Amber shrugged. "It's actually perfect."
"Okay, enough analyzing." Autumn signaled the server for the check. "Besides, I'm moving from country road to express lane after I come back from California. I'm taking that cabin Jen offered."
Amber had her lips on her straw but released it, eyes wide. "Wait. When did you decide that?"
"Just now."
"Now! Because of what I said?" She croaked.
"Yep, but you're right. If I want to find the One, I have to step out of my comfort zone." Autumn smiled at the waiter and handed him her credit card. He smiled back, hesitating, but when Amber cleared her throat, he shrugged and walked away.
"Seriously?" She mumbled, glancing back at the retreating young man, before continuing.
"Look. Maybe I didn't know what I was talking about. Maybe you shouldn't jump on the fast track too soon. You don't even know that Jennifer girl. I hadn't even seen her before she walked up to us, what, a week ago? You need to have Matt check her out."
"Sure." Autumn shrugged.
"I mean it. Promise me." Amber gripped her hand. "I don't like her."
Autumn looked up. "Since when? You never said anything."
"What am I supposed to say? She looks like a hooker; stay away from her?" Amber raised her eyebrows.
"Ok, look. That's not very nice. I think she was being super sweet, but I'll ask Matt to check her out anyway. Happy?."
Her friend looked slightly mollified. "Damn it! I wish I was going with you, instead of going home. No, I'm glad I'm going home, but now I'll just worry about you being alone up there for a whole week."
"I'll be fine." Autumn waved a dismissive hand. "It's getting me out of my comfort zone, but it's hardly dangerous."
"I suppose not." Amber sighed. "Just tell Matt you're going."
Autumn studied her friend. "Are you crushing on my brother, Amber? You've brought him up like 5 times now."
Her friend's face colored. "No...I mean...okay, yes, but I really do think he needs to know."
"He will. I've got it handled."
She was actually looking forward to her week alone, drinking tea, reading by a cozy fire. She'd be able to get some studying done too.
Those kinds of offers didn't come around every day. They were serendipitous moments that happened to other people. She wasn't about to question it. Wasn't there some kind of universal warning about looking a gift horse in the mouth?
Chapter Three
"Maxie! Come on baby, where are you?"
Autumn stepped awkwardly over the snow drifts, shielding her eyes from the sun's reflection across the perfect waves of flawless white snow.
He was lost.
Dammit. He wasn't even her dog, but she'd kept him warm and fed for the last few days, and now he was out there with nothing.
She could feel tears sting the back of her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Autumn willed back the hysteria she felt simmering in her belly, ready to escalate given the smallest encouragement.
She needed to calm down.
He obviously had a home, somewhere. Puppies didn't just spring from the snow. But she hadn't noticed another house in the area, even while driving up the mountain road, and she'd assumed someone had forgotten him, or worse, abandoned him.
She swallowed, tears returning with a vengeance.
If he was lost and something happened...oh my god, this trip would be the absolute worst of her life.
Autumn wondered why she had come in the first place. What had she been thinking? She was completely alone, and being alone in the mountains miles from any other human being was vastly different than grabbing some me time with friends just a call away.
She thrust her hands into the pockets of her knee length coat and took another step, her boots crushing and marring the perfection of mother nature's winter display.
She'd left snow in the city of New York for snow in the mountains of New York. Wasn't this supposed to be a change? Why had she come? To get out of her comfort zone. Right. To get on the fast track. To get used to living life on the edge, so she could find someone who also lived on the edge...responsibly of course with some rules, discernment, and...
Who was she kidding? She liked her comfort zone; she couldn't imagine being with someone who lived life on the edge. She'd met people like that and they were not her people, and now she was stuck. No phone reception, chasing a dog who wasn't even hers, and wishing she was comfortably back in the city, in her comfort zone, in fact.
A bark drifted from the forest, echoing through the still air, and Autumn swiped at her face with the back of her glove.
"Maxie." She raised her voice. "Come here. Come here, boy." She called to him in what she hoped was an appealing tone. Taking bigger and quicker steps, she made her way toward the trees, where the sound had originated, when a scruffy blur of beige with a wagging tail burst from the trees directly into her path.
"Oh my god. Maxie. You bad puppy!" She sank to her knees and threw her arms around him. "Don't ever do that again."
She chastised through a smile of relief.
He licked her cheek, wriggling free, and turned back the way he'd come, pouncing in the snow and barking toward the forest before shooting off in that direction.
Autumn scrambled to her feet. "No, Maxie. Come back."
She started after him, her steps slowed by the cumbersome boots she wore. Why couldn't she have bought the light boots with the cute embroidered snowflakes?
She reached he trail that turned sharply into the trees, when a man emerged from around the bend, and she stumbled back, those heretofore useless boots stopping her from falling on her butt, as they anchored to the ground.
Okay, maybe there was something to be said for big and clunky snow gear.
She looked up to find the man watching her, his dark blue eyes penetrating and humorless. Her heart thudded and fear burned a path down her middle.
For the last three days, she'd been alone, completely alone. No houses, no people.
This tall, dark stranger had materialized out of nowhere, like the villain in a fairy tale. She could believe it with those emotionless eyes narrowed and assessing her. A chill iced down her spine. She swallowed and lifted her foot over the drifts, taking another step carefully back. She needed to take the dog to the cabin and lock the doors. Right. Now.
Maxie bounced around the newcomer, wagging his tail while the man rubbed the puppy's head with one black gloved hand.
"Hey boy." His deep, rich voice parted her mental fog, an unexpectedly soothing sound that wrapped itself warmly around her apprehension, almost dissolving it.
She bit her lip, trying to decide if she should grab the dog and run when the man looked up. Had she just imagined his ruthless assessment seconds before? Now those same eyes were full of heat, locking onto hers, her stomach doing flip flops as she stood rooted.
She shoved trembling hands into her pockets and tried hard not to blush under his scrutiny. Had she just gone from ready to run to ready to tear his clothes off in two seconds?
"Wow. I didn’t expect to find anyone out here." He glanced around as if he were expecting to find other people stomping through the snow. His face changed...again...as he brought his now warm and friendly gaze back to her.
His lips curved in a wide smile, dimples popping up on both sides, black hair flopping forward, all ruthless, penetrating heat gone. She shook her head to clear it. Apparently, her imagination was working overtime.
"Brewster?" Autumn frowned, looking over his shoulder, as if someone else would pop out of the trees.
"This." He grinned, holding up Maxie. "Is Brewster."
He stuffed the puppy into his oversized coat, leaving an opening for Maxie's fuzzy head to stick out and sniff the air.
"I thought I'd lost him but looks like I didn't have to worry. Did I, you rascal?" He reprimanded in a slightly cheesy voice that didn't match his rugged good looks.
"He's your puppy?" She asked, her wariness turning to laughter as M
axie's, no - Brewster's, nose popped in and out under the man's chin.
"He was on the steps of the cabin I'm staying in." Autumn explained. "I didn't know he had a name so I've been calling him Maxie..." She trailed off, looking behind her.
"Are you okay?" He asked, trying to avoid Maxie's wet nose.
Autumn brought her distracted attention back to him. "I...I don't know. I might have lost my cabin. I think it's back in that direction." She was about to point, but then it could be in that direction. Good thing she'd never followed her ten year old dream to become an Explorer. She'd have people lost all over the world.
"Hey, you helped me get my dog back. The least I can do is help you find your cabin." He pushed his hair off his forehead with a free hand and it fell right back, blending with black eyebrows.
"I'm sorry? Do you live close by?" Autumn shoved aside her nervousness at being lost to deal with the unease of meeting a stranger in the middle of nowhere.
Despite his friendly, nonthreatening attitude, she wasn't about to show him where she was staying unless she knew more about him. She was easygoing, but not suicidal.
His brows arched, a sheepish apologetic look on his face.
"Oh yeah. Duh. My apologies. I'm actually staying at the house just over the hill. It's owned by an acquaintance of mine...an acquaintance of an acquaintance actually." He pointed back down the trail of boot prints. Autumn turned and for the first time noticed a pointed speck over the white ridge.
"What is that? A turret?" She squinted against the blinding sunlight reflected off the snow.
"Yeah. The guy likes castles." He grinned and rolled his eyes. She found herself relaxing in his unaffected presence and gave him a tentative friendly smile in return.
"I guess I'll take you up on that offer. My name is Autumn." She said, presenting a gloved hand.
"Mike." He clasped and shook her hand, letting go almost immediately to catch Maxie/Brewster sliding from his jacket.
He was completely harmless, it seemed. What had she been thinking? Too many warnings from her brothers apparently. This was real life, not a spy thriller or a zombie flick.
Her apprehension vanished. Not only was this man just a nice guy, she wasn't as alone up there as she'd assumed.
"So do you come here often, Mike?" She glanced up at him as they started walking, the snow crunching underfoot. He was a good half a foot taller than her five foot seven.
"No, actually, this is my first time. There's going to be a masquerade up at the castle in a few days. I thought it might be fun to go." He gave her a shy smile.
He thrust his hands in his pockets, holding Brewster inside. He vibed like a middle schooler walking a girl home with a puppy sprouting from his collar.
Was he nervous? Around her?
She didn't think she was intimidating.
In fact, her brothers were always telling her she was too nice, that someday someone would take advantage of her. But then brothers would say that. They would probably keep her single forever.
All four of them were guilty of harassing her boyfriends by making them go through "tests" of manhood, such as throwing a football like Joe Montana. These were the Moretti challenges. Of course Autumn was never told what each challenge would be, so she could only give a general warning to whoever she happened to be dating at the time.
She'd lost her last three boyfriends that way. Well, she didn't exactly lose them because they failed her brothers' tests. but because her brothers eventually scared them away.
She would have liked just one guy to stand up to her overbearing siblings.
"Are you from New York?" She asked, trying to put him at ease.
"Brooklyn. You?"
"California, but I'm a law student at NYU."
"Wow. That's great. How long until you graduate?" He asked, scratching Brewster behind the ears, who turned and licked him on the mouth. Mike looked momentarily stunned but recovered quickly as Autumn giggled, joining in with his own guffaws of laughter.
"I'm in my last year." She replied, after it had become quiet again. She met his gaze and got another jolt. He did have incredible eyes.
"Are you looking for positions in New York or back home?"
"Both. I'm not sure where I want to be yet." They reached the cabin which sat like a piece of toffee in marshmallow cream just a few yards away.
"Here it is." Autumn said, with some relief, looking at Mike over her shoulder. "How did I manage to get so far away?" She frowned in the direction they'd just come.
"It happens. Hey, be careful next time, okay?" He said, a wide, slightly goofy smile lifting his lips, as he playfully pointed a finger toward her.
Autumn leaned in and scratched Brewster's ears. "Bye Brewster." She cooed. His tongue darted out, and she jerked back with a burst of laughter.
Mike joined her, his deep chuckle warming the air. "Brewster, you gotta ask, buddy."
The thought of him leaving made her unexpectedly melancholy. She'd liked the peace of the mountains, but she was lonely after three days.
"Thank you, Mike. It was nice to meet you." She said, wanting to invite him in but thinking better of it.
"You too Autumn. Maybe we'll see you around." He ruffled Brewster's head and nodded before turning away. She watched him until he disappeared over the hill, the same hill that had hidden a castle for three days.
Chapter Four
Magnus leaned against the doorframe of the tiny kitchen and watched Autumn pour rum, then scoop batter into two mugs.
When Dante had sent him the pictures of Autumn Moretti, he'd been too blinded by his anger at her brother to fully appreciate the woman's appeal, deep translucent brown eyes, gorgeous hair he had to force himself not to touch and a captivating smile that was open and genuine.
His quick perusal of her picture might have given the fleeting impression that she was pretty, in the way he'd expect a sister of Matt Moretti to be – a wholesome, goody-two-shoes. But the image of Autumn Moretti hadn't conveyed the reality. She was beautiful, like sunlight on the ocean kind of beautiful, vibrant, happy, so fucking alive.
The more he was with her, the more he saw her beauty unfold, in the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, or how she ran her fingers through her hair to untangle it, the strands sifting seductively as she gave him a sideways glance, or her lips curving in a smile that was surprisingly sultrier than his best strippers.
Her image hadn't compelled him to want her; the reality of Autumn Moretti did. He couldn't take his eyes off of her and he had to fist his hands at his sides to stop himself from reaching out and stroking her face or sifting his fingers through her hair.
This year's masquerade was going to be a lot more interesting. He had never participated in the activities, had never needed to get intimately involved. It had always been impersonal, strictly business. This time however Moretti had pushed him too far. This time it wasn't only about business. It was about who was in control, who held the power. It was also about revenge. Having something incriminating on Moretti's family was sweet payback.
His eyes traveled over Autumn's silky hair, the smooth skin of her neck, the snug fit of tight jeans over her curvy ass and toned legs, even the oversized sweater made him wonder what was underneath.
Revenge never looked so good.
He had worked to make her feel safe with him over the last couple of days. They had taken the dog on walks and she seemed comfortable and relaxed. She was the trusting type which worked in his favor.
He had worked on his Mike Connor alter ego, adjusting as he went. He was now exactly the kind of guy she would trust.
The Mike persona was important. No way would she trust him otherwise. If Autumn knew who he really was, she'd cut him off in a heartbeat. Those warm, accepting eyes would turn cold, effectively shutting him out.
"Here you are." Autumn stepped closer, handing him a white mug with a Christmas bell on the handle. He gently flicked the brass piece, sending a muted tinkle into the air.
Autumn rolled h
er eyes. "I know. Not my choice, but they're the only holiday mugs."
Picking hers up, she sipped thoughtfully.
Magnus watched her from over the rim. She met his eyes and licked the cream from her lips.
"It'll pass. What do you think?" A corner of her mouth lifted. It was seductive enough to go straight to his swelling dick. Did she even know how fucking sexy that was? Wholesome and trusting with sultry lips and laughing eyes and hair that was lit like a sunset.
He struggled not to get closer to her. He hadn't planned this. He wasn't supposed to be attracted to her. Sooner or later, she would drive him nuts with her perkiness. Besides, he was here for only one thing, to use her.
"Mike?" She scrunched her brow.
He pulled his gaze back to her face.
"Sorry." He took another sip and looked up as if deciding. "I think we've got a winner."
She smiled, biting her lip, and Magnus felt that smile smack him hard in the chest. Fuck, he had to struggle for breath.
"So tell me a little bit about yourself." Autumn said casually as if she hadn't just brought a man to his knees. Magnus followed her to the couch by the fire where logs were still burning, the crack and sizzle of the wood creating a soothing atmosphere.
She sat in one corner of the couch, almost disappearing in the pale green sweater she'd pulled on when they'd returned to the cabin.
"May I?" Magnus asked politely, gesturing to the couch.
"Oh, of course."
He settled in the other corner, stretching out his legs. Wrong. Mike Connor wouldn't stretch out his legs. He pulled them in and rested his elbows on his knees instead, glancing at Autumn who wore a soft smile in expectation.
Fuck. Who the hell was he? He hadn't thought it through, hadn't meant to lie this much. He'd have to turn the conversation around.
"I grew up in Brooklyn. My parents retired to Florida. I was an only child." There. That should do it. The excruciatingly boring life of Mike Connor, middle manager of a construction company. Keep it uncomplicated.
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