by Karen Booth
Autumn glanced at him again, trying to figure him out. She’d spent only short stretches of time around Mack, Grey’s brother, and she knew that all three brothers were adopted, but it was still surprising to see how different they were from each other. She handed Grey one of the cups she’d brought, along with a few creamers and packets of sugar. “I wasn’t sure how you take your coffee.”
He took a sip. “Black is good. Thank you.”
Autumn shuddered at the thought. She ripped open three sugar packets, removed the lid from her cup and dumped them in. “I don’t know how you can drink it that way.”
He shrugged. “This is how I always have it.”
“I need it at least a little sweet. Takes the edge off the bitterness.”
Again, he regarded her with those questioning eyes of his. It was as if she was a puzzle he was trying to solve. If only he knew she was doing the same thing—sorting out whether he was going to stick a pin in the only thing she had going for her—planning weddings at Moonlight Ridge.
He took another sip of coffee. “I don’t really like the bitterness either. I think I’m just used to it.”
* * *
Grey didn’t quite know what to make of Autumn, but he was certain of one thing—she was gorgeous. Her wavy dark blond hair tumbled past her shoulders, a striking complement to the dark-framed glasses she wore, which made her look so studious. He was definitely drawn to that. Her personality, however, was a complete one-eighty from his own. Perhaps this was simply how wedding planners behaved, endlessly upbeat and sunny, but it didn’t align with the situation he knew her to be in. Her job was on the line. And she was stuck with an architect meddling in her business.
“I have to say,” he started. “You seem very happy for a woman who was recently the subject of national gossip about her fiancé leaving her.”
Autumn’s brown eyes went wide with shock. “Wow. You don’t mess around. Just jumped right in to the ugliest part of the conversation, didn’t you?”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“It is. Just like it’s the truth that I had a mouth full of metal and terrible skin when I was fifteen. Maybe you’d like to see some photos of me as an awkward teenager?”
Now it was Grey’s turn to be surprised. He hadn’t meant to prompt such a heated response. “I’m sorry if that was too personal. I was only saying that you seem very happy. I’m not sure I would be if I was in your situation.”
“If I let myself get dragged down into misery every time something bad happened, I’d never ever be happy. Luckily, I’m an optimist for the most part.”
Although Grey would never describe his personal default as happy, he did appreciate the idea of accepting one’s natural disposition rather than allowing circumstance to dictate it. That was the point he’d tried to prove by not eating what she’d brought from the bakery.
“Plus, I can’t afford to be dour,” she continued. “Couples want an upbeat wedding planner. They want someone who doesn’t get fazed, and can handle any problem at any time while never dropping her smile.”
“So it’s an act?”
“If I need it to be.”
This felt like another sliver of common ground with Autumn. Grey had learned long ago that obscuring the extremes of emotion steadied his life. When Grey was very young and still living with his biological parents, he did his best to be perfectly behaved, so as not to provoke either of them. His father had a very short fuse and his mother was an alcoholic, which ultimately proved a fatal combination. As for later in life, the one time Grey had truly let loose with his feelings, he and his brothers ended up at the bottom of a ravine. “I appreciate your commitment to your job. We need that professionalism at Moonlight Ridge.”
A soft breeze blew Autumn’s hair from her face. She had flawless peachy skin, full lips colored deep rose, and her inner sunniness radiated from within. He had to wonder what her fiancé had been thinking when he decided to leave her, especially with such inopportune timing. “It’s more than being professional. I work with people at a time that’s both happy and incredibly stressful. I fail if I don’t take away their worries so they can focus on the good of it. Otherwise, I might ruin one of the most important days of their lives.”
Grey could’ve easily launched into his opinions about marriage, and how that important day often ended up being nothing more than a sad reminder, but now seemed like a bad time. “I had no idea so much psychology went into planning weddings.”
“Sometimes I feel like a therapist, but it’s really just about listening and being empathetic.” She smiled sweetly and opened up the bakery box. As she pulled the string and lifted the lid, the aroma of baked goods hit his nose much stronger. She pulled out a large muffin for herself, then slid the box across the table to him.
Grey held up his hand. “Oh, no thank you. Like I said, I don’t normally eat breakfast.”
“This isn’t breakfast. It’s a personality test. If you can resist what’s in that box, I’ll know that I’ve read you correctly.”
“It’s not a flaw in my personality if I don’t eat a muffin.”
“There are scones in there, too. And I’m not saying it’s bad, but I want to know how stubborn you are.”
“I’m not stubborn.”
“He said stubbornly...”
Grey wanted to feel frustrated, but the truth was that he was enjoying the back-and-forth with Autumn, even when he was determined not to smile and show her. When his brothers and Jameson challenged him, it was far less fun. “I can resist anything. I have incredible willpower.”
“You don’t get tempted? Ever?” She peeled back the paper wrapper with her perfectly manicured fingertips and took a bite of the muffin. She closed her eyes as sheer bliss bloomed on her face. “Mmm. This is so good. Apple cinnamon. It’s like a sugary hug.” Her eyes slowly drifted open and she licked her lower lip.
Suddenly Grey was thinking too much about temptation and Autumn’s mouth. It had been a long time since he’d been alone with a woman. Even though they were technically in a business meeting, the thought did cross his mind that he wouldn’t mind taking off her glasses and digging his hand into her hair, curling his fingertips into her nape and kissing her. It was a purely carnal thought, with no emotion attached. Grey didn’t believe in romance. But he did believe in sex. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“There’s a passionfruit Danish in there, too. It’s insanely good. Sweet and sticky. Absolutely delicious.”
Grey felt tension growing in his hips, while the sugary aroma teased his nose and Autumn teased him. But he would not give in. He would not show the slightest weakness. It wasn’t about the pastries. It was about demonstrating that he couldn’t be swayed so easily. Not by sweets. Or beauty, for that matter. “I’m good. Thank you.”
A frustrated tut left her lips. “Fine. Suit yourself.”
Grey stifled a smile. He didn’t want to gloat about sticking to his guns. “Did you want to talk about actual work this morning?”
“Yes. I would. Molly told me that you and your brothers are concerned about my management of the weddings business here at Moonlight Ridge. I want you to know that although we’ve had a few cancellations, it’s only a minor hiccup and everything is on track. We’re going to have a very busy fall and holiday season.”
Grey took another sip of his coffee. “Okay. Well, I know this isn’t a fun topic, but what about that bad bit of publicity? We have very exclusive clientele for weddings, don’t we? Well-established, wealthy families? I doubt they want to risk working with someone who’s attracted even the slightest bit of controversy. No one wants to end up in the headlines themselves.”
“The tabloids don’t care about our clients. They care about embarrassing me.”
“Do you think it’s because of your father?”
“It definitely is. Which is why I don’t have any contact
with him anymore, which is the main reason I moved to Asheville in the first place. To stay away from it. To stay away from him.”
“It seems like the controversy has followed you anyway.”
“The gossip rags will take any excuse to write about Hollywood royalty, cast down in disgrace. Also, these people think I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.”
Again, the thought of Autumn’s mouth was distracting. Just the way it moved when she talked was enticing. It made him want to hear more. “And were you? Born with a silver spoon?”
“If you’re asking if I grew up in a high-profile family, with everything I could have ever wanted, then yes. But my background makes me uniquely suited to do this job. I can relate to these powerful families. I understand the dysfunctional ways they work. I can tame the spoiled bridezilla. I’ve known dozens of women like that.”
Grey’s upbringing couldn’t be any more different from Autumn’s if he tried. Still, he could see her point. “You make a good case.”
“This is why I don’t think you and your brothers need to check up on me. I don’t need help, Grey. Everything will be just fine. You can concentrate on the renovations, which will help me more in the long run. Every improvement is another reason to have a wedding here.”
As he’d expected, Autumn didn’t want him interfering. So why was he disappointed? Especially when he’d insisted to Mack that he wasn’t qualified for this job? Was it Autumn? The bewildering blonde who was fun to argue with? Maybe. “Let’s make a deal. Book one big-dollar wedding to replace the one that just canceled, and I’ll tell my brothers we need to back off.”
Autumn finished off her muffin, then sucked a bit of sugar from her thumb. Grey tried not to stare, but still it sent a zip of electricity along his spine. “Define big-dollar.”
“What was the largest wedding you did last year?”
“The Fitch-Knight wedding. They spent nearly one hundred grand.”
“Can you book another like that?”
Her eyes grew comically large. “Weddings like that don’t grow on trees. I have one lead that might fit the bill. It’s a tall order, but I’ll try. Do you think that’ll be enough to convince your brothers to let me do my thing without your supervision?”
“I think that’ll be enough to call off the dogs.”
She nodded again, slowly, seeming deep in thought. “Okay. Well, one thing Molly mentioned is that you might be able to help me with some of the old-guard Asheville families. I’m from LA. I don’t have any long-standing ties to this city. Plus, having one of Jameson’s sons on hand might help to seal the deal.”
“People do love my dad.”
“Of course. And if anyone can sell someone on a wedding here, it should be you.” She looked back over her shoulder, surveying the lovely rolling hills that led down to the lake and the surrounding property. “You probably know more about Moonlight Ridge than almost anyone. I’m guessing you love it here.”
Grey felt a distinct squeezing in the vicinity of his heart. He had loved it here at one time, but it didn’t feel like home anymore. Time and distance were likely to blame, and much of that was on him since it had been his choice to stay away. But it wasn’t like Mack and Travis hadn’t done the same. They’d all needed their space after the accident that changed everyone’s lives. “I like it. Sure. But if you’re wanting someone to get misty-eyed and sentimental about it, that’s not me.”
Autumn nodded and closed up the bakery box. “That part doesn’t surprise me.”
“You think you have me figured out after one conversation?”
Autumn narrowed her eyes, sizing him up, and making his whole body go tight in a very pleasing way. “You work out a lot. You don’t eat sweets if you can help it. You put your career first, second and third. You can’t wait to get back to New York, because although you like Asheville, you don’t love it.”
“I assure you, there’s more to me than that.”
“Well, I can’t wait to find out.” She got up from her chair. “Can you be at my office Wednesday morning? Ten o’clock? Delilah Barefoot is coming to look at the grounds and get the full dog and pony show. Her mom is flying in from Washington, DC. Rebecca Barefoot? Have you heard of her?”
“The US Senator?” Grey stood, too.
“That’s the one.” Autumn was already sauntering away. He was mesmerized by the sway of her hips—she looked just as good going as she had arriving. Damn, he was in for a whole lot of trouble.
“I was supposed to remind you to get my number.”
“I know where to find you.”
Grey grumbled. Like he needed another surprise. “Hold on. You forgot the bakery box.”
She stopped and looked back at him over her shoulder, her eyes flashing in the sunlight. It was the most potent glance Grey had ever endured. “I didn’t forget. I’m thinking you could probably use a lesson in giving in to temptation.”
Three
Wednesday morning, the tiny third-floor office Autumn used to meet with Moonlight Ridge wedding clients was neat as a pin. This was not always the case. When she was up to her neck in planning, but wasn’t expecting to meet with anyone in person, it tended to be organized chaos. Every available surface would be blanketed with seating charts and menus, reception playlists and books of linen samples. Not today.
Delilah Barefoot and her mother Rebecca, the US Senator, were coming to tour the Moonlight Ridge property, while Autumn would be working her hardest to convince them to book the wedding. Tap dancing. Begging. Groveling. Whatever it took. If she accomplished that, she’d have the big booking Grey said she needed to get his brothers off her back. She’d have breathing room.
Ross Barnes, catering and events manager for Moonlight Ridge, poked his head into Autumn’s office. “Need anything from me before the bride and her mother arrive?” Ross was a tall, lean man with close-cropped hair and warm brown eyes. He’d been at Moonlight Ridge for five years, a few more than Autumn, and could be a real lifesaver.
“As long as you’re set to serve them lunch at twelve thirty, I think we’re good.”
“I believe Chef has everything in order. I think today should be okay.” Ross stepped into the room. He’d exercised his usual diplomacy. The unspoken part was that the executive chef position at Moonlight Ridge was in flux. Fern Matlock was the last person to hold the job, but she’d recently left for a “less stressful workplace.” Before her, it was French ex-pat Henri Bernard at the helm, who left Moonlight Ridge to open his own restaurant. Now Hallie Gregson, Fern’s sous-chef, was in charge.
“How do you think it’s going with Hallie?” Autumn asked.
Ross shrugged. “As well as can be expected. She’s twenty-nine and doesn’t have a lot of experience, but Mr. Holloway seems committed to letting her grow into the job.”
Autumn sighed quietly. The food wasn’t much of a highlight at Moonlight Ridge, which made her job more difficult. Still, she didn’t begrudge Hallie her big chance, especially since she knew Jameson had promoted her after he discovered she was working two jobs to make ends meet. “I’m sure she’ll put it all together.”
“Well, at least we have the wedding cake samples ready if your bride and her mother decide to test those today.”
Autumn had a good feeling about Delilah. “I’m thinking that will be a yes. The bride’s mother is flying in from Washington, DC. I can’t imagine she’d take time from her busy schedule if they weren’t fairly certain this was where they want to have the wedding.”
“Well, you know I’m rooting for you. Always.” Ross smiled warmly. He was truly one of the best parts of working at Moonlight Ridge. “Is it true that Grey Holloway is joining you for your meeting today?”
Autumn nodded, trying to keep from letting the idea of Grey make her nervous. Although she felt like she could handle him, he still held her fate in his hands. Plus, he was distractingly handsome, alt
hough she tried to think of that as a good thing. Maybe he could mesmerize the bride and her mom with his brooding eyes, strong jaw and perfect five-o’clock shadow. “Yes. The brothers want to be a bit more hands-on with weddings. It’s such a big part of the financial health of the property. They need to know it’ll be rock solid before they all return to the lives they had before Jameson got sick.”
“Except for Mack. He’s staying, right?” Ross wandered over to the window in her office. Although it could be drafty in the winter, it was on the front of the building and had a very pretty view of much of the property.
“Yep. Mack has officially said he’s staying. It’s Grey and Travis who will only be here temporarily.”
“I don’t see why the brothers have to get involved in weddings at all. You and I run this part of the business like a machine. I worry about too many cooks in the kitchen.” Ross adopted a pained expression on his face. Autumn chalked it up to his protective nature. “I mostly don’t want them interfering with you and everything you’ve worked so hard for.”
“It’s fine. I can handle Grey Holloway.” If only she felt as confident as her words suggested.
Ross looked out the window, then seemed to fix his sights on something. “Want a little gossip?” He turned to Autumn and arched one eyebrow.
“Is it about me? If so, I’ll pass.”
“No. Look.” Ross waved her over and pointed outside.
All Autumn could see was a handful of people walking on the path that wound around the lake, and one of the landscapers tending a section of lawn. “What?”
“See that woman? With the long brown hair back in a ponytail?”
Autumn squinted. She’d opted for her contacts today, and she simply couldn’t see as well when she wore them. “I guess? Who is she?”
“Grey Holloway’s mysterious guest. Nobody knows who she is. You can’t tell from this far away, but she’s drop-dead gorgeous. A real beauty.”
