Page 97 of All Autumn
“I want you to move in with me.” Since I planned to have her in my bed or hers every night, I saw no reason for us to have two houses.
A brilliant smile lit her face. “Okay, but only after you sell mine. That will give us a little time to get used to being together.”
Ha! She had no idea how badly I wanted to see her living in my home. If that was the obstacle, I’d get her place sold in a week or less. “It’s a deal.” First thing in the morning I’d list it, and I already had a couple in mind who were looking for something like Autumn’s house.
I smiled as I lifted her off me. “As much as I love having you in my arms, I’m guessing we’ll be freed any minute now.”
We straightened our clothing, and I followed her over to the table. As she stood, staring at the cake, I moved up behind her and wrapped my arms around her. “Did you eat Mary’s cake or is there a giant mouse down here?”
She giggled. “She’s going to be mad, but she knows I have a bad habit of eating cake when I’m sad.”
“So it’s her fault?”
“Absolutely. She should have known better than to lock me in with it.”
“That’s my girl.”
She turned in my arms. “I love you, Connor. I thought I’d never get to tell you that.”
“I love you back like crazy, and I didn’t think I’d get to say that either. I also thought I’d never see the day when I’d want to thank Mary for her meddling.”
“That’s a problem, isn’t it? If we thank her, we’re only encouraging her, but yeah, on this one Mary rocks.” She glanced away. “Um, I need to ask you a favor.”
Why was she nervous? She could ask me anything. “What’s that?”
“Okay, well, ah . . .”
“Autumn?”
“I need you to find property suitable for a large building and also some property for a log home and then Adam needs to build it,” she said in a rush of words.
“Okay, we can do that. Who’s it for?”
She lifted her eyes to mine. “That’s the part you’re not going to like. It’s for Lucas.”
I almost said no, not happening, but her eyes were pleading with me and the word died on my lips. “Why isn’t he asking me instead of you doing it for him?” The surge of jealousy died as fast as it had arrived. Autumn wouldn’t tell me she loved me if she had feelings for Blanton.
“Because those were his conditions for giving up Humphrey’s property. Well, that and that I still agree to do the interior design.”
“You’ll be working for him?” I didn’t like that at all.
She sighed. “I knew that was what you’d have the most problem with.” She slipped her hands into mine. “I love you, Connor. You and you only. Lucas is a nice guy, but I feel nothing for him, not even the slightest twinge. If I didn’t agree, he wouldn’t have given up the property. And honestly, I’m excited about the project.”
Autumn’s problem had been about trust, and that worked both ways. If I couldn’t trust her, then we had nothing. “Not even one little twinge?” I smiled to show her I was teasing.
“Not one teeny-tiny one.”
“Okay, but how did all this come about?”
“Because I asked him to give up the property.”
“You did that for me?” Damn, I loved this woman.
“Well, yeah. For you and Adam, but mostly for you.”
She still had her hands in mine, and I pulled her against me. “Anyone ever tell you how amazing you are?”
“Not that I recall.”
