by Siera London
"I was." His lips quirked at the corners, like he wasn't sure he spoke the truth. "Little late to ask considering what happened this afternoon."
"What did happen?" She knew what her intentions were. Less than honorable, but what had he been thinking not to push her away?
"We both had a challenging day," was his only comment.
"So, you helped me out of pity?"
He pushed away from the counter. When he stood before her, she swallowed her fear, and looked up into his fathomless eyes.
"There's nothing pitiful about you, Autumn Raine."
If he only knew. As if he’d read her mind, he challenged, "Don't go digging in the past to prove me a liar."
"Never," she whispered. He was one of the most honest men she'd met. The way he'd admitted to not knowing a thing about cars had shocked her. There was no defensive bravado in his tone, just truth.
"Rui," she swallowed. "I'm sorry about the kiss. I had no right."
He placed a finger over her mouth. The gesture was so intimate; his touch perfection. Confident that he would welcome her touch, Autumn raised up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. His response was immediate. He moved his lips with a slow ease that communicated warmth and acceptance. Gosh, he tasted amazing. Any apprehension she felt, melted away. Autumn lifted her arms, draping them around his neck, pulling him closer. When he slid his arm up her back, encircled her waist, and tugged her into his hard body, she moaned. She could go on like this forever.
“Do you want to have sex?”
Forever came to an abrupt halt. She took a step back to stare at the man she just kissed.
“Now?” she questioned, disbelief lending a high pitch to her voice.
“Yes.”
“No, Rui.” Her rejection seemed to dull some of the hunger burning in his eyes. What a mess. “Sorry,” she said sucking her lip between her teeth. “Considering I’m the one who keeps touching you, I’m sure it’s me who’s sending mixed signals.”
"Never apologize for wanting to touch me. I tend to rush forward when I’m interested in a woman."
It wasn't exactly an invitation for a repeat performance, but it was an admission. Obviously, Rui had interest in forging a new relationship, so why did the house look like he was committed to the old one? Just how connected was Rui to the invisible woman she felt in every room, even standing between them.
It had been a long time since any man sparked this intense need in her. She found herself reluctant to walk away without making an effort. Even if an affair with Rui Conners ended in heartbreak, she'd test her luck. She couldn't sink any lower than she already was. So, with a shaky hand, but a steady voice, she asked the question that would change everything. To win the bonus round, please let him answer the jeopardy question correctly.
"Where's Simone's mother?" She felt his body tense. That couldn't be good.
* * *
Everything inside Rui stilled at Autumn's question. There was something inherently wrong talking about Kirsten to another woman. Especially while standing in the home he'd purchased for his then-wife.
He heard the chill in his voice but felt helpless to quell the sharp edge. "She's not a problem."
Why did she have to ask questions? Coming home to a semi-clean house and a fresh cooked meal had been a fantasy come true. Kirsten could barely cook up an appetite. His ex-wife had been obsessed with her weight, her hair, her clothes, and her make-up. The list was never ending. To see Autumn with natural hair, her face and nails bare of anything artificial was refreshing. She was so different from Kirsten. The pull of attraction between them intrigued him.
Autumn frowned. "I see," she said, and moved further away from him. He felt the muscles in his forearm tense, ready to grab her if she ran. The reaction was unnatural. Never in his life, had he restrained a woman against her will. But, he didn't want Autumn to run away from him. No, quite the opposite. He wanted this woman to run into his arms, time and time again.
He gestured toward the couch in the other room. "Let's sit down."
"I'll stand." She licked her lips and he thought he heard an answering rumble from his own throat.
"What do you mean when you say she's not a problem?"
He didn't want to talk about Kirsten. Not now, not ever. Autumn was good and pure. He didn't want to taint her with his ugliness. But, where the air between them was once charged with pulsing energy, a coolness had taken hold. Autumn was withdrawing, and Rui needed the warmth he sensed in her. He'd give her something to ease her mind, but he’d keep more than he’d give away.
"We're divorced. She lives in Germany. Has for the last three years."
Why his comment seemed to add to the unexpected wall between them he didn't know, but again, he never did understand the female mind. Women claimed to want the security of a husband and home, but then they discarded both without looking back. Fickle creatures, all of them.
"So, it’s over?"
He released a grunt in frustration. Isn't that what he just said?
"Yes, for my part."
"And, hers?"
He smiled remembering the soulful singer he'd met all those years ago. "Can't speak for her but...yeah, I guess."
"You sound unsure."
He rubbed his goatee, letting the repetitive motion tamp down his pent-up frustration. "Can't speak for Kirsten. Never could."
"I...I mean, you sound unsure about you."
He flinched as if she'd slapped him. His temper flared, but he managed to hold on to the reins.
"I'm an educated man, Miss Raine. I know when to call it quits."
"So, you ended the marriage?"
Heck no. He would have never left his wife.
"A man doesn't walk away from his responsibilities," he ground out.
He hadn't meant to sound so harsh. It had been years since anyone had asked after his wife. Autumn's questions unsettled him. Why were they even having this discussion? Because he'd allowed her to kiss him. Truth be told, he wanted her to do a lot more, before he took control.
She nodded. "I see," she whispered.
What the hell could she possibly see, when he was damn near blinded with the need to take her into his arms?
"Autumn."
"Good night, Professor Conners. I'll see you in the morning."
She turned and walked away.
Shoot, he'd done it again. Another woman in his life had left him standing...alone.
Chapter 6
Autumn spent the night tossing and turning about her new boss. But, she had made a decision. Rui Conners was off-limits to her. Autumn refused to get involved with another man who was emotionally unavailable. She believed him when he'd told her about his wife, but there was more there...hidden. Well, Rui could keep his hard body and secrets to himself. She had a job to do, and a race to win.
With the alarm clock set for four in the morning, Autumn was out of bed before the first glow of morning. She ran her ten miles before Simone or Rui had stirred. She'd finished the run with forty-five seconds to spare, a new training record. The new route had invigorated her. What surprised her was Simone and Rui had to be roused from sleep. Because she liked to eat something after a full run, she had breakfast ready when her new employer and her ward appeared in the kitchen. Rui had tried to engage her in conversation. She stuck to the morning pleasantries, not wanting to give the remote impression that what happened yesterday would happen again.
The drive to the Endurance elementary was a quiet one.
"Autumn, why don't you come in and meet Ms. Springfield. I'll add your name to the list of authorized persons to pickup and drop-off Simone at school."
With her car still in the lot at Tommy’s Park, Autumn would be dependent on Rui for transportation for a while. Rui had the car waiting for her and Simone by the time she prepped Simone's lunch.
"Do I have to take this lunch?"
"Well," Rui began.
"Yes," Autumn looked down at the child walking between the two of them. "Did you even lo
ok in the bag?"
"No, but I won't like it," Simone said with a smirk on her face. Okay, the truce declared over the fashion last night had obviously ended.
"Try it, and then we'll talk after school."
Simon looked to Rui. "Dad, do I have to?"
Autumn waited to see if he would support her. Not that she would walk away from the job, but it would be much easier to stop fantasizing about him if he was a spineless jellyfish.
"You heard Autumn."
Though her face remained unchanged, Autumn was beaming on the inside.
"Fine, but I won't eat it."
Autumn had worked in an elementary school as a teacher's aide in the San Diego County Unified school district. What they served for school lunch, students should band together and write their congressman. The bag held two servings of fresh fruit, nuts, an organic whole yogurt and a note wishing Simone a great day.
"Simone, walk Autumn to your class while I handle the paperwork in the front office."
A huff came a second before a flat. "Okay."
Ms. Springfield, Simone's third grade teacher, was a slender-face woman with huge glasses and chestnut brown hair cut in a severe bob. Her slender body was draped in a sac-like brown frock straight out of Uncle Fester's wardrobe. Though Autumn appreciated the symmetry in Ms. Springfield's features, the woman was a walking eye sore. It was almost painful to look at the her.
"Hello, I'm Autumn," she introduced herself.
Wow, Autumn hoped it was a disguise because without the bad hair and worse clothes, Kelby Springfield was a looker.
"Go on to your seat, Simone," the woman said while accepting her hand.
"Autumn," she repeated, eyes darting between her and Simone, probably trying to gage the connection. "So," she drug out the word. "You'll be ensuring Simone gets to class? I haven't seen you before. Are you new in Endurance?"
"Eight months give or take a week," Autumn supplied, sure the educator was asking more for herself than out of concern for Simone's educational well-being.
"How does your family like small town living?"
Yep, definitely trying to figure out the connection.
"Simone, is that your mommy?" a boy, with pale skin, and dark eyes teased. There were snickers from the other kids. Autumn immediately felt outrage. How dare these kids target her because of her mother’s actions.
In what Autumn was discovering to be true Simone fashion, the little girl rounded on her would-be taunter. "Shut up and mind your business, Boy Moana."
All the laughter halted. Whoa. Simone Conners commanded mad respect. In some ways, Autumn wished she had the same fearless gene. Maybe, she wouldn't have spent so many recess sessions alone and in tears.
Good for Simone for defending her, but aloud she said, "Simone, play nice."
Taking her seat at the center desk, Simone plopped down her backpack. "I did."
Autumn hid her smile. The boy was lucky two adults were in the room to keep him safe.
"I'll be here after school," Autumn supplied, wanting the other kids to know Simone had someone in her corner. Autumn remembered how it felt to be teased, knowing it would only get worse after the school bell rung.
"Whatever," Simone said.
When Autumn turned to leave. Ms. Springfield said, "I hope to see you at the mother-daughter tea in a few weeks. All the girls have been practicing their manners and dance steps."
Autumn paused. Could this have anything to do with Simone skipping school? Just then she heard a commotion erupting in the class.
"Wait." Simone came running forward. "Can you mail this letter for me."
Autumn studied the name written in neat bold letters, Kirsten Conners. So, the kid kept in contact with her mom. Nice to know she had some semblance of a relationship with her other parent. Autumn hadn't heard from her mother in years. Not that she and her aunt were close, but she would have told her if her mother had contacted her seeking Autumn out.
"Your mom?"
"Yeah," Simone said, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
Autumn, reached for her, then thought better of it with all the onlookers. "I'll take care of it."
Simone gave her the first genuine smile. "Thanks, Autumn."
"You're welcome," she said, but Simone was gone. To Ms. Springfield she said, "That's Simone's decision.
The teacher nodded in understanding. "Yes," she sighed. "But, maybe you could help her with her dance steps," she suggested, her voice tentative. "Have my hands full with the play list."
Now, this was something Autumn could help with. After getting an explanation about the mother-daughter tea, Autumn volunteered to compile a playlist for the event. She thought it might help to associate each choreographed routine to a specific song. Ms. Springfield, whose first name was Kelby, eagerly accepted. Together, they devised a plan to download a playlist the girls could take home and share with their parents. It would help everything flow smoothly on event day.
Back in the car, Autumn updated Rui of the tea and her plan to help. He maneuvered the car out onto the road.
"Well now, you just jump right in with both feet, don't you? How did you sleep last night?"
"Fine," she lied. He didn't need to know that thoughts of him waylaid her dreams causing a fitful night.
"You want to tell me why you're being short."
"I'm not," she replied, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
"Can you drop me by No Limit?" She would ask Owen to help with her car until payday.
"I can. Why?"
She gave him an incredulous look. "Because Owen will help me with the car tow."
He stared at her as if she'd just pooped in his favorite running shoes. "I took care of it. Raymond will deliver it to the house in a few days when the repairs are completed."
She was momentarily speechless. "When?"
"Yesterday after I picked up Simone."
So, he’d taken care of her car before their stilted conservation last night.
She managed a stiff, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, answer my question."
"Which is?"
"Why the cold shoulder this morning?"
There was no denying the chill that had settled after yesterday's hot and heavy kissing, but Autumn had to protect her heart. She'd been burned by too many people who were supposed to care about her. She didn't want to add Rui to the list.
They waited at a stoplight.
"Look, Professor." He turned to face her with those exotic eyes. "I already apologized for overstepping my boundaries."
"I never said that."
She shook her head dismissing his objection. "I don't believe you're available to me."
"I didn't lie to you. I was married, now I'm divorced."
"Not intentionally. But, I’ve already had my run-in with a single man who was very much attached.” Her first and only boyfriend had dragged her heart over the asphalt and she still had the road rash to prove it. Never again would she play second chair to another woman. “Not being married, doesn't make you available, it-,"
That's all she got out before Rui’s lips were on hers. His kiss was warm, wet, and Autumn realized that she was all too willing. A blaring car horn signaled it was time for them to move forward. Even as she allowed him deeper inside, she thought about running...to him...or away, she wasn't sure, anymore.
* * *
Rui gritted his teeth as he and Autumn walked into No Limit Bar & Grille. Ivy and Owen were behind the bar. The usual morning crowd, Hank Stewart and Luke Cole, both building maintenance guys at the university occupied stools along the counter. The smell of fresh brewed coffee and buttermilk pancakes hit Rui’s nostrils, and his mouth watered. Breakfast with Autumn was definitely on the menu.
Both Hank and Luke spun on their stools, studying them.
“Morning, Professor,” Hank said, shooting a questioning look to Autumn. “You okay, honey?”
Rui grimaced. Honey. Like Rui, Hank had solo parenting duties to a ten-year-old fishing add
ict by the name of Elliott. The kid had a fishing reel glued to his little hand.
“We were worried about you,” Luke chimed in.
Word had spread through town that Autumn had a change of address. Maybe, he and Autumn didn’t have time for breakfast. Their kiss in the car had done little to change her mind. She was panting when they broke apart, her chest heaved, but her eyes remained resolute. Rui on the other hand, had to adjust his mind to them being together and his Dockers.
“I’m fine,” Autumn reassured them all.
Neither of them was fine. She still thought he was hung up on his ex-wife. That would be stupid. And, Rui was not a stupid man. Last night he’d allowed two of Kirsten’s calls to go to voicemail. Not in the mood for her games, he decided to deal with her messages after work, after he took care of the woman before him. Autumn had priority, whether she wanted it or not. Now, she wanted to spend time with Owen and Ivy, instead of him. He suspected a part of her still wanted to ask the other man for help. No way would Rui stand by while she accepted anything from another man. He would provide for her.
Ivy looked up from the ledgers spread out at the end of the bar. She smiled. "Good morning, you two."
With wild ringlets framing her salted vanilla skin, a tie-dye t-shirt, ripped jeans, and combat boots, Ivy Summers looked liked the rebel she was. She'd walked into town not too long ago and stolen the widower Owen's heart. The scowl on Owen's face had been as much a part of him as his arm or leg before Ivy came along. Now, the man laughed louder than a kid in an ice cream shop everyday.
Rui was happy for them both, but that didn't mean they could interfere where he and Autumn were concerned. He knew Autumn didn't want to be beholden to him. What adult woman would? But, there was something growing between them and he wouldn't allow her to derail their two trains connecting. Last night as he lay in bed, he thought about how a relationship with Autumn could be good for both of them. She needed someone to look after her, and he needed a woman that was all his.
