Page 23 of Forever After Never

It sounds outrageous that I am saying this out loud. Cooking dinner for a man who has quite literally stalked me. I can’t help but laugh at how we got here.

“What’s so funny?” He looks at me quizzically.

“Well, don’t you think it’s ridiculous that I am sitting here with a man who openly confessed to stalking me while cooking him dinner and playing a round of twenty questions?” I push the words out between giggles.

“I suppose it could sound ridiculous if you cared what people thought, of course. You stop feeling ridiculous when you don’t give a shit about other people’s opinions, Autumn.” He shrugs at me, running a hand through his beard. The veins that pop in the back of his hand doesn’t escape my attention. How is everything about him sexy?

“I don’t mind looking ridiculous for a night with you, though,” he says as he reaches across the table and runs his thumb up the skin of my forearm. A touch that I feel everywhere. My eyes flick down and follow his thumb. I swallow and chew my bottom lip.

“Start your line of questioning then, ma’am. I’m ready!”

Chapter 21

Sawyer

“Question one: How old are you?” She starts easy. I can manage this.

“I’m forty-five, Sugar. How old are you?” I ask.

“I’m thirty.” She smiles at me. I had no idea that she was so much younger than me, but I also didn’t care. She was twenty when I was going through a divorce. The most carefree years of your life. She’s probably never been through something horrendous, and honestly, I love that thought. Nobody deserves to go through shit.

“What do you do for work? Do you work outside? You look as if you would.” She brings a glass to her lips and licks the rim while looking at my hands.

Fuck.

“I build timber frame houses for a construction company.”

“Ofcourseyou do. Well, I work with Edith, but considering you’ve found me there, I’m sure you already knew that.” She rolls her eyes at me.

“Is that what you always wanted to do?”

“No. I always wanted to be a writer. But life had other plans for me.” Autumn looks down at the table when she answers me, and I sense that I’ve hit a nerve.

“What other plans did life have for you?” I adjust myself in the seat.

“Hey, we are supposed to be taking turns asking questions, and I do believe that you are ahead of me,Mr. Green.”

Jesus, fuck.

It is so God damn hot when she calls me Mr. Green. I want her to call me Mr. Green when she’s on her knees in front of me.

“But since you asked so nicely, I moved to America ten years ago. Alice followed almost straight after, and that’s how I ended up with Edith. I was an English Literature student at university, in England before I moved here. Then I lost everything, and my life got turned on its head.” She smiles at me, and I know that it’s a strained one. I don’t want to push further, although I think she wants me to.

“How did you end up building houses? Was it always something you wanted to do?”

“Yep. All I ever wanted to do as it happens.” That’s not a lie. I have a lot of passion for my job and get to be outdoors. What could be better than that? “I worked in finance for many years, then I too had my life turn on its head, so I got the fuck out of dodge and decided to live for me and not anyone else. My family built our home from the ground up, and ever since I was a kid, I saw myself doing the same thing.” It is obvious that there is more to both of our admissions, but neither of us probes further.

“Why did you go into finance then?” She looks at me, confused.

“Now, who is not taking their turn and asking more questions? I know I’ve met him before but what’s the deal with this little guy?” I say as I scratch Jed behind the ears. I adore dogs. Ihave wanted one for years but haven’t been able to with my working hours. It would be completely unfair. My parents have a Newfoundland called Callie, and she is a big slobbering mess. Autumn would love her, I’m sure.

“I walked into the shelter, wanting a friend, but I didn’t know I was going to find my best buddy in a dog. I don’t know much about his background, but he’s unproblematic, unless he’s running after weirdos in the park. Jed is my best friend. But apparently, Jed has anewbest friend.” She gestures to me and points to my thigh, where Jed’s head is currently resting. “Don’t forget Mr. Green, he might be nice to you now, but if you decide you want to do harm to me, Jed will kick your ass.” There is a twinkle in her eye, and Jed playfully barks at Autumn, his tail thudding against the floor like he knows she is talking about him. I can see myself caring about this little guy as much as I can see myself caring about the absolutely fucking beautiful woman sitting in front of me.

“Ex-wives? Illegitimate children? Criminal record?” I laugh because I can honestly say no to only one of those, so I grimace and try not to answer.

“Ooooh, you rebel! What did you do?” She bounces on her chair. She can’t wait to know the secret.

“I was in prison for beating the ever-living shit out of someone.” I let out a puff of air. Autumn's eyes go wide, but there is absolutely no judgement on her face.

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