Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gideon
I was going to run out of time to get the condoms.
Last night, she’d curled up in my arms, and I listened to her even breaths. It’d taken me another hour to fall asleep.
This morning, my pesky erection had been demanding either relief or medical attention, but Autumn had had to get to work. I’d dropped her off at school. She’d shyly given me a kiss before she’d gotten out of the car. And then I’d returned to her dining room table for my meeting. A meeting I’d thought was about approving the renovation schedule and costs had become a not-unexpected chastisement for interfering with the bouncers at Glitter and subtle prying about why I’d returned home.
If they were so concerned about a family emergency, I wouldn’t tell them I was married. I should be flattered they were worried I’d pull up stakes and leave, but at the same time, I was irritated as hell. Getting pestered was what I got for years of diligent service.
The irony chafed. The board worried about my absence when few of them actually lived in Nevada. Or if they lived there, they were at their second or third homes around the world. I blew out a hard breath, wishing I could shut my laptop and make the condom run now that the board meeting was over, but Taya was still on the line.
“Can we switch this to camera mode?” she asked from the other end.
“Is it necessary?”
The silence on the other end told me no. Taya wanted to make this call personal, but I no longer had personal business with her.
“Very well,” she said. “Are you ready to tell me what’s really going on?”
“I’ve said all there is to say.”
“Gideon.” She used the same tone when she cozied up against me in Glitter & Gold. The sultry way she said my name let me know she was thinking of sex.
Every time I thought of sex, I saw Autumn spread out before me, her legs wide and her pussy glistening. I heard her screaming my name and felt her tremble around me.
My erection was returning. “Taya, do you have a handle on the next meeting?”
“I... Yes?” My abruptness must’ve thrown her. “We’re reviewing Q3 reports from the marketing team, so?—”
“Good. Have Grant write up a summary for me and I’ll review it before the weekend. Otherwise, you know how to reach me.” I clicked off before she could argue .
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I wasn’t acting like my usual self. I’d never cut Taya off when it came to work and I’d never shirked my duties, even if they meant monotonous meetings with data that made my eyes burn.
But I had a family emergency. I had to buy condoms.
I pushed away from the table. Sprinkles pounced, jumping on my lap and curving her tail around my forearm. I paused for a moment and scratched behind her ears. Her purr ignited, and I rubbed her head too. She stood on her hind legs and propped her front paws on my shoulder. I let her sniff my mouth, give me a head bump, and then she jumped down.
She’d done that a few times while I was working. I didn’t hate it.
I grabbed the keys and left. It only took five minutes to get to the tractor supply store. In Vegas, I had a personal assistant I called when I needed clothing. I couldn’t be bothered to shop. If I had to, this type of store was more my style. Everything I could need under one roof—tools, snacks, and clothing.
No condoms. I checked.
I bought a ball cap, mostly for camouflage. Some of the older workers were not so discreetly gawking at me. Next were more jeans and sweaters. I grabbed a couple of shirts. When I passed by a rack of heavy-duty socks, I selected a few pairs.
An older woman with graying brown hair stopped by. “Oh, we have a basket for you.”
I was about to say I didn’t need one, but my arms were loaded. “Thanks.”
She held the plastic container with handles while I dumped my pile inside. “You could use a cart. I’ll get one for you.”
“Oh no, you don’t have?—”
“The boots are right behind you.”
“Excuse me?”
She smiled, her soft-brown eyes twinkling. “You’re clothing yourself head to toe. Figured you’d want some boots.”
I turned. The aisles of work boots, cowboy boots, and loafers that weren’t far removed from slippers were to my left and right. Had this place expanded since I moved?
Boots. Did I need boots?
My phone buzzed. I mentally sighed. Fucking work.
To be sure it wasn’t Autumn, I checked who the caller was.
Hank James.
I stared at it as it buzzed in my hand. What did he want?
Anxiety burned in my stomach. The last time he’d called was to tell me he was selling. What shit news would he give me now?
“Hank,” I answered.
“Giddy.” His greeting was like old times, like when he’d come home after moving cattle all day. I’d been too young to join him, so I’d spent the day closer to the house, helping Mom.
“Don’t call me Giddy, Hank.”
“I have a long stretch of fence that’d take me two days,” he continued like I hadn’t said a thing. “Care to join me? Many hands make quick work.”
His enthusiasm didn’t irritate me like normal, but that wasn’t what I was caught on. “Why are you fixing fence if you’re selling?”
“I’m not selling garbage.”
“Aren’t they going to do more planting than ranching?” The purchase might be going through Bailey Beef, but Dad had said they wanted the property to raise some of their own grains for Copper Summit. There was some acreage that we’d used for growing grains for our own feed. The rest was better for ranching than farming.
“Eh, that’s what they said, but this fence is an eyesore.”
“They can fix the eyesore if they want to buy it.”
“I’m not selling garbage.”
He’d been fine with running it down in the first place. Percival Farms was dead because of him.
“It gives an old man something to do,” he said simply.
He’d gone from doing nothing to doing nonsense. “What do you think you’re going to do when you move into a smaller house? You’re not even going to have a lawn.”
There was silence on the other end.
I’d get nowhere yelling at him. Maybe the best way to dig into his brain and figure out why he had to sell so bad was to get my hands dirty. “I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”
“Hey, that sounds great. I’ll get some sloppy joes ready. We can have a bite before we go out.”
The other end went dead, and I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. A skylight hovered overhead and crossbeams lined my view. A nest was plastered in one corner. I hadn’t heard a bird inside. How old was that nest? The concept took my mind off my infuriating father .
The lady returned with a cart that had a squeaky wheel. “Here’s your cart, sir. Can I help you with anything?”
I scratched the back of my neck and considered the aisles. “No, thanks. I’m just going to pick out some boots.”
“We have some good winter coats too.” She smiled before she wandered away.
Coats? I wouldn’t be staying that long.
One month. The sale would be final in the middle of November. I’d need a goddamn winter coat. It wasn’t like I was giving up all my plans and moving back.
Autumn
I went outside for my afternoon break. Normally, I’d catch up on some work or grab a quick snack, but I needed space and fresh air. One of the kids had been crop-dusting me all day with his gas and the air freshener was starting to give me a headache.
Summer: I’m going to Copper Summit tonight. You gonna be there?
Wednesdays were slow nights, and I could get the books done. I hadn’t planned differently. But I was married now, for the next month at least. Gideon had been home alone all day.
He wasn’t a dog. He could care for himself. I hadn’t gathered the third-quarter numbers for the guys. If I waited much longer, Tenor would dig into my books, and when he did that, he rearranged things the way he preferred them. He’d never admit he thought his way was better when my process worked just fine.
I chewed on my bottom lip. Yes, but I’ll be later than normal. Gideon’s picking me up after work.
I thought the next message was Summer’s reply, but it was Junie. WHAAAAT?
This couldn’t be the first time she had heard about my marriage. I texted you .
My phone started ringing. Summer’s message popped through before I answered. I’ll pick you up from work on my way to the bar.
I wanted to walk out the door and find Gideon waiting for me after school, but I had to answer Junie, or she’d relentlessly send messages. I put the phone to my ear. “Hi.”
“What the hell, girl!” She half sang her shout.
I winced at her volume. “It’s been five days.”
“I know! I’ve been avoiding my phone and social media.”
“Too many kissy-face pictures with your boyfriend?” A site had just reported that Junie had started dating another up-and-coming country star. He was considered a heartthrob if you were into the reformed-player type. The only problem was that, according to the media, he wasn’t reformed.
“They always get my bad angles.”
Junie had no bad angles.
“So. You’re married !” she screeched. “I Googled him.”
I waited. “And?”
“Tall, dark, and brooding? He looks pissed all the time. I like it.”
I laughed. “Well, you’re the only one.”
“How’d Mama take it? Oh god, tell me everything. ”
“I’m on break. I only have ten minutes.” I checked the time on the phone. “Eight minutes.”
“Talk fast.”
“I went on a girls’ trip, met him at the casino he works at, we got married, and now the guys are pissed at me. So are Summer and Wynter.” Mama saw right through the whole thing, but I didn’t mention that part. “Mama’s chill. You know how she is.”
Junie snorted. “That’s how I can tell we’re not blood-related. Okay. You married sex in a suit. Now what?”
“I... don’t know.” My time was ticking down, but Junie was excited for me. She was thrilled in a different way than my coworkers. I could probably tell her everything, and she wouldn’t bat an eye. She’d keep my secret. Summer and Wynter would too, but it was like I’d already lied. Fessing up would somehow make me feel worse. “I wanted to start a family right away, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.”
“Autumn.” I rarely heard Junie so serious. “Having kids is your dream.”
“I don’t think it’s his though.”
“Oh. Wow. I mean... What are you going to do?”
“We’ll talk it out. It’s been less than a week.” We’d already talked it out. A month wouldn’t be enough to keep him from turning pale whenever babies were mentioned. I couldn’t keep telling half-truths. The guilt would gnaw right through my stomach. “I really hate to cut you off, but I have to go back in.”
“Autumn.”
“Yeah?”
“You sure you’re okay?”
After last night, my body was singing, and I was half terrified that he might consume me again. He’d only used his tongue and a finger. When he got his whole body involved, I might not survive. But also, no. I wasn’t okay. I had a husband I didn’t really know. I had a sham marriage that I wanted to be real. And I had a family that didn’t buy that a guy like Gideon would hopelessly fall for me. All I had were my fantasies.
Junie was probably sold on it the most because she wasn’t around to see the odd couple Gideon and I made. The casino CEO and the schoolteacher.
I turned the question around on her. “Are you okay?”
“Hmmm. How about we both tell each other we’re fine and keep lying to ourselves?”
My sister wasn’t one to admit when she was struggling. That she’d said this? “Junie.”
“I’m fine. Glor-i-ous! Mm-wha .” She made a kissing noise. “Keep me posted on the baby drama.”
I’d get no more out of her. She could close down harder than my brothers. “Love ya, June.”
“I love you so much I’ll write you into a song.”
“You write heartbreak songs.”
She was laughing when I hung up. I considered Summer’s message again. She probably wanted to get me alone, and after the turmoil of the last several days, I could use some sister time. I called Gideon. This was the first time I’d ever called or messaged him. We’d been married for five days, and this was a first.
“Gideon.” He sounded out of breath and a rush of wind came over the line.
“Hi.” Where was he? I didn’t have much of a yard, but maybe he was enjoying the weather on my lawn. “I have to do books at Copper Summit before I bartend, and Summer said she could pick me up on her way there. Do you mind? ”
“No.” A grunt sounded, but it wasn’t his. “Hank, I said I got it.”
“You ain’t done this in a bit, Giddy.” His dad’s voice filtered through the line.
“Don’t call me Giddy, Hank.” His response was more automatic than hostile, like the last time they’d had the same interaction.
I had to get back inside, but I couldn’t cut the conversation short yet. “You’re with your dad?”
“Fixing fence. Can I pick you up at Copper Summit when we’re done?”
Did I want to see a dirty, sweaty Gideon? “Of course. I’d better get back in, but hey, have fun.”
“It’s a blast,” he said grimly before he hung up.
I typed Summer a quick Sure and then rushed inside. I’d get some sister time and then see my husband. I just hoped the month I got with Gideon wouldn’t be cut short over some fence.