by Sandra Owens
I looked around the room, noting the things that were mine and those that were Brian’s. There was no question in my mind I wanted a divorce. But after that, what did I want?
I made a good living as an interior designer, and although I could probably get some kind of settlement from Brian, I didn’t want his money, even though he had plenty to spare. It would feel too much like I’d owe him if I took anything from him. But I did want the house.
Every corner had been decorated by me. I’d put my heart and soul into making our first home beautiful. As far as I was concerned, that gave me the right to keep it. Well, that and his cheating ways. He didn’t get to poke his stick in another woman and expect nothing would change.
He’d put the deposit down, and too bad for him if he thought it wasn’t fair that he didn’t get at least half the house. Maybe I’d keep it, or maybe I’d sell it. I wasn’t going to make that decision until I was thinking clearly again.
One thing I would do was go back to my maiden name. I’d be damned if I’d keep Stratton. Autumn Archer and the house. That was it. Brian was getting off easy.
“Autumn?”
“Yeah?” It sounded like Connor was in the hallway. I quickly pushed up before he could walk in and catch me wallowing on the floor.
“Lunch is ready.”
“Be right there.” It was kind of nice having Connor here, taking care of me.
4
~ Connor ~
Autumn walked into the kitchen wearing a pair of sweatpants, socks, a long-sleeve T-shirt with our high school logo, and her blonde hair up in a ponytail. I’d lied. I hadn’t once thought of Autumn as anything but a friend until today. Now all I could think about was how sexy she was, even covered from neck to feet in her comfy clothes.
I was a bad man.
She slid onto a stool at the kitchen island. I’d been in her house before and had always liked it. Not as much as my log home, but she’d done a great job of decorating the place. She liked colors that matched her name, and there was a warmth and coziness about her home that made you want to settle in and stay awhile. I particularly liked her dark green leather sofa with the chaise on one end. It would be perfect for stretching out to watch a football game. Or nap. I should hire her to decorate my log house.
When I put a plate in front of her, she kept her eyes down, avoiding my gaze. I didn’t like that I’d hurt her feelings, but she’d caught me off guard with her question. I’d wanted to say, Hell yes! What I saw today was so sexy hot my eyeballs are still burning. Maybe I could tone that down, give her what she seemed to need to hear.
I pulled a stool to the other side so I could face her. “Autumn.” I waited for her to look at me. “I do think you’re sexy.”
“You don’t have to say that.” Her gaze went right back to her plate.
“You’re right, I don’t.” I reached across the space between us, putting my hand over hers. “We’ve been friends for a long time. You know I don’t say things I don’t mean, not even if it was just to make you feel better. You are a very sexy woman. I’ve always known you were beautiful, but…” I hesitated, trying to think how to explain. “We’re friends. Men try not to think of their female friends as sexy.”
That got her attention. “Why?”
“Because then all we can think about is having sex with that sexy friend.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.” And now that was going to be all I would think about. I really was a bad, bad man. We needed a change of subject, something to get my mind off the incredibly hot woman sitting across from me. When I got home where I could think straight, I’d figure out how to put that genie back in the bottle.
“Oh, almost forgot. Dylan called while you were changing. Brian told him it was no big deal what he’d done. Just a stupid mistake he’d made at a weak moment that didn’t mean anything.”
Her fork clattered when it hit her plate. “No big deal? No freaking big deal?” She drew air into her lungs.
“Yeah, the asshole. He was also not happy about the car. Dylan’s with him now. They’ve called a tow truck out to pull it back up.” I’d debated telling her what Brian had said but had decided she should hear it. If I thought the jerk really had made a stupid mistake as he claimed, and that he was genuinely sorry, I might have suggested she take her time to think about what she wanted. If saving her marriage was the answer, then I would have supported her fully. But I suspected she was right and this wasn’t her husband’s first so-called mistake.
Nor did I like him trying to blow it off as no big deal. That right there told me the only thing he was sorry about was getting caught. Men like Brian rarely learned their lesson. His next weak moment wouldn’t be long in coming. I didn’t want my friend married to the douchebag, so I hoped she meant it when she said she was done with him.
“There’s one other thing. He told Dylan he wants to talk to you, that he can straighten everything out.”
Her blue eyes turned glacier cold. “Like hell he can. He can talk to me through my lawyer.”
“Dylan told him not to come here tonight, but he said don’t be surprised if Brian shows up after they deal with the car.”
She pushed away from the counter, taking off down the hall. Afraid I’d upset her again, I followed her. At first I didn’t see her, but then a large suitcase on wheels rolled out of the closet, closely followed by another one. It was like some kind of freaky suitcase cartoon come to life.
“Are you moving out?” I asked when Autumn finally appeared.
“Nope. My lying, cheating, soon-to-be ex-husband’s moving out.” She tossed one of the suitcases onto the bed, unzipped it, then went to a chest of drawers.
“Need help?”
She stilled with an armload of shirts. “Do you think I’m being a bitch about this?”
I leaned against the doorframe. “Not even. I guess I’m just a little surprised by how fast you decided that your marriage was over.”
“A long time ago I made a promise to myself not to ever become my mother.”
Ah, that explained things. Autumn’s father had never been able to keep his pants zipped. He’d get caught, her mother would kick him out, then he’d sweet-talk his way back home. Rinse. Repeat. Over the years her mother had gone from a smiling, happy woman to one of the most miserable people I knew. Autumn’s parents were still on again and off again. It was wearying even to me, and I hadn’t had to live it.
“Good for you,” I said, going to a drawer and hauling out a handful of socks. We worked together until both suitcases were full, not bothering to pack anything neatly. Cheating Brian was going to need an iron.
She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, then glanced over at me. “I’m going to ask you for a big favor.”
By the tone of her voice, I figured I probably wasn’t going to like it, but she was my friend and she was hurting and right now I’d do anything she asked. “Sure. What?”
“Brian’s going to need to come in tomorrow and get the rest of his stuff. I’d like you to be here with me when that happens.”
I was wrong. I very much wanted to be with her when the man showed up. “You bet. Why did we pack all this now?”
“So I can give them to Brian if he shows up tonight.”
“Good thinking.” I rolled one suitcase and she rolled the other one to the front door. She’d gone from sad and crying to mad and scheming. I liked her much better this way.
“I really appreciate everything you’ve done, Connor. I’m not sure…” She stared down at the floor. “I think I would have been lost without you here, but you’ve given me enough of your time.”
Just go and slay me, Autumn. I think I was happier than her that I’d come along when I had so she hadn’t been alone. “I’m not leaving you here by yourself. What if Brian shows up?”
She eyed the suitcases. “I could put them outside the door so he wouldn’t have to come in.”
“Since he has keys, I don’t see how you can keep him out
if he decides he wants to talk to you.” A visible shudder passed through her at that. “Tomorrow I’ll get our foreman here if you want the locks changed. In the meantime, just point me to your guest room.”
“Um…” She scraped sock-clad toes across the wood floor. “I was going to sleep in there.”
I almost asked why, but the answer popped into my head. She didn’t want to sleep in the bed that belonged to her and Brian. Couldn’t say I blamed her. “No problem. The couch will work just fine.”
The sofa was long enough to accommodate me. I needed to call Adam, let him know what was going on. We were supposed to have a status meeting in the morning about the log home we were building for Dylan and Jenn, but I didn’t want to talk to him in front of Autumn. She was already worried that she was taking up too much of my time.
“Give me a pillow and I’m good to go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” I was pretty sure I saw relief in her eyes that I was staying.
“Thank you.”
“Stop thanking me, Autumn. That’s what friends do, be there when you need them. Come here.” I held out my arms. The girl needed a hug. When she walked into my embrace, I realized my mistake. She felt far too good snuggled up against me. Yep, I was seeing her as my sexy friend now. Before she realized the effect she was having on the part of me that had no business taking notice of her, I stepped away.
She gave me a puzzled look, and I couldn’t blame her. I’d pushed her away a little roughly, but better her confused than knowing my male brain had reclassified her as woman of interest in the vicinity, which had immediately sent an alert down south to stand up and pay attention.
“What would you like to do for the rest of the afternoon?”
Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I guess we could watch a movie or something.”
“Okay.” We stilled at the sound of a car turning into the driveway. “You sure you don’t want to talk to him?”
She shook her head. “Not now. I can’t.”
“Okay, go to the bedroom. I’ll give him the suitcases. What time you want him to come get the rest of his stuff tomorrow?”
“Any time before noon. After that I have an appointment.”
That worked for me as well. “I got this, Autumn. Go.”
Since my car was parked in the middle of the driveway, blocking the garage door, Brian would have to come to the front. Curious if he’d give Autumn the courtesy of knocking, I waited. I rolled my eyes when I heard a key slide into the lock. What a jerk. Apparently he thought he could just waltz right in even after what he’d done.
I pulled the door open. “Oh, good. It’s you.” I pushed the two suitcases in front of him, blocking him from coming in. “Autumn was kind enough to pack up some stuff for you. I told her to just throw everything out on the lawn, but she’s a nicer person than I am.”
“What are you doing here, Adam?”
The dude never had been able to tell us apart, but I don’t think he really tried that hard. By now he should know that I always wore an emerald stone earring and Adam a sapphire one. “I’m Connor. To answer your question, I’m taking care of my friend. The one whose heart you broke today.” At his scowl I was tempted to slam the door in his face.
“Autumn shouldn’t be discussing our private business.”
“And Autumn’s husband shouldn’t have been screwing a woman who wasn’t his wife, so I guess you’re even. Oh, wait. I don’t think she’s close to being even with what you did. Take the suitcases and go. She said to tell you that you can come get the rest of your stuff tomorrow morning.”
“I want to talk to her. We can straighten out this misunderstanding now.”
“Seriously, dude? Misunderstanding? If that’s how you see it, then you’re a bigger idiot than I thought. You’re not talking to her today, so go before I call the cops.”
“Who the hell do you think you are, asshole? This is my house, and I’m coming in.”
I was bigger and stronger than him, and he was pissing me off. Before I lost it and beat the crap out of him, I picked up one of the suitcases and used it to push him away from the door. “You try to come in and you won’t like the consequences.” I threw the suitcase out the door, then kicked the other one out.
After watching to make sure he left, I called my foreman. Although I’d planned to have him come over in the morning to change the locks, I decided that should happen immediately. I didn’t trust Brian to stay away.
Next I called Adam, letting him know where I was and why. He was as angry on Autumn’s behalf as I was.
“Want me to come over and stand guard with you?”
“No. Gary’s coming now to put new locks in. I’ll bunk on her couch, wait for Brian to show up tomorrow, then head home. I’ve got a showing tomorrow afternoon, but I won’t make it to the office in the morning to go over the status of Dylan and Jenn’s house.”
“Not a problem. If anything changes, let me know.”
“Will do.” A few seconds after I hung up, a car pulled into the driveway. It was too soon for Gary to get here, and if it was Brian coming back, we were going to have some words.
I opened the door, prepared to meet him in the yard. Recognizing Dylan’s Mustang—or was it Jenn’s?—I relaxed.
“One of you needs to get a different car so I know who’s here,” I said as they both walked up. They had matching Mustangs, which Jenn thought was the cutest thing.
“I’m keeping mine,” Jenn said, giving me a hug. “He can get a new car.”
Dylan grinned at his girlfriend. “Not happening, Red.”
Jenn peeked around me, trying to see inside the house. “How’s our girl?”
“Not so good. Brian just left. He wanted to talk to her, but she wasn’t ready, so I sent him away. Come on in.”
“I’m so furious,” Jenn said when we were inside. “I wish I’d been here so I could give him a piece of my mind. What a toad.”
“That he is.” I waved a hand toward the hallway. “She’s in the guest bedroom. Why don’t you go talk to her?” Dylan moved to the sofa after Jenn headed for Autumn. I plopped down in a chair. “I’m waiting for my foreman. He’s headed over to change the locks.”
“So she meant it when she said she was done with him?”
“Appears so. I hope she still feels that way tomorrow.” I brought Dylan up to speed, telling him that Autumn had agreed to meet with Brian as long as I was here.
“Jenny and I can stay tonight if you need to get home.”
“I’m good.” She was under my protection now, and I took that job seriously. As for these new thoughts I was having about her, they’d go away soon enough and we’d get back to being just friends.
“I’m guessing he’s going to cause trouble if she doesn’t take him back,” Dylan said.
“He can bring it on. I’ll be ready for him.” Unless she changed her mind and decided to forgive Brian, I planned to be her loyal sidekick for a while. If the man tried to mess with her, he was going to have me to deal with.
5
~ Autumn ~
The minute Jenn walked into the guest room, I started crying. I don’t know why. I guess because along with Natalie and Savannah, she’d been my best friend for most of my life, and I trusted her without reservation. There was no one else I’d rather have with me now, unless Savannah was here to join in. As for Jenn’s twin, Natalie had died shortly after we’d graduated high school, and I’m not sure any of us had gotten over that.
“Oh, hon,” Jenn said, crawling onto the bed and pulling me into her arms.
That only made me cry harder. “Why didn’t I listen to you?”
“Because you loved him and didn’t want to hear it.” She squeezed my hand. “You’ve always wanted a home filled with children who were happy and a man who loved you and only you. More than any of us, you wanted to get married. You wanted everything you didn’t have growing up. You thought you’d found that with Brian.”
“But you saw him
for what he was.”
“No, I only saw a man who appreciated women’s butts. That probably applies to every straight, red-blooded male in the world. Because he was more blatant about looking, it did concern me, but it didn’t alarm me to the point that I thought I needed to push the issue. Autumn, he was good to you.”
“Yeah, he did love giving me presents.” But I would have taken his fidelity over things any day.
“And it wasn’t just that. Y’all had fun together.”
“Are you saying I should give him a second chance? Because I just can’t do that. I told him from the very beginning that if he ever cheated on me, I was gone.”
“No, hon, not at all. If I’d grown up in your house, I would probably say the same thing. Honestly, I doubt I could stay with Dylan if I ever found out he cheated on me.”
“Dylan would never do that.”
“And in my heart I believe that, but there are no guarantees in life. Things can change.” She brushed my hair away from my face. “If you have second thoughts in the coming days, don’t let your stubbornness stop you from seeing if you can work things out with him.”
Stupid tears were burning my eyes again. “I could never trust him after this.”
“And that’s a biggie. Listen, why don’t you try to get some sleep? I’ll be right here.”
“I heard Dylan’s voice out there. Go get your boyfriend and go home.” I loved Jenn to death, but I just needed to be alone right now.
“We could send the guys home, then drink wine and eat cake in bed. I know you have at least one piece of Mary’s cake hidden somewhere in this house.”
I scoffed. “Like either one of them would leave us alone knowing Brian could come back.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think of that. Dylan and I could stay. Let Connor go home.”
That probably would be the best thing to do, yet I wanted Conner here. Maybe it was because he’d rescued me, even after I’d almost killed him, but I felt safe with him.
