by Karen Booth
“But I’m the boss. I don’t really have a choice.”
“Some people might say that because you’re the boss, you always have a choice.”
Grey hadn’t really thought about it like that. He wasn’t sure he could ever give up that much control. “I guess I need to get my butt on a plane and head home.”
“Obviously, that’s your call, Mr. Holloway, but it’s only a matter of time before one of the other architects gets wind of Vivian leaving. With the number of projects we’re juggling right now, it could be mayhem in the office on Monday morning if you’re not here.”
If anyone knew the climate of Grey’s firm, it was Ryan. If he expected mayhem, Grey didn’t doubt it. Grey sighed. He could hardly believe this bit of bad luck, but he didn’t have a choice. He had to deal with it. “You’re right. Can you get me on a flight for later today?”
“I’m sure it won’t be a problem. I don’t think the 5th of July is a big travel day.”
“Especially when it’s on a Saturday.” Out of the corner of his eye, Grey spotted Autumn in the doorway to his room. She was wearing one of his T-shirts, hair still messy, looking like everything any man could ever want. “Ryan, I need to run, but if you can text me the reservation, that would be great.”
“No problem, Mr. Holloway.”
“Thanks, Ryan. You’re the best.” Grey ended the call and made his way over to Autumn. “I hope I wasn’t talking too loud.”
She squinted at him, seeming half-awake. “No, it’s okay. I just really need my glasses.”
Grey remembered that she’d taken them off when things were getting hot and heavy in the kitchen. He turned and grabbed them from the countertop and brought them to her.
She put them on and smiled. “So much better. Now you look like more than a blur with a spectacular head of hair.”
Grey wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I definitely do not want to be just a blur.” He kissed her softly, trying to ignore the disappointment as it registered in his body. He’d thought they might be able to have the weekend together. That wasn’t going to be the case.
“Did I hear you say something about a flight?”
He sighed and took her hand. “I have to go back to New York. Just for a few days.” He then told her everything Ryan had said and explained the ramifications.
“Oh, wow. That doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s pretty terrible.” Grey couldn’t help but notice that he would normally be seriously worked up about a situation like this. He always kept his cool, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be a ball of stress on the inside.
“I’m so sorry.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I thought we could spend the rest of the weekend together.”
Autumn painted on a smile, but Grey was fairly certain she was forcing it. However upbeat and endlessly sunny she could be, she wasn’t great at faking it, or perhaps he’d learned to read her better. “It’s okay. I have stuff to do around my house. Or I’ll ask Molly if I can play third wheel with her and Mack.”
Mack. That was something else he was going to have to deal with. His brother would not be happy about him leaving. Grey did not look forward to making that phone call. “I’m really sorry. Truly.”
Autumn did that thing he often found her doing, where she dismissed something with a wave of her hand. “It’s fine. I just need some coffee.”
“Okay. Sure. Let me put on a pot.”
Autumn walked around the kitchen island and acknowledged her dress and bra from the night before, which were draped over the back of a bar stool. “Oops.”
“Yeah. I got up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water and found our clothes still on the floor.” He poured coffee beans into the grinder, then filled up the carafe with water.
Autumn sat down, chin on one hand while watching him work. “I think you could get into breakfast if you just applied yourself. You’re already a natural when it comes to coffee.”
She was such a funny ray of sunshine. He felt horrible about the fact that he had to leave. “Maybe I could learn to appreciate it. With your help, of course.” He brought her a cup of coffee, just like she liked it.
She blew on the hot beverage with pursed lips then took a small sip. “You made it perfectly.”
“I pay attention.” Grey’s phone buzzed with a text—his flight information. “Looks like I need to leave for the airport in an hour or so.”
“Okay.”
“I’m just going to text Mack about it. He’s probably still sleeping off last night.” Grey tapped out as short an explanation as he could. He knew Mack would be disappointed, but hopefully he’d get over it.
“Let me drive you,” Autumn said. “Then you won’t need to deal with your rental.”
“Okay. Sure. That would be great.” He had a million things going through his mind, but he wanted to make sure Autumn was okay. “I just don’t want you to think that I’m bailing on you. This thing at work is a real mess.”
“Grey. I’m fine. I understand. I would do the exact same thing if I were in your shoes.” She took another sip of her coffee then set down her mug and hopped up from the bar stool. “Come on. Let’s get your stuff together.”
“You really don’t have to help.”
She headed for the bedroom and looked back at him flirtatiously. “It will be faster this way. Then you’ll have time for a shower. And I’ll have time to get in there with you.” She bounced her eyebrows at him.
“You are so smart.” The woman was a genius. A very sexy genius. Why exactly was he considering getting on a plane in a few hours? Oh, right—like everything else in his life, he had yet another responsibility that was pulling him somewhere he didn’t want to go.
Eight
Autumn was determined to make the best of the fact that Grey was leaving. She was not going to dwell on the obvious in this situation—yet another man leaving her behind for New York. That was a silly way to think, she’d decided, even though that was precisely the first place her mind went when Grey told her what was going on.
But no, she wasn’t going to let her history with her ex have that kind of power over her. In fact, she’d decided while they were watching fireworks, when the post-sex glow was still strong and before she had any idea that Grey would be leaving, that she would finally pack up the engagement ring and mail it back to Jared. That was her old life. The previous chapter. Sleeping with Grey meant that she had moved on. It wasn’t like she was expecting a future with Grey. He didn’t do serious and she’d known that from the very beginning. It was more that Grey had shown her that she was ready to be with a man, even if it was a summer fling.
“Is that everything?” Autumn asked when they’d packed the last of the items he’d pulled out of the bureau and closet.
“I guess? It’s weird to pack when the place you’re going to visit is home. Aside from what I brought here, everything I own is in New York. My whole life is there.”
She didn’t want another reminder of that sad truth. She didn’t want to talk about details she found disappointing. Instead, she wanted more of Grey. Her fingers curled under the hem of his T-shirt, lifting it up over his head. She spread her hands across the smooth skin of his bare chest, biting down on her lip, “Time to get cleaned up.”
He kissed her, possessively, like he wanted to leave his mark on her. “Yes, it is.” He took her hand and led her into the bathroom. Glossy white marble tile, gleaming chrome fixtures and a large glass shower enclosure made for a luxurious and relaxing setting.
Grey turned the faucet handle, letting the water heat up while Autumn pulled off the T-shirt she was wearing, the one she’d stolen from his dresser. When he turned around, he unsubtly eyed her all the way down to her toes, his eyelids getting heavy, and the front of his pajama pants showing his true feelings on the subject of her, her body and the
shower they were about to take. “You are way too beautiful.”
He slid his hands around her waist and down to her bare bottom, squeezing. She rested her arms on his shoulders and kissed him, loving the hot and artful swirl of his tongue. The steamy bathroom air swirled around them. Water pattered against the glass. The shower was calling. Heat crept up Autumn’s spine as she thought about Grey touching her, both of their bodies wet and slick. She reached to tug down his pajama pants, letting them fall to the floor.
Grey took her hand and stepped into the enclosure pulling her under the warm spray with him. He stood behind her, pressing his erection against her bottom. As the water warmed her body, he smoothed his hands down her hips and kissed her neck, curling the tips of his fingers into her skin but using a delicate touch with his mouth. The steam whirled around them and Autumn already felt drunk on his touch.
“Thank you for being so understanding about me leaving.” His arms still threaded under hers, he rolled the bar of soap in his hands, making piles of creamy lather. Her nipples went hard with anticipation, then her breasts flooded with heat when he glazed the suds over her stomach and up to her breasts. She closed her eyes and soaked up every sensation. He held her breasts in his hands, plucked at her nipples with his fingers, sending sizzles of electricity between her legs.
“How could I not be when you’re doing that?”
Laughing in her neck, he ducked one hand into the spray. Soap rinsed off, his hand skated down her stomach and dipped between her legs. His chest was pressed against her back, his length hard against her backside. She wagged her hips back and forth as Grey groaned even more deeply than he had the night before. With his other hand, he took a single finger and drew delicate circles in the silky lather around her nipple, teasing her and drawing out the pleasure. The heat in the shower had reached its peak, but Autumn already felt like she was floating high above it all. As the pressure bore down on her hips, her reward felt so close, but she was dancing right on the brink. Teetering on the edge. Grey was solely focused on her pleasure. Round and round. Round and round. And then finally, the dam broke. Autumn’s whole body froze, but Grey didn’t stop, he only slowed down, using a gentler touch as he reacted to her gasps, coaxing one more wave of pleasure from her.
Feeling warm and content, she turned in his arms and delivered a deep kiss while she rode out the aftershocks reverberating through her body. All she could think about was leaving him happy. Leaving him satisfied. She sank down to her knees, dragged her hands down his hard abs, her fingers exploring the hard contours. She first took his length in her hand, then between her lips. Even that first touch had him groaning his appreciation. He gazed down at her through the steamy air, digging his fingers into her hair as the water cascaded down her back. The adoration on his face was mesmerizing, putting her into a near trance. On the outside, it seemed like he was carved out of stone, but Autumn knew now that what was behind those stern eyes was nothing short of pure passion.
His eyes drifted shut and she continued with her charge, sucking in her cheeks to amp up the intensity. His mouth went slack. Every moan ended with a breathless gasp. He was on the verge. She could feel the tension. With one more deep groan, his hips froze in place and he came in quick pulses. Again and again. Autumn gripped his hips, and gently released him from her mouth, raising her face to the spray. Grey reached down and pulled her up by her armpits.
As she stood, they fell into a kiss that felt familiar now. Her brain was sending off warning flares—she was going too fast. She was allowing herself to fall and that wasn’t a good idea. Her heart was telling her that a guy like Grey was everything she’d ever wanted or needed. Autumn had no choice but to intervene and remind herself that Grey was going to the airport. He had to leave. And she was going to have to do her best to not be sad about it.
Grey turned off the faucet and they stepped out onto the fluffy bath mat. They toweled each other off, kissing and smiling, happily caring for each other.
“I hate that I’m leaving.” There was raw disappointment in his voice. Somehow that was of some comfort.
“Me too.”
“But it shouldn’t be long. A few days.”
She took a deep breath and smiled, reminding herself that this might be for the best. As much as she was into the idea of spending time with Grey, she knew how inclined she was to go overboard. Her unwavering belief in love cut both ways—good and bad. His trip to New York would help her slow down. “Don’t stay away too long. It’s my birthday in less than a month and I don’t want to celebrate alone.”
“Why would you have to celebrate by yourself?”
Autumn shrugged, wondering if he felt put upon by the presumption that he would want to spend time with her on her birthday. They’d just slept together. It wasn’t like they were dating. “Molly and I always go out on a girls’ night, but I doubt she’s going to want to do it this year. With the wedding and all, it doesn’t seem likely. I don’t have any family here, so that’s out. Although I guess you could say that I don’t have much family at all.”
* * *
That struck Grey as incredibly sad. Right then and there, he made a resolution to make Autumn’s birthday special. He wasn’t quite sure what that would be, but there was time to sort that out. “Count me in.”
“Really?” Autumn’s voice bubbled with excitement.
“Yes, really.” He kissed her on the end of her nose, but an abrupt noise made him turn his head in the direction of the great room.
Boom. Boom. Boom. Someone was pounding on the door to Grey’s cottage. “Grey? I know you’re still here. I can see your car.”
“It’s Mack,” Grey said in a panic. He should’ve waited to text him. That was a stupid mistake.
Autumn was frantic, scurrying around the room, wrapped in a towel. “What do I do? My dress is hanging over the back of the bar stool in the kitchen. Which is totally visible from the windows on the back of the house. I have no clothes other than your T-shirt.”
“Just stay here. I’ll deal with him.”
“Grey!” Mack knocked again. “I need to talk to you.”
Thank goodness Grey had put the chain lock on the door. He wouldn’t put it past Mack to use the keypad code and barge right in. He poked his head out of his bedroom doorway and shouted, “Two minutes. Hold tight.” In a flurry, Grey dressed and rushed through the back door, purposely not letting Mack inside.
Mack was sitting on one of the patio chairs, legs crossed, bobbing his foot in agitation. He sprang from his seat as soon as Grey opened the door. “What the hell? You’re leaving?”
Grey greatly disliked the tone of his brother’s voice. “I told you last night that it was a possibility. Remember? At the party? I’m sorry I had to tell you by text, but I was in too much of a hurry to call.” He would’ve been crazy to pass up that shower with Autumn in favor of a phone call with his brother.
“I understand that,” Mack said. “What about your commitments here?”
“What about them? Pops is getting stronger every day. The renovation of the brewery is on track, Opal has more than enough work to do on the forensic accounting until I get back, and Autumn is doing a fantastic job.”
“It’s not about a to-do list. It’s the principle of it.” Mack blew out an exasperated breath, shaking his head. “You left my engagement party without saying goodbye. And speaking of Autumn, it’s pretty obvious that she’s in your cottage.” With a nod, he gestured to her car, which was sitting next to Grey’s rental. “Are you two sleeping together?”
Grey wasn’t about to lie to his brother. “It just happened last night. It’s casual.”
“She just got her heart crushed, Grey. I hope you know to tread lightly. It would be cruel to break her heart.”
“I understand. She and I had more than one conversation about it beforehand. Believe me, I will do anything to avoid getting mixed up in any of that.”
Mack arched a skeptical brow at Grey. “Is that what you tell yourself? Because the easiest way to not get mixed up in something, is to not get mixed up in it. As in don’t sleep with someone if you aren’t willing to deal with the emotional fallout.”
Was Grey being naive thinking that he and Autumn could keep things casual? He didn’t think so. She seemed on board with all of it. She hadn’t seemed fazed at all by his announcement that he was picking up and going to New York, and that had to be triggering for her. “I think you’re underestimating her. And me, for that matter.”
“Sorry. You’re a grown man. I’m not going to tell you who you can have sex with. But can you please keep this quiet? We don’t need the whole staff talking about it. And obviously, I would prefer it if there wasn’t yet one more connection between our family and Autumn.”
Grey had to stand there for a minute and process what Mack had said. “What are you saying?”
“That whole thing with her dad is a powder keg waiting to explode. And Autumn is an easy target. She’s sweet and nice and unwittingly ends up the subject of pulpy articles all the time. It’s just a matter of time before that all blows up in everyone’s face.”
Grey was overcome by a powerful urge to defend her. “I really don’t appreciate your tone, Mack. Do you have any idea how hard she works to make weddings at Moonlight Ridge amazing? Because I’ve seen her in action, and let me tell you, she has a very particular skill set. One that is not easily replaced. We should be treating her like an asset to the resort. Not a liability.”
Mack reared back his head. “Whoa. For the record, you don’t sound like a guy who’s embarking on something casual.”
Grey took a deep breath. Mack was right. Grey was getting worked up. He needed to deescalate. “I’m tired of talking about this. I need to get back inside to grab my bag, so I can get to the airport.”
Mack stepped closer. “We agreed to share the workload and I feel like you’re shirking your responsibilities.”