Page 37 of All Autumn
Because she was the cutest thing when she was mad, I couldn’t help it. I leaned over and kissed her before I thought better of it. And that was apparently a big oops, because conversations ceased and it got so quiet that I froze with my lips pressed against Autumn’s.
“They’re looking at us,” Autumn mumbled against my mouth.
And I didn’t care. I kissed her again, giving them something to talk about, because talk they would. She sighed, sounding wonderfully like she didn’t care either. If I didn’t get her to bed, sooner than soon, I would likely combust.
Jenn returned with a platter of Angelo’s chicken scarpariello—chicken pieces, sausages, onions, mushrooms, spicy pepperoncinis, and kalamata olives, and one of my favorite Vincennes meals—putting the plate in front of Dylan.
“Here you go, babe,” she said, giving him a kiss on his cheek.
When Autumn turned on her stool toward me and crossed her legs, my gaze lowered to those sexy boots. The need to be alone with her burned a hot fire through my blood.
“Autumn and I’ll take a large pepperoni and sausage to go,” I said, knowing that was her favorite pizza.
“We will?” Autumn said.
“We will.”
She must have seen right into my male brain and what I was thinking because she smirked, but it was an I’m-on-to-you-and-I’m-good-with-it smirk.
After cocking her brow at me—a what’s-going-on-between-you-and-Autumn brow raise—Jenn stole an olive from Dylan’s plate, then headed for the kitchen. Autumn would definitely be getting a phone call later.
I planned for Autumn to be too busy to be answering any phone calls.
“Iguesswe outed ourselves with that kiss,” Autumn said after we’d finished off the pizza.
“Sorry about that.” I gave her my best I-screwed-up smile. “You’re adorable when you’re mad, and I kind of forgot myself.” On the way back to her place I’d cooled down a little, and my brain was able to think again. Before we went any further, I needed to make sure we were on the same page. She’d just given me the opening to talk about what was between us and where we were going with it, but I wasn’t sure how to start the discussion.
She’d changed out of her sexy dress and those hot little boots, and I was sorry about that, too. I’d had plans for her in those shoes. The yoga pants with the frolicking puppies on them and the yellow tank top were sexy in a cute kind of way, though.
“Now everyone’s going to think we’re dating,” she said.
“You have a problem with that?” I didn’t like the shrug she gave me, as if she might want us to stay a secret. Why did that bother me? We weren’t a couple, just two people wanting to enjoy each other for a time or two. Maybe longer. But we were both single and free, so there wasn’t any reason we couldn’t be seen out together.
“Not so much a problem,” she finally said. “But I don’t want everyone thinking there’s something serious going on between us. You know how this town is. After that kiss they’ll start watching the mail for a wedding invitation.”
“That’s not going to happen.” I must have said that too harshly because she jerked a little.
“What, you don’t think I’d make a good wife?” Her laugh was too bitter for my liking. “Don’t answer that. I wouldn’t. Not anymore. You’re a man, and I no longer trust the male species. I’d be suspicious every time you were out of my sight, and I’d hate myself for that.”
“We’re not all Brian or your father, Autumn.” Adam had taught me that being in love wasn’t worth the hurt, but if I did have a wife, I’d never cheat on her. If I ever reached the point where I wanted to, I’d end the marriage first.
Autumn sighed as she rubbed her foot. “I know that. It’s my judgment in men that’s obviously lacking. The only male I’m sure I can trust is Beau, so he’s the only one I’ll let in my life.”
At hearing his name, Beau’s ears perked up, and he tilted his head, his adoring gaze on Autumn. When she didn’t look at him, he pushed up from his doggy bed, made two full turns, then plopped back down, but kept his eyes on his mistress.
“Go to sleep, Sam,” I said to get a rise out of Autumn. This conversation was veering offtrack. She kicked me. Before she could tuck her foot back under her, I wrapped my fingers around her ankle. “Are these red marks from those boots?” I rubbed my fingers over the top of her foot.
“Yeah. They’re killer boots, but man, they cripple me after an hour of wearing them.”
“Then don’t.” They were totally hot, but what was it with women wearing shoes that made their feet red or gave them blisters? I pulled her foot onto my lap and massaged it. She laid her head back on the sofa, letting out a moan that sent desire barreling below my belt.
She opened her eyes and gave me a grin. “That’s another thing about men. They’ll never understand women and their shoes.”
I loved that sparkle in those blue eyes that were starting to haunt my dreams, and I was pretty sure Autumn wearing nothing but those boots would show up soon in my nighttime fantasies.
“Here’s the thing.” It was time to lay my cards on the table. I pressed my thumb into her heel, then moved it up to her toes, and this moan from her was deeper, throatier. Autumn Archer was killing me.
“What’s the thing?” she murmured, sounding half-asleep.
