Chapter 14

14

Autumn

Beauster

Hey lil lady, sorry for my late reply. I left my cell at work. We definitely need to talk. Are you free this afternoon?

I've been sitting on Beau's text since it came through at work, not because I'm ignoring him or don't want to answer, but I'm trying to construct a reply. I'm feeling nervous about talking to him after the other night and the things I said. I realize now I was a little tipsy that night and blurted some stuff out that could've been misconstrued.

Like us getting married.

Me and my big drunk mouth.

I mean, we weren't exactly discussing the weather the last time I saw him. He made some pretty crazy suggestions, and now I'm wondering if he was a little tanked too.

It's all I can think about… what my name would sound like.

Autumn Bassett.

Jesus Christ. I rub my temples.

Even now, at my studio where I'm supposed to be working, and sorting out the final details for the first up and coming wedding at the Bassetts barn, I can't stop thinking about him. About that night.

I sigh, sitting down at my desk. My studio is pretty funky, I have to admit. It has an industrial feel with exposed brick down the entire length of one wall and stainless steel downlights; which are in the shape of little stars like they're protruding from the ceiling. The other length of the wall is a huge mural that I had mounted from a photo I took a year ago. I stopped at the scenic lookout at the top of one of the ridges, just outside of Stoney Creek, to shoot a beautiful sunset landscape. It showcases a bright orange and purple hue across the sky that looks so dramatic and so stunning, it's hard to believe it's real. The colors swirl and decorate the sky as though even dusk took a pause and stepped back to admire it. It's a soft and calming backdrop to have on my wall, and many people comment on it when they come into the studio.

I've seen many beautiful skies in the south, and I never, ever, get sick of looking at it. I love the way it reminds me every day how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.

Me

I can get off work at four. How about you?

I see the gray bubble appear as he types back, so I wait for a message to pop up, twirling the ends of my hair.

Beauster

Yeah, sounds good. I can get out of here early too. How about 4.30 at Stones Throw?

That's the cute cafe in town that makes the best coffee.

I find myself smiling, a little nervous tug at my stomach could also be disguised as excitement. But I am still trying to rationalize with myself that nothing is going on here. I was tipsy and told him too much information. I should never have brought up Carrie and what she said, but my stupid drunk brain didn't comprehend that at the time.

I slap my palm to my forehead. There's no way we can get married.

We would both have to be clinically insane to think we could get away with such a thing, and that no one would suspect why we were doing it. Not that I'm thinking of doing it, but why is my body humming to Beau Bassett's drum all of a sudden?

Why can't I get my best friend out of my head or his sexy scent and pretty eyes. It's like I've had Beau Kool Aid and now I can't go back.

I quickly type back before my head can go running away with itself again like it's been doing to me all day.

Me

Sounds good. See you then.

Way to go, Autumn! I want to slap myself. But realistically it might be a good chance for us to have a laugh about this whole ridiculous idea altogether. And I'm sure — now Beau has had time to think about it in the light of day — he would have to agree it's all a bit of a hoot. I mean, he did put it in black and white when he sent me that text, but still.

We could do this. It solves a problem for both of us. But if you don't, I won't hold it against you.

Since when did solving my problems involve marrying my best friend? Just so I can collect my inheritance and be able to do all the things I need to for my business and to fix my house. I know I should just ask Anton, but something stops me.

My head throbs thinking about it. I couldn't have had worse luck lately with the whole roof leaking thing, then the bank declining my loan, my lying and cheating ex… Everything in my brain fogs over all at once as though it's lining up my recent problems one by one, just in case I wasn't already aware of them.

It's my fault for having one wine too many at the Bassett's dinner table. I take full responsibility for getting that way. I can't even blame it on the great vibe of the night with Celeste and Callan's baby news, even if it was the real highlight and cause for celebration.

I keep playing the conversation with Beau over and over again; the way I so boldly told him Carrie's crazy plan thinking he'd have a laugh about it too. Thank God Georgia-Blue was asleep and didn't hear any of the casual banter about arranged weddings and me marrying her brother! I mean, what would the rest of the Bassett's say? And could we really convince them that our sudden marriage was real? Who would even buy that? At the very least we would have to act like it was real… But isn't that the same as lying? I want to slap myself again.

NO! I'm not going to, because Beau and I are not getting married!

And I'm going to prove it by plunging myself into work during the last hour and not think about any of it until I get to the cafe. And when I get there the whole ridiculous notion will be shut down entirely when Beau and I share a chuckle and a lemon bar, and shake our heads at how crazy two people can be when alcohol is involved.

That's what I expect to happen, and for now that puts me at ease.

At least until 4.30, then I can find out what Beau really thinks.

??

I run a few errands before I leave work and drive out to the gas station to fill up my car. On my last birthday, Dad insisted on buying me a BMW X1 SUV, which I didn't exactly say no to. It's a burnt rusty orange color and I absolutely love it. It's probably a little over the top for driving around the quiet streets of Stoney Creek, but I've always loved SUVs and my dad wanted me to be safe when I drive back and forth to see them in Memphis. Not that I have for a while, and now I feel even more guilty.

I decide I'll call them later and set some time aside before I get too busy with the wedding season. I just hope it doesn't lead to another conversation with Mom about Michael. Why the hell she loves that guy so much is just downright annoying. I guess because she only sees the dollar signs and the prestige of me having a rich husband from an affluent family. That could have something to do with it. At least Gran is a little more sympathetic. Though she has openly said she wasn't sure at first about Grandpa. They became friends at the beginning of the marriage; neither of them were certain they could make it work being so young and the fact they didn't know one another. But after a while it slowly grew to love. I know things working out that way these days are highly unlikely, and I couldn't think of anything worse than actually marrying a complete stranger, but I suppose it worked out for Gran and Gramps.

I jump in and fire up the engine, running my hands over the sleek steering wheel. My car is all curved edges with a soft cream and black interior. It has everything from wireless charging to driver assistance. That's been a real bonus for me when parking in tight spots and reversing.

I'm singing along to Ed Sheeran on the radio when I travel back into town from the gas station to meet Beau when my car starts making a weird noise, then comes the glugging and gurgling. I'm just about to pull over when I see something on the road, which looks like a piece of wood that may have fallen off the back of a work vehicle. I don't have time to swerve or to stop, running over it as it makes a clunk, and I wince. The last thing I want to do is damage my car or get a flat.

It's only another half mile down the road that my car starts to pull to the left and then I hear more weird noises. The whole front left side of the car is almost bouncing along. I flick my indicator on and pull over, knowing that I must have a flat tire, but something else also doesn't seem right.

"Damn you!" I curse, when I get out of the car and take a look at my tire. Sure enough, it's gone down right before my eyes. I want to kick the stupid thing, but I don't want to hurt my foot, since I have to now walk the rest of the way until I can get help to get the tire changed or someone comes out to get me.

I pull out my cell to dial Beau, since I'm most definitely going to be late now, when I hear a horn toot as it passes me, then pulls over just ahead.

It's Eden's car. Oh, thank God. She jumps out a second later and hurries over to me.

"Hun, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I sigh. Running a hand through my hair. "I hit something back there, I think it was a plank of wood. It must have had a nail sticking out of it. And my car was making weird noises."

"Can you call roadside assistance?"

"Yeah, I was just about to give them a call. I'm meant to be meeting Beau in town."

"I can give you a ride if you like?"

"Thanks, that'd be great."

I press the lock on my fob as I walk with Eden to her car, quickly typing a text to Beau that I'm running a few minutes late. I'll tell him the story when I get to the cafe.

"Thank God you came along when you did."

"Tell me about it." She smiles as we both jump in. Noodle is sitting on the passenger seat in her fluffy bed. Eden scoops her up as I slide in, lifting her little bed and sitting it on my lap after I've got my seatbelt in place. "You don't mind if she sits on your knee?"

"Not at all." I laugh, giving her Maltese a little tickle. She sits up, nudges into me with her head, circles, and flops back down as Eden pulls the car out again. "Aren't you a beautiful girl, little Noodle. Yes you are! Yes you are!"

"If you keep crooning to her like that, she'll expect it for the rest of the day." Eden looks toward her dog with an affectionate smile.

"I'll take her any day," I sigh.

"Sucks about your car."

"If only they were the half of it," I say. I don't know how much to divulge to Eden before I speak to Beau. She's also one of my best friends, so maybe I should just delve into the feelings part first, not mention our crazy marriage thing Beau and I are about to discuss in five minutes.

"You're not stressing about all the work you have coming up, are you?"

I smile as I look at my friend, the afternoon rays bouncing off the auburn tinge in her hair. "No, it's not that…" She's a Bassett after all, given that she's married to one, maybe she'll have some insight for me. "I like someone," I say. "That's the complicated bit."

"Oh, really? You make that sound like it's a bad thing."

I'm sure my friends will be pleased since I've been wallowing in the wake of cheating Michael, and haven't thought much about getting on the dating bandwagon since splitting up with him.

"When I tell you who it is, you might not be saying that."

Her quick glance tells me she's trying to gauge a tell-tale sign in my face, like the answer is just going to appear there. "Aut?"

I sigh, never one for being able to draw things out. "Just lately I've been having some deeper feelings for Beau," I whisper. I know I've talked to Carrie about it just the other day, but Eden deserves to know too.

Her eyes widen slightly. "Beau?"

I rest back in my seat, one hand still brushing little Noodle's back as she snooze's happily all the way to town. "Yes, Beau."

"Wait! I thought the auction thing was… I knew it!" She bangs a hand on the steering wheel.

"You knew what?"

"Brook was saying something about it not long ago. He thought Beau had a thing for you and I waved it off. I told him just because you both get on really well and have for years, doesn't mean you have to be romantic or can't just be friends. Then at the auction, I could see something between you."

"Wait, what?"

"He kept staring at you, A."

Brook thought Beau had a thing for me?

"It was all part of the bidding agreement thing we had, at least, I thought it was." I squirm in my seat. "Then I realized how cute he is, sweet, and funny and... God do I sound like a broken record? And to top it off as soon as I discovered all these things right under my nose, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I still can't."

Her smile is about a foot wide. "I can't believe this!"

"Nothing is happening," I quickly state. If you take the recent past out of the equation for a moment, anyway. "It's a fleeting idea and not reciprocated." I don't want to throw Beau under the bus. He was, after all, saying he'd marry me because he felt bad for me, not because he means it.

Eden pulls up outside the cafe and puts the stick into park."Are you sure about that?"

"I'm not sure about anything." And that part is true. The only thing I do know is Beau's truck is parked just across in the lot, so he's already here.

"Beau is such a sweet guy!" Eden claps her hands together. "Oh, this could be really perfect."

"I don't know what it even is, E. Me being ridiculous sure comes to mind."

She rubs my arm in an attempt to reassure me. "You couldn't go wrong with him, that's for sure. He's different from other guys. A real sweetheart if I've ever met one. He doesn't sleep around, even when every single woman in Stoney Creek has tried, and he's good to the girlfriends he's had in the past. I see no foul here."

I wish I had her confidence. I know she thinks he'd be good for me especially because we already know my taste in men is a one stop shop to disaster. Especially if the last one was anything to go by. Why do I always fall for the bad guy?

Maybe it's time I fell for the good guy. The guy who doesn't always have the right answers or the flashiest suit or a cocky attitude when they get caught cheating and try to blame you. Bastard.

The twinkle in Eden's eyes tells me it's a good idea.

"I have to go." I swallow hard. I know that I'm falling for Beau and I don't know how to stop it.

"Best not keep a Bassett waiting." She winks. "Call me later, missy! We need to delve into this conversation a little more."

I press my lips together with a smile. "I will. Thanks for the ride, Eden."