He swung her out and back, refusing to let go. “Look, it’s easy.”
If he knew anything, it was how to dance. He guided her into some more steps, and she began to relax. When the song changed, he kept her in his arms.
“I said I would dance that song because you liked the music, remember?”
“Oh, right.” He waited and then nodded. “But I like this song even more.”
Warmth filled her face, but she allowed him to lead her in the next dance. “Well, I guess you never did tell me that secret.”
“Oh.” He snapped his fingers. “Right. Okay, see, you are getting in on the good stuff. But I have to swear you to secrecy first. You have to do the secret sixth-grade pinky promise thing before I tell you.”
Humoring him, she shook her head, her smile reaching her eyes. “Pinky promise.”
“Yep.” He stopped and put out his pinky. “The cool thing about this pinky promise is you have to spit on your palm first, then clap hands, and then link pinkies.”
Now she was laughing. “I think I’m okay.”
He had her back in his arms and was twirling her again. “Fine, I’ll make an exception for you.” He held out his pinky. “No spitting.”
Hesitating at first, she finally locked pinkies with him. “If we pinky promise, it’s all in the vault, right?”
Nodding, he grinned. “Heck, yeah. I like the sound of that. It’s in the vault.”
They danced for a bit, and then she said, “Okay, spill it.”
He sighed. “I have this project I’ve been working on.”
“The dude ranch.”
He frowned. “You already know?” He didn’t know if he should be flattered or not. “And it’s not a dude ranch.”
Shrugging, she grinned. “I work for Michael and Janet, and Lacy is pretty obsessed with you.” She smiled wider. “I’ve even seen a couple of your YouTube bronc videos.”
Pride wove into his chest. “Are you serious?”
She nodded. “You’re quite the cowboy, I’ll give you that.”
He was flattered, but at a disadvantage. “But I don’t know much about you at all.”
She shrugged. “I’m here for a few months. That has to be enough.”
There was an edge to her voice, and he didn’t want to push her. “Okay.”
Cocking an eyebrow, she smiled. “Tell me about the dude ranch, cowboy.”
“Corp—”
“Corporate retreat.”
It wasn’t hard to get him to talk about it. “Well, I’m in the process of getting it funded.”
“The bank denied you, I hear.”
“Well, it looks like I don’t need to tell you anything.”
She smiled. “How else are you going to get the money?”
To build suspense, he counted down on his fingers before saying, “Lottery.”
She nodded. “Good plan.”
“Okay, GoFundMe.”
“I hear it’s harder than you think, but maybe.”
“Angel investing.” He offered.
“Nice, but I think that’s more for new products.”
“Is it?”
Shaking her head, she grinned. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”
Letting out a sigh, he leaned in conspiratorially. “My best idea, The Price Is Right.”
“What?”
Loving this conversation, he pushed her out into a spin then pulled her back. “Hey, I’m a lucky guy. I could win the showcase. Then I’d have the appliances paid for, and hopefully a trip somewhere amazing. I could totally clean up at Plinko.”
Her laugh was a reward of its own. “Seriously?”
Pulling her back in close, he slipped his hand on her hip and inhaled the soft flowered scent. “Well, I’m hoping to find investors, but The Price Is Right is on my bucket list. I used to watch it with my grandma every morning in the summer.” He grinned, remembering. “I’d stop in after chores, and she’d have it on, and she’d give me a candy while we watched.”
Narrowing her eyes, she cocked her head to the side. “Are you for real? A cowboy who used to watch The Price Is Right with his grandma every day.”
“Hey, I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but I’m a softie.”
She grunted. “Right. A soft bronc rider.”
It certainly didn’t hurt his ego that this mysterious woman knew so much about him. He nodded. “I’m a good man. Just ask anyone.”
At that moment, Destiny and Adam danced past them. Adam raised an eyebrow at them.
Chase pointed at them.
Adam pointed back.
Chase laughed.
Nodding to Destiny and Adam, Autumn lifted a brow. “You may be a good man, but not the better man I hear.”
He frowned, almost instantly ticked off. Who was this woman?
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’ve just heard too much Lacy chatter. That’s all. That was out of line.”
Chase tried to recover from the insult. “No, it’s true. Adam was the better man for her. Destiny was his … destiny.” He grinned at his bad play on words to show she couldn’t best him.
Repentant, she frowned. “I really shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s fine.” Even though it kind of wasn’t.
They danced for a few moments, and Chase wondered if all this hassle of dancing with her would be worth it.
“I do have ideas for your dude ranch.” She whispered.
Now that, he hadn’t expected. “What kind of ideas?”
“I’ve heard you’re trying to sell it as a life-changing experience with horses.”
“They can—” He began.
Putting up a hand, she silenced him. “I get the part about horses teaching life skills. I do. But you need to look at selling it to people by having them say ‘me too.’ Not ‘so what.’”
“What are you talking about?”
“Listen, I have a double major in business and theater, and I love the business side. To get something to sell, you have to think of all buyers. Not just ones convinced that horses would be cool for them. No, you have to deal with the ones that think ‘So what? I don’t care about horses.’ I was thinking for those people you could sell the idea of the ranch. You may even want to call it a dude ranch because there are a lot of people who would come for snowmobiling, a chance to soak in the hot springs, and to climb Snow Mountain. In the summer, they can take canoes out on the lake or a helicopter ride above Snow Valley. You need to think about all the other avenues you could give people. It might even just be leisure time at the lodges to read and get a home cooked meal at night.”
She was blowing him away with her brilliant ideas. “I like it.”
Abruptly, Michael Hamilton appeared next to them. He smiled and looked between them. “Autumn, I can see you’ve met Snow Valley’s most eligible bachelor?”
A nervous stir wove its way into Chase’s gut, and he knew he was going red. He shook his head.
Michael laughed.
The side of Autumn’s lip tugged up. “Oh yes, I feel so lucky.”
Even though she said it somewhat sarcastically, something warm passed between her and Michael, something kind of fatherly. Michael put a hand on her shoulder. “Janet says she could use an extra hand.” He glanced in the direction of his table where Janet sat holding their new baby.
“Sure.” Autumn marched toward their table, not even taking the time to be polite and say goodbye.
Just as Chase was thinking how beautiful and rude she was, Michael clamped a hand down on his shoulder. “So I hear you’re looking for funds for your corporate retreat?”
“Finally, someone calls it the right thing.”
Michael grinned. “I may be able to help you out in that department.”
“Really?” Chase felt like Oliver Twist, like he’d just stumbled into some huge benefactor.
Nodding, Michael leaned back, crossing his arms. “I do lots of business with companies who need a place to do retreats.
Unwind. Janet’s told me a bit about what you want to do—trust building, horse training. I like it.”
“Exactly. It’d be the perfect thing for the corporate types.”
Before he could jump into his presentation about how life-changing horses could be, Michael stopped him with a hand. “Hold up. I agree. You don’t have to convince me, but you will have to convince my investors.”
This was the opportunity Chase needed. “Anytime.”
A slow grin filled Michael’s face. “I’m willing to chat with you next week when I get back from some of my own business on one condition.”
Chase spread his hands. “Anything.”
Michael turned his gaze to Janet’s table. The one Autumn was now sitting at, holding their baby. “Stay away from Autumn. She doesn’t need complications in her life right now.”
Chapter 4
Autumn stood in the flower shop on Snow Valley Main Street and tried to stay close to the heater behind the desk. Even though it was the middle of the day, it was still freezing every time someone walked through the door.
It’d been slow since the wedding was over. Almost too slow. It definitely felt like a Monday. Janet had decided to stay home this week and play catch-up around the house, so Autumn was manning the store by herself.
It was just after lunch, and she knew there would be a lull until the after-five crowd, the ones who dropped in to get their important person a little pick-me-up, or the ones who needed to apologize for something, or the ones planning office parties for the next day.
It was fun working in a place that celebrated things: anniversaries, birthdays, and engagements. There sure seemed to be a lot of those.
Taking her wrap and putting it onto her shoulders, she worked her way through the store, tidying up. It was important for her to have things in place. Not just her makeup and hair or the outfits she put together for herself, but things around her as well. Beautifying was fun.
She thought of how Michael would be home tonight after being gone all week. Janet had asked her to watch Lacy and the baby for them so they could have some time and go out for dinner.
Smiling, Autumn loved the fact that Janet had been able to go from suffering in a horrible relationship to being a partner in a glorious one. Sometimes it was overwhelming how much they respected and cared for each other.
It gave Autumn faith in men. Faith in the happily ever after.
Not to say she wanted that herself. She wasn’t thinking about that right now. Though for some reason, she was thinking of Chase. Of the dance they’d shared. Of how she’d unexpectedly laughed when he’d brought up The Price Is Right.
In fact, she’d been trying not to think about him all week, trying to forget how good it felt to dance in a man’s arms and have him flirt with her, for real, not as some political stunt for the media. It’d been something she had wondered about until she’d met Janet and Michael—if couples could really be so happy and in love or if one person was always in control.
The door dinged, and she turned back. For the first time in nearly three months, there was Brad.
He wore a black wool dress coat with a red scarf to match. A scarf she’d bought him. Her gut tightened, and she held perfectly still.
“Autumn.” He breathed in that ragged way, signaling all he wanted to do was pull her in and kiss her.
Thinking of the countless times she’d let him, determination swept through her.
Not today.
Thoughts of the last time she’d seen him rushed through her. He’d hit her, a closed fist to the eye on the night before Christmas Eve. Putting up her hand, she shook her head. “You have to leave.” She felt all the training from the past few months wash over her. She could do this. She could fight back this time. She wouldn’t just take it.
Unmoving, he stood there in what felt like deafening silence for way too long. Eventually, he said, “The private investigator I hired to find my missing fianceé told me he’d seen your face in a wedding photo in a society column in this podunk town. I thought what would Autumn be doing in a town right outside of Billings? Especially with the governor’s ball coming up this Saturday. You have to come to the ball with me. Everyone will be there.” His face turned sincere, and he stepped toward her. “Autumn, I can make excuses for you with my family for only so long.”
Trembling overtook her. She’d played this scene out in her mind over and over for almost three months, but she had never imagined how paralyzed she would feel.
She should be falling back into a triple threat attack position and getting ready to kick him in the face as hard as she could. But she couldn’t move. “Brad, please leave.” She barely recognized her shaky voice.
His face took on a look of mock concern. Mock hurt. She only knew it wasn’t genuine because she knew the monster he could be. “Autumn, I need you. Come home to me. I … our wedding is only a couple of months away, and we need to finish planning it. Mother has bought us a house.” His face brightened. “I think you will love it. It’s up on the hill by the capital building in downtown Billings. Older, but completely remodeled. I haven’t bought any furniture because I knew you’d skin me if you didn’t get to pick it out.”
A panic button. A panic bracelet. A panic something. The things old people wore so when they fell someone would know to come and help them get back up. That’s what Autumn needed. She knew she had to keep it together, but she felt like a scared bunny just wanting to scurry away. She should have gone farther away than Snow Valley. The mountains near Denver. A beach in California. Something. She’d hoped he would graduate and move on to a big city for his law career and be gone. Then it would die down, and she could go finish school and move on with her life.
Clearly, that wouldn’t be happening.
Firm, but controlled. That’s what Michael had taught her about handling a narcissistic sociopath like Brad.
He took another step toward her and didn’t stop until he was within touching distance of her.
Fear bubbled inside of her. She desperately didn’t want to have a scene here at the store.
“Autumn, please get your things and get in the car waiting outside.” He pulled his cell phone out and checked the time. “I told my mother you’d be at the governor’s ball this Saturday, and you don’t have long to prepare. You can’t miss it. I’ve also talked to your professors. I think you can still save the semester and graduate with me. Isn’t that what you want? Mother has been sad you went away on your vacation for so long, but she’ll be pleased you’re back.”
Trapped. Caged. She wanted to bolt but knew he would manhandle her into the car if she made a run for it.
“Okay.” Think, think, think. She could punch him in his Adam’s apple or push her thumbs into his eyes. She’d thought about the self-defense techniques and practiced some, but had always wondered if she could really do the eyes.
The tension eased, and Brad’s scary face—his intense scary face—seemed to clear a bit. “Okay, just come with me.” He held his hand out.
She tried to play along. All she needed was for him to put his guard down. Then she would hurt him, grab her phone, and get a call off. Or just get to the door and run. “Let me get my things and close up the store for my boss. Then I’ll come with you.”
Before she could stop him, Brad grabbed her, yanked her into him, and pressed her close, holding her so he could search her eyes. She smelled his expensive cologne and felt the strength of him against her seemingly frail body.
His lips were on hers, drowning her in a kiss, and the past assaulted her with such force she felt herself melt against his strength. She felt herself give in like she’d given in so many times. So many times she’d given in and hated herself later for it.
The door to the flower shop dinged, and she pushed back.
“Stop!” She all but shouted, trying to shake herself out of his clutches.
Abruptly, he let her go. “Well, hello,” he said smoothly as he turned around.
Every part of her buzz
ed with memories. Shame and anger fell through her like a whoosh of wind that came in with the cold.
Then it got even worse, or better, depending on a person’s perspective. Chase Moon stood in the doorway staring at them like he was witnessing the first Martian to colonize Earth. “What’s going on?” he asked
“Oh, hello.” Slipping into her professional flower shop girl role, she moved past Brad and tried to keep a controlled look on her face, even though she knew she could feel herself shaking.
Chase wore black cowboy boots, a brown coat, jeans, and boots. Towering over Brad, Chase looked every bit his antithesis. He scowled and looked at her pointedly, then back to Brad. “Everything all right here?”
“C-can I help you?” she asked shakily. Every part of her wanted to scream and run out of the shop, but she was freezing up. It was like stage fright. She only got it around Brad. He’d always had this effect on her. It was what got her into this situation in the first place.
“Uh,” Chase said, giving Brad a look to size him up.
Brad walked to her. “Sweetheart, who is this?”
Of course Brad would assume it was someone she was cheating on him with. He always accused her of ridiculous things.
Before she could answer, Chase spoke, not offering a hand. “Chase Moon. And who are you?” The grim and stern way Chase looked at Brad startled her, like he would throw him down and step on his throat if he made the wrong move.
“Oh …” Her insides trembled, and she plastered on a smile. “This is …”
Brad stuck his hand out. “I’m her fiancé.” He spoke the last word with emphasis.
Chase looked at both of them. “Really?”
“No.” Autumn’s voice came out soft and weak even though she wanted it to sound sure and angry.
Brad dropped the insincere smile. “Autumn, go get in the car.”
Chapter 5
A week ago when Michael Hamilton had asked Chase to stay away from Autumn, it’d taken him by surprise, but he’d honored it without asking too many questions. All Michael had said was the woman had been through a lot and didn’t need any complicated relationships. Honestly, Chase had been flattered that someone would think he could bring complications.
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 57
