Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

“Are you ready for this?”

Autumn Keating glanced up from the computer she’d been staring at and blinked several times to clear the fuzziness from her head. Lack of sleep, insufficient caffeine and dread were not a great mix.

“Yes.”

No. That was the real answer, but she couldn’t exactly tell that to her boss. Cindy cocked her head to the side and squinted in that knowing, mom of teenagers way. “Really?”

This was the problem with working for your best friend. They knew too much.

With a sigh, Autumn flopped back into the warm leather chair. “Fine. No, I’m not ready, but that doesn’t matter since it’s happening anyway.”

“I could take the meeting.”

It wasn’t the first time Cin had made the offer. And Autumn’s response was the same each time. “This is my job. I’m a big girl and can handle it.”

“I have no doubt. You’re the best event planner in the entire state of South Carolina. Maybe the south. But that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your own mental well-being to do the job. You have a team. And me.”

This was not news to her. The Retreat in Sweetheart, South Carolina was known as the best luxury resort in the state. They catered to a list of who’s who – celebrities, athletes, social media stars who liked to film every second of their stay. They’d only been open for a few years, but those social media posts had skyrocketed them into the world of the elite very quickly.

With that notoriety had come the demanding clients who wanted exclusive engagement parties, weddings and elaborate baby gender reveals planned at their idyllic, Blue Ridge Mountain, lake-side setting. And Autumn, with efficiency, calm and a knack for keeping things in line, handled them all.

But the clients – or rather, their grandson - coming in today…

“I’ve got this. I’ve been planning the Woodson’s fiftieth wedding anniversary for six months. I’m not bowing out the week before just because he’s finally decided to give a damn about something more than writing the check.”

Autumn was really going to have to do something to temper the disdain in her tone before Noah Woodson actually showed up. Because no matter their history, she had no misconceptions about what the man wanted from her.

Absolutely nothing.

But especially not judgement for the way he’d completely abandoned everything – their relationship, his family and the community that supported him - when he left Sweetheart fifteen years ago.

Cindy’s voice was gentle as she eased into the seat across from Autumn’s desk. “The Woodson’s are important to this town, and I know they’re important to you.”

Friends with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Woodson had been her in her life since the day she was born. In all the important moments of her life, they’d been there. Graduation, sweet sixteen, the year she starred in the high school production of Grease. Her parent’s funerals.

They’d been there, during her sophomore year in college, when the cancer her mom fought for three years finally won. Fuck cancer. And when her dad had a massive heart attack less than a year ago, leaving her suddenly alone in the world, no family left.

Ed and Harry Woodson were pillars of the Sweetheart community. Ed had been involved on the town council in one capacity or another for almost forty years. He’d been principal of the high school for nearly that long, until he’d finally retired about five years ago.

Harriet, who everyone called Harry, had owned the town bakery until about ten years ago when she passed it on to her granddaughter, her son’s girl. Margo renamed the shop Well Bread Ladies and now ran it with her wife, Nicola. Which reminded Autumn, she needed to do her last check with them about the four-tiered cake they were providing for the party.

Shaking her head, Autumn pulled herself back into the conversation. “I want every event I plan to be perfect, but I need this one to be flawless.”

Cin’s eyebrow rose slightly. “For Ed and Harry or to prove to Noah that he’s an ass and made a huge mistake?”

Autumn’s nose crinkled. She could try to lie, but it wouldn’t do her any good. “Both?”

A huge smile slowly spread across her friend’s gorgeous face. “Everyone already knows he screwed up.”

Everyone but him. No, that wasn’t fair and it wasn’t the mental state she needed to walk into this meeting with. Sure, Noah Woodson had broken her heart fifteen years ago, but that was ancient history and didn’t matter anymore. To either of them. “Stop it. I’m perfectly happy with my life.”

A pang hit straight in the middle of her chest, but Autumn ignored it.

“Of course, you are. Your life kicks ass. But that doesn’t mean watching him squirm a little wouldn’t feed your soul just a smidge.”

Autumn shook her head. But as much as she wanted to deny it, her heart kind of wanted to see regret fill his deep, soulful eyes.

She was human after all.

Noah Woodson walked slowly beside his grandmother. His grandfather trailed behind them, each step reluctant but steady. Noah couldn’t blame him. He really didn’t understand why Harry insisted he accompany them to this final meeting with the event planner for their golden anniversary party.

His grandfather had voiced the same thought right before they’d walked out of the old colonial home they’d lived in for the past fifty years. Not that it had mattered. What Harry wanted, Harry got. But between Harry and the resort staff, what the hell did he and Ed have to add to the conversation? He was already paying for the entire extravaganza, wasn’t that enough?

He was smart enough to keep all those thoughts to himself.

Beside him, Harry chattered on about the latest town gossip he also cared nothing about. He could count on one hand the number of times he’d been back to Sweetheart since he left.

Once he’d gotten out, he’d never wanted to come back.

Especially after his mom finally kicked his no-good dad to the curb and moved to North Carolina.

Not that he didn’t love his family – or most of them - but he saw the ones he wanted to see. It was the town and all the bad memories he’d wanted to avoid.

“Oh, shoot.” Harry stopped mid-stride, turning to look up at him with those imploring blue eyes. He’d never been able to deny his grandmother anything. And she knew it. “I left something in the back seat. Could you go grab it? A little cardboard box with a red and green bow on top.”

Noah opened his mouth to ask what she could possibly need to bring to this meeting that involved Christmas wrapping, but snapped his mouth shut before the words popped out. Not worth it. With a nod, he spun on his heel and headed back to the large pick-up he’d rented at the airport.

Flipping the key around his finger once, twice, he hit the button to unlock the door, leaned in and grabbed the package. How had he missed her carrying it out to the truck? The thing had long, curling, sparkly ribbons cascading down over the top of a cardboard box with reindeer and Santa and all things Christmas printed over the sides.

It was gaudy as hell and he felt like an idiot cradling the thing in his hands as he walked across the parking lot.

The one upside to the extra walk was that Noah got to take a minute to appreciate the grandeur of the Resort spread out before him. The stone and glass structure was enormous, but somehow seemed to blend into the nature that surrounded it. Mountain peaks covered in lush evergreens rose behind the sharp roofline. Peeking out from either side, the dark blue water of the lake spread out, smooth as glass. A crisp, cold bite lingered in the air, along with the tantalizing scent of pine.

Without thought, Noah paused for a moment to appreciate the view. His lungs filled with a deep breath that he held for several seconds before finally letting it free. And the tension he hadn’t even realized had settled across his shoulders suddenly eased.

God, he hated being back in this town, but right now, in this moment, it was beautiful.

“Noah,” his grandfather stuck his head out the oversized front door and waved him to hurry.

Shaking his head, Noah picked up the pace to a near jog. “I’m coming,” he grumbled even as he snagged the door and pulled it all the way open.

The lobby was decorated in rustic, homey Christmas cheer. Trees with cute cut-out wooden ornaments seemed to fill each nook and cranny. Lights and balls and garland hung everywhere. But the decorations weren’t what stole his breath.

Noah watched as his grandmother leaned up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around the one person he never expected to see again.

Autumn Keating.

His heart slammed into his ribs and then squeezed so tight that he almost doubled over in pain. Like being blindsided and sacked.

“What the hell are you doing here?” The words were out of his mouth before he’d even thought them.

Everyone turned to stare at him. His grandmother’s eyebrows arrowed down in an unhappy V. “Noah. Manners.”

Autumn looked exactly the same. The impact of her tawny gaze slammed into his gut. He’d been hit by three-hundred-and-fifty-pound linebackers who didn’t pack as much punch.

He should probably apologize, but the words wouldn’t form.

“I’m the Retreat’s event planner.”

Why the hell hadn’t Harry mentioned that?

Eyes still flashing irritation, Harry snagged his arm and pulled him into the tight circle of people. “I’m sure I mentioned that we’ve been working with Autumn.”

No, she most certainly hadn’t. Because if she had, Noah would have worked harder at finding some excuse not to come today.

“Oh,” Harry tapped his arm. “Hand that to Autumn would you?”

He’d completely forgotten about the Christmas cheer gripped tight to his chest like a football. But before he could even shove it towards her, Autumn was already shaking her head. “Mrs. Woodson, you didn’t need to do that.”

“Nonsense, you know I’ve always thought of you as one of my own. I really appreciate everything you’re doing for us. I saw this and immediately thought of you.”

“Just doing my job.”

Harry beamed at Autumn. “You’re going above and beyond for us and don’t pretend you’re not. You wouldn’t want to break my heart days before our big celebration by refusing, would you?”

A bemused expression crossed Autumn’s face. Her tawny eyes connected with his over the curling red and green ribbon, beseeching him for help. All he could offer her was a shrug.

Harry always got her way.

Autumn reached for the box, her fingers brushing softly against his. A sharp jolt of something rocked straight up his arms, so swift and unexpected that he almost dropped the thing.

“Careful, Noah, that’s fragile,” Harry chastised.

Just what he needed, some nosy guest cashing in and reporting to ESPN that famous quarterback Noah Woodson fumbled more than game winning touchdowns. He broke mysterious Christmas presents, too.

Grinding his teeth, Noah offered a tight smile and pushed the package harder into Autumn’s waiting hands. She grasped the box, taking a couple steps back as she hugged it to her.

“Open it. Open it.” Harry waved her hands, clearly excited about whatever gift she’d gotten.

Passing a notebook back to the employee lingering just behind her left shoulder, Autumn began gingerly untying the ribbons holding the lid closed. Seconds ticked by as she meticulously unraveled the package. Spreading open the cardboard flaps, she reached in and pulled out a delicate crystal snow globe dangling from a heavy-duty wire line.

An expression of wonder slid across Autumn’s sharp features. “It’s gorgeous,” she breathed.

The expression on her face had Noah’s own chest tightening. While a soft smile curled her lips, he could have sworn a silvered sheen glistened across her golden eyes.

God, her tears had always killed him.