Page 60 of 5 Golden Flings

“They worshipped the ground you walked on.”

“Now you’re just exaggerating.”

“Please.” Autumn rolled her eyes and headed for the path leading off the patio, out into the dense forest that butted up to the edge of the lake.

The far side had been cleared for easy access to the water, but this side had been left natural and wild. Clearly, someone maintained the paths because the ground was clear and well-packed, the underbrush maintained and cut back.

Only a few feet down the path and the entire world seemed to disappear. Even with the winter thinning, trees shot up to block out the late afternoon sunlight. Stray beams struggled through, striping the dirt path in front of him.

Noah didn’t feel the need to hurry, not here, not now. For a man used to staying busy and using physical activity as an escape, silence typically weighed on him. Left him feeling uncomfortable.

But not today.

Today, he was content to let Autumn lead the way as he slowly followed. He had no idea where they were going, and really didn’t care. His lungs filled with the crisp scent of chilled pine and damp air.

Noah reached for his shoulder, absentmindedly rubbing the aching joint before he realized what he was doing. It was going to rain again. Or maybe they’d get a few snowflakes.

After several minutes, Noah’s mind started to wander…and so did his gaze. But instead of meandering like his thoughts, his eyes went straight to the woman several feet in front of him. Her navy skirt clung to the curve of her ass. Her upper thighs bunched and pulled with each step.

And it wasn’t long until memories popped into his brain, not that they’d been far away. They’d been there, just on the edges, from the moment he’d seen her standing in that lobby.

Nights wrapped up in a blanket in the bed of his truck staring up at the stars together…until they’d shifted focus from the heavens above to each other. The feel of her soft hands running over his tight skin. The brush of her breath against his neck. The way her fingers dug into the muscles of his back when he'd pushed deep inside her.

That little moaning sound she liked to make when he stroked her.

Noah shifted his gait, trying to relieve the sudden pressure behind the fly of his jeans. It was a good thing she wasn’t paying him any attention.

They’d always fit together. Perfectly. Not just physically, but a good foil for each other. Autumn complimented him. She calmed him when he needed it and he pushed her outside her comfort zone when she’d needed a nudge.

And, God, she’d grown into an amazing woman. Of course, he always knew she would. She was strong, capable, gorgeous and smart.

“Why don’t you have any?” The question popped out of his mouth, bridging the space between them, before he’d even let the thought fully form.

Autumn’s steps faltered, rustling the leaves strewn across the ground. “I’m sorry?” she asked, over her shoulder.

She’d heard him, but he asked the question again anyway. “Why don’t you have any kids?”

Her eyes darted up and away. Avoiding him or avoiding the question?

“It just hasn’t been right.” A soft smile tugged at her lips. “I have two surrogate nieces and a nephew though. Cindy’s kids.”

That she clearly adored.

“I’d like some though. A couple. I missed having siblings and I definitely want that for my kids. What about you?”

Noah stared up at the canopy overhead. “I haven’t really thought about it.” Which was a lie, but one he wasn’t about to admit to.

He’d watched his teammates and friends struggle to balance this career with family. The constant travel. The media scrutiny. It seemed hard enough to keep everything together when you knew what you were doing.

And he had no clue. His own dad had been verbally and physically abusive. Oh, the asshole had been careful, never leaving marks on him or his mom that anyone would notice.

Ed and Harry had never liked his dad, but they didn’t know the full extent. His mom kept the abuse secret even from them until she’d finally left while Noah was in college.

It had taken him years to forgive his mom for not protecting him. As an adult, he’d finally realized she’d been little more than a kid herself when she’d gotten married and the abuse had started. A cycle she hadn’t been strong enough to break.

“You have a little more in you?” Autumn’s voice broke through the unpleasant memories.

“Of course. My arm is shot, not my legs.”

---