Page 13 of Must Have Been Love

The angry man from yesterday.

Looking stupidly sexy in a gray suit and blue shirt.

“I haven’t changed my mind,” I tell him, in case he’s here to rant about me selling the bar again. But instead of looking at me he strides straight toward where Autumn and Ayda are standing, scooping the little girl into his arms and hugging her tight.

“You got my message then,” Autumn says. “I was about to call you and tell you she’s safe.”

He’s actually shaking. I frown, realizing that he must be her dad. Autumn’s brother. Damn, well that puts an end to that friendship. “Of course I got your message,” he says, his voice low. “I came straight here.” He puts Ayda down and holds her at arm’s length. “Is she okay? Is she hurt?”

“She’s fine,” Autumn tells him. “Skyler’s been taking care of her.”

It’s like he’s only just realized I’m here. His gaze moves from Ayda to me. “You should have called me when she got here,” he says thickly.

It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to me. “What?” I frown. “How would I know who to call? She wouldn’t tell me who she is.”

“Of course she wouldn’t,” Autumn says, her voice soothing. “And it’s okay. Skyler went to Eileen. She messaged me.” Then a thought occurs to her. “Wait, you two know each other?” She looks from her brother to me.

“We met yesterday,” I say.

He lifts an annoyed brow at me. My heart starts to speed. I hate the way I react to him. Like I want to lick his face. Ugh, he’s so not my type.

And yet my body still isn’t getting the memo.

“You’re welcome,” I tell him. “It was a pleasure looking after your daughter.” Because seriously? He hasn’t even thanked me.

He lets out a long breath, his gaze not leaving my face. “Next time you’ll know to call me,” he says, taking his daughter’s hand. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

Autumn frowns. “Wait. I’ll take her home. You have meetings.”

“Not anymore,” he says brusquely. “I canceled them.”

From the surprised look on his sister’s face, I suspect that’s not something he does often. So he’s an angry, sexy workaholic. Definitely not my kind of guy.

“You didn’t need to do that,” Autumn tells him. “I got this. I just turned my back for a minute. She’s fine.”

His face softens as he looks at his sister, and a weird feeling of envy flashes through me. “It’s not your fault,” he tells her. “We both know what she’s like.” He tickles his daughter’s face and she laughs, then with the hound from hell behind them, he sweeps out of the bar, back through the door.

Wait. What? So it’s not Autumn’s fault, but somehow it’s mine for not being able to read his daughter’s mind and work out that he’s her dad? The envy is replaced by a strong sense of injustice. He didn’t even thank me.

Autumn screws her face up, as though she knows exactly what an ass her brother is. “I’m sorry. He’s not usually like this.”

“Yes he is,” I say and she actually laughs.

“He’s had a bad couple of days. Ayda’s not been sleeping well and…” she shuts up, as though she’s thought better of making excuses for him. “Okay, he is always like that. But I’m nice, I promise.”

I start to laugh, too. I like this woman. “I believe you,” I tell her. “I’m nothing like my sister, either.”

“Then we have lots in common.” She leans forward to hug me, taking me by surprise. “Thank you for taking care of my niece.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And here’s my number,” she says, passing me a card withAutumn Designswritten across it. “Call me if you fancy having coffee and don’t hate me too much by association.”

As she walks out of the bar I notice she has the same strong, determined stride as her brother. Hopefully that’s all they have in common, because I get the feeling she might be my only friend on this island.

I take a deep breath, looking at the abandoned stuffed rat laying legs up at my feet.

“I guess we’re both staying for now,” I tell him. “But you might be more welcome here than I am.”

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