Pieces Of Us

by Elks, Carrie

  “How do you know where I live?” she asked, two tiny lines appearing between her brows.

  “Because your landlord’s my best friend. Lucas Russell. He told me you moved in yesterday.”

  “Oh.” She gave a half-laugh. “I guess this really is a small town.”

  “Yeah. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it drives you crazy.”

  “Lucas seems nice. Ember does, too,” Autumn said, as they passed Delmonico’s. It was already full, with diners spilling out onto the terrace. “And they have a little boy, right?”

  “Arthur.” Griff nodded. “He’s my godson.”

  She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “And you? Do you have children?”

  Griff laughed. “No. No kids, no wife. Just me.”

  There was a little flutter in her chest. “So you were singing to Arthur the first night I saw you?”

  “Yep. Sorry if I burst your eardrums. How about you?” he asked. “Did you leave a brood back in New York?”

  She shook her head. “I didn’t leave anything in New York except a closet full of shoes.”

  “Interesting.”

  The flutter increased. He was so damn attractive. And she was lonely, and it had been way too long since she’d even laughed with a guy let alone done anything else. And then there was the way her body reacted every time he was close. It was like he was sparking off a chemical reaction.

  One she liked too much.

  They reached the boardwalk, and turned left toward the row of cottages that lined the sand. Autumn pushed her hands into her pockets, and willed herself to be an adult.

  She wasn’t in Angel Sands on vacation, she was here for work. A clean slate. Maybe even a chance to show her father and Josh and the whole damn world that she could make good decisions.

  And good decisions didn’t involve sleeping with one of your tenants just because your body felt electric every time he was close.

  They reached the pretty little cottage that had been her home for almost thirty-six hours. She pulled her keys from her pocket and turned to him with a smile.

  “So this is me.”

  “Yeah, I know. I helped renovate the place.” He leaned on the wall beside the door as she slid her key into the lock. A little step to the left and her body would press against his.

  Not a good idea. Not at all.

  “Thank you for letting me come out on the boat today,” she said, pushing the door open. “I had a really good time.”

  “It was a pleasure.” He was still leaning on the wall.

  “Well, good night.”

  “Sleep tight.” He winked.

  “With all that fresh ocean air, I’m bound to.”

  It felt like a lie. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to sleep that night at all.

  6

  She was halfway through brushing her teeth the next morning when somebody knocked on the cottage door. Luckily she was decent – if you counted jeans and a tank as decent – so she spat out the toothpaste and wiped her lips on a towel before running to the front door.

  “Hey.” Ember smiled at her as the door opened. She was holding Arthur on her hip, a huge baby bag slung over her other shoulder. It looked like a full body workout. “I hope you don’t mind me popping over, but I’m meeting a few friends for coffee, and since you’re new around here I thought you might like to join us.”

  “That sounds great,” Autumn agreed with a smile. “When are you meeting?”

  “Um, now?” Ember wrinkled her nose. “I meant to text you last night, but Arthur’s been teething and I completely forgot. It’s just a casual thing, coffee on the beach with the girls. They’re all lovely and I know they’re dying to meet you.”

  “They are?” Autumn pretended to grimace. “Why does that make me feel like I’m the new kid at school?”

  Ember laughed. “Don’t worry. It’s just a small town and you’re big news. Come for coffee and they’ll soon find something else to talk about.”

  “Okay. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be there. Where shall I meet you?”

  “We’ll be on some blankets in front of Déjà Brew. I’ll put your order in. How do you like your coffee?”

  “A no foam latte would be great.”

  Ten minutes later, Autumn was walking down the beach toward the group of women and children sitting on overlapping blankets. At the last minute she’d decided to change into a pair of shorts. It didn’t seem right to be wearing jeans on the beach.

  “Hey.” She smiled at Ember as she reached the group.

  “Hey.” Ember sat Arthur on the blanket and scrambled to her feet. “You found us. Everybody, this is Autumn Paxton, new owner of the pier, and new tenant in our cottage.” Arthur started to crawl away, and she reached out to lift him back on the blanket again. The little guy giggled, his long eyelashes sweeping over his face.

  “Hey,” a familiar voice greeted her. “We met at the coffee shop. I’m Ally, and that girl over there is my stepdaughter, Riley.”

  “And I’m Brooke, and the boy she’s playing with is my son, Nicholas,” the cool blonde said, offering Autumn her hand. “I think you might have met my husband. He runs the Silver Sands Resort.”

  “Um yeah, I might have while I was staying there.” Autumn desperately tried to remember his name.

  “Aiden Black,” Brooke said helpfully, her face full of kindness. “He’s in the coffee shop talking to Ally’s fiancé, Nate.”

  “I’m Caitie,” the brunette next to Autumn held out her hand, and Autumn shook it. “I used to live in New York, too. And so did Harper.” She pointed at a petite blonde-and-pink haired woman holding a baby. “But now she lives here with that cute little baby of hers and her boyfriend, James.”

  “You’ll meet him later, I’m sure. He’s a doctor, so he seems to always be working,” Harper said, grinning. “And Hi. It’s great to meet you. And don’t mind Caitie’s pained expression. It has nothing to do with you. She’s had a water phobia for years, but she’s trying to beat it.”

  Autumn was desperately trying to remember everything they said, but it was a losing battle. There were just too many of them, and too much information flying about. She felt like she was watching a tennis match, her head moving from side to side every time somebody said something.

  She took a deep breath, and smiled.

  “You have a water phobia?” She asked Caitie. At least she could remember that. “That’s really brave,” Autumn said, glancing at Caitie, whose lips were tightly closed. “My mom had a phobia about flying, so I know how bad it can be to face them.”

  “Thank you.” Caitie’s expression softened. “I’m getting there.”

  “And I love your baby’s dress,” Autumn said to Harper, whose little girl was bouncing around on her lap in a frothy yellow and white sundress. “It’s so pretty.”

  “She makes all of her own baby clothes,” Ember told her. “And a lot of Arthur’s too.”

  Harper kissed her baby’s downy head. “Do you have children?” she asked.

  Autumn shook her head. “No kids.” She took a deep breath. They were all being so friendly. She didn’t want to be the one to clam up. “I’m recently divorced, so no prospect of them in the near future either.”

  “I’m really sorry.” Ember’s expression was thoughtful. “I know how hard breakups can be.”

  “Here’s your coffee,” Ally passed it to her. “And help yourself to pastries. Freshly made.”

  Autumn sat on the blanket and sipped her latte, listening to the other women as they talked about work, boyfriends, and families. They asked her questions and she answered them openly, but for the most part she was happy to sit and observe. Ally reminded her a little of her sister, Lydia. She was forthright and funny and a little bit wild. Brooke was motherly and calm, always making sure everybody was happy. And Ember was friendly and welcoming, or as much as she could be when Arthur was constantly crawling everywhere and she had to chase him.

  “Have you been invited to join the Angel
Sands Chamber of Commerce yet?” Caitie asked her.

  “Not yet. Should I be happy about that?”

  Caitie shrugged. “It’s not so bad. It’s run by Frank Megassey. He owns Megassey’s Hardware store on Main Street. I think he’s been running the chamber for the last two hundred years.”

  Autumn laughed.

  “Don’t let him suck you in,” Ally warned. “Before you know it you’ll be running the Angel Day Fair and organizing for the Christmas lights to be strung along the boardwalk. If you see him coming, run.”

  “Frank’s okay,” Caitie told her. “Apart from the fact he talks a lot.”

  “You can sit in the back with Caitie and me,” Ally reassured her. “We just eat cupcakes and heckle.”

  “You heckle,” Caitie pointed out. “I sit there and look pretty.”

  “Who’s pretty?” a deep voice asked. Autumn looked up to see a tall, dark-haired man grinning down at them. His hair and body were wet, droplets clinging to his skin, and he was holding a surf board in his hands.

  “I am,” Caitie told him, grinning. “Or at least I should be to you.”

  “And you are.” He leaned down to kiss her nose. “How are you holding up, baby?”

  “I’m good. Autumn’s been distracting me. Autumn, this is Breck, my fiancé.”

  Autumn reached her hand out. “It’s good to meet you.”

  “You too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “You have?” She should be used to the small-town talk by now. But it still shocked how everybody knew each others’ business.

  Then she saw Lucas walk up behind him and recognized her new landlord immediately, from when he and Ember helped her move into the cottage.

  And behind him was Griff, wearing a half-wetsuit unzipped and hanging from his waist, exposing his tan, muscular chest and oh-so-broad shoulders. She felt her stomach do a flip.

  “Hey, Autumn.” Lucas gave her a wave, and she grinned back.

  Griff’s eyes locked with hers, and her lips curled up. “Hi,” he said with a smile that sent her pulse racing.

  “Hey.”

  “This is Autumn?” Another man joined Griff and Lucas, slapping them both on the backs. “Hey, it’s good to finally meet you. I’m Jackson.” He wasn’t as tall or as broad as Griff, but he was still a good looking guy. “How are you settling in?”

  “Really well.” She smiled at him as he sat down on the sand next to her, being careful not to get her wet. “I’m loving Lucas and Ember’s beach cottage. I used to play white noise to get to sleep in New York, but now I get to nod off to the sound of the waves.”

  “And you’re planning on being here for a while?”

  “I think so. I’m still hashing out the details, but if the weather is always like this, then I’m in.”

  “It really is,” Jackson told her. “The best thing about living here is the climate.”

  “And the ocean,” Breck pointed out.

  “Well, yeah.”

  “And the mountains,” Lucas said. “If you like hiking.”

  “I do like hiking,” Autumn told them. “I didn’t get to do a lot of it in New York, but I’d try to get to the Catskills at least once a year to climb some hills.”

  “You got your hiking boots with you?” Griff asked.

  “Um, yeah. They’re somewhere in the cottage.” Still in the box she’d packed them in.

  “I can show you a trail later if you want,” he said, his voice nonchalant.

  “Today?” Autumn blinked. It was a simple friendly offer. Her skin didn’t need to heat up like it was on fire.

  “Yeah. If you’re not busy.”

  “I’m not busy,” she said quickly. “And I’d love to check out some trails.”

  Jackson looked from Autumn to Griff, a bemused smile on his face.

  “Okay, then,” Griff said, ignoring his friend’s questioning gaze. “I need to go home and wash up. I’ll pick you up at your place at one.”

  7

  “What’s with the caveman attitude over the new girl?” Jackson asked as they carried their boards up the beach. “Me Griff, you Autumn. You were practically beating your chest, man.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Griff felt his jaw twitch.

  “Come on. I was shooting the breeze with her and you jumped in so fast it took my breath away. You like her, right?”

  “She’s my landlord. A colleague. And she’s new in town. I just didn’t think you should be hitting on her like that.”

  The corner of Jackson’s mouth quirked up. “So if I ask her out on a date you’ll get angry.”

  “I don’t want to deal with the fallout when you mess it up,” Griff said, raising an eyebrow. “I have to work with her.”

  “But what if I don’t mess it up?” Jackson tipped his head to the side. “What if I like her and she likes me. You’d be okay with that?”

  The thought of it made Griff feel weird. And he had no idea why. Yeah, she was pretty, and clever as hell. But he knew better than to date somebody he had to work closely with. Look at what happened with him and Carla.

  “I don’t think she’s planning on sticking around forever,” he finally said, avoiding Jackson’s question altogether. “Just until she has the pier under control. Then she’ll head back to New York.”

  “So we could have a fling.” Jackson shrugged. “Suits me.”

  Griff’s fingers tightened on his board, his knuckles blanching. “Leave her out of it.”

  Jackson started to laugh. “Oh man, you’ve got it bad.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You like her, don’t you?” Jackson persisted.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Griff said through gritted teeth. “It’s not happening.”

  “Look, I know what happened with you and Carla was bad. That she made your life hell when things were over, but you’ve got to get back on the wagon, my friend. Not all women expect you to put a ring on it after the second date. If you feel something for Autumn, then go for it.” Jackson raised an eyebrow. “Or somebody else will.”

  They’d reached the showers in front of the parking lot, and Griff pressed the lever down, letting the cold spray wash over him and rinse the salty ocean water away. He closed his eyes and shook his hair, water flying everywhere. Then he washed his board off before grabbing a towel from the flatbed of his truck.

  “I’m not interested,” he said roughly, rubbing the towel over his hair and neck.

  “Sure you’re not,” Jackson said grinning. “That’s why you’re spending the afternoon with her.”

  “As friends.”

  “Whatever you say. Good luck with keeping it at that.”

  * * *

  “Dad wants to know why you’re not answering your phone.”

  Autumn could hear the amusement in Lydia’s tone. Wedging her phone between her shoulder and her ear, Autumn pulled her hiking boots over the thick walking socks she’d bought last year but never used.

  “He called once this morning and I was busy. I figured I’d call him tonight.” Or tomorrow. Or maybe next week. Whenever she felt up to hearing how disappointed he was again.

  “But she always answers her phone, Lydia. Unlike you,” Lydia said in a deep, gruff voice.

  “Your impression of him is terrible,” Autumn told her sister. “For a start your voice was too deep.”

  “Ouch! What a burn, and he wasn’t even here to hear it. I’m going to tell him you said that the next time we talk. Anyway, what was so important that you didn’t pick up the phone?”

  “I was at the beach with some friends.”

  Lydia laughed. “Okay. Now what were you really doing?”

  “I was at the beach. Honestly. The woman who owns the cottage I’m renting invited me to join her and her friends for coffee this morning. I figured why not.”

  “But you don’t meet people for coffee. Or do anything but work on Sundays. Oh my god, Autumn, is Dad right? Have you lost your mind?” Lydia was loving this. Autumn could hea
r it in her voice. “Next thing we know you’ll be hooking up with a guy without knowing his portfolio.”

  Autumn reminded herself to say nothing about Griff or the hike they had planned that afternoon.

  “Autumn?” Lydia’s voice was full of amusement.

  “Yeah?”

  “You haven’t hooked up with anybody, have you?”

  “No.” She laughed. “Of course I haven’t.”

  “Oh. My. God.”

  “What?” Autumn shook her head even though Lydia couldn’t see her. “Stop it.”

  “I’m your sister. I know when you’re lying. You do this stupid little laugh, the same way Dad does.”

  “I don’t.” Autumn grimaced. She knew exactly the laugh Lydia was talking about.

  “You really do.”

  Did she? Autumn tried to think back, but her mind was blank. Whatever, she’d just never laugh again. That would work, right?

  “So who is he?”

  “Who?” Autumn frowned.

  “The guy. The one you’re not hooking up with.”

  “Even if there was a guy, which there isn’t, I wouldn’t be hooking up with him. I’m hardly divorced, I’m not looking to make any more mistakes.”

  “You got rid of an asshole,” Lydia pointed out. “One you never should have married in the first place. And you probably wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for Dad telling you how wonderful Josh was and that he’d be the perfect husband and business partner. Not all guys are like that, Autumn. There are good guys, too.”

  “Yeah, well they’re like a needle in the haystack in New York. The single ones, anyway.”

  “But you’re not in New York, are you?” Lydia said, her voice pointed. “And whoever this non-existent guy is, maybe he’s just what you need right now.”

  Autumn finished lacing her boots and sat up. “I just bought a pier without looking at it. Don’t you think I’m way out of my comfort zone already? I’ve made enough bad decisions this year.”

  “Maybe you should drink some more tequila and see what happens next?” Lydia suggested.