she is, and then some.”
Taking her sister’s hand, Autumn smiled. “You’re a wonderful person.” With a warning frown at Mike, she added, “As I’m sure Mike will tell you.”
“Be happy to.” He took a step closer to Ember. “If you have any free time right now...?”
Good. Finally, Mike wanted to get back to smooching.
Unfortunately, her stubborn sister resisted.
“Sorry—not sorry—but I need a shower.”
He murmured suggestively, “There’s a shower in my place.”
Smug, Ember said, “I know, because I built it.”
The whole exchange was like something out of one of her books—sort of sexy but misguided, sparks flying and emotions tumultuous. Mike wasn’t a dumb guy, so there must be a method to his madness, but in her opinion, he needed to redirect.
She was anxious to hear what Mike would say next, but then Tash pulled up, and that prompted Mike to bend to Ember’s ear. “FYI, your shirt is literally glued to your body.”
Looking down, Ember shrugged and merely pulled it loose. “It’s hot. Who cares?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Mike said, “Guess I shouldn’t admit that I do.”
“Not if you want to live.”
Yup, Autumn admitted, she and her sister were vastly different. Looking like Ember did right now, Autumn would have made a run for it until she could clean up and cover up.
Ember stood her ground, even sniped with Mike, and then turned all smiles when Sadie ran toward them.
Somehow her sister looked glorious, while Autumn would have looked like a drowned dirty rodent.
No wonder Ember’s relationships with men were never anything like her own, but Autumn hadn’t realized they were that different. Later, she wanted to know about that kiss, and she wanted a verbatim on what was said.
She eyed Tash with new interest. No one had ever called her volatile; instead she got the bland descriptions, like steadfast, calm and thoughtful. Good, solid compliments that wouldn’t inspire lust in any guy that she’d ever met.
Maybe she should borrow Ember’s attitude and be a little more forceful. Go after what she wanted.
Problem was, she didn’t know how.
* * *
Ten minutes into the visit, Autumn wanted to strangle Mike. She didn’t know what he was thinking, but clearly he was up to something. She knew him well, and their friendship had bloomed within an hour of her hiring him almost two years ago. From the start, they’d gotten along as if they’d known each other forever.
Better still, he’d become a part of the family, just naturally falling into place to help with not only farm chores and to care for the animals, but also anything she, Ember or their parents needed. He was their handyman, runner, repair guy and emergency contact. She knew him well enough to recognize that here, now, he had an agenda, and somehow it went beyond his continued interest in her sister.
Pavlov, of course, loved Sadie on sight. He lavished her with attention, keeping her occupied for a good five minutes when they first arrived. Sadie now had reddish dog hair stuck to her purple tank top and pink striped shorts.
She looked adorable furry.
They’d just finished talking about her foot, which dad and daughter both proclaimed was much better. Sadie wore soft yellow sneakers and white socks to better protect the cut, and Autumn noticed she walked without limping. It relieved her to know Sadie was feeling so much better, back to being a happy little girl.
Close to her ear, Tash confided, “She picks out her own outfits.”
“Colorful,” Autumn noted. “Like a rainbow. I like it.” The yellow, pink and purple, added with her red hair, somehow looked very cute when pulled together.
“She’s all but forgotten about her foot. The bubble bath was a hit, so thanks for the suggestion.”
His warm breath sent a shiver down her back and stole her voice.
Still in that soft rumble, he said, “I’m glad you were there.”
Sadie, now sitting on the ground with Pavlov soaking up attention beside her, pointed toward the distance. “Look, Dad, I can see the lake.”
Aware of Mike and Ember watching her, Autumn found a smile. “Our little cove isn’t as nice as the beach area, but Mike, Ember and Pavlov all went swimming there this morning.”
“And someone,” Mike said, looking at Ember, “threw my shirt in the dirt.”
Brows drawn together in curiosity, Sadie asked, “Was it Ember?” making them all laugh.
Ember grinned at the little girl. “Mike is too big, or I’d have thrown him in the dirt, too. I had to settle for his shirt.”
Tash’s eyebrows shot up.
“Just a misunderstanding,” Mike said. “The swim was still...refreshing. Though I think I left the lake hotter than when I went in.”
That put a big smile on Tash’s face. “You don’t say.”
Leaning toward him, Autumn murmured, “Don’t ask.”
“Don’t think I need to.”
With a child’s subtlety, Sadie said, “Dad and me could swim there sometime.”
Even knowing Autumn hadn’t put on a swimsuit in front of others for years, Ember spoke before she could. “Consider yourselves to have an open invitation. It’s also a pretty terrific spot to fish. Just so you know, my workaholic sister often doesn’t get in until six in the evenings, but at seven or so we could take a nice dip to cool down.” To seal the deal, Ember asked, “Would you like that, Sadie?”
“Yes! Can we, Dad?”
Tash smiled at Autumn. “When you have some free time, let us know. We’ll take you up on it.”
Smooth as could be, Ember hooked her arm through Autumn’s and said, “I’ll see that she does.”
Tash looked a little confused by Autumn’s silence—as if she could sneak in a word around Ember’s matchmaking, anyway—but Sadie saved her from having to come up with a reply.
Jumping back to her feet, she looked out to the field and asked, “Is that Delilah and Franklin?”
“They’re buddies,” Autumn told her. “They always hang out together.”
Just then, Matilda and Olivia came out of their pen and poked their noses against the fencing.
Sadie squealed in delight. “And it’s the pigs!”
“Sadie,” Tash said easily. “Remember, keep your voice down so you don’t startle the animals.”
Pumping her hands in front of her, Sadie whispered, “They’re so cute.”
Her enthusiasm for the farm was catching. Autumn absolutely loved everything about it—the animals and how she helped them, the sounds they made, all of their cute furry faces, and the wide-open spaces and fresh air. It thrilled her that Sadie saw it the same way. The girl couldn’t stop smiling. Like a kid at a carnival, she continually looked around, pointing out one animal after another, recalling their names and laughing softly at their antics.
Turning with an exaggerated plea, she asked, “Can I talk to Matilda and Olivia, Dad? Please?”
“I don’t know,” he teased. “What will you say?”
Sadie laughed. “I’ll tell them how pretty they are.”
“I’m sure they’d love to hear it.” He lightly tugged on one of Sadie’s long locks. “Go ahead, but don’t get too close, okay? And remember, voice soft and calm. Promise me?”
“I promise.” She hurried off in a tempered run, Pavlov sticking with her.
That’s when Mike struck.
With no lead-in, without any warning at all, in front of Tash and Ember, he said, “By now, you’ve heard that Chuck is back.”
The bald statement caught her off guard. She wasn’t even sure whom he was addressing. He seemed to be telling them all.
One thought hit her before any other. “You don’t even know Chuck.” That whole fiasco had happened before Mike hired on at the farm. It was in the past, and she preferred to keep it there.
“Know of him,” Mike explained darkly, “and the jerk is asking around about you.”
Asking about her? As in, something casual like, How has Autumn been? It had to be that simple, so Autumn waved it away. “Small town, that’s all.” Chuck had dumped her, not the other way around. His interest had ended years ago.
Ember’s gaze zeroed in on Mike. “I haven’t told you anything about Chuck, and Autumn doesn’t talk about him. Obviously you don’t like him, so what did you hear?”
Before Autumn could declare the topic off-limits, Mike shrugged and explained.
“Last night Patricia gabbed to anyone who would listen. I tried to ignore her.” He paused to say to Tash, “Here’s a tip—steer clear of her whenever you can. She grates like nails on a chalkboard.”
“Already met her.” Tash frowned. “Autumn was kind.”
“Autumn is always kind.”
“Seems so.”
Both Autumn and Ember took in the male bonding with interest.
“I’m not her,” Mike pointed out, “so I have no problem walking away from troublemakers, but then several other women talked to me about good old Chuck, too. He was a topic I couldn’t avoid.”