Page 32 of Time For You
That man’s mouth had sent me spinning in a whirlwind.
“Sorry,” I replied to Alex as I helped unload another batch of vegetables from the back of her truck onto our stand.
I’d been mum about yesterday’s events when Alex picked me up this morning, but I knew she could tell something was up. The problem was, I wasn’t sure what to tell her. The kiss had been nothing more than a ruse to get me away from the crowd of guys I’d grown up with. Colton must have noticed how uncomfortable I’d looked in the situation.
Right?
It’s not like I’d ever ask him. The sexy Adonis had been voted on the Sexiest Man Alive list about a dozen times and he’d dated actual supermodels and A-list actresses. I wasn’t unattractive, but I definitely wasn’t of their caliber.
“If you don’t stop scowling, you’re going to scare away all of our customers.”
I grumbled under my breath, realizing that I was frowning at the thought of Colton being with another woman.
Somehow this man had festered under my skin and I couldn’t shake him free. And I really needed to keep my mind on the target. I was only going to be here three more weeks before I needed to make a decision. I couldn’t have him swaying that choice.
“Stupid man,” I murmured as I unloaded the last stack of vegetables.
“What was that?” Alex questioned, just as Rory joined our group. Aspen was helping our father and brother with the corn harvest today. The ranch hands and helpers throughout the town had been going at it since the break of dawn this morning.
“Nothing.”
“Didn’t sound like nothing. Rory, Autumn here is talking to herself. I think it has to do with the tall good-looking hockey player that she was spotted with at The Purple Goat last night.”
My heart stopped as shock registered. Even if I wanted to deny anything, I waited for her to continue.
“Hm. . .there is a picture of quite the lip lock on the town’s social media page.”
“What?” I said in alarm. Fear pecked away at my skin. Fear not just for me, but for Colton. He didn’t want to draw any attention to himself. “There’s no way. Show me,” I demanded as I tried to reach for the phone in Rory’s grasp.
“What are you doing?” she shouted as she held the device out of my reach. I really hated being the shorter sister in moments like this.
“Let me see, Rory. This is not good.”
“Ah, so there was a kiss.” Alex snickered behind me as I continued to jump up and down to grab the phone from Rory.
“Yes, but it wasn’t what you’re thinking, okay? He did it to get everyone to leave me alone. I need to see the picture. This could be awful for him.”
Finally, I was able to grab the device, but only because Rory’s arm lowered.
“Hey,” she said calmly as I started furiously swiping through the town’s social media page that was already on the screen. “Autumn, calm down. There’s no picture. I was just joking.”
“Rory,” I seethed as I gripped my fist around her phone, prepared to haul it across the gravel lot.
“There is a rumor, however, about a mysterious man capturing the attention of one of the Easterly girls. It happened too quickly for anyone to capture the moment for validity.”
Too quickly? The kiss had felt like it lasted for at least ten minutes. I could still feel the way his tongue had brushed against mine.
“Why the worry?” Alex asked as she sidled up beside me, draping her arm around my waist. “Was it a bad kiss?”
“No. . .um. . . I mean, it was amazing, guys, but neither of us wants that kind of attention right now. He’s here to stay hidden from the reporters. Something to do with his ex and his retirement from the New York Renegades. And, well, I don’t need the drama. It was just a kiss to get me out of an awkward situation. Don’t read too much into it.”
“I didn’t know, Autumn. I’m sorry.” Both of my sisters apologized, but that didn’t help my mood much. I was still bewildered about the entire scenario and why I wanted more.
I never wanted more.
Even with my ex, he had been the one to approach me and push for a relationship. And in high school I dated Travis because he asked and I assumed that was what I should be doing.
“So. . .it was good?” Alex pushed as she leaned against the corner of the stand.
