“She was frustrated. Not with you, but with her siblings. I’m pretty sure you know where you can find her.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I searched for Sadie who had planted herself on the couch with Marisol, talking animatedly with her hands as I’d learned she seemed to when she was excited.

“Yeah, I do. Think you can watch my sister for a bit?”

“She’s in good hands.”

Nodding at my friend, I turned and headed toward the mudroom, grabbing a set of UTV keys along the way. Just as I found the collective of off-road vehicles, Alex came running toward me.

“Colton! Colton! I’m so sorry. We all are. We should have trusted you and Autumn. You both knew your relationship better than we did.”

Grabbing her shoulders, I shook her until she silenced. “Alex, I need to find Autumn.”

“Oh, yes. Sorry. Go get her. I’ll do my best to keep everyone from the west field for a while.” I appreciated her hint as to where I could find my girl.

“Thanks.”

I tucked my body into the UTV and made my way over to the west fields, trying to remember the path Autumn had taken after I came and enjoyed dinner with her and her family. I felt numb as the wind whipped across my skin, but it wasn’t from the growing chill in the air. It was from the knowledge of Autumn trusting me. That had to mean something more.

The drive was agonizingly slow, but when the roof of the barn came into view, my heart started racing. There were things I wanted to tell Autumn, things that I needed to say so it was clear where I stood with her.

“Autumn!” I yelled, tossing the vehicle into park and grabbing the keys from the ignition.

I ran around the exterior of the barn, calling out her name, but I couldn’t locate her anywhere. Was there a chance that there was a similar barn on this side of the property? Luckily, as I approached the backside of the barn, I saw another UTV parked along the along the hay bales.

“Autumn,” I shouted, just as I trampled over a small figure in my haste to turn the corner.

“Oomph.”

“Autumn, are you okay?” I said, hovering over her as she lay flat on the ground. My hand shook as I checked her over for any injuries from the fall.

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” she replied with a giggle. It took me a moment, but I recalled that the first time we met, she had nearly run me over at the grocery store.

“Probably a good idea.” Standing, I held out my hand and held her to her feet.

When she finally seemed steady on her feet, I took a step back.

“Hi,” I said. Autumn surprised me as she launched herself into my arms.

“I missed you.” Her breath was warm and affectionate as it wrapped around my neck.

“I missed you, too, baby.”

I held her like she would disappear the second I unraveled my arms from around her waist. Unwillingly, I settled her back on her feet.

“What are you doing here?” she asked and I explained I came straight from her family’s house where they accused me of cheating.

“I kept trying to tell them, Colton.” Her hands flung around spiritedly as she spoke. “They already had their minds made up and wouldn’t listen.”

“I brought her with me.”

“Who?”

“Sadie. My sister.”

“She’s here?” Autumn’s eyes began scanning the area excitedly.

“She’s not here here. She’s at your parents’ house. I left her with your mom.”

“Well, that’s probably better than leaving her with my siblings.”

My fingers caressed her arm as I reached for her hand, intertwining our fingers.

“They apologized. They were only looking after you because they love you.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said begrudgingly, the toe of her boot kicking at the grass.

I was too nervous to outright tell her I loved her, too. Something about speaking the words I’d never said before locked them deep in my chest. Instead, I found myself thanking her for what she did with the attic at my house and for believing in me when no one else had, especially when the pictures of us had surfaced. Autumn had no desire to be in the public eye under everyone’s scrutiny. It was why she detested small town living.

I’d already come up with backup plans if she found a job somewhere else because I couldn’t be without her.

“You know, if you take a job in Knoxville, or anywhere else, I’ve thought about renting out the place as a vacation home when I’m not using it.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Colton. At least not for a while. I turned down a job offer last Friday.”

“What? Why?”

“I could never be sure if they would hire me for my merit or because I was connected to you.” Quickly, she added, “And that’s not your fault, Colton.”

“So, you turned down a job because of me?”

“No, I turned down a job because of me. I’m good at what I do and I think the best use of my talent is going to be here, running our own venue. I’ll be able to make my own decisions and not worry about someone stealing my idea because they own the company.

“But, while it may not have been for you, there was a part of me that was hoping we could see where this goes.”

The smile that grew on my face was contagious as Autumn’s spread to match.

“That’s really good because I turned down almost all of the gigs my agent set up for me. I’ll only do a few of them that don’t require a lot of time away from Ashfield. Time away from you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I love you, Autumn Easterly.”

Her eyes shimmered in the light of the setting sun. “I love you too, Colton,” she whispered before launching herself into my arms, her legs wrapping around either side of my waist.

Our lips met in a hungry kiss. Too much time had gone by and we were starved for each other. Tongues danced and hands roamed.

I growled her name as her center rubbed against my jean-clad erection. “I’m famished for you.”