Chains

by Wilder, Chiah

  There was a slight pause, then a soft chuckle. “Autumn.”

  “That’s a pretty name.” His gaze dropped from her eyes to her shoulders and then to her breasts. “It suits you.”

  Autumn cleared her throat. “Uh … thank you.” She quickly looked away.

  “Why don’t you have a seat? I can get you a cup of coffee.”

  She fidgeted with the bag in her hand for the umpteenth time, then glanced at the wall clock. “Thanks, but I have to get going. I still have some work I need to do before I call it a night.”

  Shrugging, he leaned back into the cushion and propped his leg on the seat across from him. “Okay.” He locked gazes with her, enjoying the way it made her fluster.

  “Okay then.” Autumn pointed to the door. “All right—I’ll be going now.”

  “I’ll come by in the morning to see Thor.”

  A big smile plastered across her face while her head moved up and down like one of those bobble-head dolls on the dashboard of cages.

  She’s so fuckin’ nervous. Yeah … she’s interested.

  “Thor will love seeing you.” After a pause, she turned away mumbling, “Goodbye” as she rushed to the front of the diner. Without a backward glance, Autumn pushed open the glass door and hurried toward a dark-green two-door Audi.

  Chains chuckled when the cage sped out of the parking lot.

  “I’m guessing you liked the pot roast,” Tammy said as she leaned over and picked up his empty plate.

  “It was good.”

  “You want any dessert?”

  One corner of his mouth hitched up in a smirk. “Yeah … I’ll take a piece of chocolate cream pie.”

  Chapter Five

  Autumn tossed another blouse on top of the growing pile on the floor as she tried to decide what to wear to work that morning. She didn’t want to admit she was nervous about seeing Chains, especially since running into him the night before at Leroy’s. She didn’t like the way he looked at her, the way he’d made her feel nervous and all mushy inside.

  The previous night, Autumn had planned to go to bed earlier, but the more she’d thought about Bret hanging up on her, the madder she became, and the more intense the craving grew for a piece of Leroy’s famous chocolate cream pie. Bret usually disapproved when she’d order anything sweet, so her trip to the diner was a small act of rebellion and defiance. The last person she ever thought she’d run into was Chains.

  Autumn sighed as she shook her head. Damn, that man. There was something dark and dangerous about him. Just by looking at him, any woman would know she’d be taking a risk in getting involved with him. There was no doubt that the sex would be awesome, but the chance of him stealing then breaking a woman’s heart would be pretty damn high.

  “Grr … just stop it,” she said aloud. Cinder, her bluish-gray cat, meowed and rubbed against her legs. Autumn looked down and into the cat’s bright copper eyes. “I’m acting like an ass, you know,” she said, bending down to rub Cinder under the chin. “I should be thinking about Bret instead of a patient’s owner. I’m being shameful.”

  Cinder purred and nuzzled the side of her face against Autumn.

  The truth was that Autumn was very attracted to Chains, and she was pretty sure a lot of women would be. Just because she was engaged didn’t mean she’d never find another man besides Bret attractive. There had been numerous times when Bret had done a double-take when a pretty or curvy woman passed by them on the street or in a restaurant. “That’s just normal human behavior. I’m making too much out of all this.” Without another glance in the mirror, Autumn fastened her blouse and tucked it into her pencil skirt, then slipped on her heels and walked out of the bedroom with Cinder following close behind.

  On the way to the clinic, Autumn kept glancing at the phone laying on the passenger seat of the car, hoping Bret would man up and give her a call. When the phone finally rang, she was so startled by it that she jumped a bit in her seat. Glancing over, her heart sank when she saw it wasn’t Bret calling.

  “Hello?”

  “May I speak with Autumn Stanford?” a woman asked.

  “Speaking.” Autumn turned into the parking lot, found a spot and then shut the ignition.

  “This is Jenny from Gateaux Bakery. I’m just confirming your 4:30 p.m. appointment today.”

  “Oh, right.” Autumn slid out of the car.

  “Is the time still good for you?” Jenny asked.

  “Yes.” She slammed the car door. “I actually forgot about it, so I’m glad you called. I’ll be there. Thanks.”

  “Is your fiancé coming as well?”

  “He said he wanted to, but I’ll be there for sure. Thank you.”

  Autumn slipped the phone into her leather tote bag and walked across the lot. A black and gray Harley-Davidson with a ton of chrome gleamed under the morning sun. She paused to admire the beautiful motorcycle and wondered what it would feel like to ride on it. When she was in college, a friend of hers had a scooter and would take her on rides around the city and countryside. She’d loved the way she was immersed in the world around her and connected to it. It was unlike anything she’d experienced from inside a car.

  Autumn ran her hand over the soft leather seat and massive handlebars. “This beauty is a million times more powerful than Declan’s scooter. I bet it would be thrilling to be on the back of this one.”

  “Hi, Dr. Stanford,” a woman’s voice rang out behind Autumn.

  Looking over her shoulder, she smiled when her gaze met Silvia Sanchez’s. “Hi. Is Poppy not feeling well?”

  The middle-aged woman held a small Pekingese in her arms as she ambled over to Autumn. “She hasn’t eaten in two days. I made her lamb stew and rice yesterday, and she just turned away. Her back leg seems to be giving her trouble too. I think she may have a splinter or something.”

  Autumn ran her hand over the fawn-colored dog. “Did you step on something, Poppy?” She smiled. “I’ll take a look at her as soon as I check on a couple of patients.” She held the door open for Silvia, then followed her into the reception area. “I’ll see you soon,” she said before disappearing behind one of the doors.

  After putting away her coat and tote bag, Autumn slipped on her lab coat and rushed down the hall toward the recovery room that housed Oscar and Thor. She had planned to be at the clinic thirty minutes sooner, but trying on a multitude of blouses had made her late. Again, she cursed her foolishness and made a vow that it would never happen again.

  When Autumn entered the room, she saw Chains standing by the cage that held Thor. She stayed rooted to the spot as her eyes roamed over him. His navy blue T-shirt fit nicely, showcasing his firm chest. Toned shoulders and firm biceps bulged under the fabric, and Autumn had the unfamiliar impulse to simply run her hand over the sculpted flesh in admiration. Tearing her gaze away, she inhaled deeply and then walked slowly toward him.

  Chains turned and gave her a nod, took her in with one of those bright, disarming glances, then fixed his brown eyes on her.

  “You must’ve come in early,” she said, stopping in front of Thor’s cage. Chains was so close that she could smell his spicy cologne along with the scent of leather and sun-warmed skin. She gripped the clipboard hanging on a hook and perused the chart.

  “How’d you like your pie last night?” he whispered, except his mouth was close, too close to her ear. His warm breath sent an unwanted tingle of desire to every nerve ending in her body.

  Flustered and angry, Autumn moved away to put some distance between them.

  “Good. Thor’s doing very well,” she said.

  “He’s still pretty groggy.”

  “That’s because he’s on an IV. I’d like to keep him overnight again, and if everything is looking as good as it is now, you can bring him home tomorrow.” Suddenly feeling awkward and exposed, she pressed the clipboard against her chest.

  The corner of his mouth tugged upward as his gaze rested on the form holder for a second then slowly traveled up to her lips.
r />   “That’s great news, Doc.”

  She cleared her throat. “I’m sure you’re both anxious to get back to your routine.” Scribbling notes in the chart, she feigned indifference even though she was acutely aware of his presence.

  “Do I make you nervous?” His voice was like a low roll of thunder.

  Glancing up, she shook her head. “Not at all.” Inside, her nerves were snapping, but a cool smile spread across her face.

  He took two steps toward her, making her stomach twist into a knot.

  “Are you sure about that?” he whispered.

  Not knowing what to say, she just stood there grinning like a damn fool.

  “Dr. Stanford, we have an emergency. Dr. Jenkins needs you to take his appointment in Room Six.”

  “I’m coming,” Autumn said as she placed the clipboard on the hook. She quickly walked over to Oscar’s cage and read the charts before rushing out of the room.

  For the next forty-five minutes she hurried from room to room, tending to her patients as well as Mark Jenkins’. After administering a shot to a large tabby, a deafening roar rattled the windows of the examination room.

  “What’s that?” the tabby’s owner asked.

  “I have no idea,” she replied as she walked over to the window. Autumn sucked in a small gasp as she watched Chains turn around the black motorcycle she’d admired earlier that morning. I should’ve figured the Harley belonged to him. She watched him until she couldn’t see the bike anymore.

  “They should make it against the law for people to have such loud motorcycles,” Patty Timbers said as she picked up her cat.

  “I’m pretty sure there’s a law against it,” Autumn said, turning away from the window. But he wouldn’t care about that. A small laugh escaped through her lips.

  “The police are never around when you need them.” Patty placed a kiss on top of her cat’s head.

  “I’ll see you in six months for Othello’s next shot.” Autumn pulled off a pair of nitrile gloves, then tossed them in a bin next to the sink before walking out of the room.

  The rest of the day was so busy that Autumn and the rest of the vets didn’t have time to take more than a ten-minute break. Mercifully, she’d didn’t have any extra time to think about the unnerving encounter she’d had that morning with Chains. There was this vibe in the air between them she couldn’t quite put into words. It felt like high school all over again, and it angered and confused her. Autumn had never felt this drawn or attracted to a man she didn’t know, and the fact that she and Bret were getting married in less than three months made the guilt factor overwhelming.

  Tomorrow Thor’s going home, so that will be it. I need to concentrate on the wedding. Autumn looked at the clock, then rushed over to the closet. “Dammit! I’ve got to be at the bakery.” She hurried out of the room, telling Mary that she had an appointment and to call her if anything came up before she came back to the animal clinic.

  Her day had been so full that Autumn had forgotten to call Bret to see if he still planned on meeting her to discuss the design of the wedding cake. She rummaged through her tote when she got into the car and dug out her phone, quickly tapping in his number.

  “What’s up?” he said on the second ring.

  “I forgot to remind you that we have an appointment at Gateaux for the cake. Are you still planning to go?”

  “Of course. I told you I’d be there. I don’t need you to remind me.”

  She bit the inside of her cheek.

  “Are you on your way?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’m running a bit behind because it was crazy at the clinic today.”

  “I’m just pulling in front of the place.”

  “How was your day? Did you finish your work last night?”

  “Still working on it. My day was good. I’m going in now.”

  “See you in a few,” she said before hanging up.

  Autumn spotted Bret’s yellow Mustang convertible in front of the bakery and parked behind it. Three- and four-tiered wedding cakes with columns, cascading flowers—real and sugar—and dozens of miniature pastries filled the two display windows of the brick storefront. Interspersed between the goodies were pumpkins, acorns, berries, greens, and sateen leaves in fall colors.

  “Sorry, I’m late,” Autumn said when she walked through the glass doors.

  A woman around Autumn’s age nodded while pulling out a wooden chair beside her. “No worries. I’m Jenny. Catherine had something come up with one of her children, so she had to leave. I’ve been working in cake design for the last twelve years. I studied and worked in Paris for four years.” Jenny smiled widely. “I just wanted you to know that I have a lot of experience in everything sweet, and my specialty is in designing unique wedding cakes.”

  “I’m not worried. Catherine sings your accolades all the time to me.” Autumn sat down then leaned over and kissed Bret on the cheek. “Hey,” she whispered.

  “You’re looking good, sweetheart.” He squeezed her hand, then looked down at his phone.

  As she and Jenny discussed various designs, Bret focused his attention on the phone, making no effort to be part of the decision process. The incessant beeps drove Autumn crazy, and she seriously thought about flinging the damn phone against the wall, then laughing maniacally as the broken pieces flew around the room.

  “Do you want the sugar flowers or something a bit more modern?” There was an edge in her voice.

  Bret shrugged. “Whatever you want. You’re the one paying, right?”

  Jenny shifted in her chair while clearing her throat.

  “I thought you wanted to help out with the design,” Autumn said.

  He looked up. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “Not really,” she mumbled.

  An hour later, Autumn walked out into the cool air and headed to her car. She’d just plunked down another five hundred bucks for the cake, making the entire price a little over a grand. At the end, she decided on the sugar flowers tumbling down the side of the four-tiered cake with simulated lace and pearl accents around the borders.

  “Do you want to go out for a beer?” Bret asked as he slipped his arm around her waist.

  “I was hoping we could go to the Spice Room.”

  He scrunched his face. “I’m not feeling that tonight. Anyway, I told Liam, Colin, and Oliver that I’d hang out with them tonight. We’re going to the Beer Shack. You love their burgers.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you already had plans?” Autumn pressed the remote and the Audi’s headlights turned on.

  Bret pulled his arm away from her waist. “I want you to be there with me tonight. I thought you’d want to spend some time together.”

  “I would, but I don’t feel like competing with your friends. Anyway, I’m on call tonight. I’m going back to the clinic to check on two of my patients and one of Mark’s.”

  “Okay. I’m not going to jump down your throat because you have to work late. I understand, which is more than I can say about you and my work. Last night, you really pissed me off.”

  “I already told you I was sorry about that.” She leaned against the car. “Are you sure you want to get married?”

  Bret jerked his head back and a frown burrowed between his brows. “What the fuck kind of question is that?”

  “It’s a fair one. It just seems like instead of this wedding bringing us closer together, it’s pushing us farther apart.”

  “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “Like this whole cake designing thing. I bet you don’t even know what I decided on for our cake. I’m just wondering why you even bothered to come. You were glued to your damn phone the whole time.”

  “I came because I knew you wanted me there for you. You’re just never satisfied, are you?”

  “Forget it.” She pushed away from the car and opened the door.

  Bret slammed it close. “Don’t be this way, Autumn. The last few months you’ve become a real pain in the ass. I tr
y and do all this stuff for you, and you don’t even care.”

  “What are you doing for me? Canceling engagements at the last minute? Wanting to come over at one or two in the morning to have sex? Not giving a damn about the wedding plans? Tell me all the things you’ve been doing for me.”

  Bret shook his head, then pounded his fist on the top of the car. “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this. I love you and I want to marry you—it’s that simple. Now, I have to go. I’ll call you later.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips, then went over to the Mustang and slid inside.

  She watched in disbelief as he merged into traffic before she opened the car door and slipped inside. Something wasn’t right between them. Is it me? Autumn didn’t think so because Bret had definitely been pulling away from her in subtle ways for the past two to three months, but she couldn’t figure out why. It appeared as though their lives were the same in regard to hours and intensity, so what was the problem, and why didn’t he want to talk about it?

  Sighing, Autumn drove the car away from the curb and headed in the direction of the clinic. For a split second, she wondered what Chains was doing at that moment, but she quickly banished all thoughts of the ruggedly handsome man who rode a Harley.

  Tomorrow, I’ll pick up a couple of steak dinners and have Bret come over. We just need to make time for us.

  Happy with her plan, she decided to send Bret a text once she got back to her office. Every couple had their rough patches, and planning a wedding when they were both so busy was just plain stressful. Bret was the man she loved and wanted to marry. There was no confusion; he was her happily ever after.

  Autumn kept telling herself that, hoping to snuff out the doubt niggling at the back of her mind.

  Chapter Six

  “We missed you at Cuervos last night,” Eagle said as he slipped into the chair beside Chains.

  “I had a website I had to finish,” Chains replied. For the past seven years, he’d been running his website design company, and it had proven to be quite lucrative.

  “The chicks were outta control.” Eagle chuckled. “This busty brunette wanted it so bad that she practically begged for my cock in her mouth. Damn … could she give head.”