Page 9 of Autumn Falls

“I invited you, remember? Something’s off about you, Owen. You’re not the confident badass you always are. What gives?”

“Nothing really.”

“Bullshit,” he whispers, knowing we have a watching crowd. Even though the restaurant isn’t packed, there are enough listening ears for a midnight gossip session at the local pub.

“Fine, I met someone.”

“You met someone? Like someone you wanted to sleep with?”

“Yes,” I grumble. Matthew is one of the two people in my life who know I’ve never had sex before. It’s something I’ve kept close to the vest.

“I can’t believe it. Whoever she is, I hope she’s worth the wait because you’re the best man I’ve ever known and I owe you so much,” he says. Matthew and I’ve known each other since basics for over ten years now. He was a young kid who had nearly scrubbed out, and he couldn’t disappoint his family, so I worked with him on it. We made it together and stayed friends all these years.

“In my gut, I know she’s the one, but I hardly know anything about her.”

“Your gut has never led you astray, Owen. Let it lead you and you’ll be a happy fuck finally.” He winks.

“I sure as hell hope so. I’m making this place my home now.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” There’s a buzzing sound coming from his pocket. “Shit, I’ve got to take this.” As the mayor of the town, I’m sure it’s some major problem that he needs to handle immediately. I wave him off, knowing that I’ve had to interrupt many dinners for business over the years.

I’m at dinner with Matthew when I’d rather be with Autumn. When she called and told me her plans had changed, I didn’t believe she ever had plans to begin with. I can read deception, but I get she’s scared of being burned again and frankly I’m not looking forward to being a replacement for a douchebag. I had just gotten my drink when in walked his sister Caroline, the pain in the ass I’d met earlier and then had been introduced to again by my buddy.

“Oh my goodness I can’t believe you’re here,” she says, smiling and leaning in an overly seductive dress. I have a feeling that things aren’t going to go well. This is a small town of people who love to talk.

I look around the room, searching for Matt. “I’m waiting for your brother; he just stepped away for a minute. Are you waiting for your boyfriend?” I ask with very little civility.

“Of course, but I’ll sit here with you guys for a minute until he gets here.”

“I wasn’t inviting you to sit down,” I tell her flat out because I don’t want her anywhere near me.

“Don’t be so rude. My brother wouldn’t appreciate it, and it looks bad if you shun the mayor’s sister.” She smiles coyly at me, tipping her head to the side, doing her best to flirt in front of all these people who have now got a show.

“You mean how you shunned Autumn today?”

“Oh, come on; you can’t be serious, right? She’s not worthy of your time. You can do so much better.” My fists clench on the table as my temper grows to a new heated level.

“I highly doubt that.” She reaches out and touches my forearm and before I can pull back, I see my beautiful woman enter the restaurant and eyes land directly on the scene before her.

Fuck if things couldn’t get any worse. The woman she hates the most, the same woman who stole her man is with me. She must think I’m seeing her. I pull away from Caroline and stand up quickly, hoping to stop Autumn from leaving. Thankfully, Matthew is behind them and keeps them from exiting.

“So this is the friend you had dinner with?” She gives me the dirtiest look I’ve ever seen. It shifts to pain in her eyes, and I want to just take her away and tell her that she has nothing to worry about ever. “No, beautiful. He’s right behind you.”

“Hello, Autumn. I’m sorry, but my bratty sister is up to no good again. If you’ll excuse me.” He walks around all of us and over to the table to a smiling Caroline, who waves at us. I could choke that bitch.

“Beautiful, you’re going to listen to me and you’re going to listen to me good. We’re not going to have this misunderstanding. After you canceled on me, Matthew called and wanted to have dinner. I agreed because there were things we had to discuss, including his dumbass sister. Shortly after wesat down for dinner, he had a call that came in for him. When he left that shrew showed up; not two minutes after she did, you walked in. I already told her to leave, and she told me not to make a scene in front of everybody. Now if you’d like, I’d make a scene and carry your pretty ass out of here.”

“That won’t be necessary,” her father says. “Why don’t we all just sit down for dinner together?”

“I’d like that a lot as long as that little witch is not there,” Elle says, cocking her brow with her arms crossed. Autumn’s sister is hilariously bold.

“Of course, I don’t even like that girl. She’s manipulative and rude.”

I took Autumn’s hand and led her to the large table next to us, and we all took a seat. Luckily, the restaurant isn’t as busy right now. “By the way, I’m Owen Monroe.”

“Wait, you are Owen Monroe? As in the Monroe Corporation?” Mr. Sager asks.

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

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