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The fear of it ending as terribly as it did with Elena forces anxiety to rise and coil in my stomach. I’m not sure I could handle it if something were to happen again. “I just can’t do it, Eli.”
He blows out a rough breath and stares at me intently. This is how I know he’s going to say something serious. “Easton, brother, I love you to death, but you deserve happiness outside of being Bethany’s father. You can’t let fear rule your life. Maybe just try and see what happens. It’s okay if it doesn’t work out.”
His words have me looking back at Autumn. What would it be like if I were to kiss her? It’s not like I’ve never thought about it before, but I’ve tried keeping it inside all these years later. I’ve also noticed a certain look in her eyes when she sometimes looks at me, giving me the sense that she’s as attracted to me as I am to her. That thought sends a shiver down my spine.
It’s not a feeling I’m used to having.
“Ready to go, big bro?” Raine asks as she steps onto the patio with an almost empty wine glass in her hand. She takes the last sip and sighs. “I’m exhausted.”
“We can head out,” Elijah says, then lifts from his chair and holds a hand out to me. “As always, dinner was great, man. Keep an open mind about what I said, yeah?”
I nod and let my head fall back into my chair as they let themselves out. I hear the car doors slam shut before headlights are shining through the back yard when they reverse out of the driveway. I snap my head toward the back door when it shuts behind me.
Autumn walks over to me, her red hair flowing down the length of her back, her hips swaying as if hoping I’ll watch them. She flops onto the seat next to me, her wine glass filled to the brim, and looks at me. “Interesting night. Your friends are nice.”
I nod. “They are.”
“Bethany is still upset, though. I think you should talk to her before she goes to bed.”
It’s not that I don’t appreciate her giving me her opinion, I just hate that she feels the need to. “I really don’t want to get into this right now, Autumn.”
She scoffs. “You should’ve thought about that before talking to her right in front of me. The entire town knows you have a giant shield surrounding you, but your daughter doesn’t understand why you won’t take it down and she deserves an explanation.”
I’d really love it if she would stop talking.
At this moment, Elijah’s words come back to haunt me and I silently pray that they’ll leave as fast as they appeared. They don’t though. Instead, I watch as Autumn takes another sip of her drink and I eye the way her throat bobs when she swallows. It shouldn’t be as sexy as it is and I tell myself that the only reason I lean forward is because my head isn't on straight and she’s looking too good to pass up the opportunity.
She stares at me in confusion, but doesn’t move back, and, before I can think better of it, I lean in and seal my mouth over hers, effectively ending all conversation. Autumn moans and slides her fingers into my hair, surprising the fuck out of me.
In another surprise move, she suddenly breaks the kiss and moves so she’s straddling me. I groan as she thrusts her tongue in and around my mouth and I grind my hips into her, holding her in place with my hands and working both of us into a writhing frenzy of want and need.
She rips her mouth from mine and turns her head to the side where she nips my earlobe. “Autumn, God, we should stop before—-”
“Dad, can I have some ice cream?”
The sound of Bethany running down the stairs is the bucket of cold water we both need to stop the madness before it’s too late. Autumn’s eyes widen in panic and she jumps off of my lap so quickly she bounces on the sofa next to me when she lands. I’m left to grab a cushion and put it over the bulge in my pants so I don’t scar my daughter for life if she were to come outside.
“Sure thing, honey!” I call out to her.
Autumn and I go back to staring at each other, both of us breathing heavily. She doesn’t say anything and after a few endless seconds, gets up and rushes into the house, the door slamming shut behind her.
I take a deep breath and wonder what the fuck just happened.
Chapter Four
Autumn
My lips are still tingling from that kiss when I rush into the guest bedroom I’m now calling home for the time being. What the hell was he thinking? I’m blaming it on the alcohol even though he only had a few beers. Bethany has music blaring from her room and it echoes beneath the crack of my door, giving me the opportunity to groan loudly without anyone being able to hear me.
I’m sure Savanna would have a field day with this turn of events, which is exactly why I’m keeping my lips sealed. It wasn’t a serious moment between him and me and I’m sure he’ll act like it never happened come morning. Luckily he goes out of town tomorrow, so it gives me ample time to get the moment out of my system and focus on getting the hell out of town at some point in the future.
Bethany was talking about a dance she has for school that she’s excited for, so I figured tomorrow could be a good bonding opportunity. If I’m going to be here all the time, she and I will be spending a lot of time together so we may as well make the most of it.
I bring a finger to my lips, my mind going right back to the moment on the patio, and I shut my eyes slowly. What could’ve possibly given him the idea to kiss me? We were talking about Bethany and how he closes himself off, then he plants his lips on mine?
I’m not going to deny how good the kiss felt, though. It was exactly like I had pictured it for years, and it only made my attraction to him increase.
How am I supposed to live here, even if it’s temporary, when all I can think about is how it would feel to brush my fingers over the stubble along Easton’s jaw, or to have his hands on my body?
