Chapter 5

Chapter

Five

They landed smoothly at Kalispell’s airport. Jarom internally cursed the interruption of his almost-kiss with the entrancing Autumn by Pilot Paul. He silently planned how to get back to that spot with Autumn. Soon. Their first kiss had to be ideal, not rushed or interrupted. Maybe he’d praise Paul in the long run. A kiss anywhere would be dynamite with Autumn, but he wanted their first kiss to be one that would throw her world into upheaval and burst straight through her wall of iron.

As the plane taxied to a stop, he could feel and see her distancing herself from him. Their intimate conversation, position, and almost kiss must have rattled her. She was hiding a lot about her childhood and teenage years. What had she gone through, and how could he help her heal? He’d been raised with love and patience. Abuse, neglect, or whatever else Autumn might have been subjected to was out of his realm, but it wasn’t out of the Savior’s. He’d pray for insight for him and healing for Autumn.

For the first time in his adult life, he was intrigued enough to want to seriously pursue a woman beyond his usual casual date or two. He would be alone with Autumn and without any work distractions, so he planned to grow very close to her. She couldn’t resist him for long.

He wanted to lie to himself and claim winning Autumn’s heart was simply another in the long line of women who adored him, but already he felt deep emotions building inside him. It was unnerving—much more nerve-wracking than standing in front of Forbes Leadership Events to deliver a speech, or launching a new clothing line and worrying if it would flop.

He wasn’t going to back down, though. He’d never backed out of a challenging business deal or opportunity to make a new friend.

Brave and strong. Those were his mottos this week. He almost smiled at that. Autumn was much braver and stronger than he’d ever be. What if she looked at him as a wuss because of her superior qualifications and abilities in security and fighting? His stomach clenched at the thought. He’d never win her if she wanted some bodybuilder with no neck, a twenty-inch bicep, the ability to knock a person unconscious with one punch, and the fortitude to sleep in the wild. He shuddered thinking of spiders and snakes crawling over him while he slept without satin sheets.

Paul came out of the cockpit.

“Thank you for a smooth ride,” Jarom said. “You’re an expert pilot.”

“You’re very welcome. Forgive the untimely announcement. I glanced at the cameras too late. ”

Jarom let out a surprised laugh as Autumn’s eyes widened and then she gave Paul a dagger glare. “Some friend,” she harrumphed at him.

Paul chuckled.

Autumn hurried to the door and pushed a button. It swung down and out, forming steps as brisk night air rushed in.

Paul winked at Jarom behind her back. Jarom grinned.

She strode to a tall closet in the back of the plane, opened it, and yanked out a small suitcase. Jarom hurried after her and retrieved the suitcase from her. The brush of her soft fingers against his filled him with yearning.

Was this really happening to him? The confirmed bachelor being blindsided by his one true love? It was unexpected and thrilling and had to be from heaven above. Fascination with Autumn pushed all thoughts of his house explosion, betrayal by Garrett, and being pursued by the dangerous Benjamin Oliver to the background. His plans of focusing on his businesses and dating casually for years to come were taking a solid hit. His mom would be thrilled if she were privy to his thoughts right now.

“Thank you, kind gentleman,” Autumn teased.

“Anything for you, exquisite angel.”

Their ploy was in place, flirt and tease but don’t let down walls. He’d see about that. Already his mindset was changing. How could he make certain hers did as well?

He put his free hand on the small of her back, carrying her suitcase with the other hand. They had to go single file down the plane steps, and a wall of cold air slammed into him as he stepped outside. It was chilly in Aspen, but the wind didn’t cut through quite like the sting of an October Montana night.

It was dark as midnight beyond the glow cast by the airport’s overhead lights. He was barely on the steps when he heard a whoop and saw a tall, well-built cowboy in a T-shirt, plaid jacket, tight jeans, a shiny belt buckle, boots, and a ten-gallon hat jogging across the asphalt. Jarom could acknowledge the man was ruggedly handsome, but he needed some help with his fashion sense. The grin on the cowboy’s face and the sparkle in his blue eyes said he owned the rights to one Autumn Cardon.

Jarom had never felt the sting of jealousy before. When this cowboy, Easton Coleville he presumed, reached Autumn, swept her off the ground and swung her around, and then settled down with her in his brawny arms, he wanted to punch the guy’s handsome face and lose his gentleman status. That violent instinct was unfamiliar. He didn’t like the churning in his gut or the desire to ugly up the man.

“Don’t worry,” Paul said quietly. “She flirts with everyone. Easton’s nobody special to her.”

Jarom studied Autumn and Easton, hugging and flirting and laughing together, and thought he had plenty of reason to worry.

He eased closer to the tall, handsome pilot. Autumn’s close friend, apparently. “I’m nobody special to her either.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”

“Do you know something you can share with me?” Jarom asked as his heart leapt. He ripped his gaze from the happy couple laughing about something to focus on Autumn’s pilot friend. “She likes me?” It felt like a very juvenile thing to ask an accomplished warrior and pilot, but the words were out there.

“What if she did?” Paul’s look was challenging now.

Jarom snuck a look at Autumn and the cowboy. They thankfully were no longer hugging, but they were talking in earnest, grinning and flirting and making him literally sick to his stomach.

“I find myself very intrigued with her,” he said in a low voice. “As a Christian and a gentleman, I would treat her and her heart with the utmost respect and tenderness.”

“You’d give up chasing different women?” Paul asked quietly.

“If she returned my interest, I would never think about chasing any other woman. A committed relationship with Autumn would be my entire focus,” Jarom declared, amazed to hear himself say the words. Even more amazed to find that he meant them.

“I’m not admitting to anything,” Paul said. “But you stand more of a chance than anyone.”

“Thank you.” Jarom grasped the man’s hand and pumped it. “You have restored my faith in womankind.”

Autumn broke from her teasing with the cowboy and glanced at them, her brow wrinkling and her golden eyes suspicious.

Paul slapped him on the shoulder, clasping his upper arm. It wasn’t painful, but he’d have to utilize the moves Eli had taught him to break the grip. Paul leaned in so only Jarom could hear. “If you miraculously secure her heart and then hurt her, I will rip out your spleen. Surrogate big brother talking here.”

“I read you loud and clear, tough and macho pilot Paul.” Jarom saluted him.

Paul chuckled and released him. They both walked toward the pair. Autumn turned to face them, her gaze locked on Jarom’s face. He smiled. Even with the jealousy of her touching and fawning over this cowboy, he had hope. He had a chance. He’d blown past the parameters of only flirting in his mind. How could he blow past them with Autumn?

Paul shook Easton’s hand as soon as they reached him. “Great to see you,” he said.

“You as well,” Easton returned. “Thank you for bringing her to me.” He grinned at Autumn.

Jarom didn’t have enemies. With the exception of monsters like Benjamin Oliver. How could he find love in his heart for this smiling bull rider when he wanted to knock the man’s smile into next week? He was definitely thinking more like Eli than himself. Would any of the moves Eli taught him work to eradicate the smug smile?

“Jarom,” Autumn said, and it didn’t escape his notice that she started the introduction with him. That had to mean something. “This is Easton Coleville. We’ll be staying at his family’s ranch and he’ll help protect you from Benjamin. Easton, the famed and talented Jarom Love.”

Easton extended his hand. Jarom placed his hand against his competition’s. The man squeezed, hard. “Nice to meet ya. I’ve seen some of your clothes on actors.”

Jarom knew the cowboy wanted him to wince, pull his hand away, and show he was a pastry puff. He didn’t. He kept his expression neutral and nodded. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thank you for welcoming us. I hear you’re a bull rider of some notoriety.”

Releasing his hand, Easton gave him a wide grin. “I am. More famous than anyone else in Coleville, that’s for certain.”

“My most sincere congratulations,” Jarom said smoothly. “I look forward to seeing you compete someday.”

“That would be your lucky day.”

Easton was a cocksure cowboy. Jarom admired the confidence and recognized a fellow charmer and playboy. Was Easton genuinely interested in Autumn or only flirting?

“Do you have any videos?” he asked. “Isn’t bull riding the most dangerous sport in the world? I’d love to see you in action.”

Easton looked surprised and defused from the measuring contest he’d obviously wanted to instigate. “Much obliged.” He cleared his throat and smiled. “Autumn has loads of videos pulled up on her phone of me. She’d be happy to show them to you.”

“I’m dying to show him,” Autumn teased.

Easton chuckled. “We’d better get moving. Papa’s no cap stressed about Benjamin Oliver’s unknown plans and wants you two back at the ranch safe and sound. Appreciate you, Paul.”

“Anytime.” Paul gave Autumn a quick hug and whispered something in her ear.

She glanced at Jarom, and he felt his hopes flare up again.

“Take care now.” Paul lifted a hand to Jarom, turned, and strode back into the plane.

Jarom carried Autumn’s bag to a huge black Ram truck.

“You all right sitting in the back?” Easton asked.

“Certainly.” He walked around to the passenger side with Autumn, opening the front door for her and waiting for her to climb in. Easton had followed them.

“Jarom,” Autumn said. “I appreciate the gentlemanly gesture, but you’re my assignment and protection detail. I can’t climb in and leave you exposed.”

Jarom glanced around at the deserted airport. “Benjamin Oliver’s men followed us and are going to start firing?” he asked, trying to keep a teasing lilt to his voice.

Autumn gave him a brief smile. “Please load up and let us make sure you’re safe, then we’ll climb in.”

He pushed out a breath. He was the charming gentleman. Always. If he climbed in the back, Easton was going to steal his role. But he didn’t want to upset Autumn or undermine her role as his protector. He simply nodded, hefted her suitcase into the back seat and eased in, shutting the door.

As he’d feared, Easton helped Autumn into the truck, his large hands framing her small waist, his smile almost as big as his belt buckle, and saying something cute to her if her smile and laugh was any indicator.

Easton shut her door and strutted around the front of the truck. The plane taxied away as Easton loaded up. They drove out of the airport while Paul soared into the night sky. Jarom loved flying his own jet. He and Paul had a lot in common. He appreciated the pilot giving him some insight and encouragement about Autumn.

Easton immediately launched into questions about what had happened at Jarom’s house tonight. Jarom didn’t mind talking to him and hashing out the details with him and Autumn. He was relieved the kid eased up on the flirtations, though he threw a few in here or there along with some teenage slang that was comical.

As that conversation topic wound down, Jarom asked Easton about being a bull rider. The young man was cocky but sounded as if he could back that up with expertise and success. It was intriguing to learn about the world of bull riding. He also asked him about the Coleville family and got a rundown of six brothers, one newlywed wife and two fiancées, and Papa Jared and Mama Millie. The large family was intriguing, and each sounded accomplished and respected in their own right .

Autumn’s eyes went downcast when Easton spoke in glowing terms about his mama. She had been in the conversation until then but was suddenly very interested in the dry grass alongside the dark road. What was that all about?

More worrisome was her flirting with the cowboy more than she did Jarom. He could only pray that Easton wouldn’t be by their side night and day. Paul claimed Jarom stood more of a chance than anyone. He had to pray that was true.

Time alone was what he needed to secure her heart. He’d never had a woman reject him. He doubted Easton had either. And for the first time in Jarom’s life … he believed he’d found the right woman for him.