Page 72 of 5 Golden Flings

His throat constricted. It wasn’t just the team, lack of playing time, moving across the country. He knew what he wanted now, but that didn’t mean he’d get it. And that scared the shit out of him. “Autumn.”

Harry hummed in the back of her throat. “What about her?”

“I screwed up. Before. Sure, we’ve spent time together this week, but she made it clear there were no expectations. What if she doesn’t want more than right now?”

Harry’s arms tightened around him. “What if she does?”

His words whispered out, like a secret or a prayer. “I don’t want to let her go again.”

“Then don’t. You don’t need the money or the glory. If you think going will make you happy, then by all means, take the job. But, I’ll let you in a secret, if you’re honest with Autumn I have a feeling you could have both the position in Seattle and the girl. That’s something you need to discuss with her.”

“You’re right.” Noah stared down into his grandmother’s wrinkled, radiant face. She’d been there for him every day of his life. The moments he’d needed someone most.

Gripping her by the shoulders, Noah leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek. “I never would have made it to where I am without you. Without you both. I love you. But I’m sorry, I have to go.”

His grandmother grinned even as she shooed him away. “Go, go, go. We’re going to get drunk, dance and then enjoy the room upstairs Autumn was sweet enough for book for us.”

Yep, that was Autumn. He hadn’t even thought of that, but she’d taken care of everything.

Glancing around the room, Noah spotted Autumn’s assistant lurking in a dark corner. Making a beeline for her, he asked, “Where is she?”

Michelle tilted her head sideways. “I don’t think I should tell you. She looked pretty upset.”

“I know. Tell me where she is so I can fix it.”

The other woman stared for several seconds before saying, “On nights we expect to be here late, she often takes one of the empty suites upstairs. She’s in 405 tonight.”

She shouldn’t have left. It was highly unprofessional to walk out on an event before it had ended, but she just couldn’t stay. Michelle insisted she’d be fine, and she was only a few floors above if something crazy happened. One of the reasons she hadn’t headed home.

That and she really wasn’t up for being in her quiet, empty house where everywhere she looked were memories of her and Noah together.

Not tonight.

But she also wasn’t ready to go to sleep.

She should have snagged one of the wine bottles on her way out so she could drown her sorrows, but she hadn’t been thinking.

Instead, she stood at the wall of windows, arms wrapped tight around herself as she stared out into the night. The sky wasclear and heavy with stars that reflected off the smooth surface of the lake.

God, she should have known better than to let her heart get tangled up with Noah Woodson again. Her brain had tried to stop her, but her heart…it was an idiotic bitch.

Contemplating just how unprofessional it might appear if she called room service to order a bottle, Autumn was startled at the knock on her door.

Only Michelle knew where to find her. She’d been gone for fifteen minutes. What could have gone wrong?

Striding across the space, Autumn didn’t bother checking the peep hole before opening the door.

And then wished she had.

Noah’s hands raised in the universal ‘I come in peace’ gesture. “Hear me out. Please.”

She shouldn’t. She should close the door in his face, order that bottle and get blitzed. But she just couldn’t make herself do it.

Instead, she swept her hand inside and tried not to respond when his arm brushed against her body as he passed.

Stopping in the middle of the room, Noah turned to look at her and for the first time, she realized he was holding something in his hand.

The snow globe Harry had given her.

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