Chapter Twenty-Two
“I have to go.” Autumn placed the mug in the dishwasher and turned to Jett.
Dawn had barely rinsed out the sky. A splash of pink outlined the mountain in the distance. He stood before the window, smiling at her. The edges of his hair were still wet from the shower they’d taken together. Her thighs shook as she remembered how he’d pressed her against the shower wall and thrust into her from behind. For a man who said little and expressed his emotions less, he had an expert way of showing her what she meant to him.
She could stay with him all day, would love to climb back into his bed, but she needed to get home and figure out her next move, a place to live, a job, taking care of Quinn.
He crossed the room and pulled her to him. “Do you want me to come with you? I can stand guard while you pack a bag.”
“Thank you, but not yet. I need a plan of some kind. Then I’ll pack us up and move us.”
“Can you come back tonight?” He kissed her neck.
“I’ll try. After Quinn settles into her room for the night.”
“Are you going to tell her about us?”
“I will. She loves you. She isn’t going to mind that we’re together. She is going to be upset about having to move out of her house. Give me a few days, okay? Then I’ll sit her down and tell her all of it.”
“I can wait a few days.”
He kissed her, pushing her lips open. Her body melted against his. Even a simple kiss made her weak for him. His hands shot up her shirt and cupped her breasts. She reached for the button of his jeans, then stopped.
With regret, she eased out of the kiss. “Jett Ryker, we won’t get out of this kitchen if we keep this up.”
“Kind of the plan, ma’am.” His lips returned to her neck.
She pressed her hands into his shoulders. “Later. I want to get home and get started on my plan before I have to pick up Quinn.”
He arched a brow. “Okay. I get it. No more fooling around.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I still think you should move onto the ranch.”
“I can’t. I’ll text you later, okay?” She scooted away from him and grabbed her coat before she could rethink her decision to stop his advances.
“Hey, after the ski competition today, do you want to go out to dinner? A real date. I hear there’s a new restaurant on the highway, not far from here.”
Today was Saturday. The night she had agreed to help Markus. She couldn’t explain to Jett now about her agreement. He would probably think Markus was up to no good. Just like Markus always thought the worst of Jett. Their competition would never end. And she was tired of being the supposed prize Markus always tried to win.
Markus was only wrapped up in his own world. He didn’t really want her. He only wanted to beat Jett. She could handle Markus. And she didn’t want to cancel. She needed the job working there. At least she didn’t have to keep the job a secret and worry what other people would think about her working for Markus. Now she was openly with Jett. Later tonight, she would come clean with Jett about Markus and working for him. When they were in bed, happy, and with no need to rush.
“I’m meeting a friend for dinner. Can I take a rain check on that date?” She avoided his gaze. He would know she was lying—well, not telling a complete truth—and grill her. Markus meant nothing to her, but she didn’t have the time for the discussion and the persuasion she would need to make Jett understand what she was doing.
He narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, sure.”
She kissed him again. “I’ll see you later tonight. Good luck today.”
“Thanks.”
She ran out the door. If she had more time, she would have told him the whole story, but she did need to get home and look at her personal finances and job prospects and then pick up Quinn before the competition.
She stopped at the mailbox at the edge of the driveway. The wind whipped the truck’s door from her hand. Last night the wind had been so strong she thought the roof of Jett’s place would come off. If a storm was on its way, it hadn’t arrived yet.
Yesterday’s mail filled the box. Some of it was wet. She wiped her hand on her leg. The mail carrier must have dropped it in the puddle by the edge of the road. Luckily, most of it headed straight for the recycle bin. One long white envelope caught her attention. The address label was smudged, but the return address was crystal clear, as was the stamp on the front reading foreclosure papers . The bank wanted their money. Time was up.
Her breath caught in her throat. Someone would own this property soon. She couldn’t deal with that loss at the moment. She shoved the letter in her purse and drove up to the house. She’d look at the papers later. Or better yet, she’d give them to her mother to deal with. Since she was the owner.
Unless Vera had lied as Jett suggested. But that was too much even for Vera.
Ives came out onto the porch as she hopped out of the truck.
“Good morning,” he said, raising his mug.
“Hi, Dad. You’re up early.”
“I could say the same about you.” He eyed her over the mug, one eyebrow reaching for the top of his forehead.
“I’m a grown-up. I can sleep where I want.”
“Do you have to be involved with Jett? Isn’t there another man in a twenty-mile radius you could fall for?”
“No. And I don’t care what Mom thinks. What you and Karen did was a long time ago and between you and Mom. I shouldn’t have to sacrifice my happiness because of what you did. I’ve done that for too long.”
“Your mother is in rare form this morning because you didn’t come home last night. You might want to steer clear of her.”
“Why are you here, Dad? Why do you keep coming back and putting up with her?”
“I miss you and Quinn. And you needed my help. I want to save your land for you.”
“You’re not saving me. You’re saving Vera. She says it’s her land. Told me last night.” She brushed past her father and went inside.
He was fast on her heels. “What are you talking about?”
“Ask her. I have some things to do before I have to grab Quinn.” She hurried into her laundry room slash office and locked the door. Let Ives and Vera deal with each other for once. She wasn’t going to be in the middle any longer.
She sat at her computer, reviewing her situation and researching a new one. Every click brought her no closer to a better answer. She might have to ask Markus for a few referrals and start cooking for other wealthy families in town. Or take Jett up on his offer to work on the ranch. What would his family say when they found out she and Jett were together again?
She suspected they would be okay with it, but would Karen? No matter what Jett said or believed, his mother might have a problem with her returning to the fold. Autumn and Jett being together would mean their families would have to cross paths.
For most of her life, she had tried to love other men. But in the end, her heart belonged to Jett. Everyone else would have to get on board. She wasn’t going to deny her own happiness for others any longer.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Quinn.
—Where are you? I’m going to be late!—
She saw the time and jumped from her chair. She grabbed her purse, then dashed from the room.
“Autumn, wait. I need to talk to you.” Vera followed her down the hall.
“Not now. I have to get Quinn.” She flung open the door, and a blast of wind met her.
“But the heat.”
“Is working fine.” She slammed the door behind her and went to get her kid.
****
Jett waited in the ski school’s parking lot. Gray clouds filled the sky. He had hoped for a better day weather-wise. Snow would make the course more difficult for some of the kids. He had also hoped to have left thirty-five minutes ago. He checked his phone. No texts. No calls. Where was Logan? Five more minutes might not hurt.
All the athletes were on the bus, also waiting to leave and getting more anxious by the minute. Jett had tried to reach Logan several times, but the texts were never delivered. He even tried a call, but it went straight to voicemail. He was worried. It wasn’t like the kid to go dark like this.
“Hey, Quinn, could you come here a minute?” he said from the bus steps.
She hurried down the aisle onto the asphalt. She looked a lot like her mom at that age. He could still remember Autumn in high school with her red earmuffs and leg warmers, standing out by the student parking lot laughing with her friends. He’d had a huge crush on her back then. He would never have guessed they’d be where they were today and all the hills and valleys in between high school and now.
“Hi, Coach.” Her smile was wide. She was a good kid who tried hard. She wanted to please everyone.
He hoped she still liked him after she found out he was dating her mother. He would have to ask Kace how Royce had done when he found out Kace was dating his mother. Royce was only five, so maybe the situation was a little different with a teenager. And Kace and Tara had no history.
“Has anyone heard from Logan?”
“I don’t know. I could ask around.”
“Would you do that? We need to get on the road, but I don’t want to leave without him.”
“Sure. No problem.” Quinn hopped back on the bus.
And without Logan, the team didn’t stand a chance to win. This was an important competition. Finding Logan was more important.
Logan was letting his teammates down, which also wasn’t typical behavior for him. That led Jett to suspect he knew where Logan might be, and he didn’t like it. He should have said something to Markus sooner or pressed his opinion harder on why getting married and having a baby at seventeen was a huge mistake.
Darren Scott trotted off the bus, holding his phone. Darren was tall, dark, and from what Jett could tell, well liked by the others. He had some speed on the slope and a healthy attitude about winning. He was one of Logan’s good buddies.
“Coach, I don’t know where Logan is. I’ve tried him like a hundred times. He’s not answering. Do you think he’s sick or something?”
Or something. “Probably. He wouldn’t leave us hanging otherwise.” He had no idea if Logan had told anyone else what he was up to, but he wouldn’t spill it.
“Should we call the hospital?”
“I’ll call his father. Get back on the bus where it’s warmer. Thanks for the help. I’ll be right there.”
He searched for Markus’s number in the paperwork. Every athlete had to give a parent’s information in case of emergencies. He dialed. The call went to voicemail.
“Everett, it’s Coach Ryker. We have a competition today. Logan hasn’t arrived. If he’s okay and planning on attending, tell him to meet us at the slope. The bus has to leave now. If he’s sick, I hope he feels better. But can someone get back to me and let me know? Thanks.”
He made one other call.
“Sheriff Ryker,” Gage said when he answered.
“It’s me. I need a favor.” Still no sign of Logan. The bus driver gave him a palms-up sign. He flashed a one-minute back at him.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Can you take a ride past the Everett place and tell me if anyone is home?” He wanted Logan to be there, lying in bed with a fever instead of on his way to Idaho.
“Everything okay?”
“I think Logan might’ve left town today to get married.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I wish. I’m hoping he’s just home sick and forgot to call me.” He could wish all he wanted, but Logan had been determined that night at the diner with Maya by his side. Logan had changed his mind about not wanting the child to eloping and raising a family.
“I’ll knock on the door and see if anyone’s home. I’ll call you back.”
“Thanks, man.”
“No thanks needed. Besides, it’s a quiet day in Backwater.”
“When isn’t it?”
Gage hung up laughing. Out of options, Jett climbed onto the bus without Logan, and they drove off.