“Hm… we’ll have to see what we can do about that.” A coquettish smile grew on her lips as she tucked her chin down and finished her meal.

The lights seemed dimmer as the crowd grew during the progressing hour. Bodies now pressed against the edge of the booth as they waited for the bar and darkness had descended upon the town. With a quick glance at my watch, I saw that three hours had passed since we arrived at The Purple Goat. And those three hours had seemed like minutes. This perplexing woman who seemed so defensive of the town and its people enraptured me, but also seemed out of place. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but there was something about the town and Autumn that brought out a different side of me. And I wanted to learn everything I could about both.

“Ready to get out of here? I bet your dad’s waiting up,” I joked, but I secretly feared Nash. The man was stronger than most men my own age. And I wanted his approval. Not just as a potential neighbor, but as a friend. Maybe he could guide me into the good graces of his daughter.

“Sure.”

Autumn and I stood simultaneously, her gathering her binder and a few extra pages that had untucked themselves from the built in folders, while I tossed a hundred-dollar bill onto the table.

“Mind if I stop by the restroom?”

“Sure.” Autumn nodded as she leaned against the wall in the dim hallway connecting to the entrance.

I did my business quickly, noting that there were a lot more people lingering about as I exited. Autumn didn’t stand out at first, but thankfully my height allowed me to pick her out. A group of boys that looked about her age surrounded her. Nothing more than teens with a few extra years tacked on.

Fury and possession bubbled up inside me. I didn’t know what it was, but I’d claimed Autumn and I wanted everyone to know. It was impractical and cavemanlike, but I couldn’t control myself. A roar burst from somewhere inside me and it threatened to break free.

My feet stomped through the wall of men, the group parting without me having to lift a finger. I didn’t care if any of them recognized me. All I cared about was the woman with the binder clutched against her body and the asshole with his arm pinned against the wall at her head. There was a familiarity between them, that I was certain, but she carried a look of alarm. Whomever this person was, she didn’t want them that close.

Autumn and I locked eyes, and as I strutted closer to her, I watched her timidness evaporate into temptation. I silently asked for permission. The tiniest bite of her plump bottom lip was all the encouragement I needed. The guy leaning into her had no idea I was staking my claim.

My body slid up against Autumn’s, suitor be damned. I towered over the woman and that played in my favor. Reaching out, I placed my large hand just above her breast, sliding up the exposed skin from her v-cut shirt until I cradled her neck and jaw in my palm. With the slightest of pressure, I pulled upward, tilting her face toward mine.

Our eyes locked as I descended my lips in the direction of hers as I forced hers closer. I felt Autumn’s body shift onto her toes and I smirked down at her just before our mouths collided.

The kiss started forcefully, but as our eyes closed, I felt Autumn’s lips give way to mine. She wanted it as badly as I did. Her body couldn’t lie to mine. I always thought hockey had been the only thing of real passion in my life, but now that I’d tasted Autumn’s lips, felt her tongue against mine, I knew differently.

My fingers gripped her jaw a little harder as I slanted her head to get a better angle. I wanted nothing more than to escape into this kiss. She may have given off a cold exterior, but Autumn was all warmth and heat.

“Oh,” she said with a jerk, grasping at the binder that was falling from her fingers. Our lips may have parted, but I couldn’t quite let her go yet.

“Couldn’t help myself,” I told her, as if the crowd wasn’t still surrounding us.

Sheepishly, she tried to use her hair to cover her face as I reluctantly released her.

“I understand.”

She peered up at me from those long lashes and I thought that maybe she did, actually, understand.

Chapter Ten – Autumn

I’d ignored everyone Saturday after the unexpected, but not unwelcomed, kiss from Colton. It left me confused and out of sorts, like I was trapped in my own skin.

He’d surprised me for sure. And the moment his lips crashed against mine, I was a goner.

“Hello, earth to Autumn.” Alex waved her hand in front of my face in an attempt to bring me back to reality. I hadn’t been acting like myself since Colton dropped me off at my parents’ house the night before.

I’d secretly been hoping that he was going to take me back to his camper, but Colton had been a gentleman and kept his word to my father that he’d see me back home safely. Damn chivalry.

The feel of his hand on my neck and the scorcher of a kiss ran through my mind on repeat all through the night. The sheets felt rough against my skin and the room was two degrees hotter than it needed to be. By the time five in the morning rolled around, I’d been wide awake and exhausted.

That man’s mouth had sent me spinning in a whirlwind.

“Sorry,” I replied to Alex as I helped unload another batch of vegetables from the back of her truck onto our stand.

I’d been mum about yesterday’s events when Alex picked me up this morning, but I knew she could tell something was up. The problem was, I wasn’t sure what to tell her. The kiss had been nothing more than a ruse to get me away from the crowd of guys I’d grown up with. Colton must have noticed how uncomfortable I’d looked in the situation.

Right?

It’s not like I’d ever ask him. The sexy Adonis had been voted on the Sexiest Man Alive list about a dozen times and he’d dated actual supermodels and A-list actresses. I wasn’t unattractive, but I definitely wasn’t of their caliber.

“If you don’t stop scowling, you’re going to scare away all of our customers.”

I grumbled under my breath, realizing that I was frowning at the thought of Colton being with another woman.

Somehow this man had festered under my skin and I couldn’t shake him free. And I really needed to keep my mind on the target. I was only going to be here three more weeks before I needed to make a decision. I couldn’t have him swaying that choice.

“Stupid man,” I murmured as I unloaded the last stack of vegetables.

“What was that?” Alex questioned, just as Rory joined our group. Aspen was helping our father and brother with the corn harvest today. The ranch hands and helpers throughout the town had been going at it since the break of dawn this morning.

“Nothing.”

“Didn’t sound like nothing. Rory, Autumn here is talking to herself. I think it has to do with the tall good-looking hockey player that she was spotted with at The Purple Goat last night.”

My heart stopped as shock registered. Even if I wanted to deny anything, I waited for her to continue.

“Hm. . .there is a picture of quite the lip lock on the town’s social media page.”

“What?” I said in alarm. Fear pecked away at my skin. Fear not just for me, but for Colton. He didn’t want to draw any attention to himself. “There’s no way. Show me,” I demanded as I tried to reach for the phone in Rory’s grasp.

“What are you doing?” she shouted as she held the device out of my reach. I really hated being the shorter sister in moments like this.

“Let me see, Rory. This is not good.”

“Ah, so there was a kiss.” Alex snickered behind me as I continued to jump up and down to grab the phone from Rory.

“Yes, but it wasn’t what you’re thinking, okay? He did it to get everyone to leave me alone. I need to see the picture. This could be awful for him.”

Finally, I was able to grab the device, but only because Rory’s arm lowered.

“Hey,” she said calmly as I started furiously swiping through the town’s social media page that was already on the screen. “Autumn, calm down. There’s no picture. I was just joking.”

“Rory,” I seethed as I gripped my fist around her phone, prepared to haul it across the gravel lot.

“There is a rumor, however, about a mysterious man capturing the attention of one of the Easterly girls. It happened too quickly for anyone to capture the moment for validity.”

Too quickly? The kiss had felt like it lasted for at least ten minutes. I could still feel the way his tongue had brushed against mine.