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Hunter had told me earlier that she’d been worried about me driving in the storm, but she didn’t know how seriously I took safety like that. I mean, why would she? She didn’t really know much about me other than I owned the hardware store, and was a part of the Halston pack.
Why she wanted to go on a date with me was beyond me.
I knew she’d already been with Hunter, and that she was into Jack as well, from the scents that were coming out of the kitchen this morning, so I wasn’t sure what her motives were.
It was a sad fact, but besides Hunter and Jack, most people who sought me out or wanted to spend time with me was for a means to an end, whether it was that they needed help fixing something or they were interested in getting to know one of my best friends more seriously.
Which, after the disaster last time, I’d begun staying at the apartment over the shop more, not wanting to get in anyone’s way or be another tool for someone to use.
“You look like you’re thinking pretty hard over there,” Autumn said, her sweet scent wrapping around me, warm spiced apple pie that brought feelings of fall settling over me.
I had to swallow, my mouth watering at her being so close to me.
Grunting in acknowledgement, I took another drink of my tea, my eyes trailing over her, making sure she was okay.
It had to be hard for her, learning that she’d momentarily lost part of what she came here for, but Autumn struck me as the resilient type. She had to be in order to do all she’d accomplished so far, omega status aside.
She had to have multiple pack offers on the table in addition to jobs. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her more about it, but I didn’t have any right to that information.
I looked at the clock again, wondering how long Hunter would be on the lake for. It hadn’t taken long for Autumn and I to run to my shop and grab the stuff for me to put a temporary patch on the roof, the dehumidifiers doing the rest of what could be done for now. With all the extra hands we were definitely in a better place than before, but I wouldn’t know the real extent of the damage until I got in there and started really getting down to work.
My thoughts drifted back to Hunter as my anxiety flared again, wishing that he was already back home and here with us. I knew he’d already had this planned for today, and us the fish fry tonight, but with the storm last night and everything that happened, I really wish he’d canceled it.
“Hey,” Autumn said again, this time stepping up to me and touching my arm. “What’s wrong?”
Taking a deep breath I looked down at her, wanting to smooth out the little furrow in her brow.
“I just wish Hunter was back already,” I said truthfully. “I know the storm passed, but it could turn just as quick.”
She gave me an understanding smile. “Yeah, between last night, we’ve all had enough excitement already. Hopefully he comes back soon. Y’all mentioned something about a fish fry? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Whenever Hunter goes fishing we always have a fish fry,” I said in explanation, not mentioning that it was Hunter’s way of reassuring me. That he wouldn’t break our plans and come back in one piece.
Sometimes the anxiety was too much. It didn’t help that I’d left my pills and blockers at the apartment so I wasn’t on my normal routine.
“That’s nice that you have that tradition,” Autumn said. “Maybe I can make something for dessert then? I’ve got about a thousand recipes to—Oh no, the cookbook!”
The devastation in her eyes had me stepping closer to her, her scent turning tart.
“I grabbed as much as I could this morning when I went to survey the damage before you got up, it's in a few boxes in my room upstairs. I wasn’t sure what exactly to grab and I didn’t want to disturb you while you were still sleeping. The very corner was damp, but the recipes didn’t look worse for wear. The clear protective covers your grandma used came in handy.”
She darted in, throwing her arms around me and squeezing me tight as she muttered thank you after thank you against my chest.
“Hug me back, damn it,” she said with a little growl pulling a chuckle from me.
“Yes ma’am,” I complied, wrapping my arms around her, my head bending down so I could rest mine on top of hers as I pulled in greedy gulps of her scent.
“Why do you smell so good?” She asked, rubbing her head against my flannel shirt. It took her a second for her brain to catch up with what her lips had admitted, her cheeks darkening as she looked up at me. “I guess it’s a good thing I already asked you on a date then, huh? Jack said you were a pack and that it wouldn’t be a problem if well—I want to go out with you, but you might not want to? I know I kind of demanded—”
“Autumn.” I cupped her cheek in my hand, feelings stirring in me that I hadn’t felt in so long. “Take a breath, baby girl.”
I stroked my thumb over her cheek, guiding her head back to my chest. Soothing her and focusing on making sure she was okay actually had some of my anxiety slipping away, and I could breathe a little easier.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Nothing to apologize for,” I assured her.
“I’m not usually like this,” she promised. “Gosh, if I rambled like that in my interviews they’d have dismissed me instantly.”
