***Autumn***
“Put the damn drink down, Mom. God, you’re embarrassing me.” Mom came back on the phone with me and sighed. “Sorry, honey, but Granny Lane is acting like a complete lunatic.”
I finished putting on my lipstick and looked at my reflection in the mirror once more. I hadn’t cut my hair since before the baby was born, but that morning, I’d gone out and spent the day getting refreshed. At least, that’s what the salon coordinator called it. “What’s she doing?”
“Oh, the norm. Getting wasted and trying to sneak into the bathroom with whatever random old man she can find.” Mom laughed suddenly. “Oh, lord. She just accidentally drank the worm!”
I could hear Granny Lane cackling in the background, and it pleased my heart to know she was having the time of her life. “Should you go get her?”
Mom scoffed. “No way. I’m sitting at the bar and someone just offered me an edible cookie. Like all cookies aren’t edible.”
My eyes went wide. “Mom... Did you already eat the cookie?”
She spoke around the cookie, from the sounds of it. “I’m eating it now! It’s a little different from what we’re used to in Montauk, honey. Almost earthy.”
I palmed my forehead and shook my head. “Just stay close to your room tonight, Mom.”
“Great, honey! I will. I have to go! I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
I grinned and said my goodbyes before hanging up. My mom was about to be high out of her mind and my grandma was apparently molesting men in bathrooms. The seemed right.
I shoved my phone in my purse and put it under the back seat of the car. My outfit didn’t allow for a purse. Stepping out, I looked around and smiled when I saw the name on the sign.
Zeke’s new restaurant was opening the next night, and I was there for a sneak-peek. He’d been working so hard on it that I’d barely seen him for weeks.Seasonswas almost at the finish line, though. I thought of the little girl at home, sleeping through the night like a perfect angel.Summer.
I’d been outvoted on her name. Between the guys and Mom and Granny Lane, Summer Lane Phoenix had won the battle. With Summer and me, Autumn, Zeke thought the name Seasons was right. It would be a farm-to-table restaurant, with in-season fruits and vegetables being big on the menu.
I wrapped my coat tighter around my body and hurried inside. I was excited to see my men after a long day of pampering. “Honies, I’m home!”
The security that remained, even after Stacy had been charged and sent away to rehab to get better, were the only men around. I smiled at Igor, the newest lead on the team.
“Where are they?”
He grinned back at me and pointed into the kitchen.
I walked closer to him and smiled even sweeter. “Do you think you and Hank could maybe wait outside for a while?”
Igor, the best guy ever, chuckled and nodded. “Anything for you, Ms. Autumn.”
“Is there anyone else here?”
He shook his head. “Just the three men of the house.”
Patting his cheek, I backed away. “Don’t let anyone in, okay? You’re the best, Igor.”
I could still hear him chuckling as he pulled Hank out of the building. It was strange that I had help arranging my sexcapades from the security, but life was busy, and it wasn’t always easy toget my men alone. Having Igor help me out as much as possible had been amazing. Summer was also crazy about him.
The closer I got to the kitchen, the clearer I could hear my men. They were talking animatedly about the farm they’d invested in. Con had even started fancying himself a farmer. I especially fancied it when he came in from being at the farm and was sweaty and dirty. Apparently, I had a farmer fantasy, one that Con was happy to bring to life.
I stepped out of my jacket and tossed it over one of the tables before checking myself out one more time. It was the first time I’d dressed up in sexy lingerie since before Summer was born. Normally, it seemed pointless when the guys got me naked so fast, but I had a feeling they were going to appreciate the lingerie I had on that night. Pushing open the door to the kitchen, I walked in and posed. “Well, what’s a girl got to do to get some attention around here?”
Griff spotted me first, his eyes going wide. “Fucking hell.”
Zeke turned and whistled as he looked me over. Walking to me and lifting me into his arms, he grinned. “You just walked in on three starving men, little lady. What are we going to do with you?”
Con shoved their paperwork off the counter and patted the top of the steel workbench. “I have an idea. It’s been too long.”
I bit back a cry at feeling the cold steel under my back, but I knew from experience it would be warm soon. Arching my back and stretching out across the table, I looked up at Griff while licking my lips. “Well, Mr. Phoenix?”
