Her fingers found mine, and I turned on the device. Multiple missed calls and voicemails scrolled. Emails. Messages. Most of it junk.
I skipped the messages from Dad’s solicitors. Tabby’s solicitors. Police.
No message from my sister or my father themselves.
I’d expected this, in a way. It still hurt.
“I’m going to try the jail.”
I dialled the number I’d saved in my notes and got through to an operator. By some miracle, she agreed to my request and said she’d call back if my sister was willing to speak to me. I hung up and slid down the wall, landing on my backside on the floor.
“She will,” Lena assured.
Benjamin tottered out and plonked himself on my lap. He needed a nap and curled up in my arms. My phone buzzed.
I answered it, putting it on loudspeaker. Lena jumped to close the lounge door for privacy then took a seat at my side.
“Autumn?” my sister barked down the line. “Is that you?”
“It’s me,” I said, almost calmly.
Benjamin gazed at the phone.
“I’m here with Benjamin and—”
“Stop! Not on this line. Listen, my solicitor has instructions for you. Why are you calling?” Tabby snapped.
“It’s Christmas. Don’t you want to say hello to Benjamin?” I uttered.
“Yeah, it’s such a merry fucking Christmas. I’m in jail, for Christ’s sake,” she replied, a jeer in her voice. My sister had never been pleasant, but I reared back at her tone.
“Autumn, I know this is tough for you, but I’m going to make it really simple to understand. We can’t talk openly, so don’t run your mouth. Talk to my solicitor.” She drew a breath. “Did you do everything I asked you to when we last spoke?”
“Sure. Tabby, Benjamin’s right here—”
“Then that’s good enough. Call the damn solicitor.” The line went dead.
I stared at my phone. The screen darkened before I blinked.
Benjamin wriggled, then his head tipped back, and he snored gently.
“Biotch.” Lena used her non-swearing-mum words with quiet vehemence. “What a motherflupping biotch. You are shouldering all of her problems, and she gives you grief? I’m ashamed we were ever friends.”
I ducked my head. “She’s just like Dad.”
“Let me put Benjamin to bed. He’ll be in with the kids here tonight. Have a drink or three. We’ll talk about it.”
She stood and collected my heavy, slumped nephew and carried him upstairs. We were all meant to be staying over at the lovely farmhouse, but suddenly, I needed something else.
I needed honesty and a pair of strong arms. I needed for a good man not to be alone on a day when he should’ve been with family.
Lena came down the stairs, baby monitor in hand. She took one look at my face and chuckled. “Take our car. We won’t be using it until tomorrow. Just be home early.”
I darted past her, kissing her cheek as I went. Then I did an about turn and popped my head in the lounge and focused on Lena’s mother-in-law. “I’m so sorry but I need to head out for a while. Dinner was wonderful.”
“Not at all. You have a good time, dear. Bull should be getting home about now anyway.” She gave me a warm smile. “See you in the morning.”
My jaw dropped. “How did you know—?”
Next to her, Mark grimaced. “Uh, Autumn? Small town rules. Basically, there are no secrets. We’re all rooting for you and Bull.”
I snapped my mouth closed. Well, all right then.
I drove away as fast as the snow tyres would take me.
12
Come for Me
Bull
My truck headlights picked out the car outside my bar. It could only be…
My heart thudded.
All day, I’d thought about the lass. If I’d been distracted by her before, now, I was…smitten.
I parked behind her car, and we climbed out at the same time. She flew over the snow and leapt into my arms.
“Bull,” she uttered, and her legs wound around my waist. She kissed me. “Where have you been?”
“I supply a soup kitchen. I make a run there every couple of days.”
Autumn groaned. “Could you be any more perfect?” Then she kissed me again and started unbuttoning my coat.
Moving fast, I carried her around the building, headed for my apartment. A growl came from deep inside me as we kissed, and everything I’d needed today, the hole in my soul that only family holidays brought, had been filled. She’d come for me. No one did that. Not for me.
Out of sight of the street, I backed her to the wood-clad wall under the covered walkway and devoured her mouth. “Missed ye,” I said like a fool, moving to kiss her throat.
“Make love to me,” she replied and dug her fingers into my hair and pulled my face up to stare into her eyes.
Those damn gorgeous eyes saw right through me.
Slowly now, I walked us the last few steps to my door and wrangled the lock. No one ever came back here. No one but me. And now her.
Without putting her down, I shut us in and shed my coat. Then I reached under her long skirt and found her hip and the delicate string of her underwear.
“Do it,” she urged, her breathing hard.
I huffed a laugh and snapped the damn underwear right off her. Then I positioned my legs wider apart, pinning her to the wall. “Here in the hall?” I ran a finger up the inside of her thigh, finding her core wet.
God, this lass.
“Here. Everywhere. Just don’t stop.” She kissed my cheek, moving to my neck as I undid my jeans and freed my aching cock. Getting a condom from my wallet and into place took far longer than I was prepared to wait, but then we were ready to go.
I lowered her gently, lining up.
“Don’t go slow. Not tonight.”
Fine with me. I jacked my hips and filled her with one thrust.
We both yelled.
“Bull, more!” she urged, and I set a punishing pace.
This was it, everything.
“Never going to stop,” I promised.
Autumn held on for dear life, no sass from her now, just taking everything I had. Before, she’d battled me for control. Now, she’d given herself to me completely.
I liked it both ways. I liked everything about this lass. I needed this so damn much.
“Oh God!” she moaned, over and over.
Fresh heat surged, and I pounded her against the wall. My balls tightened; my muscles tensed. Then she clamped down on me, her orgasm starting, and I was done. In a series of rapid thrusts, I pulled out as far as I could and slammed home.
“Mine,” I told her. “Mine,” I shouted, telling the world.
Then I came, too, and reality shattered around me. I stilled, spilling inside her, so dizzy and so in—
I smashed down my train of thought. In lust. I was utterly in lust.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, still pulsing on me.
Then she began to laugh.
I did, too, then I slid to the floor, still seated in her.
“Aye, lass, it is now you’re here.”
Orange light spilled from the wood burner that heated my home. Autumn held a cup of coffee and regarded me from the opposite end of the couch. I wanted her in my arms, but she had something she needed to say.