by Sandra Owens
“I would have thought after last night that you would’ve needed more time to recover,” I said. We’d made love half the night, with short breaks in between for a snack or a drink.
“You’d think so.” His mouth curved in that wicked grin I was learning to love. “But apparently not.”
“You’re insatiable,” I said as I picked up the condom and handed it to him. “But I’m not complaining.”
Under a beautiful mountain sunrise Connor showed me how it felt to be cherished by a lover. Although I didn’t trust my choices in men, I’d lucked out with Connor, both as a friend and as my first itch scratcher. Even as that thought entered my head, I inwardly cringed at putting him in the latter category. Where it had once sounded amusing, it now felt vulgar and not fair to Connor.
Still pressed against me, he toyed with my hair. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get enough of you, beautiful.”
“Not sure I want you to.” I almost bit off my tongue after saying that because it just wasn’t true. I wouldn’t allow it to be.
30
~ Connor ~
“Cute.” I eyed the red bandanna tied around Beau’s neck. We were at my garage door, ready to head to the festival grounds. After the earlier time on my deck, Autumn had withdrawn into herself. I wondered the same thing every man did when a woman avoided his eyes. What the hell did I do wrong?
“Everything okay?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?” She knelt in front of Beau, leaning away as she studied her dog. “I should have gotten him some sunglasses. That would have been the perfect finishing touch.”
I squatted next to her and Beau, looking the dog in his eyes. “Do not let her start dressing you, Beauregard. You do and I’ll have to take away your man card.”
Beau barked twice.
“Did he just agree with me?” I asked.
Beau barked twice again.
Autumn smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She’d been quiet ever since we’d come back inside, and she was starting to worry me. Was she regretting being with me?
Last night and again this morning on my deck had been amazing. If not for this ridiculous parade, I’d pick her up right now and carry her straight back to bed, where I’d prove to her that we were good together. After the hours we’d spent exploring each other numerous times, I should be sated and satisfied. I wasn’t. I wanted her more than ever.
Without thinking better of it, I kissed her. I was in serious trouble.
“Okay, no sunglasses,” she said after I let go of her mouth.
I stood, and she followed me up. “After that kiss, that’s all you’ve got to say?”
She wrinkled her nose. “What, you need to hear what a great kisser you are?”
“Yes, please.” I winked.
“Yes, Connor, you’re a great kisser. You can kiss me whenever you want to, and I’ll try not to swoon.”
“If you do, I promise I’ll always catch you.” We both kind of froze at that one word. Always. As if I’d just said the equivalent of forever.
“Good to know.” She squatted again, fussing over Beau’s neckwear. Clear avoidance going on there. “I guess we should head out.”
She’d as good as dismissed me, and I didn’t know what to make of the disappointment I felt. It wasn’t like either one of us were looking for a forever. I sure wasn’t. Yet I had the urge to kiss a different response out of her. Exactly what I wanted from her, I hadn’t a clue.
We rode to the Blue Ridge Festival Grounds where the parade was staging. I had no idea what to expect, maybe the few convertibles Autumn had told me we were to ride in, along with our local high school band. I should have known, considering it was Mary and her cohorts organizing this, that I was underestimating them.
Along with the convertibles and our high school’s band, were the members of our local Elks Club and, behind them, a rowdy group of five- or six-year-olds wearing masks that looked eerily like Beau—where the devil had Mary come up with those?—and a float with Blue Ridge Valley’s Pets for Life letters on the side. The float held around twenty cages filled with dogs, all barking or yelping. I couldn’t see what was lined up past them.
The Pets for Life—our local no-kill shelter—float wasn’t new. It was in every parade we had, and many of the dogs would find families before the day was over. Three clowns ambled around the grounds, some of the younger kids screaming in fear at the sight of them. Then there was Senator Blanton standing off to the side with a young man dressed in a suit, a leather satchel strapped over his shoulder. His aide?
“There you are,” Mary said, rushing up to us.
I blinked, wondering if my eyes were deceiving me. Nope, they definitely saw what I thought they saw. Mary’s hair was dyed black—the first time I’d ever seen her with close to a normal color—and perched on her head was a headband with furry black ears sticking up. And where in the world had she found a black, adult one-piece? I leaned back, peering behind her. Yep, that was a tail. The kicker was the black-furred boots with little red-painted toenails.
“Um, that’s an . . . interesting costume, Mary.”
Beau barked twice.
A tiny sniff, barely audible, sounded next to me. I glanced at Autumn. Her lips were pressed firmly together, and laughter danced in her eyes. Tearing my gaze away from hers before we both lost it, I focused back on Mary.
“It’s amazing what you can find on the Internet these days,” Mary said, then twirled, almost tripping in her furry dog boots.
“Easy there.” I grabbed her upper arm, stabilizing her.
“We need to have a meeting with Senator Blanton to review today’s events,” she said, grabbing Autumn’s hand.
I fell in line on the other side of Mary as we headed for the senator. “Why is he here, anyway?” I still didn’t understand that.
Mary peered up at me, her dog ears flapping with every movement of her head. “Think what a senator can do for us, Connor. He’ll be an asset to the team.”
The team? What team? But I didn’t ask, too afraid of hearing what Mary might have up her sleeve.
“Naomi told me your suggestion for a new title for our movie,” Mary said to Autumn. “It’s doable, although I still think Sam Saves the Senator’s Sister has a better ring.”
Over Mary’s head, I rolled my eyes at Autumn, getting a lip twitch from her. “What was your suggestion?” I asked.
“Brave Beau Battles a Bear,” she answered, amazingly straight-faced.
I covered my laugh with a cough, then cleared my throat. “I don’t know, Mary. I like the ring of that one. Very catchy and easy to remember.”
“Maybe we should ask the senator’s opinion,” Mary said.
And didn’t that sound like loads of fun? Senator Blanton saw us approaching, and I didn’t like the smile on his face when he saw Autumn. Going full-blown territorial, I stepped around Mary, and when I was next to Autumn, I put my arm over her shoulders, getting an odd look from her. Yeah, male brain sending out the universal signal. Mine.
Most men paid attention, but not all, and I wasn’t sure about the senator. Would a man like him interest Autumn? I mean, comparatively speaking, I wasn’t in his league. Not as much money, not as much power, and not on People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive list.
“Hello again, Mary,” the senator said as if greeting a tiny woman dressed as a dog was an everyday occurrence.
“Senator,” Mary gushed. “I’ve brought our heroes.” She glanced at Beau. “Sam, this is Senator Blanton. You saved his sister.”
“Sit,” Autumn said. Beau sat. “Shake.” Beau lifted a paw.
The senator squatted. “I thought his name was Beau.”
“It is,” Autumn said.
“We haven’t decided yet,” Mary said.
“Well, Beau or Sam, it’s very nice to meet you.”
And wasn’t that a politician for you? Straddling the fence.
“You look very dapper in that neckwear.” Blanton held out his hand, and Beau rested his paw
on the senator’s palm. “My family’s indebted to you, so if you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask.”
Clever bastard. The man was speaking to Beau, but his eyes were on Autumn.
“How’s Taren doing?” I asked to get his attention off Autumn.
He rose to his feet. “Much better, thank you. We’re bringing her home, to our Asheville house. Perhaps you and Autumn can come visit her once we get her settled in? She’s asked to see you both.”
“We’d like that very much,” Autumn said.
“Lovely.” He turned to the man standing next to him. “Jason, give Autumn my card that has my cell number on it.”
“Yes, sir,” Jason said, promptly pulling out two card cases from the leather man purse strapped over his shoulder. He eyed them, then opened one, handing a card to Autumn.
Senator Blanton glanced at me. “Give Mr. Hunter one, too.”
Either he’d intentionally let me know that Autumn was his focus, or I had simply been an afterthought for the senator. I took the card Jason gave me, folded it in half, and then stuffed it down my jeans’ pocket without looking at it. Something like humor flashed in Senator Blanton’s eyes. As much as I hated admitting it, the man was sharp.
“Please call and let me know when you can come see her, hopefully sometime next week, since she might wish to relocate to our main home in Raleigh soon.”
“We will,” I said before Autumn could respond, reminding him that Autumn and I were a we. After last night I wasn’t going to stand by and watch him make a play for her. Autumn had called me a player—and I can’t tell you how much I hated hearing that word on her lips—and sure, I’d had more than my share of bed partners, but none of them, not one had me wanting to come back for more the way Autumn did. It might be weeks, months before this thing between us sizzled out, which was both worrisome and intriguing.
“The parade starts in twenty minutes,” Mary said, pushing between us. “We need to review the agenda for the day.” She peered adoringly up at Blanton. “Senator, you, Autumn, and Beau will be in the first car.” She darted a glance at me. “Connor, you will be in the second car with the mayor.”
Sneaky little woman. Autumn had nixed that plan, and Mary knew it, but to protest in front of the senator would make me look like a poor loser.
Autumn frowned. “Connor’s supposed to be with me.”
A warm feeling traveled through me, and I shot her a smile.
“Here’s the mayor now,” Mary said, ignoring Autumn to plop off in her dog feet toward Mayor Jenkins, who was shaking hands with one of the clowns.
“We can probably squeeze Mr. Hunter into our car if that’s what you want, Autumn.”
Yep. Very gracious of him. I had no doubt the man knew what I’d say to that before the words left my mouth. Nor would we have to squeeze me in. The convertible would hold the three of us, Beau, and the driver just fine.
“No problem,” I said through gritted teeth. “I have some things to discuss with Mayor Jenkins, so riding with him will give me the opportunity.”
“But—”
Impulsively I brushed my lips over Autumn’s, cutting her off. “It’s okay, beautiful.” I hated the thought of her riding with Blanton, but I refused to get in a pissing battle. It would only take about twenty minutes to get from one end of town to the other, and so what if the man made a play? I knew Autumn. She was not a woman who jumped from one man’s bed to another’s. All of Senator Blanton’s dazzle and multiple homes wouldn’t faze her. I hoped.
Mary got everyone lined up and then blew the whistle hanging around her neck. The high school band led us off, followed by the convertible carrying Autumn, Blanton, and Beau. They had perched themselves on the top of the back seat, Beau in the middle. Next came the mayor and I, and I followed Mayor Jenkins’s lead by actually sitting on the seat. The clowns were running all over the place, tossing candy to the crowds lining both sides of the street. It looked like every resident of Blue Ridge Valley had turned out.
As we rolled out of the festival grounds, I glanced back. Directly behind my car was the Pets for Life float, the barking dogs almost drowning out the band marching in front of us. Mary stood at the front of the float, her dog ears flapping in the breeze. Behind the float about a dozen tractors followed along, and then came the 4-H Club members, some waving their club flags, some with cows on leads, and—I squinted—yes, that was a pig trotting alongside one of the boys. Bringing up the rear were eight girls on horses, their glittery western shirts sparkling in the sun.
I turned my gaze back on the car ahead of us, scowling at seeing Blanton leaning his head next to Autumn’s as he talked with his mouth next to her ear. I should have put a bug on her so I’d know what he was saying.
31
~ Autumn ~
“You’re almost as pretty as Beau, but I’m sorry to say that his bandanna gives him the edge,” Senator Blanton said, his dimples showing when he smiled. “But forgive me, Autumn, that wasn’t something a man should say to a woman, that her dog is prettier than her.”
I laughed. “Too late, Senator. You’ve already put your foot in it.” The man was amusing and clever. And that dimpled smile would make any girl’s heart go pitter-patter. Or it should. It wasn’t working on me. Connor was the only man on my radar right now.
For however long it lasted between us, I reminded myself. I was still rattled by the intense longing I’d experienced after Connor and I had made love on his deck. I wasn’t sure why or exactly what I longed for, and honestly I thought I would be better off not trying to figure it out.
“Lucas,” he said as he waved to the crowd.
“Right. Lucas.” I lifted one of Beau’s paws, waving it at the people we passed.
“Beau! Beau! Beau!” The chant rose in the air, causing him to bark in answer.
Lucas chuckled. “Maybe I could borrow him when I go out on the campaign trail. Pretty sure he could get me votes.”
“Probably, but I’d miss him too much.” Lucas was easy to talk to, I’d give him that. On TV senators always seemed so stuffy and opinionated.
The right side of his mouth quirked, bringing one dimple along with it. “That’s an easy fix. You could come, too.”
“Ha! That would make a great headline. Who’s the mystery woman following Senator Blanton around like a stalker?” He had a nice laugh, a genuine one.
“Well, there is that.” He glanced at me, seemed to hesitate, then said, “So, you and Connor Hunter?”
“That would be a yes.” I almost added for now but decided that wasn’t information he needed to know. Nor did I want to encourage him by admitting that Connor and I were a temporary thing. I couldn’t help liking the man, but he still didn’t make my stomach twitchy the way Connor did.
“My loss then.”
We both continued waving as we talked. “How about a consolation prize? I’ll vote for you in the next election.” Actually I’d voted for him the last time around, but I didn’t want to feed his ego. Not that he had one that I could see.
“I’ll accept that prize even though it’s not the one I would have wished for.”
Lucas was a charmer all right, and although it made me feel good to have the attentions of such a hot-looking, powerful man, I couldn’t help wondering why. Surely he could have just about any woman he wanted—beautiful, sophisticated ones—so what was his interest in me, a small-town girl who had no clue how to play in the political world?
“There’s something else I want to talk to you about,” he said. “A business proposal that would be right up your alley as an interior designer.”
That got my interest. “What’s that?”
He glanced ahead. “It looks like we’re at the end of the line. I have a few loose ends to tie up first regarding what I want to discuss with you. As soon as that’s done, I’ll be able to lay it all out for you. I’ll call you, set up a meeting at your convenience.”
“Sure, that works for me.” I stifled my curiosity, but the excitement r
efused to be crushed. Was he buying a house in Blue Ridge Valley he wanted my interior design talents for? Decorating a senator’s house would be a huge feather in my cap.
“I’ll need your phone number.”
“Oh, right.” He pulled out his phone and entered my number in his contacts as I gave it to him.
“One other thing, Autumn. This is confidential for now. I need your word that you won’t tell anyone you might be working for me. It would cause too much speculation.”
“You have my word.” That was easy. I knew how to keep secrets.
“Thank you. And by the way, that includes Mr. Hunter.”
“I understand.” Brian had never been interested in my career—I guess decorating homes was boring—so I was used to not discussing my work. My own parents never even asked how I was doing, but then they were too wrapped up in their own messy lives to care. A little flicker of unease flittered through me that I couldn’t tell Connor, but we weren’t a couple, not really. All we wanted from each other was sex, and sharing our day-to-day lives wasn’t on our agendas.
Our car came to a stop behind the band. Lucas hopped over the door, then opened it. He lifted his hand to help me out. “I’ll be in touch.” He gave Beau an ear scratch, sending my dog’s eyes rolling back in his head. “You’re a good dog, Beau,” he said. Then he turned to greet the people rushing up to him, eager to meet their senator.
I smiled at seeing several young and single women I knew pushing their way to the front, hoping to get noticed. I’d probably be one of them if not for Connor.
“So, what did you two talk about?”
Speak of the devil. I wrapped my arm around Connor’s. “He asked me out. I said yes.” I don’t know what made me say that, other than I’d been suddenly possessed by the devil. Connor made a noise that sounded like a growl, and Beau, hearing him, joined in with his own growl.
“You both are too funny.” I pulled Connor away from the admirers surrounding Lucas. “We just talked about the parade and the crowds, stuff like that. Honest.”
