Page 2 of His Autumn Darling
“Just off exit 101 of the I-67. There’s a truck stop a few miles ahead of me.”
“Pull into the truck stop, get a seat in the diner there. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Don’t leave. Okay?” I nod, but he can’t see me. “Words, Autumn. I need to hear you say yes, Law.”
Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I force out, “Yes, Law.”
“Good girl. I’ll see you real soon.”
As he hangs up, a sob works up my throat while pulling into traffic and taking the turn off to the truck stop diner. After parking in front of the building, I take a few minutes to gathermy wits before stepping out and doing as he said, while praying he’s the savior I need him to be.
CHAPTER 2
Law
Doing thirty over the limit, I ignore the angry looks of the drivers around me. They have no clue what I’m racing towards.
When Roman Heart hired me to find his wife’s missing sister, I thought it’d be a simple job. I nearly didn’t take it until my partner, War Ramsey, told me I needed an easy case after being unsuccessful in locating my last client’s daughter.
The girl had been sold into a human trafficking ring, and I lost her when she was shipped to Eastern Europe and was forced to hand things over to the FBI. Walking away was the hardest thing I’d ever done.
After witnessing Valentine Heart’s tears over her missing sister, I knew I was in it for the long haul. I knew I’d do whatever it took to find the young woman. There have been a few times when I’ve nearly caught up to her, but she’s fast and has adapted to getting lost in her surroundings.
What she doesn’t know is that a few days ago, the man stalking her was caught and is in jail. Bail was denied, and onceshe makes a statement, I doubt he’ll be out of prison before he’s eighty because she’s not his first victim. She was lucky enough not to be caught in one of his traps. Other girls, not so much.
I skid to a stop in the diner parking lot, seeing her through the windows. She’s hunched over in a booth near the back exit, hiding. The girl is barely twenty-two, and she’s been through absolute hell already in her short life. I aim to bring her some relief as I get out of my truck, texting War to ask him to send someone to pick up her car because she’ll be driving back to Pensacola with me.
Yanking open the door, a bell jingles and catches the attention of the waitress at the counter. She smiles and says, “Sit anywhere you like, honey, and I’ll be right with you.” Ignoring her, I make a beeline for Autumn.
She must sense me because she finally lifts her head, pushing the hood of her sweater back, and her skittish brown eyes snag on mine. Tears pool in her eyes, and as soon as I’m close enough, my arms open of their own accord, and Autumn sails into them, sobbing silently into my chest as I wrap her up tightly.
“Sshhh, you’re safe now, Autumn. Nothing is going to happen to you.” My words ring hollow to her, though. She doesn’t know the information I have. “Sit down, let’s get some coffee and food into you, and I’ll explain some things.” She nods but doesn’t immediately release me.
We stay rooted to the spot for several more minutes, and I can’t help thinking how right she feels in my arms. I’m not a ladies’ man, nor am I celibate. Thoughts of a future with a woman have never entered my mind, but for some reason, Autumn feels like home. Shaking my head, I loosen my arms as she finally begins to pull away.
The sensation is odd, to want to continue holding her for the sake of her comfort, and forcing it back is more difficult than anticipated.
Autumn sits down, chin tucked to her chest, and fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. Instead of taking a seat across from her, I drop down right beside her and wave the waitress over. Ordering coffees, burgers, and fries for us both, with chocolate milkshakes. Autumn seems to breathe easier as I take control.
Slipping my hand in with hers, I wait until she’s ready to give me her attention. Our coffee is placed quietly on the table, and when I try to move my hand to fix hers up for her, Autumn tightens her grip, breaking my damn heart.
“Darling, you’re safe, and I’m not going anywhere.” Her need for reassurance without even a word is something I can easily give. Her fingers play with mine a little longer before she reluctantly lets go.
Adding two sugars and three creams to her coffee, I gently nudge her to take a few sips. She needs warming up from the inside out. “Good girl.” Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I drink mine black and hold her close while we wait for our food.
“How did you know?” she whispers, snuggling into me.
“I study the subjects of my cases. Saw you in enough video footage to notice you mix it like this.” Caressing her shoulder with my fingertips, I feel her body sag.
“Oh.”
So much disappointment in that single sound. It makes me wonder if she feels this connection, too. It’s hard wanting to ask, yet keeping the question to myself. She doesn’t need the pressure from me, not after being on the run from a man with such a sick obsession for her.
“My business partner, War, is sending one of our new recruits to come fetch your car. After we eat, we’re going to head to a hotel for the night, then I’ll take you home to your family in the morning.” I’m not quite sure what I expected from her, but it wasn’t silence.
Our food is brought, and she needs a lot of encouragement from me to start eating, but eventually she does, and seems shocked when her plate is empty. Sliding my fries to her, I grab my shake and take a long drink. It’s been a while since I’ve had one, and it hits the spot.
Watching Autumn, she removes the lid from her shake and starts dunking her fries in it. “Good?” I ask when she catches me watching her. She nods timidly and offers me the next one. Opening my mouth, I take the whole thing, my lips capturing the tip of her finger. Her eyes widen, and a slow smile curls her lips as a blush overtakes her cheeks.
Reaching up and brushing a finger along her jaw, I turn her head towards me. “You’re so pretty when you smile.” Pleasure radiates from her eyes as she nibbles her lip.
