Chapter 4
Autumn
Colt Montgomery. Of all the men at that party, it had to be him. And now I’ve spent the entire night wrapped in his arms, believing, for a fleeting moment, that maybe we were something more than what we are—a reporter and her mark.
I can still feel it—that connection. Colt’s hands on my waist. His breath teasing my neck. His whispers between dances. It’s too real, too vivid. Like he’s still here.
I tug the robe tighter as if I can shield myself from the gnawing truth.
Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I open a message to Skylar. It’s almost two in the morning. My fingers hover over the keys as I debate how much to share.
Finally, I type:
Me: It’s after midnight, and I’m texting you because, of course, the hottest, most bossy guy in the world is also tied up in my investigation. The universe’s way of torturing me, I guess.
I pause, then add:
Me: Think Garrett, but with a serious ‘I’m going to protect you whether you like it or not’ complex. I’ll fill you in on all the drama tomorrow. Spoiler: I’m in too deep.
I hit send, knowing full well she won’t see it until morning. Still, just putting the words out there helps loosen the knot in my chest.
I can almost hear her laugh and imagine her rolling her eyes at my dramatics.
Skylar will get a kick out of this. For now, I need to wash Colt—and everything he stirs up—out of my system. But of course, that’s wishful thinking.
Steam swirls around me, but Colt’s image only sharpens. His strong hands on my body, his intense gaze locking with mine—I can’t shake it.
Every detail is etched into my mind, refusing to fade.
The pounding on the hotel room door jolts me from my thoughts. I freeze, one hand still tangled in my damp hair, the other clutching my towel closed.
“Autumn!” The familiar voice, rough and edged with frustration, seeps through the wood. “Open the damn door!”
Colt. My heart leaps into my throat.
I glance at the clock—2:15 AM. What the hell is he doing here?
“Coming!” I call as I scramble for my robe. The knocking intensifies, and I hear another voice—higher and nervous.
“Sir... We might have to call security if you?—”
“I’m not leaving until she opens the door.”
I take a deep breath and yank the door open, gearing up to give Colt a real piece of my mind. But the words die on my lips when I see him.
He looks... wrecked. Hair mussed like he’s been running his hands through it, shirt crumpled, eyes wild. The man practically vibrates with tension—and something else.
Colt’s eyes flash as they lock onto mine, then drop—taking in the damp tendrils of my hair, the thin robe exposing just enough skin. Heat flares in his gaze.
“What are you doing here?” I ask faintly, taking a step back, acutely aware of how I must look.
He shoves past me into the room, his gaze sweeping over every corner before turning back to me. “I’ve been knocking for damn near ten minutes.”
“Please, come in,” I mutter sarcastically, pulling the door shut. “Make yourself at home.”
His jaw tightens as he turns to me, eyes sharp. “Why didn’t you answer sooner? Where the hell were you?”
“In the shower.” I shrug, leaning against the dresser with mock nonchalance. “You know, that thing people do after spending an evening dancing with brooding strangers?”
My quip lands, and I catch the flicker of annoyance in his expression that brings me a small, wicked surge of satisfaction. It’s too easy, pushing his buttons like this. Too thrilling.
I cross my arms over my chest, causing the robe to slip slightly at my shoulder. Colt’s eyes track the movement, darkening momentarily before jerking back up to meet mine. His nostrils flare.
“I thought—” He starts, then stops, his clenched jaw revealing the battle raging inside him. He rakes a hand through his hair, an uncharacteristic vulnerability in the gesture. “Never mind what I thought.”
But I see it anyway. He thought I had someone else here. If it wasn’t so ridiculous, it might be flattering.
“What’s the matter?” I can’t resist teasing. “Worried I had company?”
His scowl deepens, the lines around his mouth becoming sharper. “This isn’t a joke, Autumn. Do you have any idea—” He cuts off, frustration vibrating through every tense muscle in his body.
“Any idea what?” I prompt, my fingers drumming impatiently on my arm. “That you’d barge into my room in the middle of the night? That you’d act like?—”
He steps closer, his imposing body crowding into mine, swallowing the space, the air. He smells like leather and smoke. It’s intoxicating. He’s intoxicating.
“We need to talk. And I can’t—” He breaks off, his voice low, dangerous. His eyes are hot as they linger on the open edge of my robe. “I can’t talk with you like this .”
I arch a brow nonchalantly, even as my pulse picks up. “What’s wrong, tough guy? Afraid you can’t control yourself?”
His hands twitch, and his voice drops to an almost predatory growl. “Autumn... don’t push me.”
A thrill runs down my spine, but I stay rooted in place. “Or what?”
For a second, the tension between us reaches a fever pitch. His gaze burns into mine, and I think he’s going to close the distance. But instead, he takes a controlled step back, putting space between us with a tight expression.
“Five minutes,” he grits out. “Get dressed. Then we talk.”
With a resigned sigh, I retreat to the bathroom and throw on a sweater and jeans as quickly as I can.
When I return, Colt is standing next to the window, arms crossed, as he stares out at the lights of Midnight Falls.
“All right,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed while trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m dressed. What’s all this about?”
“You need to drop this investigation.”
I blink, taken aback. “Excuse me?”
“It’s dangerous,” he says, turning to face me fully, his gaze unwavering. “You’re digging into things that could put you in danger.”
I laugh, but it comes out more harshly than I intended, fueled by anger and disbelief. “You barge in here at two in the morning to tell me to back off? What, is the newspaper too much for the big bad biker?”
“I’m serious.” He takes an intense step forward, eyes dark and haunted. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
“Well, maybe you can enlighten me.” My annoyance flares. Of course, he’s hiding something.
Colt’s jaw clenches, a heavy silence falling as he runs a hand over his face. “I’m trying to protect you.”
Noticing that he didn’t answer my question, I scowl, stubbornness rising to the surface. “I don’t need your protection. I need answers—and if you or your mother won’t give them to me, I’ll find them myself.”
My voice is firm, unwavering, though my heart thuds against my ribcage. The air between us feels charged with something dangerous. Tempting.
My words hang between us, a challenge I’m not sure I want answered. Part of me hopes he’ll rise to it, while another part dreads what he might say. The uncertainty gnaws at me, making my palms sweat.
His gaze softens for a moment, and he reaches out—fingers slow, gentle—tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
The simple touch is enough to send heat radiating from where his skin brushes mine, spreading like wildfire. For a split second, I forget what we’re even arguing about.
His gaze locks onto mine, eyes dark with concern. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”
I swallow hard, fighting the sensation his proximity is stirring deep in my chest. But I can’t back down—not when I’m getting closer to unraveling the mystery. “Then help me.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. He takes a deep breath as if steeling himself. “Fine. Come to The Manor tomorrow.”
I blink, surprised at the sudden shift. “What?”
He steps even closer, his gaze locking onto mine. “I’ll get you access. Give you the chance to see everything you want... things the public will never see.”
I don’t even get to respond with disbelief because the next thing he says sends goosebumps chasing up my arms.
“And I’ll be with you. Every step.”
My breath catches. This is exactly what I wanted: an inside look at The Manor, guided by the one person who could truly open the doors. But... I didn’t expect this .
Didn’t expect he’d stand so close, his voice so low, that I could almost feel his lips brush against my skin.
“Why now?” I ask, struggling to keep focus. “Why offer this now?”
His eyes lock on mine, unwavering with an intensity I can’t look away from.
“Because you need me,” he says simply. “And if you’re going to be involved in this, whether I like it or not, I can’t let you go in alone. Not anymore.”
His words hang between us, heavy with an unspoken promise—one that makes my pulse race and my throat tighten. I should say something—anything—but I can’t seem to find the right words.
Instead, I just stare at him, at the raw emotion brimming in his eyes, as if being apart from me could break something in him.
Finally, I manage to speak. “All right,” I say quietly, my voice softer than intended. “Tomorrow.”
Colt takes a step back, nodding, his expression less guarded now. “10 AM,” he says, reaching for the door. “Don’t be late.”
I watch Colt turn to leave, a sudden ache in my chest. Moments ago, he’d stormed in here, all fury and demands. Now, I’m fighting the urge to call him back.
But before he opens the door completely, he glances back at me one last time. His voice drops lower, and something almost... desperate laces his tone.
“Autumn.”
I swallow hard, trying—and failing—not to let his voice affect me. “Yeah?”
He hesitates for a moment. “Stay safe.”
The door clicks shut. I’m alone, staring at the closed door like it might whisper secrets. My legs give out, and I sink onto the bed.
I rake my fingers through damp hair. My mind whirls, replaying every word, every look. What just happened?
I’m lost in this storm, and from the look in his eyes, so is he.
Tomorrow, I’ll plunge deeper into the secrets—those at The Manor and those between us—that could unravel everything I thought I knew about the case and, possibly, myself.
I eye my phone, tempted to text Skylar, but words fail me. This case has morphed into something bigger, consuming.
Suddenly, I’m unsure if I’m controlling the narrative or if it’s controlling me.
With a sigh, I toss the phone back on the nightstand and lie down, staring up at the ceiling, my mind replaying every detail of Colt’s stormy blue eyes, the way his voice softened at the end.
I close my eyes, and for too long, Colt’s presence lingers in the darkness, wrapping around me like the caress of his warm breath on my skin and the weight of his hand pressed to the small of my back.
Sleep is elusive, and when it finally takes me, it’s restless.
The next morning arrives faster than I anticipated. I wake up early, long before the alarm I set blares through the morning silence.
My heart beats with nervous anticipation, a mixture of excitement and dread bubbling in my chest as my thoughts dance between The Manor’s shadows and the secretive man who haunts them.
Damn it all, I’m falling for Colt Montgomery. No use fighting it now.
Today could change everything .