All Autumn

by Sandra Owens

  On the nights when I needed to forget about Brian and his betrayal, I’d hug a pillow, close my eyes, and remember a kiss that had shaken me to my core.

  After rocking my world, Connor had acted as if it had never happened. Had, in fact, hardly been around. That had hurt. So his asking me now if I had the hots for Gary Smith infuriated me. Gary was an okay guy, but he wasn’t the man I wanted to kiss.

  Connor narrowed his eyes. “So what if you do? He’s a player, Autumn.”

  “You mean like you?”

  He didn’t respond. We’d been friends forever, and I knew Connor didn’t do serious. Women came and went in his life, and the thing that fascinated me was that they all still liked him when their time with him was up. Ever since the night he’d kissed me, I’d wanted my turn. A fling that would lead nowhere. I was done with love, especially since I no longer trusted my judgment in men. You couldn’t depend on them to stay faithful. Brian and my father were proof of that. No, you scratch my itch, I’ll scratch yours was my new thing going forward.

  “Why’d you ignore me?”

  His eyebrows furrowed as he peered down at me. “Does it look like I’m ignoring you?”

  “I meant all of last year. You avoided me. I want to know why.” I hadn’t intended to ask him that question, but now that it was out, I was glad.

  He pulled us to a stop and then faced me. “I knew if I got near you that I’d kiss you again. And more. Much more.”

  “Oh.”

  “Until yesterday you were still married. Now you’re not.”

  “Oh,” I said again, apparently reduced to that one word.

  “Yeah, oh. It’s a new day, and you’re no longer off-limits.” He put his hand on my neck, guiding me down the hall, apparently done with this conversation.

  “I need to say goodbye to everyone,” I said, craning my head to look behind me.

  “Jenn’s taking care of that.” He pushed me into the bedroom, then backed me up against the wall. “Got any plans for tomorrow?”

  His face was close enough to feel his warm breath on my cheek, making it hard to think.

  “Easy question, Autumn. Yes or no?”

  I shook my head. “Just clean up the house from tonight, then work on a proposal I’m making next week.”

  “Let’s go hiking.”

  “Really?” Out of our group, Connor and I were the only ones who loved to hike.

  “Yeah, really. Sleep in. I’ll pick up some lunch to eat on the trail and then swing by to get you around eleven.”

  I hadn’t been hiking since getting serious with Brian, and I grinned with excitement. Brian hated woods and trails and working up a good sweat. Once, after I got engaged, Connor and I had talked of spending a day hiking, and Brian had gotten all pissy about me spending a day in the mountains with Connor. Wasn’t proper for his fiancée to be off in the woods with another man, he’d claimed. Never mind that Connor had been my friend since first grade and there had never been anything between us.

  Well, until that kiss, anyway.

  Maybe Brian had recognized something in Connor that I’d missed, but I didn’t think so. More like Brian had a guilty conscience and was afraid I might screw around on him like he’d been doing on me.

  I looked up to find Connor staring down at me. The heat in his gaze, the way his blue eyes darkened even as I watched, ignited a low fire in my stomach. And as we stood there, my gaze held prisoner by his, the fire burned hotter.

  Conner lowered his face until it was a breath away from mine. “Yes or no?” he said.

  I didn’t have to ask what the question was. It was no longer about hiking. “Yes,” I whispered.

  For a year I’d wondered if I’d imagined how good it felt to be kissed by Connor, if I’d exaggerated in my mind the thrill that had coursed through me when his mouth had touched mine. I hadn’t. He tasted like the beer he’d been drinking earlier, malty and tangy. His lips were soft yet firm, and they were hot, as if he were burning with the same fever I was.

  “Let me in,” he said, his words vibrating against my mouth.

  When I obeyed, he slipped his tongue in, sliding it around mine. He reached for my hands, pulling them up and around his neck. Then he grunted a sound that seemed like approval when I scraped my fingernails across his skin. He put his hands on my hips, holding me still while he plundered my mouth. With just a kiss Connor possessed me in a way that Brian never had.

  It was thrilling, and it was scary. Before I could think too hard, he lifted his head and stared at me as if trying to solve a puzzle. I didn’t know what to say, but even if I did, I was too breathless to speak.

  “So, hiking?”

  Not capable of forming words, I nodded.

  “See you tomorrow.” He swiped his thumb across my damp bottom lip and then walked out, closing the door behind him.

  “Wow,” I whispered, bringing my fingers to my tingling lips. I slid down the wall, and when my bottom hit the floor, I brought my legs up, burying my face against my knees. Just wow.

  Although I’d missed the touch of a man, I hadn’t messed around since leaving Brian. I’d talked big about taking off for a night in Asheville and having some fun, but I hadn’t followed through. Until my divorce was finalized, I was a legally married woman, and I wasn’t Brian. I wouldn’t break my vows. But now I was free, and I knew just the man I wanted to scratch my itch with.

  Connor was actually the perfect choice. Because we were longtime friends, he would care about my feelings and respect my wishes. And based on the two times he’d kissed me, I was pretty sure he was going to be one hell of an itch scratcher.

  “Beau’s coming with us,” I said the next morning when Connor arrived.

  “Great.” Connor bent over to rub my dog’s ears. “Good morning, Beauregard.”

  I’d never noticed before what a nice ass Connor had. Very nice. Dressed pretty much the same as me, he wore a T-shirt, lightweight jacket, hiking boots, and cargo shorts. I managed—just barely—to resist the urge to pat his butt.

  After a few excited barks of welcome and licks to Connor’s knees, Beau flopped over on his back for a belly rub. As Connor’s long fingers glided over Beau’s tummy, I found myself envying my dog. And just like Beau, if Connor were stroking me like that, my eyes would probably be rolled up in my head and my tongue hanging out.

  “I don’t remember if I thanked you, but Beau was the best present ever.” I loved that dog like nobody’s business. I’m not sure what I would have done without him this past year.

  Connor glanced up, giving me a smile that curled my toes. “You’re welcome.” His gaze returned to my dog. “Ready to go for a ride, Beauregard?”

  Beau barked as he scrambled to his feet and raced for the door. We loaded him and my backpack into Connor’s Jeep. It was a gorgeous day, and he had the canvas top and the side doors off. It had been our tradition when going hiking to tune the radio to a country station—because those were the best songs to sing along with—and turn up the volume. Connor hadn’t forgotten that, and I smiled at him. He smiled back, making my stomach fluttery.

  Between the music we had blaring and the wind, it was impossible to talk. Like we had in the past, we sang along with the songs at the top of our lungs. Neither one of us could carry a tune, but we’d never cared about that. Whenever we hit a high note, Beau would howl, singing right along with us. And each time he did that, Connor and I would look at each other and laugh.

  Something warm and contented settled in my soul, something I’d been missing lately. The past year had been hard, and I needed a day like this. One straight out of a country song—the warm sun on my face, a hot-as-hell man I was having fantasies about, and my dog. It didn’t get better than that.

  I hadn’t asked where we were going, but as we turned onto Highway 64, heading toward Cashiers, I knew he was going to Silver Run Falls, one of my favorite hikes. I smiled, realizing Connor hadn’t forgotten that. The bottom of the falls was an easy hike with a calm, cold pool to swim in.
Getting to the upper falls was a steep and hard hike, and we always enjoyed a refreshing swim in the pool when we came back down.

  Connor parked the Jeep, and we hefted our backpacks. “Ready for some fun, Beauregard?” He hooked Beau’s leash onto his collar.

  Beau jumped out of the Jeep, barking his excitement. We easily reached the bottom falls, and Connor let Beau wade into the water. It wasn’t summer yet, and there were only a few tourists taking selfies in front of the falls. When the weather turned hot and school was out, the pool would be crowded with kids.

  Like most Labradors my dog loved water and was happily splashing and playing. “A dog’s life,” Connor said, a smile on his face as he watched Beau.

  “Yeah, it’s a tough one,” I answered, watching Connor. The first time I’d met him and Adam, they both had been missing their two front teeth. I could even remember the cowlicks that caused their black hair to stick straight up. It was kind of funny to find myself attracted to a man I’d known as a boy who liked to throw spit wads at me because he knew it would make me giggle.

  His front teeth had grown in, his cowlick had been tamed, and instead of getting spit wads from the boy, I was getting toe-curling kisses from the man. Who would’ve thought it? He glanced at me, caught me staring at him, and winked. Well, just melt me into a puddle at his feet.

  Before I tackled Connor to the ground and had my way with him, I elbowed him in the ribs, getting an, “Oof.”

  “Last one up is a rotten egg.” I took off, leaving him to get Beau out of the water.

  “Not fair,” he called after me.

  I laughed, feeling freer than I had in a long time.

  16

  ~ Connor ~

  “Come on, Beau, my man. We can’t let a girl beat us to the top.” The dog looked up at me as if to say, But, dude, water. Dumb dog. I tugged on his leash, and he grudgingly trotted up to me. He came to a halt at my feet and then shook his body hard, spraying me with icy water.

  “Not cool, Beauregard,” I muttered. He grinned back at me.

  I headed up the mountain behind Autumn. Actually, being behind her wasn’t such a bad thing after all. It allowed me a spectacular view of her ass and her legs as she climbed ahead of me. Who knew the skinny, gap-toothed girl I’d known for what seemed like forever would grow up to make me want to grab ahold of her ankles and drop her right here on the trail and kiss her senseless, among other things? She’d worn braces in the tenth grade that had vanished the little gap between her front teeth, and that was too bad. I’d liked that little imperfection.

  The trail up grew steeper and more slippery as we neared the top, and I concentrated on not tumbling down and cracking my head open. Beau had no problem climbing up, and although it might mean turning in my man card, I let him pull me up with him. Autumn, meanwhile, was scampering ahead like a freaking monkey.

  BB—Before Brian—we used to go hiking two or three times a month, Autumn and me. I’d stopped going when Autumn wouldn’t come with me because Brian objected. I’d missed it and her. I just hadn’t realized how much until now.

  We reached the top, and at least Autumn was breathing as hard as me, so I didn’t feel like a total wuss. But it was the light in her eyes and the big grin on her face that drew me to her.

  “Having fun?”

  She nodded. “I’ve missed this.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” We were alone at the top of Silver Run Falls, so I took advantage of that to kiss her. I could become addicted to kissing Autumn. She let out a sigh when our tongues met, and that little sound went straight to my groin. But we were on a trail where anyone could walk up, so before I did what I wanted and took her right here under a blue sky, I pulled away.

  I looked around us. “I’d forgotten how beautiful it was up here.”

  “Huh?”

  “The falls. Beautiful.” Her eyes were dilated and dazed, a look I liked on her.

  She blinked as if coming out of a trance, and then scanned the surrounding landscape. “It is.” Her gaze landed back on me. “Why do you keep kissing me?”

  Okay, wasn’t expecting that question. “Because—”

  “Help. Oh God, please help,” someone yelled, sending Beau into a barking frenzy.

  He strained at the end of his leash, and when he tried to take off, I let him go, jogging along behind him. I could hear Autumn’s footsteps following us. Beau raced around the back of the waterfall along a narrow path.

  Whoever was calling for help was a woman, and she’d apparently heard Beau barking. She kept calling out, and I yelled back to her. “We’re coming!” As her voice grew louder, and not sure what we’d find, I slowed, pulling Beau back.

  “Easy, boy.” I glanced at Autumn. “Get your phone out, see if we have service.”

  “He understands the command ‘heel,’” she said as she reached into a pocket on her cargo shorts.

  “Heel, Beau.” Sure enough, he positioned himself at my side. He kept his ears up, though, and his body was on full alert.

  “I’ve got service,” Autumn said.

  That was good. “Okay, keep your phone out.” Adam and I were both trained in rescue and often participated in finding lost tourists or rescuing someone who’d fallen at one of the many falls in our area. The woman screamed again.

  “We’re coming. Are you hurt?” I hollered back.

  “Bear!”

  That was all she said, but my blood ran cold. A black bear was the last thing I wanted to tangle with. We came around a large rock, and I stopped, holding tight to Beau’s leash. A woman was in a small tree, hanging on for dear life as a bear pushed on the trunk. The tree was swaying, the woman looking like she was barely hanging on. And she was bleeding heavily from her arm and leg.

  “Oh my God,” Autumn said, peeking around my arm. “He’s going to bring down the tree.”

  If the woman didn’t fall first. She had to be getting weak from losing that much blood. “Call Adam. Tell him to get rescue up here.” While she got my brother on the phone, I glanced around, stilling when I saw two bear cubs. Hell, the worst thing to mess with was a mother bear protecting her cubs.

  Beau whined, then, apparently forgetting the command to heel, ran to the end of his leash. “No, boy. You don’t want to go over there.” I had a knife on me, but that wouldn’t do much good against a pissed-off bear.

  “He’s putting out the call,” Autumn said, slipping her phone back into her pocket.

  Somehow I had to get the bear away from the tree, and the only way I knew to do that was to get its attention on me. “Autumn, I want you to take Beau and go down the mountain.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Get that mama bear focused on something besides the woman.”

  “Meaning you?” Autumn grabbed my arm. “No, that’s too dangerous.” She eyed Beau, straining at the end his leash. Before I realized what she was going to do, she went to him and unhooked the leash from his collar. The dog took off, alternating growls with barks, heading straight for the bear.

  “Why’d you do that?” He was going to get hurt.

  “He’s too smart to let a bear catch him.”

  I hoped she was right. She loved that dog, and it would kill her to lose him. At hearing the racket Beau was making, the bear swung her big head around. Without a sound—contrary to bears roaring or growling in movies, they actually made very little noise—she dropped to all fours.

  Beau darted in, his teeth snapping at the bear’s rear end. The bear turned to face Beau and swiped a paw at the dog. Beau backpedaled, the bear’s claws just missing his face. Autumn yelped as she grabbed my hand. I didn’t doubt her heart was beating as fast as mine. Beau backed up, then stopped. When the bear headed for him, he backed up again, then stopped as if waiting for the bear to follow him.

  The dance between the dog and the bear continued until they both disappeared into the woods. As soon as the two cubs cautiously followed thei
r mother and were out of sight, I pulled my KA-BAR knife out of the holster at my waist, wanting a weapon in my hands should the bear return.

  “Stay here.” I dropped my backpack to the ground.

  “But—”

  “I mean it, Autumn. Stay damn here.” I kissed her. Hard. Maybe it was the adrenaline running through me that sent me into Neanderthal mode, but the thought of her putting herself in jeopardy if the bear decided to come back . . . Hell no.

  When I reached the tree, before I could decide how to rescue the woman, she let go and fell into my arms. As soon as I realized she was coming down, I dropped the knife. Thankfully she was small, but I still fell onto my back from her weight, ending up with her sprawled on top of me.

  “Are you okay?” When she didn’t answer, I eased out from under her. She’d passed out, but I wasn’t comfortable staying here. Beau was barking not too far away, and if the bear came back, we’d be in trouble. Her wounds needed to be treated, but the first priority was to get her to a safer place. I grabbed my knife, sticking it back into its holster, then picked up the woman.

  “What do you want me to do?” Autumn asked as soon as I reached her.

  “Take my pack. I’m going to carry her to the other side of the falls.”

  We got the woman back to the edge of the trail down the mountain. There was no way I could carry her down without slipping and hurting us both. We’d have to wait for the rescue team to arrive. Autumn and I both always carried first-aid supplies in our backpacks, and we got to work, doing our best to stop the bleeding.

  The woman looked to be in her mid- to late twenties. All she wore were shorts and a T-shirt. If she had a pack, she’d dropped it somewhere, but I guessed that she didn’t. Like too many people, especially tourists, she’d come out here alone and unprepared. At least I hoped she’d been alone and there wasn’t another person out there, hurt or worse.