Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

Zane

W hen I decided to spend the next quarter in Cozy Creek, I stored my plane in the company hangar in case I needed to be somewhere fast. My pilots have been on standby for the last three weeks. After receiving the call, they made it to the airport, fueled up, and did the pre-flight check before Autumn and I arrived in Denver.

We make small talk on the way there, but I feel like she's walking on eggshells.

As we board the private jet, Autumn is quiet, and her eyes dart everywhere but to me.

“What is it? What are you thinking? Ask me,” I finally say as we buckle.

“Why the sudden rush to New York?”

“I'm sorry.” I turn to her, realizing I never said, but I have nothing to hide. Not when we’re building the foundation of something bigger than us. “My father was rushed to the hospital due to a suspected heart attack,” I explain, knowing my mind is slowly spiraling with what ifs and unknown scenarios.

“Don't apologize,” she says, lifting the middle armrest and wrapping her arms around me. “It’s going to be okay.”

I didn't realize I needed a hug until her warmth pressed against me. Whenever she is close like this, the ball that's wound tight inside me loosens. With each passing second, Autumn breaks down the wall I built to protect my heart and she doesn't even know it.

“When your demeanor shifted,” she says with her head against my chest. “I knew it was serious.”

“Most people wouldn’t have noticed,” I admit.

Can she hear the pitter-patter of my heart, the beats that skip because of her?

“I’m not most people.” She chuckles, but it's an easy laugh. Not forced, not fake; nothing about being with Autumn is.

“You’re damn right about that.” I adjust my body, making it more comfortable for her because I don't want her to pull away, at least not yet.

“Are you worried?”

“Yes.” I twirl a strand of her dark hair around my finger. “I’m concerned that something awful will happen before I can make amends. It would be one of the biggest regrets of my life because, while we don’t always agree or get along, I love and care about him.”

She nods. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Her kindness warms my heart.

“Having you here is more than enough.”

I keep my fingers in her silky strands to confirm she’s real and that I’m not dreaming.

Her phone rings, grabbing her attention. She pulls it from her pocket and Julie's photo appears on the screen.

“You should take that. There's a conference room with privacy if you'd like.” I point toward it.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Don't ignore your friends. I'm sure they're concerned, considering I captured you.”

“I willingly joined you.” She playfully rolls her eyes and unbuckles, then walks across the plane to the sliding door. I watch her walk away and our eyes meet as she slides the door closed. She grins.

I lean my head back on the seat, smiling wide. Her voice is muffled, but I can hear her laugh.

I pull my phone from my pocket to see if there have been any updates from Harper.

Nothing. Not a word.

Silence stresses me out more than hearing from my sister nonstop. It’s never good when Harper grows quiet, and that plagues me. I try not to think the worst, though, and suck in deep breaths, trying to relax.

Eventually, Autumn returns. “They're already planning our wedding.”

“I love that for us.” I chuckle, enjoying that I have her best friends’ stamp of approval.

She stares at me. “Julie said you paid off her parents.”

It’s impossible to hold back a smirk. I knew she’d find out. “You're worth it.”

She playfully shakes her head but looks at me with stars in her eyes. “You're unbelievable.”

“Like Mr. Dreamy?” I ask.

She glances past me out the window at the fluffy clouds floating as we soar through the bright sky. Then I see that familiar gaze, the one I've come to recognize.

“You're living the dream.” I shoot her a wink, wanting to kiss her but deciding against it. I won't make the first move today, not after last night. But damn, right now, the urge to slide my lips across hers nearly overtakes me. I break the intense eye contact.

“Are you ?” she asks.

“Yes. I’m having the time of my life,” I tell her. “Truly.”

We soar through the sky like a speeding bullet and I open my arms. Autumn comes to me without hesitation and I inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo as I hold her against me. When her breathing slows, I replay everything that's happened and try not to worry about the future. A future I can't predict. The past tries to flood in, but I push it away.

Last night, something inside me unlocked, and Autumn felt the shift, too. I saw it on her face, heard it in her moans, and knew it when she held me tight. I close my eyes, trying to get some rest, not knowing what emotional rollercoaster I’ll ride when we arrive in the city.

Hours later, the jet lightly touches down and the two of us wake when the cabin lights click on. My pilots grease the landing, but they’re the best in the country and I’d expect nothing less. A blacked-out SUV waits for us once we taxi to the private hangar and deplane. We're escorted inside like I'm the president of the United States and drive to the hospital across the city.

When I breathe deeply, Autumn grabs my hand and flips it upright, stealing my attention.

“This is your love line,” she says, tracing my palm. “But I don’t know anything about it, you’re out of luck.”

I laugh. “Thank you. I needed that.”

“I could tell,” she admits.

Reaching forward, I grab her hand and flip it over.

“It’s this one?” I trace her love line, going from the top to the bottom as she watches me.

“Wait.” She places my palm next to hers. “They’re almost exactly the same. Long lines with a forking branch at the end.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, and she doesn’t let me go. I don’t pull away either. I fucking love her touch.

“I was told it meant I’d have significant heartbreak, but overall, I’d find true, everlasting love. I guess it's the same for you.”

“Hate knowing your heart was broken.”

Her gaze meets mine. “You too.”

“I’d endure it a thousand times to be here with you.”

She chews on her bottom lip and it’s too damn adorable. Just one kiss, I could steal it right now, but I won’t.

Eventually, the vehicle slows in front of the hospital, the only one my father would go to in the city. I get out, and as soon as Autumn’s feet are on the pavement, I hear the clicking of a shutter. As I turn my head, I spot the glare of the zoom lens on the camera across the street.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I hiss, wrapping my arm around Autumn, keeping my head down and blocking her from view.

We rush inside, and when the doors close, she glances at me, confused.

“Photographers,” I whisper, leading us to the reception area. “Gross that they’d do this under these circumstances. I’m sorry. I thought we’d have privacy here, or I would’ve nev?—”

She places her finger on top of my lips. “You can only control yourself, no one else, okay? You don't owe me an apology. I said I wanted all of you, Zane. That means the good and the bad.”

I tilt her chin upward, my expression softening. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being you. For being here. For understanding. For not being upset.”

She hooks her finger with mine. “You're more than welcome.”

Fuck. I’m incredibly lucky. It’s all I can think when I look at her.

When we reach the counter, I give my father’s name to the woman behind the glass window. She asks for my identification, then excuses herself and walks into an office in the middle of the room with its blinds drawn. She’s on the phone, speaking to someone. Autumn glances at me and I shrug, but I also know my father more than likely has security around his room to stop unwanted guests from entering.

Moments later, the woman returns. “You’re on the approved visitor list. You’ll go to the 12th floor and check in there. A nurse will lead you to his room.”

“Thanks,” I say, knowing where the elevators are. It’s not the first time I’ve been here, but I hope it’s one of the last for a very long time.

As I push the button, Autumn reaches over and grabs my hand. I glance over at her and my heart flutters when she smiles. Together, we step inside, and when the doors close, she moves forward and captures my mouth. Holding back is impossible as I greedily kiss her back.

I run my fingers through her hair, tugging it. The elevator stops and we pull away from one another, guilty with swollen lips as we move to the desk. Several nurses type on computers. In the distance, beeps ring and machines hum.

“I’m here to see my father. Last name is Alexander.”

She nods. “Do you have the password?”

“1002,” I say and she checks her records. Moments later, we’re being escorted to the end of the hallway where my father’s bodyguards sit in chairs outside of the room. They stand and greet me with handshakes as the nurse knocks on the door and enters.

“Please wait here,” she says.

“Sure,” I tell her, focusing back on the men who swore to take a bullet for my father. They've worked for him for at least a decade and he doesn't go anywhere without them.

“Has Harper been here?” I ask.

“Yes, she left thirty minutes ago,” Christopher states. “She forgot her phone on the plane.”

I shake my head. “No wonder I haven’t heard from her.”

The nurse cracks open the door and waves me in. “He’s awake.”

I reach out for Autumn, but she shakes her head. “I can stay out here.”

“Absolutely not,” I say. “I want my dad to meet the woman I’m marrying.”

She bursts into laughter. “Stop with that.”

“No way,” I say with a grin. “One day, I'll remind you how you laughed when I said that.”

“Remind me how cocky and confident you were too.”

I lean in and whisper in her ear. “You fucking love it.”

Her cheeks redden and it’s the confirmation I needed.

We enter and the nurse excuses herself after she adjusts my father's pillows. He's awake, watching Star Trek on the tiny television hung on the wall.

“Son,” he says with surprise in his tone. “I didn't expect to see you here.”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

My dad's eyes wander toward Autumn.

“Dad, this is Autumn. My girlfriend,” I proudly say. It feels natural and real. Have the lines already blurred too much? She agreed to be mine until January.

All I needed was the chance to prove to her that I’m actually the man of her dreams. She’s giving me that now.

“Ah, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ambrose. Most call me Alexander.”

“Very nice to meet you,” she says sweetly while smiling.

Dad glances between us, and I know he wants to say more but doesn't.

“How are you feeling?” I need to fill the awkward silence that draws on.

“Perfectly fine.”

I meet his eyes. He looks exhausted. “Harper told me you had a heart attack.”

“It was gas, nothing major. However, my blood pressure is high, so they’re keeping me overnight to make sure I don't have a stroke.”

“What? Relief floods through me.

“Wedding jitters and beans. A painful combination, but not deadly.” He laughs.

“I'm happy to hear that,” I explain. I won't be taking over the company as quickly as I thought, which thrills me. I always imagined when I stepped up, I’d be much older, in my late fifties. As long as my father is healthy, he will not give up his position as CEO, and I support that.

“Can we talk?” my dad finally asks.

“I think that's a great idea. I think I need some coffee.” Autumn grins.

“Hospital coffee?” I lift a brow, not wanting her to leave but knowing she will anyway. Determination is written on her face.

“Yeah, would you like some?”

I shake my head. “You know shitty coffee isn't my thing.”

She shrugs and turns to my father. “Would you like a cup?”

“No thanks,” he tells her. “Shitty coffee isn't my thing either.”

“I see where you get it from.” Four steps later, the door clicks closed.

I sit in the fake leather chair beside the bed and he stares at me.

“How have you been?” he asks.

“Surviving,” I say. “About the interview?—”

He shakes his head. “When I thought my heart was giving out, my life, along with my mistakes, flashed in front of my eyes. The biggest regret I had was how I’d treated you.”

“Dad.”

“Please, let me finish.”

I nod.

“I realized I've treated you the way my father had treated me, and I owe you an apology. I promised your mother that I’d always give you and Harper the choice to do things and not force you for the benefit of the company. I'd forgotten about that until I thought I was dying. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

“No, you’ve been through enough and I wasn’t there to support you. In the future, if there is something you don't feel comfortable doing, then don't. That even includes attending my wedding.”

“Thank you.”

Whooshing and phaser sounds briefly pull our attention away.

I glance back at my father. “I’ll be there. I’m picking up my tuxedo on Wednesday and am flying out with Autumn that afternoon.”

“You seem good for one another,” he says. “Harper believes the two of you will get married. Seeing you together, I believe that too.”

I smirk. “When you met Mom, did you know?”

He adjusts one of his pillows. “Yeah. The moment our eyes locked, it was intense. I didn't know anything about her and didn't care. True love.”

“Like lightning in a bottle?”

“That's one way to describe it.” He sucks in a deep breath. “Just because I’m getting married again doesn’t mean I’m erasing your mom.”

“I know,” I tell him, knowing he waited nearly twenty years before moving on. “She would’ve wanted you to be happy.”

“Yeah. I do wish things had been different though.”

“We all do. But, we can’t change what happened. We can only move forward.”

Dad grins. “You’ve always been smart. I’m proud of you, son. I don’t say that enough. Your mother would be proud.”

Before I can respond, the door clicks open and Autumn enters with a Styrofoam cup in her hand. She crosses the room toward me and sips it with a straight face.

“How does it taste?” I ask, amused by how well she’s handling it.

“Great.” She drinks more, but I can tell she’s lying by how her lip slightly twitches. “Want some?”

“I’ll pass.” I smirk, watching her. She's a shit liar.

“You’re both missing out.” She shrugs, and it's convincing. To anyone not paying attention, it would seem like the truth. I know better.

A knock taps on the door and our heads turn.

“Zane. A pleasure to see you,” Dr. Hanson, our family doctor, states. I stand and we exchange a firm handshake.

“Hi. How have you been?” I ask.

“Fantastic. Still snowboarding?”

“Have every season since the accident.”

I turn back to my dad, knowing we should probably leave. “I’ll see you this weekend. Please keep me updated. I love you.”

“Love you, too. Very nice meeting you, Autumn. I will see you again soon.”

“Pleasure was mine. I look forward to attending your wedding.”

I give him a nod, then we leave. Neither of us say anything else.

Autumn glances at me as we walk down the hallway and step onto the elevator.

“How is the coffee? Really?”

She chuckles. “It tastes like toilet water.”

“I knew you were lying.”

“You needed time with your dad. Alone. Did it go okay?”

“Actually, yeah.” I smile. “Funny, a serving of beans was his wake up call.”

“Was yours too.” She glances down at the liquid that looks like motor oil with a weird film floating on top. A sly grin slides over her face. “Scary you’re this good at reading me.”

“Eventually, we’ll hold conversations without words,” I say, cataloging every single one of Autumn’s quirks as I learn them. Already, she’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.

We step out of the elevator and she tosses the half drank cup in the garbage.

“Everything worked out,” she says when we walk past the reception desk.

“It’s because I have my lucky charm.”

“The clover?” she asks.

“You.”