Page 7 of Autumn Falls

“Officer Ryder didn’t say anything.”

I think I’m going to be sick. “Officer Ryder? As in Carter Ryder?”

“Is that a problem?”

“He’s the man who wasn’t the right man.”

“Oh.” There’s a new tension in his body that sends him standing straight up.

“I get it if you don’t want to see me again.”

“What the fuck for? You were dating a piece of shit who happens to be a cop.”

“You grew really irritated.”

“I’ll be honest with you. I spent time with a man that has gotten to know you in ways I want to and up until this moment, I liked the fucker. Now I want to pancake his ass.”

“Pancake him?” I questioned. I’ve heard the phrase before, but I’ve never really known what it meant or cared to learn it.

He swipes his finger under my chin and says, “Lay his ass flat on the ground.”

“Oh.” I tried to hide my smile, but it was a hard time after Carter cheated on me with Caroline and the town didn’t let me live it down. The soft yet firm touch sends a shiver down my spine.

“Autumn, I’d like to take you on a date. Would that be okay if I came to get you tonight?”

“I’d like that a lot.”

“Good,” he answers, looking handsome with his brown eyes and sculpted jawline. Shit, I’m getting carried away with myself. Carter was gorgeous and a buff man in a uniform too, and look what that got me. A crushed spirit and a lot of ridicule, and there’s no way I could leave town if it happened again.

“Actually, I just thought of it. I can’t tonight. We have a family engagement.”

“I understand. How about you give me your number? I’ll call to set up a date.”

“I’d like that.” We exchange numbers and then we part ways. I feel that he left early because he was too angry to speak with me anymore.

“What happened to the hot man in uniform?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“I want to know. God, girl. Please don’t tell me the piece of shit is married.”

“Actually, I don’t think so, but he’s not too happy right now because apparently, the other officer up there was Carter.”

“What?”

“Yeah, and Owen asked me out on a date.”

“Well, what did you say? Please tell me you didn’t say no.”

“Not at first. I agreed, but then I changed my mind. I didn’t want to get involved with a man in uniform.”

She shakes her head and says, “I got the pie. Are you ready to go, or do you want to look around?”

“I’m not feeling it anymore.”

“Then let’s go.”

As we get to the car, I have to ask her opinion.

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