Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
“Unfortunately, I really have to go.” He gave me another quick kiss and then rolled out of bed.
I turned onto my side to enjoy the view as he crossed the room to where his clothes were piled on the chair. The man had the finest arse I’d ever seen in my life. I wanted to bite it.
He turned as he dressed and caught me leering. Laughing, he shook his head. “Stop it.”
I grinned. “I can’t help it. You’re delicious.”
Looking pleased that I thought so, he quickly shrugged on his shirt and began to button it. “I’m booked until one. You want to do lunch?”
“Definitely. I told Susan and Molly I’d be at their place at nine o’ clock to go over things and see where the plans are at. The party is in three days. I’ll need your kitchen the day before that.”
“No problem, angel.” He returned to the bed and leaned down to give me one last lingering kiss. “Best night of my life.”
Joy suffused me and I felt weirdly, stupidly shy. “Me, too.”
“Christ, you’re adorable.” Another kiss. “Right, I gotta go or I just won’t.” He pushed away from me and stepped back, his eyes dipping down my body. Hudson let out a regretful sigh before he returned his gaze to mine. “I’ll come find you at Susan’s condo when I’m done.”
“Can’t wait.”
When he did leave, the sound of my suite door closing with a click echoing around the large space, I felt a pang in my chest.
I missed him already.
How weird was that?
Knowing if I lazed around in bed, I’d only miss him more, I forced myself to get up and out of it and stumbled into the shower. It was while I was in the shower that I realized I hadn’t looked at my phone since yesterday afternoon. Shit. What if Killian had called? It didn’t go off last night in the suite so maybe he hadn’t. As soon as I got out of the shower I searched for the damn phone and found it buried under my dress on the chair. It was off, having run out of charge.
Damn.
Worry flooded me. How long had it been dead and had Killian been trying to reach me?
I plugged it into the charger and waited impatiently for it to come on. After a few minutes, my stomach sank as I watched message after message and missed call after missed call come up on the screen.
Some were from Killian, others from Skylar, and there was a missed call and text from Catie.
I quickly shot a text to Catie to tell her I was fine and I’d see her at breakfast to explain. Then I called Killian.
“Hey, big brother,” I greeted him cheerfully when he answered, in the hopes that my good mood would soften him.
There was a moment of silence and then what sounded like whispering and then, “Hey, Autumn, you’ve got Skylar.”
Although happy to hear Skylar’s voice, I frowned. “Hey, Sky, what’s up?”
Her voice lowered. “Your brother just handed me the phone and wandered off, brooding.”
Concern pierced me. “My phone died. Is he mad at me?”
“A little, I think. He tried calling you last night and when you didn’t answer he got worried, so he called Catie and she told him you were out on a date?”
Since she asked it like a question I answered as such, “Yes, I was on a date.”
Nervous butterflies fluttered to life in my belly.
“Killian’s just a little worried.”
“That I’m dating?”
“Um… yes.”
Irritation flooded me. I was the happiest I’d ever been and I didn’t really feel like explaining myself to my brother. “Well, tell him he has no reason to be.”
Skylar was quiet a moment. “So… who’s the guy?”
My smile was automatic and I sank down onto the edge of the bed. “Skylar… oh man, Skylar, I can’t even describe him.”
She sounded amused, “You sound… dreamy?”
I giggled. “I do, don’t I?”
“Are you drunk?” she laughed.
“On love,” I admitted.
It surprised me for a second that I’d said it out loud but only a second. I’d always been an open book but there were some things even I kept to myself. Not with Skylar. I couldn’t explain why but from the moment we met I’d been able to tell her anything. She didn’t judge people. Skylar was thoughtful, empathetic, and understanding.
And so I found myself telling her all about Hudson and our instant connection. About how I couldn’t explain it but it was real… “I’m in love with him.”
She was silent so long, tears began to burn in my throat. Tears of regret. I shouldn’t have told her. How could anyone but Hudson and me understand?
“You think I’m being an idiot,” I whispered.
“God, no,” Skylar replied immediately. “Autumn, I know you’ve had bad luck with guys in the past but that was not your fault. You’re sweet and kind and you treat everyone like your best friend, but you are also smart and capable. You’re not a dreamer with your head up your ass… so if you say you think you’re in love with this guy then I believe you.”