Page 59 of Falling for Autumn Again

“Huh. Love, Wyoming?” I hold up one hand as if weighing the options. “Hawaii? I can’t imagine why they moved.”

“Yeah, well, I get it. I just don’t like it. At least he’s a million times more worthy of her than Kyle Wells ever was—”

“One hundred percent. I don’t even know the guy. But he’s got to be better than Kyle.”

Autumn laughs. “Yep. With the exception of Kyle, Meg’s got a great head on her shoulders.” She swings her legs, her heel knocking into the bottom of the barrel.

I adjust on my barrel—not at all comfortable but not willing to give up my seat next to her. "Autumn," I say, and her amber eyes lift to mine. "Have dinner with me tonight?"

It takes less than two seconds for that tiny woman to push me off my barrel with all the strength of a body-building man. She groans loud and annoyed, not answering my question.

I’m spry, though; I steady my feet on the floor before I can fall to the ground on my butt. “Wow,” I say. “We went an entire hour before you hit me. Record.”

She rolls her eyes and heads to the back of the barn without a single thing in her hands.

“Where did this violent streak come from, Green? I don’t remember you needing to hit people before.”

She flashes a false grin. “It showed up about the same time you did. Imagine that?”

The back room has little to no space now that we’ve filled it up. Right—another reason we used the main space of the old red barn during the year. I remember.

Still, I don’t mind. As I enter the room, the little space left puts me right next to Autumn.

“We have other things to talk about,” I say, pinning her with my stare and maybe crowding in on her a little more than needed.

“Like what?” Her words are a challenge. If I bring up that kiss again, I’m getting shoved. No doubt about it.

“I thought you wanted a say ineverythingwhen it comes to the Bistro.”

She sniffs. I’ve surprised her.

Yeah… I'm going with my best bet. And talking about that kiss, isn't it.

“I do.” She tips her head to peer up at me.

“My place or yours?”

Her throat bobs with a swallow. “Um—”

I lean down, feeling the warmth of her body just inches from my own. I brush a light kiss to her cheek and jaw, risking her wrath. It’s worth it. “I’ll come to you.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Autumn

I’m cooking.Why? Because stupid Ezra is coming over to talk about the restaurant, and it’s dinnertime, and when I’m nervous, I cook.

I'm rusty though. I've taken over a lot more of the managerial jobs for the farm—by default, I have less time to cook. The other night, I had a frozen pizza for dinner. The fact does nothing for my confidence at the moment.

“I think what’s happening are nerves. Due to all yourfeelings.” Meg’s tone is way too Dr. Laura. She’s lucky I’m too busy or I might hang up on her for the way she said the wordfeelings. Doesn’t she realize I am working extremely hard tonothave feelings?

She’s on speaker and at the highest possible volume so I can hear her over the sizzling of my frying chicken. But I’d be perfectly happy to unhear that.

I’m trying to get the perfect crust on my breaded chicken. I amnotmaking chicken parmesan because ten years ago it was Ezra’s favorite. Nope. Not at all… I’m making it because I happened to have all of the ingredients for it.

“Autumn—”

I may not have a free finger to hang up on her, but I still have a voice. "I do not have any feelings!" Yep, I'm yelling at my BFF—who is the sweetest of all women. No one should ever be allowed to yell at her.Ever. And here I am, yelling.

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