“It was kind of scary at first, being a dad. And I’ll still make a ton of mistakes. But I love them and they love me.”
“Now you need to take the same leap with Autumn.”
“You know about her, too, huh?”
Sterling nodded. “You think she let you down, but in all truth, she didn’t. I urge you not to let pride get in the way of love. I did and for twenty-five years I’ve regretted it.”
“Ms. Witterman?”
“Isn’t she a beauty?”
Isaac laughed. “I wish you both the best of luck.”
Sterling pushed back his chair and stood. “You can have your second chance, too, Isaac. The best way to win a woman’s heart is to be the man she’s always been waiting for. Just don’t wait twenty-five years to do it.”
“Any idea where I can find her?”
“She mentioned she would be moving on to her next assignment in a few days. That’s all I know,” he replied, shrugging into his coat.
The waiter approached with the salads they had ordered earlier.
“Wait. What about your food?”
Sterling pushed his chair back against the table and wrapped a plaid scarf around his neck.
“I’m having lunch with Eleanor. Take mine to go and share it with your kids.” He started to walk away, but turned back to Isaac. “See you at 8:00 a.m. sharp tomorrow?”
Isaac smiled gratefully. “I’ll be there and thanks for everything.”
As soon as Sterling was gone, Isaac instructed the waiter to package up both salads. With a very busy afternoon ahead, there was no time to spare. He needed to track down Autumn before he lost her for good.
* * *
Autumn kicked her sneakered toe against the front of her suitcase. Her flight to Seattle had been delayed for a few hours and rather than suffer at the airport, she had decided to wait it out at her apartment. The doorman was in the process of getting her a car service to JFK and would call her with the details.
The travel delay was annoying for sure, but she was also grateful for it for no other reason than she hoped she would hear from Isaac again. She stared at the phone again, willing it to ring, and wanting to kick herself for not answering his calls and texts yesterday. Now the phone was silent, mocking her cowardice.
Sterling had kept his end of the bargain. He didn’t let on who had found the report that got him suspended. Now she had to uphold her part of the deal and get out of town, so she could bury her fears in her next case.
Autumn jumped at the sound of a knock on her door. “This is it,” she muttered softly under her breath, stretching her arms against fatigue as she left the couch.
“What time is the car coming? The flight leaves in ninety minutes,” she called out as she opened the door.
When she saw who was on the other side, she took a step back over the threshold.
“You’re not going anywhere until we talk.”
“Isaac! How did you know I was still here?”
“You’re not the only one who can pay off the doorman.” His lips curved into a smile, his eyes twinkling. “He’s expensive, but very effective, don’t you agree?”
Autumn felt her face burn, but she refused to acknowledge his comment. She dropped her hand from the knob and stepped aside so Isaac could enter the room.
When the door was closed, she leaned against it, glad for the support. He was wearing that cologne again. The same one he wore on the night they made love for the first time.
“I’m sorry about your suspension.”
“You should be. You’re the one who caused it.”
Autumn’s eyes dipped low and the blood rushed to her face. She started to open her mouth to explain, but Isaac held up his hand to stop her.
“Let me guess. You were only doing your job, right?”
She nodded, but then tilted her head. “Why don’t you sound mad?”
He laughed. “Because we both got played...and it’s wonderful!”
She shouldered off the door and stood before him. “What are you talking about, Isaac?”
His eyes bored into hers and there was a hint of seriousness in them. “Did I ever tell you how cute you look when you get confused?”
“You’re a stockbroker, not a lawyer, so don’t change the subject,” Autumn warned.
“Felicia told me you’re a private investigator.”
Autumn cringed inwardly. “And I suppose you believed her?”
“At first, I didn’t want to. I kept calling and calling to try to talk with you but you never answered.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to lie anymore and I couldn’t tell you the truth under the terms of the contract I had with Sterling.”
“I understand.”
“You do? Well, how did we both get played then?”
“Sterling used both of us to try to convince Felicia to stop harassing me. He knew the document was fake because he planted it in the files himself!”
Autumn shook her head and then she started to laugh. “I can’t believe it.”
“Neither could I at first. Felicia had originally given Sterling some reports meant to incriminate me, but he was suspicious that she’d doctored them up somehow. So he hired you in the hopes that at any point during the investigation she would confess to what she’d tried to do. Yesterday was her last chance.”
“Where is Felicia now?”
“On the unemployment line, I suppose. Sterling fired her sometime between yesterday and today.”
“And what about you?”
“That’s the best news of all. You’re looking at the first African-American partner at Paxton Investment Securities!”
Autumn clasped her hands around his neck. “Isaac, that’s terrific! Congratulations.”
“You know what would be even better?”
She laid her head upon his chest and listened to his heartbeat.
“Coming home to you every evening and making love to you far into the night.”
Autumn looked into his eyes. “I would love that, too, but I’ve accepted another assignment.”
He clasped her hands in his. “Do you have to leave so soon?”
She stepped back, praying that her next words wouldn’t hurt him. “But I love my career, Isaac. There’s more crooks to catch and hopefully this time, they’re real.”
“I’m not asking you to give up anything.” He dove into one of his pockets. “Just take this.”
When Isaac opened his hand, there was a key in his palm. “You’ll always have a home with us. When you come back, I’ll be here. Waiting to show you how much I love you.”
Tears sprang to Autumn’s eyes and she had to fight to hold them back. “I love you, too.” She took the key and held it tightly as she clung to him.
“Can I tell you another secret? Autumn isn’t even my real name.”
He smiled and stroked her hair. “Then what is it, my super sexy spy?”
“I’ll tell you, but it’s a crime if you kiss me for the answer,” she teased.
Isaac’s lips found hers. “Guilty as charged.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460335000
WHEN MORNING COMES
Copyright © 2014 by Jennifer Jackson
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