Pass Interference (Fair Catch Series, Book Four)

by Christine Kersey

  “Same here,” Cassie added.

  “But you totally deserve it,” Haylie added.

  “Aww, thank you.” Autumn smiled with happiness.

  Cassie squinted at Autumn. “Do you think that Kelli chick legit didn’t know who you are?”

  Shrugging, Autumn said, “I don’t know, but I kind of hope it was her.”

  Haylie’s eyebrows shot up. “Why?”

  “Cause now that Jax told her to stay away from him and me…well, from Aubrey…” She did air quotes. “If it is her, she knows we’re on to her. So that should be the end of it.”

  Haylie nodded. “I didn’t think of that.”

  “Good point,” Cassie said.

  The day flew by, and on the way home from work Autumn picked up ingredients to make a special dish for Jax. Smiling as she pulled into her carport, she tried to think of a fun nickname for Jax. Nothing came to mind, but she was confident she would think of something when the time was right.

  “Sasha,” she called out as she walked into the house. When the yellow lab didn’t greet her, Autumn’s eyebrows tugged together. “Where are you, sweet girl?”

  Autumn set the groceries on the counter, opened the back door, and stepped outside. With her gaze sweeping the small yard, she called Sasha’s name. She was nowhere to be found. Alarmed, Autumn dashed to the gate. To her horror, it hung open.

  “Sasha! Sasha, where are you?”

  Panicked now, Autumn raced up the sidewalk calling Sasha’s name, then she turned around and ran back the other way. There was no sign of her.

  Sprinting back to her house, she went through the gate, leaving it open in case Sasha returned, then she raced into the house and grabbed her purse and keys. Moments later she was cruising the neighborhood. Tears blurred her vision. Swiping them away, she took several deep breaths to get her emotions under control.

  If something happened to Sasha she didn’t know what she would do. She was the one constant in her life, her one tie to Mitch.

  I will find her, she told herself. I will.

  Driving up and down the streets surrounding her house, with each passing minute her worry grew and multiplied until her panic was nearly complete. Ten minutes later and several streets over, she saw a yellow lab.

  “Sasha,” she whispered as she drove in that direction. When she drew near, she called Sasha’s name out her open window as tears flooded her eyes.

  “Sasha! Sasha, come here!”

  Sasha stopped and looked at her. For a moment Autumn thought Sasha might take off like she had in the forest. In a rush to get her before she ran off, Autumn threw her car into Park, jumped out, then opened the door to the backseat. “Come on, baby. Let’s go home.”

  Sasha hesitated, but after a moment she bounded into the car. With a huge grin on her face, Autumn closed the door and got into the driver’s seat, then turned and opened her arms. “Come here, Sasha.”

  Panting, Sasha nuzzled Autumn, then licked her face.

  Wiping away tears, Autumn said, “Why did you leave the yard, you silly dog? You’ve never done that before. And how did the gate get opened?”

  Even as the words left her mouth, she knew it wasn’t an accident. That gate had never opened on its own before, and Autumn had certainly not opened it.

  Someone had done it. Someone who wanted to punish her for dating Jax. Kelli. It had to be.

  Furious, she put on her seatbelt and drove home, muttering, “That’s it. I’m reporting that woman.”

  Resolve tore through her. She had to protect herself. And her sweet Sasha.

  The moment she got home she called the police and reported that someone had been in her backyard. An officer arrived half an hour later, but when Autumn told him about Sasha getting out, he frowned.

  “What makes you think someone let her out?” Officer Riley stood beside Autumn near the gate, which was now closed.

  “That gate wouldn’t open by itself,” Autumn said. “And I haven’t opened it lately.”

  Riley wrote something in a notebook.

  “That’s not all,” Autumn said, desperate for him to believe her. She told him about the flat tire and the condolence balloons.

  Keeping his eyes on Autumn, he tilted his head as he cleared his throat.

  Worried he was going to write this off, Autumn said, “I know who did it.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Okay.”

  “It was a woman named Kelli.” She frowned. “I don’t know her last name. But I can find out.”

  He wrote that down, then looked at Autumn. “Why do you suspect her?”

  “She seems a little…I guess you could say…obsessed…with the man I’m dating.” She wasn’t sure if she should mention Jax’s name. “She went out with him a few times, and even though he told her he’s not interested in her, she keeps texting him. He talked to her last night and told her to leave us alone.” Autumn’s gaze went to the gate, then back to the officer. “But then this happened.”

  “I’d like to speak to this man. What’s his name?”

  Crap. Jax wasn’t going to be happy.

  Autumn hesitated another moment, then with a sense of resignation, she said, “Jax Cordova.”

  The officer’s eyebrows went into his hairline. “The Viper?”

  Autumn nodded. “Yeah.”

  “You’re dating Jax Cordova. From the Sacramento Vipers.” He rubbed at his eyebrow as one side of his mouth turned up.

  “Yes.”

  He stared at her a moment. “Okay.” He stretched the word out like he thought she lived in some sort of fantasy land.

  At that moment, a black Lamborghini pulled into Autumn’s driveway. When Jax got out, looking mighty fine, triumph blasted through Autumn.

  She turned to Riley, who was staring at Jax with wide eyes, then with a smile, she said, “There he is now.”

  The officer’s gaze went back to her before shifting to Jax, who was jogging over to them.

  “What’s going on, Autumn?” Jax’s forehead was creased in concern. He reached them a moment later, a questioning look on his face as he turned to the officer.

  “Officer Riley,” the cop said as he held out his hand.

  Jax nodded and shook the man’s hand. “Jax Cordova.” Then Jax turned to Autumn. “Did something else happen?”

  “Something else?” Riley asked. “So you know about the other incidents Ms. Foster reported to me?”

  Jax looked at Riley. “Yeah.” His attention went back to Autumn.

  Pleased to have Jax backing her up, when Autumn remembered her abject fear when she’d found Sasha missing, tears filled her eyes. “Someone let Sasha out.”

  “What?” His eyebrows jerked together.

  “She’s safe now. I found her. But when I got home from work, she was gone and the gate was open.” Swallowing over the reaction she knew he was going to have, she added, “I told Officer Riley about Kelli.”

  This scene wasn’t what Jax had expected to find when he’d headed over to Autumn’s place. He’d had a grueling day, and as he’d showered and changed, all he’d been able to think about was relaxing with Autumn. When he’d seen the police car parked out front, he’d momentarily panicked, but when he’d seen Autumn standing in the side yard talking to the officer, his panic had receded. She was unharmed.

  Glad that Sasha was okay, Jax wasn’t happy that Autumn had brought the cops into this. After he’d talked to Kelli the night before he was confident she wasn’t involved. She clearly had no idea what Autumn’s name was or anything else about her. In fact, the more Jax thought about it, the more he wondered if Autumn wasn’t blowing things out of proportion. All of these little things that had happened were probably completely unrelated, yet she was lumping them together as if someone had it in for her.

  And why did she think someone had let Sasha out on purpose? Just two days earlier they’d gotten lost in the woods trying to find that dog. Clearly, if Sasha had a chance to escape, she would. Why was Autumn acting like someone had wanted her to get
out? It seemed a bit…well, a bit ridiculous. After all, Sasha was a smart dog. If she wanted out she would find a way out. Maybe she’d managed to knock the gate open herself somehow. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. It seemed more plausible than someone purposely letting her out.

  Maybe he was wrong about Autumn, wrong that she was the woman for him. Maybe she was a drama queen. Or…he hated to think it…but maybe she was a little off her rocker.

  He thought about Ty, a Viper who’d been traded to another team. Ty had gotten involved with a woman who he’d been crazy about, but the woman had turned out to be a nutcase, doing all kinds of things to get his attention. Things like pretending other men were hitting on her when they weren’t, or telling him she was pregnant when she wasn’t. Ty had really struggled when he’d been with her and his personal problems had spilled over onto the field. It had been a relief to everyone when he’d finally dumped the woman.

  Certain that Ty’s experience was coloring his opinion, Jax turned his focus on Autumn. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, and as he looked at her sweet face, her eyes damp with tears, guilt crashed over him. Whatever was going on, she believed it was nefarious. Right now, in front of this cop, he needed to support her. He would wait until they were alone to delve deeper, to see if she was unstable, to discover if it was time to tell her good-bye. Time to move on.

  “Mr. Cordova,” Officer Riley said.

  “Jax,” Jax said with a smile.

  The officer grinned in a way that told Jax he was a fan. Good. That could work in his favor.

  “All right. Jax.” Riley glanced at his notes before meeting Jax’s gaze. “If you’ll give me the last name of this Kelli woman along with her address, that would save me some time.”

  “What for?” Jax glanced at Autumn, who was frowning.

  “I’d like to speak to her.”

  Jax wanted to put Kelli in his rearview. The cops talking to her would just stir things up. “Is that really necessary?” Jax’s gaze went to Autumn again. Her frown had deepened and now her forehead was creased. Great.

  Riley looked between Jax and Autumn. “Uh…” Then he seemed to come to a decision. “Ma’am, would you step over here, please?”

  What was happening? Jax’s lips curled in annoyance as he watched Riley and Autumn talking in low voices. He couldn’t hear what they were saying. The fact that that was by design irritated him. He was the one who would be in the middle of a media frenzy if they got wind of this.

  “Excuse me,” he said as he stepped in their direction.

  They both looked at him in surprise.

  Riley faced him looking less like a fan and more like an officer of the law. Autumn just looked worried.

  “What can I help you with?” Riley asked.

  “What are you two talking about?”

  Autumn placed her hand on his arm. He nearly shook her off, but when he looked at her face, his heart softened.

  “He needs to talk to her, Jax.”

  Jax made a sound in his throat. “Look. Can you at least leave my name off of your report?”

  Riley’s mouth tightened. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  That was something at least. “I appreciate it.” Knowing there was no way out of this, Jax told the officer Kelli’s last name and her address, and a few moments later the officer left.

  Jax turned to Autumn, his mind whirling as he locked eyes with her. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, he really did, but he was struggling. Balloons and a flat tire and the dog getting out of the yard? All things that could have a reasonable explanation. Calling the police seemed a bit…excessive. A bit…attention-getting.

  The thought made him uncomfortable. He really didn’t want to think she was anything like Ty’s ex. Even so, he had to consider all the possibilities.

  She stared right back, her eyes broadcasting displeasure—with him or with the situation, he wasn’t sure.

  “I wish you would have talked to me before calling the police,” he said.

  She stared at him, her eyebrows forming a V, then she shook her head before turning and marching into her house.

  Jax stared after her, and the moment the front door closed with a definitive thud, he knew he wasn’t ready to give up on her just yet.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  How could Jax question her like that? Furious, Autumn sank onto the couch and threw her head back against the cushions. She was the one who felt threatened. She was the one who’d been in a panic when someone—Kelli—had let Sasha out of the yard. She was the one who had her tire sabotaged. She was the one who had condolence balloons delivered to the salon. She was the one who lived alone and felt vulnerable.

  Jax was a large man who had probably never felt vulnerable in his life. At least not physically. He had no idea how she felt. Of course she called the police. Of course she reported her suspicions. And of course she wanted the cops to talk to Kelli.

  Who else would have done this? No one, that’s who.

  A knock sounded on her door.

  Jax.

  Pursing her lips, Autumn stared at the door. She couldn’t see him, but she could picture him. Tall, strong, handsome. Yes, she was annoyed with him, but she didn’t want to send him away. Even if this was his fault for bringing Kelli into her life.

  Sighing, Autumn stood and walked to the door. After pausing only a moment, she pulled it open. Yep, he was as hot as ever. Too hot for her to resist.

  “May I come in?” His voice was low, his demeanor apologetic.

  Shoulders slumping, Autumn nodded. “Of course.”

  His lips curved into a smile. “Thank you.”

  The moment he stepped inside, Sasha rushed him. She had no compunction about anything he said or did. She just loved him.

  Not able to hold back a smile, Autumn closed the door behind him and watched as he knelt beside Sasha.

  “I heard you had another adventure.” He scratched her head. “You gave your mommy a scare.”

  Autumn sat on the couch near them. “She sure did.”

  Jax stood, then sat beside Autumn. “Why are you so sure someone let her out?”

  Nearly rolling her eyes, Autumn took a moment to calm herself. “Because Sasha doesn’t have thumbs.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Sasha can’t open the gate, and when it’s closed, it’s closed. It’s never opened by itself before. Someone let her out.

  Jax frowned. “Maybe it was a neighbor kid whose ball went into your yard. Or what about your gas meter?”

  “The gas meter’s in the front yard side of the gate. And I’ve never had a neighbor kid’s ball go into my yard before.” Why was he questioning her like this? Did he think she’d made it all up? That she was overreacting? By the look on his face, she knew that he did. Clenching her jaw in irritation, she looked away from him as she shook her head. Then she turned back to him. “Just say it, Jax. Okay? Just say it.”

  “What?”

  “You think I’m getting all worked up over nothing. That I’m seeing danger where there’s none. Tell me the truth.”

  He stared at her in silence. That was her answer.

  Leaping to her feet, she spun and faced him. If he couldn’t support her, wouldn’t believe her, she didn’t want him there. She pointed to the front door. “You need to go.”

  His nostrils flared, but he stood, towering over her. Wanting nothing more than for him to drag her into his arms and tell her everything was going to be okay, that he would protect her, she stared up at him.

  “If that’s what you want.” His voice was soft.

  No! her mind screamed. That wasn’t what she wanted at all. But if he couldn’t figure out what she needed, it wouldn’t do any good for her to tell him. Because then he would only be doing it to placate her. No. He needed to figure this out on his own.

  Deciding the best answer would be silence, she looked down.

  “Autumn.”

  The way he said her name, soft and de
ep and quiet, she couldn’t help it. She lifted her eyes to his.

  He placed one knuckle under her chin. “I want you to be safe.”

  Gazing into his sky-blue eyes—eyes she could get lost in—Autumn nearly swayed toward him. “But you’re not sure that there’s a reason to worry, are you?”

  A muscle worked in his jaw. “No. I’m not sure.”

  At least he was being honest with her. He might not be sure, but she had no doubt. Someone was tormenting her. With reluctance, she gently removed his finger from her chin. “Good-night, Jax.”

  His lips were a straight line. Then, with a nod, he walked to the front door. With his hand on the knob, he turned back around, his gaze on her. He opened his mouth, then he clamped his lips shut, shook his head, and walked out, closing the door behind him.

  Sasha went to the door and whined.

  “I know, baby,” Autumn said as hot tears filled her eyes. “I know.”

  Jax drove home on autopilot. Boy, did he know how to pick ‘em. First Kelli Judd, a woman who didn’t know how to take no for an answer. And now Autumn Foster. Gorgeous, sweet, fun, easy-going. Except for when she thought some mystery person was out to get her. Did she always jump to wild conclusions? Always see horrible things where there was nothing to see? He couldn’t be with someone like that. He couldn’t be another Ty.

  But, dang it! He wanted to be with her. In the short time he’d known her, she’d climbed inside his heart and taken permanent residence there.

  He would give it a few days, then he would reach out to her. Make sure she was all right. But if she was still being unreasonable, still seeing things that weren’t there, he’d have to rethink everything.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  When Autumn woke the next morning, her eyes were swollen from all the crying she’d done the night before. Who was she kidding? She’d cried half the night. It was a wonder she’d gotten any sleep at all. The only thing that had brought her comfort was having Sasha beside her.

  Trying not to think about Jax and how quickly that seemed to be coming to an end, Autumn got ready for work, and when it was time to leave she looked at Sasha, curled up at the foot of her bed. What if she came home from work to find Sasha missing again? Or worse, what if someone hurt her sweet dog?