Page 30 of Knotting Autumn

Some time later, I woke when Sawyer extracted himself. He kissed my forehead. “I’m going to call Margie and tell her you’re sick.”

“No, I need the money. I’ll go,” I protested, throwing my arm over my face.

“Then you’d better get up. The store opens in twenty minutes.”

Groaning, I pushed myself up to sit. My joints were sore, and my muscles ached.

“I wonder if that jackass gave me some cold or bug or something,” I grumbled.

After a five-minute shower to wake myself up, I accepted the bagel Sawyer prepared and trudged out the door. He joined me, walking me all the way to Cluckingham Palace with his hand rubbing comforting circles on my back.

At the front door, I shoved him back a step. “Let me work. I don’t need a babysitter. I promise to call if I need you.”

“Promise,” he reiterated, stepping closer. His hands framed my face, his thumbs pushing my jaw up so he could kiss me soundly. His wrists rubbed over my neck as he released me.

“Yes,” I assured him, my tired smile turning dopey.

Eyes locked on mine, he pushed the door open over my shoulder, and I stumbled through. It whooshed shut behind me, Sawyer still watching. Hugging myself, I spun to face the store.

Margie grinned at me from the register. “I see you and the hot roommate took things to the next level. It took you long enough.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said breezily, taking my purse to the back.

My cheeks burned. It was our first public appearance, and I supposed that was what normal couples did. But I went on a date with one guy, was rescued by my roommate, and somehow ended up romantically attached to him? The whole thing made my head spin.

Unable to wipe the smile off my face, I headed into the shop to catch up with Margie. Luckily, she didn’t ask for any details about my love life.

The day dragged by. A few people stopped by for small items, but there wasn’t much to restock, and I hated being bored. I puttered around, tidying up and straightening the already-neat shop.

“Autumn, I’m going on lunch. Register is all yours.” Margie waved on her way to the back.

Sighing, I settled at the front, pulling out my phone since the store was empty. Stomach full of butterflies, I opened up my photos app and scrolled through recent selfies of Sawyer and me. Now knowing how he felt, it was obvious in the pictures. His head tilted toward mine, his eyes often on me even when I smiled at the camera.

We could have been together for years already. Another dramatic sigh left my lungs. But our friendship was worth everything. It wasn’t wasted time. And we were close enough after all this time, so we could get down to the good stuff right away.

A flush crawled up my neck, and my pulse throbbed between my legs as I thought about all the things I’d like to do to Sawyer.

Against my will, the image of Thorne flashed in my mind, shirtless, sweating as he fucked me senseless in the back of his SUV.

Ugh, no! He was not mine, and I was not his. I wanted Sawyer.

As if summoned by my thoughts, the front door chimed, and Thorne stepped inside.

Frowning, I took in his altered appearance. His hair was slicked back, and he wore leather pants and a performance sports shirt in a black-on-gray honeycomb pattern.

Clearly, sleeping with him had cured my attraction, because my body’s reaction was instant revulsion.

“What are you doing here, Thorne? We agreed to talkwhen I was ready,” I said, my words coated in ice.

His gaze tracked across the store and landed on me. The slow perusal up and down my body was pure ick. Scowling, I crossed my arms over my chest. Slowly, he approached, leaving plenty of time for disgust to wriggle over my skin.

“Why is mymateworking at a store like this? Selling, what, animal food?” he sneered.

I blinked at him. He’d been here before. Did he hit his head?

“What is the matter with you?”

His lip curled, showing blunt fangs. The flash in his eyes was pure menace.