Page 5 of All Autumn
“Let’s get you inside.”
I nodded. What would I have done if Connor hadn’t come along? And he was being so sweet and protective. It was almost too much, his thoughtfulness and gentle voice. We’d been friends for what felt like forever, and I was more used to his good-natured teasing. It would hurt Connor’s feelings, though, if I told him that was what I wanted from him right now, not this treating me as if I were a helpless female who needed taking care of. So I kept my mouth shut.
When we reached my door, I fished the keys out of my purse. Still in caretaker mode, he took them from me, unlocking my door. I let out a tired sigh. Men really didn’t quite know what to do with a crying woman, I guess.
“Thanks for bringing me home. Thanks for everything, Connor.” Impulsively I gave him a hug. He wrapped strong arms around me. Then, still being sweet, he kissed the top of my head. I inhaled, his scent filling my lungs. He smelled really good. Why hadn’t I ever noticed that before?
“I’m just glad I was there, even though you scared ten years off my life, girl. I think I’m going to need trauma counseling now. I’ll send you the bill.”
I smiled against his chest. That was the Connor I knew and loved. The one who could make me smile on the worst day of my life.
“You can go now. I’m okay. Really,” I said when Connor tried to follow me in.
“Of course you are, but I’m staying.” He closed the door behind him, proving he had no intention of leaving.
Honestly I really wanted to be alone so I could wallow in my misery. “Connor, I know you have better things to do than hold my hand.”
He tilted his head, his gaze shooting to the ceiling as if considering what better things he had to do. Then his eyes focused on me. “Nope, can’t think of a thing that needs doing. What’s for lunch?”
I sputtered a laugh. “You want me to feed you?”
“Well, yeah. We gotta eat, right?”
Oh, I was on to him now. That was his way of making sure I ate. “Connor Hunter, you’re a real pain in the rear end. You know that?”
He grinned. “So I’ve been told.”
Off he went to my kitchen, me following along like a puppy. I leaned on the island, watching him rummage in my fridge. The Hunter twins were identical, only their parents and a few close friends able to tell them apart. I was one of those. Black hair, blue eyes, and nice—really nice—bodies made for two very sexy men.
Women fell all over their feet attempting to get their attention. It was funny, but I’d never seen Connor or Adam as more than my friends, had never doodled their names in the margins of my notebooks. I guess it was because I’d been friends with them since I was a little girl in pigtails.
Jenny and Natalie had decided back in high school that they were going to marry the Hunter brothers. They’d thought it would be cool for twins to marry twins, but that fantasy hadn’t lasted long. I think they came to the realization that it would be like marrying your brother, because that’s what Connor and Adam were to us. Adopted brothers who’d beat up any boy who treated us wrong.
Only Savannah hadn’t seen them that way, at least not Adam. They’d had a hot thing going during their senior year until Savannah graduated and took herself to New York City. I’m not sure Adam ever got over her.
“How about I make us an omelet?” Connor said, interrupting my trip down memory lane.
Accepting that he had no intention of leaving, I shrugged. “Sure.” Not that I felt like eating, but I had to admit having him here did take my mind off my cheating husband. I dreaded going to bed. As soon as I closed my eyes, I was sure I’d replay the scene in his office, him with his pants down around his knees and Lina Kramer’s lily-white ass sticking up in the air. Involuntarily I made a sound, causing Connor to turn around.
“What?”
“You ever date Lina Kramer?” I didn’t think he had or I’m sure I would have heard. Blue Ridge Valley is a small town, and nothing stays a secret where everyone knows everyone’s business. That was probably the main reason the Hunter brothers did their carousing in Asheville.
“Not my type. That’s who it was?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, ouch.”
“Exactly what happened, Autumn?”
After I told him the scene I’d walked in on and how Brian’s employees had gathered around to watch me leave, his blue eyes turned ice-cold. “Can I kill him for you?”
“Probably not a good idea, Rambo. I’d hate to see you behind bars.”
“Pity.” He went back to collecting stuff to make an omelet.
