A Kiss Beneath the Stars

by Sterling, S. L.

  * * *

  Autumn

  I opened my eyes and was greeted by bright sunlight. I must have fallen back asleep this morning while we were cuddling. Rolling over, I noticed the bed was empty. I could hear music playing, so I crawled out of bed and threw on Hunter’s T-shirt. I entered the kitchen. Hunter stood shirtless in lounge pants, his back to me, pouring two cups of coffee. I loved the sight of his strong back and broad chest. “Morning, beautiful. How did you sleep this morning?”

  “Really good.” I smiled. Hunter handed me a mug of coffee, took my hand in his, and led me over to the couch.

  “What about you?”

  “I did, considering all the interruptions.” He winked at me and took a sip of his coffee.

  I curled my feet underneath my legs and looked down at the mug I held in my hands. I was starting to think things that I shouldn’t be. This weekend had been perfect in every way. We got along amazingly well. Everything with him was so comfortable, but for some reason, I just kept waiting for the bubble to burst.

  “Why the sad face? What is it?”

  “Nothing. It’s silly really.”

  “When it comes to you, nothing is silly.” Hunter placed his hand under my chin and lifted my face to meet his eyes.

  I was afraid to tell him. Jason had never liked it when I shared my feelings about anything. He always dismissed how I felt, in the end never caring about how that made me feel. I could feel him observing me. I sat there, staring down at the mug in my hands. He reached over and placed his hand on top of mine, trying to get my attention. When I didn’t look at him, he took my mug from my hand and set it on the table, placing his mug down beside mine. He then took both of my hands into his. “Autumn, you can talk to me. What is it, love?”

  “Hunter, I…” I was so afraid of uttering my concerns that it was almost paralyzing.

  “I’m going to sit right here until you tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours. I’m a good listener—remember—and I’m not going to move, no matter how long it takes.”

  “Hunter, I’m scared.”

  “Of what?”

  “What’s going to happen with us after this weekend? It took you so long to contact me again after Jamaica. I can’t be left wondering.”

  “Well, I’m hoping that you’re going to want to see me again. I really like you, Autumn. I know I waited after returning to call you, which was a mistake.” I looked into his eyes. “I certainly don’t plan on making that mistake again.” He leaned in, brushing his lips over mine. “Just so you know, you don’t ever need to be afraid of talking to me.”

  I met his lips for another kiss. As our lips parted, he reached over and grabbed my mug, handing it to me.

  “Listen, I wanted to ask you something.” Hunter got up from the couch and grabbed a card off the counter. “I have a corporate Christmas party to attend. Would you be interested in being my plus one?” I took the card from his hand and looked down at it. I frowned. It looked very familiar. It took me no more than a few seconds to figure out where I had seen it before. I read the inside of the invite. Evelyn and Derek had received one just like it in the mail. “What is it?”

  “That’s funny. My sister’s husband, Derek, received one of these,” I said, examining both sides of the invitation.

  “Derek Dasse?”

  “Yes! How do you know Evelyn and Derek?” I questioned.

  “I’ve been friends with Derek for years. We went to law school together. We refer clients to one another as well. Before I left for vacation, they tried…”

  A look of realization came over Hunter’s face as he stopped mid-sentence.

  “Hunter, what is it?”

  “You were my date.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “This is going to be weird, but did they try to set you up on a date with one of Derek’s friends just before you went away? With a guy who never showed up?”

  “How did you know that?” I said, wiping away a tear at that memory. It was impossible for me not to cry about that. I had been so upset that night.

  “Because I was your date. I was late. I arrived shortly after 9:00 that night, but you’d already left. I’m sorry about that, Autumn.”

  It sure was a small world. I stood there not really knowing how to respond to that. I swallowed hard and decided without really thinking about it that maybe it was better that we hadn’t met that night. It might not have turned out the same way, especially with seeing Jason with Anna that night. I couldn’t figure out why Evelyn didn’t say anything to me when I showed her his picture though after I returned from my trip, but that was something I’d have to take up with her. I handed him back the card. “Yes, I’ll be your plus one.” I stood up and kissed him on the lips, wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “Okay, beautiful, I’m going to go grab a quick shower. You okay out here for a few, or do you want to join me?” He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into him.

  “I’ll be okay out here. Go have your shower. I’m just going to relax and have my coffee.” Kissing me one more time, he headed off down the hall.

  * * *

  I had just gotten dressed and set my bag at the front door. Hunter was still in the shower when I sat down to read the paper. I was halfway through an article when I heard a knock on the door.

  I walked over to the door and pulled it open. On the other side stood this petite blonde. Her eyes raked over my body with disgust. “Who are you?” she demanded, practically pushing me over as she walked into the condo. “Where’s Hunter?”

  “I’m Autumn,” I answered, holding my hand out to her. “Hunter’s in the shower. And you are?”

  “Jocelyn.”

  “Maybe I can help you with something, Jocelyn?”

  “I doubt it. I need to see Hunter. I have news for him.” She walked further into the condo, dropping her purse and coat down on the couch. Without even knowing who she was, I could already say I wasn’t a fan.

  “What do you think you’re doing answering his door?” she asked, taking me in again. “Who did you say you were?” Jocelyn asked as she walked over to the counter and started snooping through Hunter’s mail. I didn’t feel right letting her continue her search through his private things.

  “I don’t think you should be doing that.”

  “Why shouldn’t I be, Autumn? That is your name, right? You’re wondering who I am, and here you are answering his door at eleven on a Sunday morning? I am his girlfriend, after all!”

  The room suddenly got very small, and I felt weak in the knees. I had just spent the weekend with him—not to mention all that time in Jamaica—and he was involved with someone. So, he had been lying to me all along. My stomach started to turn at an alarming rate. I didn’t know what to say. What could I say? He had just been inside of me not six hours ago. I walked slowly to the front door and put my shoes on. I was just getting my coat from the closet when Hunter called my name from down the hall.

  I couldn’t answer him. My throat was so tight, and my eyes were burning. He came around the corner in nothing but a towel.

  “Jocelyn?” I could hear the shock in his voice.

  “Hunter, baby, I don’t know who this woman is or what she is doing here, but she was kind enough to let me in. I forgot my key. I need to talk to you, baby.”

  “Cut the crap. You don’t have a key, and you don’t belong here. Now, I’ve got nothing to say to you, Jocelyn.”

  Hunter pushed past her and walked over to me, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Autumn, wait, what did she say to you?” Shrugging out of his touch, I grabbed my bag and opened the door.

  “Hunter, baby, let her leave. I have some news I want to share with you, and you need to hear it alone,” Jocelyn called from the living room.

  Turning, I looked at Hunter with tears in my eyes. As soon as I blinked, they streamed down my face, and there was nothing I could have done to stop them. I was gutted. He lied to me, and now I had nothin
g to say to him. He grabbed my arm with his hand, but I pulled out of his grasp. “Goodbye, Hunter.”

  I ran down the hall and hit the button for the elevator. I could feel his stare from the doorway. I kept my stare ahead as I held my hand over my mouth, hoping to stop the threat of being sick. It seemed like hours for that elevator door to open. I glanced back one final time. He stood there, his eyes to the floor, running his hands through his hair, still wrapped in the white towel. I heard her call his name from inside the condo, and that was when he looked up at me through teary blue eyes. I was just about to turn to run back to him when the elevator doors opened. I stood for a moment, debating going back and letting him explain, but when she called his name for a third time, I decided to step into the elevator and go home.

  Chapter Twenty

  Hunter

  My heart broke as I watched her get into that elevator. I didn’t want to create any more of a scene than what had already been done. I certainly didn’t want to deal with the situation with Autumn while Jocelyn was here. I walked back into my condo, slamming the door behind me. I stared at Jocelyn who was sprawled out on my couch, trying her best to look sexy. “What the fuck are you doing here, Jocelyn? What did you say to her?” I demanded through clenched teeth.

  “Why, nothing, love.” She got up off the couch and walked over to me, running her hands along the edge of the towel that hung loosely at my waist.

  I tensed, pulling away from her. “Jocelyn, I’m warning you. Get your hands off me. Now, what did you say to her?”

  “She asked me who I was, so I told her.”

  “What exactly did you tell her?”

  “The truth, Hunter. I’m your girlfriend.”

  I felt the anger begin to pulse through my veins. This woman was unhinged. “Why the fuck would you do that?”

  “Because, Hunter, it’s true.”

  “Jocelyn, how many more times do I need to tell you? We are over, finished. There is and never will be any more us,” I fumed, slamming my fist down on the counter.

  I watched as a smile came to her lips. “Hunter, don’t be ridiculous. We can’t be over.”

  “Jocelyn, what the fuck is wrong with you? Listen, I’m not doing this with you again. Now, get out.”

  “Hunter, please, you have to listen to me.”

  “I don’t have to listen to you. Now, go. There’s the door!”

  “I’m pregnant, Hunter.”

  “Whatever trouble you have gotten yourself into this time has nothing to do with me. Get out!” I stalked down the hall and slammed my bedroom door shut.

  * * *

  I listened to the endless sound of a ringing line as I pulled into the empty parking lot. I slammed my hand down on the wheel; I was so fucking pissed. After Jocelyn had left, I decided to head to the office. I needed to do something to calm myself down, and normally throwing myself into work did it. However, I had thought about Autumn all the way to the office. I needed to explain, and I wasn’t going to give up until she let me. The phone rang another half-dozen times before I finally ended the call and headed up to the office.

  Jocelyn was insane. That’s all there was to it. I wasn’t sure how dumb she thought I was, but it had been seven months since the last time we had been together, so even if she was pregnant, it definitely wasn’t mine.

  Once inside, I turned on my laptop and tried burying myself into work, but the only thing that was occupying my mind was those teary beautiful grey-blue eyes as Autumn had stepped onto that elevator. I’d wanted to go after her, but I had been frozen in shock. I picked up my phone and tried her again. Again, the same thing—the line just rang. Running my hand through my hair, I threw my phone down on my desk and headed to the lunchroom to make a coffee. I was convinced it was going to be a long night.

  As I headed down the hall, I saw the light on in Carter’s office and decided to go there instead. He was sitting behind his desk, working away on his computer. “Hey, you got a minute?” I asked, standing just outside his door.

  “Hunter! What are you doing here? I thought you were taking the weekend off to bang that broad you met down south? At least that’s what our brothers told me.” He laughed, looking up from his paperwork.

  “Carter, she’s not some broad. I need to talk.” His demeanor changed the second he looked at my face. This was serious. I needed guidance, advice—something—and Carter was always my go-to.

  “Come in and sit.” I caught the worried look on his face. “Is everything okay?”

  I sat down across from him. “Jocelyn showed up at my place this morning,” I said, deadpan.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Carter put his pen down and sat back. “I thought you got rid of that crazy bitch.”

  “Yep, so did I. Autumn let her in while I was in the shower.”

  “What happened?”

  “Jocelyn is Jocelyn. She started lying to her, and Autumn left in tears. She wouldn’t give me a minute to explain—nothing. Autumn has been through a really tough time, so I know this was a big blow to her. After she left, Jocelyn told me she is pregnant and it’s mine.”

  “Well, you know it’s not. Hope and I saw Jocelyn while you were away in Jamaica. She was out with another guy.”

  “I know it’s not mine. And I don’t care whose it is.”

  “Why don’t you go see Autumn—explain it in person as opposed to over the phone?”

  “I’m afraid to.”

  “Why is that? You’ve never been afraid of talking to a woman before.” He was right. Nothing had ever stopped me from getting what I wanted. I sat there for a few minutes, staring at my hands, lost in thought.

  “Hunter, what’s going on?”

  “I really like this girl.”

  “Then what is the problem?”

  “She’s Derek’s sister-in-law.”

  Carter looked at me. “I see. You’re one of Derek’s best friends. I can’t see that being the issue. So why don’t you tell me what the real problem is?” Suddenly, I felt very cornered. Why was he pushing me? I leaned back in the chair and rubbed my face with my hands.

  “Fuck, Carter, I don’t know.”

  “I think you do. I just don’t think you’re ready to fully admit it to yourself.” He sat back, putting his feet up on his desk and his hands behind his head. For a minute I thought he enjoyed seeing me squirm.

  “Ready to admit what?”

  “Hunter, let’s look at this situation for a second. Since you have been back from this trip, I’ve seen a difference in you. You’ve barely even looked at another woman since you’ve been back. You know, Bryce and Chase told me all about this trip, about your behavior. They both admit that you’re different too. Christ, Chase told me the other night you guys went out for a beer after work and the hottest woman he’s ever laid eyes on out and out hit on you and you brushed her off completely.”

  “So, what of it?”

  “What of it?”

  “Yeah, so what, I just didn’t want to be bothered that night.”

  “No, No, I know you. Never in your entire life have you turned down willing pussy, especially after a breakup.”

  “What are you saying, Carter?”

  “If you ask me, I think you’re in love with her.”

  I couldn’t believe my ears. There was no way. I swallowed hard, shaking my head. “No, Carter, it’s not that. I’m afraid Derek is going to kick my ass.” It was a lame excuse, but I would say anything to hide what I already knew was true.

  “It has nothing to do with Derek. You’re in love with this girl, and it’s freaking you the fuck out.”

  “No, Carter, that’s not it.”

  “I’ve been there, remember? I remember what it was like.”

  I ran my hands over my face. He was right. I was having such a hard time trying to explain my feelings. All I knew was that when I was with her I was happier than I had been in a long time and it was scaring the hell out of me.

  “How is this even possible, Carter? I barely know her.”
<
br />   “Hunter, man, love hits you when you aren’t even looking. It’s not up to us to decide when or with whom or how long it takes.”

  “I don’t know, Carter.”

  “I do. You’re acting the same way I did when I met Hope. It just took me a lot longer to figure out what I was feeling. Let me ask you, is it different with Autumn than it was with any of the other girls?”

  “Is what different?”

  “Sex, everything? Is it different with her?”

  I sat there trying to sort out exactly how I felt. “Fuck yes, it’s different, Carter, and she is all I can think about.”

  “Then I guess you have your answer. Now get out of here right now and go see her.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Autumn

  The tears fell as I drove toward home, soft Christmas music playing on the radio. I knew he was too good to be true. I had stopped on my way home at a bookstore, grabbed a coffee, and looked around for a bit. Books were always my go-to when I was feeling down. It did me good, plus I didn’t want to drive while I was as upset as I was.

  Putting the car in park, I turned the engine off and grabbed my suitcase and the full bag of books I had purchased. I carried everything into the house. The snow was really starting to fall now. It was quiet as I entered. Derek and Evelyn still weren’t home, which was probably a good thing. I was angry at them both for not coming clean about knowing Hunter, and I wanted time to calm down before I confronted them.

  I carried my stuff up to my bedroom and decided to take a hot shower before getting changed. I knew Evelyn would need some more help decorating tonight, which might be a good thing for me to keep my mind off everything that had happened. The only thing plaguing my mind all the way home was Hunter. While waiting for the shower to warm up, I turned on my cell phone and plugged it in. I had a bunch of missed calls—all from him. I threw my phone onto the bedside table. I wanted to call him back, but I also didn’t know what to say. I was so hurt, and I didn’t want to listen to a bunch of excuses. I didn’t even know how to deal with this.