Dark Legends, page 270
“Autumn.” I whispered her name gently, hoping she’d turn to see my face, know that I cared and I’d never make fun of her or hurt her in any way. Instead, before she could respond, there was a knock at the door. Barely more than a tap, really.
“Ronan,” Kady murmured. “I’m coming in.”
My brows rose. Oh, really? I hadn’t granted her access. She didn’t have my permission to enter the room. I could feel my wolf snarl, and I knew the need to be Alpha had built in him. Maybe we wanted to run things more than I’d care to admit. After all, I was used to being in control, used to being revered and respected. In some ways, becoming the Alpha would be the most natural move in my life. In others, I’d have to embrace a lifestyle I wasn’t sure I wanted. I blew out a breath. “Come in.”
Already Kady had turned the knob and started into the room. “Gee, thanks.” She rolled her eyes, as if to make fun of my imperious ways. “Hi, I’m Ronan’s little sister, Kady.” She offered a warm smile, and I had to admit, it melted my heart to see her being so kind to Autumn. “I thought you might like some hot chocolate. The kitchen is open now and if you want, I can bring up breakfast, but really…” Kady passed Autumn a mug and sat in the middle of the bed. “If I were you, I’d have Ronan take me down to the dining room because we have this buffet to die for.” She lifted her hand to tally on her fingers the menu items and stations which might interest Autumn. “I’m talking we have an omelet station, and there’s a waffle station.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I love the strawberry ones drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream.” Kady sighed happily.
“Oh, maybe Bananas Foster is more to your liking. They make it to order. The flames …” She smiled happily at Autumn and then turned to me. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting? I was trying to help.” She offered me the most innocent look, but I’d begun to doubt Kady. She seemed to always have something going on behind those big, blue eyes of hers.
“As a matter of fact, we were talking. I checked her and she’s fine, but I wanted to know if she was alone. There might be others stranded out there, lost on the trail.” I stared her down, but Kady didn’t budge. My eyes narrowed and though she looked at me, she almost indiscernibly jerked her head toward Autumn. I watched as the sweet woman sucked down her drink. Until I could almost feel the calm radiating from her.
When she was through, Autumn set the mug on the nightstand. “Thank you so much, Kady,” she murmured. “That was so nice of you.” Then she turned her eyes to me, and for the first time in many minutes, she genuinely smiled. “Hey, Ronan?”
“Yes, Autumn.” My heart swelled as I heard her speak my name. “What can I do for you?” For some reason, the image of her in my arms flashed before my eyes. I wanted to hold her and bury my face in her throat. I longed to inhale her scent and keep it with me always.
Kady reached out and laid a hand on my thigh. “Calm…”
I turned to her, ready to snarl and snap, when I realized she was right. I had to pull myself together. Somehow, my wolf was taking over. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.
“So…do you wanna take me to breakfast?” She shrugged like it was no big deal, but it felt huge to me. “I don’t need you to pay or anything. Actually, since I’m asking you, I could pay. I don’t mind.” She reached into her sock and pulled out a credit card.
The ridiculousness of the situation hit me, and I burst out laughing. Immediately, I realized my mistake. Autumn had shrunk back against the wall again, her face a bright red. Once more, she refused to look at me.
I struggled to catch my breath. “You had a credit card in your sock!” I laughed and pointed. “I found you hiking. There’s no place to use a credit card in the wilderness.” I doubled over. Autumn seemed to soften slightly. Her face began to return to normal. “Sorry.” I stood and walked over to her. Then I reached out and took her hand. “I’m not sure what you’re used to, but I pay.” I shook my head. “You just tuck that back into your sock, gorgeous. I’m buying breakfast.”
“You’ll go eat with me?” Her brows shot up in surprise.
“Of course I would.” I glanced at my attire. “I just hope you’re not too ashamed to be seen with me. My clothes…”
“Were muddy from carrying you off the trail!” Kady interjected. Then she shot me a warning glance. “I had to give him what we had on hand. I wasn’t going to wake up the brothers. Plus, he’s the biggest. I doubt they’d have anything to fit him.”
“So…jogging suit.” I frowned. “Let me buy you dinner tonight too. I’ll prove I can clean up nicely. How about that?”
Her mouth formed this perfect ‘O’ and I wanted nothing more than to match my lips to hers. Apparently, Kady knew it too. “I’ll go set up a table for you two.” She shoved me out of the way as she climbed off the bed. “Want another hot cocoa, Autumn?”
While she responded, Autumn never took her eyes off my face. “No thank you. I think I’d like hot tea.”
“We’ll be down in a minute.” I couldn’t stop staring into Autumn’s sea green eyes. “I really am sorry.” I tugged at my jogging pants in explanation.
“Please. Look at what you’re about to be seen with.” After stuffing the card in her sock like I’d suggested, she wiggled toward the side of the bed.
Holding out my hand, I smiled warmly. When her hand finally grasped mine, it was all I could do not to bring it to my lips. “You’re adorable. Seriously, I’m honored you’re even speaking to me.”
As soon as she was on her feet, a playful look spread on her face. “Well, you did save my life. It was the least I could do.”
Chapter Six
Autumn
I don’t know what I expected, but after being with Joel for so long, everything seemed so wonderfully different. Ronan offered me his arm on the walk down the grand log staircase. As clumsy as I tend to be, this about moved me to tears. Then he pulled out my chair while the waitress took our drink orders, and finally, he walked through the buffet line with me.
Eating with a guy can be scary, but meals with Ronan…I could get used to. For starters, when I took teeny tiny portions, he rolled his eyes. “Seriously, how do you even know if you like it when you take barely more than a bite?” Then he doubled my portion.
“I can’t eat this much,” I complained. Now, I didn’t really mean it. Instead, it was more like I shouldn’t eat so much.
“Here’s the deal,” Ronan began, “you eat what you can, and if you’re worried about waste, I’ll finish it.”
“More like I’m worried about waist,” I mumbled.
“Come here.” Ronan gripped my shoulder, whipped me around, and wrapped me in his arms. I actually enjoyed the way his arms felt around me. Next to him, I seemed itty bitty. I relaxed into the embrace. “Yup, you’re fine.” He grinned. “Now let’s feed you.”
“What’s with the breakfasts here?” I asked. “I’ve never seen so much food in all my life.”
His mouth full of scrambled eggs, Ronan nodded while he chewed and swallowed. After taking a quick sip of his ice water to wash it down, he spoke. “Well, we have to cater to hikers and leaf peepers, and those who simply want to feel like they’re getting back to nature without actually having to go too far into it.”
“Ah, my people.” I joked.
Ronan laughed. “Seriously. Stay off the trails in those shoes. You can’t hike in them.” He seemed to genuinely care, but there was also an edge to his voice.
“It’s not entirely my fault,” I murmured before filling my mouth with Eggs Benedict. Then I closed my eyes to savor. The Hollandaise sauce was perfection.
“Good?”
“So good.” I nodded and moaned.
“How is this not your fault? You don’t strike me as the reckless type.” He grinned. “Don’t confuse that with boring. Because I definitely don’t think you’re dull in the least.” Ronan reached out and touched my arm. “I’m so glad we’re doing this, Autumn. Thank you for suggesting it.”
“Well, actually Kady…” I stopped when I saw him shaking his head vehemently.
“I love my sister, but don’t let her hear you say this. She’ll take full credit for everything!” He laughed a deep robust sound that made my heart full.
“Okay. In that case, it was all me.” I sighed. Ronan looked at me expectantly, and I knew he still hoped for an answer to his earlier question. I set down my fork and picked up the chocolate croissant. I needed comfort food to get through this tale. “So Joel…”
His eyes narrowed and I stopped talking. “Go on.” He set his fork down too. In its place, he grabbed a mimosa from a passing server. Then before the guy could take two steps, Ronan stopped him. There were two more drinks on the tray. “Let’s just leave those here, shall we?” The server emptied his tray, nodded slightly, and then rushed away. After taking a sip, Ronan glanced at me. “Oh, continue.”
“So…that guy decided we should go hiking because apparently I’m lame and never want to do anything fun.” I watched as Ronan rolled his eyes and took a big swig. “He said pack a bag, but seriously…I had no idea where we were going, what kind of weather to prepare for, or anything.” I took a huge bite of croissant and stared sadly at my plate. After I swallowed, I continued. “See, I thought…walking trail. You know…simple, light, a little leaf peeping.” I shrugged. “I didn’t think we were going to be testing our prowess against the wilderness. So…this.” I gestured to my outfit and sighed. “I don’t even like hiking, really.” I sniffled.
Ronan downed the rest of the first mimosa. “How do you feel about Joel?”
“I don’t really like Joel either.” I giggled and wiped at my eyes and nose with the linen napkin.
As I tried to dry my tears, Ronan signaled for the server, and when the young man arrived at the table, he murmured, “We’re going to need some additional napkins here, please.” Then he nodded and the guy scampered away. “Go on, Autumn. I’m sorry to interrupt.”
I shook my head, and the tears flowed even more. He was too freaking perfect. “Never apologize for being chivalrous. It’s a beautiful thing.” A new stack of napkins appeared beside me, and I grabbed a fresh one off the top of the pile. “Thank you!” I called out to the waiter as he rushed away.
“So…about Joel? Was he with you? Do I need to send a search party?” His brow furrowed.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s fine.” I shook my head in disgust. “We had a fight.” I looked at him stricken. All I needed was for him to think I was some shrew. “He was trying to rush me and my feet hurt. He wouldn’t slow down. Then I was mad because he paid for the entire trip on my credit card.”
Ronan blew out a whistle. “Where are you from?”
“Charlotte, North Carolina.” I shrank down in the chair.
“Multiple stops or non-stop?” He leaned on the table.
I licked my lips. “Non-stop.”
“Where are you staying?” He stared at me evenly.
I closed my eyes for a moment. “It’s a cabin…”
“With a shower in the room? Full bath? That kind of thing?” His nostrils flared while he spoke. I merely nodded. “Wow, Autumn. He got you good.”
“Plus he rented a convertible for the drive to the airport.” I giggled. “It’s so bad, I have to laugh.” I patted my ankle. “I took it back and I never wanted him to have it again. So I carried it with me, but he doesn’t know.” I cut off a hunk of the prime rib and dipped it in the horseradish sauce. “Not bad. Could use a touch more horseradish.”
“Did he walk on ahead? Was there a fight?” He picked up a second mimosa from the table.
“Yeah. He told me we were through.” My shoulders sank. I was beginning to wish I had a mimosa of my own. A second later, Ronan pushed the third glass across the table to me. I smiled gratefully.
“Are you sad, Autumn? Did you love him?” The way he looked at me felt like my answers were incredibly important.
Taking a huge swig from the glass, I swallowed before I responded. “I loved the idea of him. I loved having a boyfriend so my mother wouldn’t nag me and think no one loved me.” I took another healthy sip. “I loved having someone to do things with if I could convince him to go.” I took one final swig to empty the glass. “I wanted to be settled down. I hung in there because I wanted a future. Not with him. This had little to do with him. It was all in my crazy head.” I hiccupped because I was afraid I might cry.
Ronan reached across the table to comfort me. “There are worse things than being alone,” he murmured.
“Not according to my mother,” I spat. Then I mumbled an apology. As soon as I calmed down, I spoke. “Like what?”
“Like being with the wrong person. Hold out for the right one.” He nodded at me, the wisdom dripping out of his pores.
“I won’t know.” I dabbed at my watery eyes. “I thought Joel was right.” I felt hopeless.
He shook his head. “No you didn’t. I know I wasn’t there, but I bet you liked feeling needed.”
A realization dawned. This man, a veritable stranger, had me all figured out. I sighed, since I couldn’t argue. Then two more mimosas magically appeared. We each took ours, and I was about to down the whole thing in one sitting when he stopped me.
“I think we should toast.” Ronan smiled. “We have a lot to celebrate.”
“Like what?” I nearly scowled until he began speaking.
“Like chance encounters, new friendships, and brighter futures.”
My head tilted to the side. “Did you just make this up?”
“I sure did.” He grinned.
“To brighter futures.” I lifted my glass and waited until he clinked his against it. Then we both took a healthy swallow.
Before we could speak further about what these brighter futures might entail, Kady appeared beside our table. “Hey, Ronan, the guest we’ve been waiting on has arrived.”
“Okay.” He offered a grim look. “I’ll speak to him later. I want to make sure Autumn gets back to her cabin safely.”
My heart pounded fiercely. He cared about my safety. “Thank you,” I whispered, afraid of interrupting.
“No problem. Happy to help.” He smiled warmly at me.
“One problem,” Kady snapped. “You’re supposed to be helping me.” She sighed. “I’ll have Fallon drive her.”
I frowned. “Fallon?” I wondered over the name. A moment later, he appeared beside the table. “Fallon!” I jumped up from my seat and gave him a huge hug.
“Good to see you, Autumn.” Fallon draped an arm around my shoulders. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ronan shake his head, and the arm dropped.
“You two know each other?” Ronan scowled.
“We met yesterday at the airport.” I shrugged.
Fallon laughed. “I helped her to her car. The guy…the boyfriend…”
“Ex-boyfriend,” I muttered.
“Well, whatever his title, the guy is an ass.” Fallon rolled his eyes. “So I guess let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll drive you to your cabin.” He grinned at me.
When I returned to the cabin half an hour later, Joel was pacing around agitatedly. “Oh thank God you’re back.”
At first, I thought he was worried about me, and I was very nearly touched. “Maybe you shouldn’t have left me alone in the woods.”
He laughed. “Maybe I should’ve made sure I took your credit card back before running off.” Joel shrugged. “Well, I’m hungry. Ready to go eat?”
“Wait a minute. So I never returned last night. I could’ve been dead in a gorge or something, and all you care about is my money?” I crossed my arms over my chest angrily.
“We broke up.” He stared at me, made a gun with his hand, pressed it to his temple, and pretended to pull the trigger. Apparently, I’m an idiot.
“It has nothing to do with breaking up. It’s Humanity 101. You don’t care I could’ve died?” I shook my head, filled with disappointment. This was who I tried to please for over two years. Insane.
“It’s not my fault you weren’t dressed appropriately.” Joel scowled at me.
“Again. Actually, it kinda is. You never told me what we were doing while you were spending my money. This whole incident could’ve been avoided.” I stopped talking then. A huge realization hit me. I didn’t want the incident to have been avoided. I wouldn’t change anything that would make it so I’d never met Ronan. I slammed my jaw shut and turned away. “I’m glad we’re through.”
“Me too. Finally, we agree on something.” He threw his hands in the air. “Can we be through after breakfast or maybe after we get back? I’m dying here.”
I released a hollow laugh. “No. We can’t. I hope you have cash because the Bank of Autumn is closed. Haven’t you heard?” I wore a smug look on my face.
“Heard what?” Joel narrowed his eyes in confusion.
“I’m celebrating my Independence Day.” I flopped onto the bed.
He scratched his head. “So you’re not hungry?”
“Not in the least.”
“The fresh mountain air must be doing you some good.” Joel eyed me carefully. “Maybe you should stay here.”
“Maybe you should leave.” I closed my eyes and tried to picture Ronan’s face. He didn’t even know where I was staying. How would we ever find each other again? Hell, it was amazing we’d found each other in the first place. What were the chances?
“Okay, well I’m going to go take a shower while you calm down. Then we can talk over breakfast. You can eat whatever you want. Waffles? Pancakes? Crepes?” He watched me for a reaction. When I gave none, he tried harder. “Oh, Eggs Benedict with home fries and extra hollandaise sauce. Maybe some chocolate soufflé for dessert?” He sighed and his shoulders drooped. “Okay, like I said, we’ll talk when I’m done.”
“Oh, you’re done,” I mumbled.
Joel disappeared into the bathroom, and I laid there trying to plot and plan a way to find Ronan. I’d be leaving tomorrow to return to Charlotte. No way was I going anywhere until I’d seen him again. I’d be willing to act totally out of character and have a brief fling. No attachments, pure carnal pleasures. Could be just what I needed before I tried to rebuild my life. I crossed my arms behind my head and stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes until I heard a noise at the door. I concentrated a moment, confused. Then I realized the sound was that of someone trying to enter the cabin. I heard the card slide in. I sat up on the bed and briefly considered calling to Joel for help. He was the guy of the cabin. Of course he was a complete and total pussy. Plus, what was his motivation to help me? He’d be okay with me dead…as long as he could use my credit card. I sighed and looked around frantically for a weapon of any sort.
